Ivica Janekovic

Inside my research, I combine empirical, theoretical and numerical knowledge to understand major ocean processes in continental shelf oceans and the adjacent seas. I am developing and implementing different types of regional ocean/wave/atmosphere modelling systems including improvements through data assimilation techniques. My special interest is in real-time applications and operational coastal ocean forecasting systems using atmosphere-ocean-wave 2-way coupled models and quantifying their predictability and uncertainty. I am working on data assimilation in coastal and ocean-wide basin systems using advanced 4D-Var techniques and ROMS model, optimization on HPC supercomputer facilities. Mentioned methods enable me to combine field measurements and model dynamics in a dynamic and consistent way, better than each of them separately. Downscaling dynamics using 2-way nesting – high-resolution approach for ocean simulations with a focus on advanced numerical techniques combined with data assimilation is another example of my research activity. I keep strong connections and develop new interactions and collaborations with biochemical modelling groups to advance interdisciplinary research. I am a member of CUAG (Champion User Advisory  Group) for Mercator Ocean International.

2024 - 2025 Chief investigator for "Swan-Canning Foreshore Risk Mapping Climate Scenarios", DBCA and SeaShore Engineering, WA ($313,280)

2024 - 2024 Principal investigator for " Development of larval dispersal models specifically for pink snapper and blue swimmer crab in Cockburn Sound" , WAMSI and Curtin University, Australia ($12,300).

2022 – 2026 Chief investigator for “Advancing observations and predictions of WA marine heatwaves”, Department of Jobs Tourism Science and Innovation (Western Australia) ($1,649,912).

2022 - 2023 Chief investigator for “Project 5.2: surface gravity wave modelling”, West Port, WA ($150,000).

2022 - 2024 Chief investigator for “An ocean forecast system for Sri Lanka”, Cardno Limited ($499,544).

2022 - 2026 Chief investigator for “Swim Route Optimisation”, Rottnest Channel Swim Association ($35,000).

2022 - 2023 Chief investigator for “Project 5 Hydrodynamics: provision of multi-decadal ocean boundary conditions and field measurements”, West Port, WA ($450,000).

2021 Principal investigator and leader for “Simultaneous modelling atmosphere-ocean interactions to estimate tropical cyclone effects in ocean”, Pawsey Supercomputer research project, WA.

2021 Principal investigator for “Improving Ocean Current Forecasting Through Deep Learning Techniques”, The University of Western Australia and Shell Development Australia Pty Ltd. ($150,000)

2021 Chief investigator for “Development and testing of high frequency lora drifters”, RiverLab project UWA ($3,000).

2021 Chief investigator for “High frequency GSP drifters – from prototype to practice”, The University of Western Australia, Ocean Institute. Ocean Supporters Fund ($12,000).

2020 Principal investigator and leader for “Data Assimilation for the Western Australia using Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS)”, Pawsey Supercomputer research project, WA.

2018 - 2019 “Develop/Enhance the Marine Virtual Laboratory (MARVL) to Provide the Information Infrastructure in Support of the National Ocean Modelling System”, University of Tasmania ex University of Queensland ex NCRIS, Australia ($40,000).

2018 – 2020 Principal investigator and leader for industry funded project “Circulation Modelling of tropical cyclone-driven currents for Western Australia criteria estimation”, Woodside Energy Limited ($317,980). 

2014 - 2018 Principal investigator and leader, Exploring the Adriatic Sea Dynamics using Advanced Data Assimilation Methods and Measurements (ADAM-ADRIA), Croatian Science Foundation, Croatia.

2018 - 2022 Principal investigator and leader, ECMWF Supercomputer Centre project "PSAS Data Assimilation for the Adriatic Sea using Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS)", UK.

2018 Principal investigator and leader, Pawsey Supercomputer Centre project “Advanced ocean-atmosphere modelling of western Australian seas”, Australia.

2016 – 2017 Principal investigator and leader for the project “Data Assimilation for the Western Australia using Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS)” at Pawsey Supercomputer facility, Australia.

2016 – 2017 Principal investigator and leader for the project “Optimising ROMS data assimilation model for CRAY XC40 supercomputer system”, Pawsey uptake project, Australia.

2014 – 2018 Near real-time ocean-atmosphere modelling system ROMS/WRF for central WA at UWA, Australia. http://coastaloceanography.org/

2014 – 2018 “Developing better predictions for extreme water”, Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, UWA, Australia.

