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Water resources face increasing pressures from population growth, land use change, and climate change. The mission of our lab is to create innovative tools and methods that can help improve the sustainability of water resources in the built and natural environments. We use modeling and optimization techniques, such as hydrologic and hydraulic models, agent-based models, cellular automata, GIS, remote sensing, and evolutionary optimization algorithms.

Research Interests
  • Sustainability of the Built and Natural Environments
  • Stormwater Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure
  • Drought Management and Water Conservation
  • Resilience and Security of Cyber-Physical Systems

 

 

Research

Ongoing Research Projects

  • Papagiannakis, A. & Giacomoni, M. “Demonstrating the Environmental Benefits of Permeable Paved Surfaces over the Edwards Aquifer”, Sponsored by City of San Antonio, Local, $1,035,761 (September 1st 2019 – December 31st 2024).
  • Johnson, D., Giacomoni, M., Kappor, V., Brown, K., Han, A. “BMP Maintenance Requirements to Ensure Protection of Edwards Aquifer Water Quality”, Sponsored by San Antonio River Authority, $619,656.00. (May 1, 2021 – December 31st, 2024).

Past Projects

  • Caine, I., Giacomoni, M., Tunstall, T., Han, A. “Addendum to Weslaco, Texas Comprehensive Plan”, Sponsored by City of Weslaco, $30,000.00. (February 1, 2021 – February 1, 2022).
  • Johnson, D., Giacomoni, M., “Permeable Curbs and Gutter for Storm Water Control” Sponsored by Louisiana State University, $45,000.00. (August 1, 2021 – February 28, 2022).
  • Kapoor, V., Giacomoni, M., “North Side Independent School District COVID 19 Monitoring”, Sponsored by The MITRE Corporation, $70,311.00. (February 22, 2021 – July 30, 2021).
  • Giacomoni, M. & Olivera, F. “Assessing the Impacts of Super Storm Flooding in the Transportation Infrastructure – Case Study: San Antonio, TX”, Sponsored by TranSET and City of San Antonio, Regional, $140,000 (July 1st 2018 – December 31st 2019).
  • Giacomoni, M. & Shipley, H., “Implementation of a Low Impact Development Test Bed at The University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus“, Sponsored by City of San Antonio, $ 1,069,113 (June 1, 2017 – December 31st, 2022).
  • Taha, A.,  Gatsis, N., Giacomoni M. “Collaborative Research: Selecting Sensors and Actuators for Topologically Evolving Networked Dynamical Systems: Battling Contamination in Water Networks“, Sponsored by National Science Foundation, Division of Civil, Mechanical & Manufacturing Innovation, $299,974.00 (August 1 2017 – July 31 2020).
  • Sharif, H., Weissmann, A., Giacomoni, M., Dessouky, S., Rashed-Ali, H., Kapoor, V. “Hydrology Infrastructure Data Collection and Analysis Services”, Sponsored by Texas General Land Office, State, $1,536,419 (June 1st – October 31st 2019).
  • Giacomoni, M. & Shipley, H. J., “Monitoring and Modeling Stormwater Quality at UTSA Main Campus“, Sponsored by Great Edwards Aquifer Alliance/San Antonio River Authority, State, $42,800.00 (January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016).
  • Castillo Villar, K. K. & Giacomoni, M., “Increasing Awareness through the Development of an Web-based Educational Tool to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Coal Power Plants“, Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency, Federal, $15,000.00 (September 2016 – August 2017).
  • Castillo Villar, K., Giacomoni, M., Shipley, H., Chen, F., “Opportunities for Higher Education and Research Experience in Renewable Energy and Water Quality to Enable STEM Hispanic Leaders“, Sponsored by National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Federal, $290,000.00 (August 1, 2014 – July 31, 2016).
  • Giacomoni, M., “Development of an Optimization Framework for Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reduction in the San Antonio Sanitary System“, Sponsored by San Antonio Water System, Local, $187,972.00 (October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2015).

Research Resources

  • Stormwater Flow and Water Quality Monitoring: our lab currently operates several stormboxes with Teledyne ISCO Signature Flow Meter, ISCO 3700 automatic water sampler, tipping bucket TR-525USW rain gauge, and solar panels. Water samples are analyzed in the UTSA Environmental Engineering Laboratory for a range of water quality parameters, including pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, volatile suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorous, bacteria, and metals.
  • Evolutionary Computation Framework: we use advanced simulation and optimization algorithms, for single and multi-objective problems, that include genetic algorithms, evolution strategies, method for generating alternatives, and agent-based modeling.
  • Other Software: ArcGIS, Matlab, Eclipse, R, Python, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, SWAT, SWMM, and Anylogic.
  • High-Performance Computing: UTSA Office of Information Technology owns a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster, ARC.

Publications

Published in peer reviewed journals

  1. do Lago, C. A.*, Hamedani, A.S.*, Mendiondo, E.M., Giacomoni, M.H., (2023) “Robustness of Optimized Low Impact Development Solutions Under Climate Change in a Small Catchment.” Hydrological Sciences Journal, Accepted for Publication.
  2. Hamedani, A.S.*, Shipley, H., Giacomoni, M.H. (2023) “Assessing the Water Quality Performance of Limestone Media in Bioretention and Sand Filter Basin Testbeds”. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment.9 (4) https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.SWENG-504.
  3. Gomes Jr, M. N.*, Giacomoni, M. H., Macedo, M.B., do Lago, C.A.F.*, Brasil*, Oliveira, T.R.P., & Mendiondo, E. M. (2023) “A Modeling Framework for Bioretention Analysis: Assessing the Hydrologic Performance under System Uncertainty”. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 28 (9) https://doi.org/10.1061/JHYEFF.HEENG-5705.
  4. Hamedani, A.S.*, do Lago, C.*, Giacomoni, M.H. (2023) “Exploring near-optimal locations for bioretention systems in catchment scale using many-objective evolutionary optimization”, Urban Water Journal, DOI: 10.1080/1573062X.2023.2211557. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1573062X.2023.2211557.
  5. Gomes Jr, M. N.*, Rápalo, L. M., Oliveira, P. T., Giacomoni, M. H., do Lago, C. A.*, & Mendiondo, E. M. (2023). “Modeling unsteady and steady 1D hydrodynamics under different hydraulic conceptualizations: Model/Software development and case studies”. Environmental Modelling & Software, 105733. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364815223001196.
  6. do Lago, C. A.*, Giacomoni, M. H., Bentivoglio, R., Taormina, R., Gomes, M. N.*, & Mendiondo, E. M. (2023). “Generalizing rapid flood predictions to unseen urban catchments with conditional generative adversarial networks”. Journal of Hydrology, 618, 129276. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169423002184.
  7. Al-Duroobi, H., Vadde, K.K., Phan, D.C., Moghadam, S.V., Jafarzadeh, A., Matta, A., Giacomoni, M.H., Kapoor, V. (2023) “Wastewater-based surveillance of COVID-19 and removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA across a major wastewater treatment plant in San Antonio, Texas”. Environmental Sciences: Advances, DOI: 10.1039/D3VA00015J 2, 709-720. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/va/d3va00015j.
  8. Gomes Jr, M.N.*, Giacomoni, M.H., Taha, A.F., Mendiondo, E.M. (2022) “Flood Risk Mitigation and Valve Control in Stormwater Systems: State-Space Modeling, Control Algorithms, and Case Studies”. J. Water Res. Plan. and Management, 148(12), 04022067, https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0001588.
  9. Elsherif, S.M., Wang, S., Taha,A.F., Sela, L., Giacomoni, M.H., Abokifa,A.A. (2022) “Control-theoretic modeling of multi-species water quality dynamics in drinking water networks: Survey, methods, and test cases”. Annual Reviews in Control., Pgs. 466-485, ISSN 1367-5788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcontrol.2022.08.003. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367578822000943.
  10. Berglund, E.Z., Buchberger, S., Cunha, M., Faust, K.M., Giacomoni, M.H., Goharian, E., Kleiner, Y., Lee, J., Ostfeld, A., Pasha, F., Pesantez, J.E., Saldarriaga, J., Shafiee, E., Spearing, L., van Zyl, J.E., Yang, E. (2022) Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Water Utility Operations and Vulnerability. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 148(6), 04022027, 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0001560. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0001560