Even though my work is research-based, I am always willing to respond to student queries. I developed and teach the 2nd-year core unit ENVE2607 (Numerical modelling in environmental engineering) at the UWA. I have co-supervised numerous PhD, Master of Professional Engineering and Honours students at the UWA and one PhD student in Croatia. I am also actively involved in course development at the Oceans Graduate School, and a board member of the Environmental Engineering Industry Advisory Panel. I have presented several seminars at UWA and also organized a series of lectures on the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS).

I am currently CI on the AUS-AID project developing an operational ocean-atmosphere system for Sri Lanka ($500,000), CI for the multi-institutional joint project Advancing observations and predictions of WA marine heatwaves ($1,650 mil), CI for the West Port Project 5.2: surface gravity wave modelling ($150,000), and CI for the Swim route optimisation ($35,000). In 2021 I was CI for the UWA & Shell Deep Learning project ($150,000) and was 2018-2020 the leading scientist for the $350,000, time-critical project “Circulation Modelling of Tropical Cyclone-driven Currents for Western Australia Criteria Estimation”, funded by Woodside Energy (2018–2020). For this project, which has been extended, I am using millions of the Pawsey supercomputer’s CPU units. While leading these projects, I was also leading the UWA part of the multi-institutional project entitled “Develop/Enhance the Marine Virtual Laboratory (MARVL) to Provide the Information Infrastructure in Support of the National Ocean Modelling System” (2018), funded by the University of Tasmania ex University of Queensland ex National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme ($40,000). I am jointly funded by the UWA for teaching and projects as well as UWA Shell’s chair to further develop ocean modelling techniques for predicting ocean dynamics at the North West Shelf of WA.

Based on my numerical ocean modelling expertise and scientific recognition, I am actively engaged as a developer for well known, international, ocean numerical models, such as the unstructured, ocean circulation model, SCHIMS; the next generation, unstructured wave model, WWM; and probably the most established global ocean model, ROMS.

Using 2-way coupled ocean - atmosphere models for better understanding of ocean dynamics and Data Assimilation in ocean models are my future research directions. 

Developing tools (roms2schims) and models within aim of advancing nesting framework. Combining multiscale different discretisation numerical models (for example unstructured models - SCHISM nested inside structured-finite difference - ROMS).

Aside from my pure and intensive research and partial teaching and supervision duties, I am also involved in developing applicable, operational ocean–atmosphere systems. I developed an operational ocean–atmosphere system for the northwest shelf regions and central coast of Western Australia, international projects for Sri Lanka and Adariatic Sea (https://mywire.myocean.org/). This website is publicly open and used regularly. I also developed another modelling system for Western Australia’s west coast (http://coastaloceanography.org/), which provides ocean–atmosphere forecasts and is used by researchers (it is a significant data source for PhD projects and published papers, and, for example, for setting boundary conditions in water quality models of the Swan River) and also the general public (e.g. for the Rottnest channel swim).

Teaching activity:

• Supervising PhD and Master of Professional Engineering (MPE) students at the UWA.
• Coordinating and teaching 2nd-year core unit ENVE2607 at the Ocean Graduate School and Engineering School, UWA
• Teaching at doctorate study level in Oceanology, University of Zagreb, Croatia; unit “Numerical modelling in oceanography”.
• Actively mentoring PhD students in Oceanology study.

Professional activity:

Reviewer for major journals:

Continental Shelf Research, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Journal of Physical Oceanography, Journal of Geophysical Research, Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, Ocean Dynamics, Ocean Modelling, Marine Geology, Ocean Science Discussion, Pure and Applied Geophysics, Acta Adriatica, Annales Geophysicae, Geofizika.

Memberships:

Board member for Pawsey Supercomputer Merit Allocation; Representative for RBI at MONGOOS (Mediterranean Oceanography Network for the Global Ocean Observing System); Representative of Croatia in COST, EU action for Ocean Synthesis; Member of expert team for Marine Meteorology Centre Croatia; Member of Scientific board for natural science and research of the Adriatic Sea within Croatian Academy of Science and Art; Member of Commission for environmental impact assessment, expert team of Regional Ecological Centre (REC) – Croatian Ministry of Env. and Protection. Member of the CUAG (Champion User Advisory Group) for Copernicus Mercator Ocean International.

Reviewer of competitive research grants: 

National Science Foundation (US), National Science Foundation (Croatia)

2021 - Present                   Research Associate Professor, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

2015 - 2021                       Research Assistant Professor, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

2015 – 2018                      Senior Research Scientist - Advisor, Laboratory for physical oceanography and chemistry of aquatic systems, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

2012 – 2015                       Senior Research Associate, Satellite Oceanography Group, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

2011 - 2012                        Research Associate, Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

2009 - 2011                        Post-doc Research Fellow at the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa, Physical Oceanography, US.

1997 - 2009         Research Scientist, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.