  11. Başağaoğlu H, Chakraborty D, do Lago, C.D.*, Gutierrez L, Şahinli MA, Giacomoni M, Furl C, Mirchi A, Moriasi D, Şengör SS. (2022) A Review on Interpretable and Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Hydroclimatic Applications. Water. 2022; 14(8):1230. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14081230.
  12. do Lago, C.A.F.*, Giacomoni, M.H., Olivera, F. and Mendiondo, E.M. (2021) “Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Transportation Infrastructure Using the Hydrologic-Footprint-Residence Metric”. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 26(5), 04021014. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29HE.1943-5584.0002076.
  13. Hamedani, A.S.*; Bazilio, A; Soleimanifar, H; Shipley, H; Giacomoni, M. (2021) “Improving the Treatment Performance of Low Impact Development Practices—Comparison of Sand and Bioretention Soil Mixtures Using Column Experiments” Water 13, no. 9: 1210. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13091210.
  14. Wang, A. F. Taha, N. Gatsis, L. Sela and M. H. Giacomoni, (2021) “Probabilistic State Estimation in Water Networks” in IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, doi: 10.1109/TCST.2021.3066102. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9394797.
  15. Taha, A.F., Wang, S., Guo, Y., Summers, T.H., Gatsis, N., Giacomoni, M.H. and Abokifa, A.A. (2021) “Revisiting the Water Quality Sensor Placement Problem: Optimizing Network Observability and State Estimation Metrics”. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 147(7), 04021040. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0001374.
  16. Berglund, E.Z., Thelemaque, N., Spearing, L., Faust, K.M., Kaminsky, J., Sela, L., Goharian, E., Abokifa, A., Lee, J., Keck, J., Giacomoni, M., Zyl, J.E.v., Harkness, B., Yang, Y.C.E., Cunha, M., Ostfeld, A. and Kadinski, L. (2021) “Water and Wastewater Systems and Utilities: Challenges and Opportunities during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 147(5), 02521001. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0001373.
  17. Batalini de Macedo, M., Nóbrega Gomes Júnior, M., Pereira de Oliveira, T.R., H. Giacomoni, M., Imani, M., Zhang, K., Ambrogi Ferreira do Lago, C. and Mendiondo, E.M. (2021) “Low Impact Development practices in the context of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A new concept, lessons learned and challenges.” Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 1-44.
  18. , Wang, Taha, A. F., Sela, L., Giacomoni, M. H., & Gatsis, N. (2020) “A new derivative‐free linear approximation for solving the network water flow problem with convergence guarantees”. Water Resources Research, 56, e2019WR025694. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR025694.
  19. Wang, A. Taha, N. Gatsis and M. Giacomoni (2020) “Receding Horizon Control for Drinking Water Networks: The Case for Geometric Programming” in IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems, doi: 10.1109/TCNS.2020.2964139. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8950205.
  20. Babbar-Sebens, M., Root, E., Rosenberg, D., Watkins, D., Mirchi, A., Giacomoni, M., Madani, K. (2019) “Training Water Resources Systems Engineers to Communicate: Acting on Observations from On-the-Job Practitioners”. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice. 145(4), https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000427.
  21. Macedo, M., Lago, C. Mendiondo, E. Giacomoni, M. (2019) “Bioretention performance under different rainfall regimes in subtropical conditions: A case study in São Carlos, Brazil”. Journal of Environmental Management. 248, 109266, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109266.
  22. Aranguren, M.*, Castillo-Villar, K., Aboytes-Ojeda, M. *, Giacomoni, M. (2018) “Simulation-Optimization Approach for the Logistics Network Design of Biomass Co-firing with Coal at Power Plants”. 10, 4299; doi:10.3390/su10114299. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/4299.
  23. Zarezadeh, V. *, Lung, T. *, Dorman, T., Shipley, H., Giacomoni, M. (2018) “Assessing the Performance of Sand Filter Basin in Treating Urban Stormwater Runoff”. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 190: 697. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7069-5.
  24. Taormina, R., Galelli, S., Tippenhauer, N., Salomons, E., Ostfeld, A., Eliades, D., Aghashahi, M., Sundararajan, R., Pourahmadi, M., Banks, M., Brentan, B., Campbell, E., Lima, G., Manzi, D. Ayala-Cabrera, D., Herrera, M., Montalvo, I., Izquierdo, J., Luvizotto Jr., E., Chandy, S., Rasekh, A., Barker, Z., Campbell, B., Shafiee, M., Giacomoni, M., Gatsis, N., Taha, A., Abokifa, A., Haddad, K., Lo, C., Biswas, P., Pasha, M., Kc, B., Somasundaram, S., Housh, M., Ohar, Z. (2018). “The Battle of the Attack Detection Algorithms: Disclosing Cyber Attacks on Water Distribution Networks”. J of Water Resources Planning and Management. http://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000969.
  25. Rosenberg, D., Babbar-Sebens, M., Root, E., Herman, J., Mirchi, A., Giacomoni, M., Kasprzyk, J., Madani, K., Ford, D., Basdekas, L. (2017) “Towards More Integrated Formal Education and Practice in Water Resources Systems Analysis”. J Water Resources Planning and Management, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000847. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0000847.
  26. Itaquy, B.*, Olufunso, O. *, Giacomoni, M. (2017). “Application of Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm to Reduce Wet Weather Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Surcharge.” J of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. doi:10.1061/JSWBAY.0000826. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000826.
  27. Giacomoni, M., Joseph, J. (2017). “Multi-Objective Evolutionary Optimization and Monte Carlo Simulation for Placement of Low Impact Development in the Catchment Scale” J Water Resources Planning and Management. 143(9), 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000812. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000812.
  28. Olufunso, O.*, Giacomoni, M. (2017). “Enhancing the Performance of Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm for Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reduction.” J Water Resources Planning and Management. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000774. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0000774.
  29. Olufunso, O.*, Giacomoni, M. (2016). “Multiobjective Genetic Optimization Approach to Identify Pipe Segment Replacements and Inline Storages to Reduce Sanitary Sewer Overflows.” Water Resources Management, 10.1007/s11269-016-1373-z. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11269-016-1373-z.
  30. Giacomoni, M., E.M. Zechman (2015) “A Complex Adaptive Simulation Framework for Evaluating Adaptive Demand Management for Urban Water Resources Sustainability”. J Water Resources Planning and Management, 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000543 , 04015024. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0000543.
  31. Giacomoni, M., G. Ryan, E.Z. Berglund (2014) “Hydrologic Impact Assessment of Land Use Change Using the Hydrologic Footprint Residence”. J American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1-15. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12187. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jawr.12187.
  32. Giacomoni, M., Kanta, L., E.M. Zechman (2013) “A Complex Adaptive Systems Approach to Simulate the Sustainability of Water Resources and Urbanization”. J Water Resources Planning and Management, 139(5), Sept. 2013, pp 554- 564. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0000302.
  33. Zechman, E.M., Giacomoni, M., and Shafiee, M.E. (2013) “An evolutionary algorithm approach to generate distinct sets of non-dominated solutions for wicked problems,” Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence 26(5), pp. 1442-1457. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0952197613000468.
  34. Giacomoni, , E.M. Zechman, K. Brumbelow (2012) “The Hydrologic Footprint Residence: An Environmentally-friendly Criteria for Best Management Practices” J Hydrologic Engineering, 17(1), pp. 99-108. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29HE.1943-5584.0000407.
  35. Damodaram, C., Giacomoni, M., Prakash Khedun, C., Holmes, H., Ryan, A., Saour, W. and Zechman, E.M., (2010) “Simulation of Combined Best Management Practices and Low Impact Development for Sustainable Stormwater Management,” J American Water Resources Association 46(5), pp. 907-918. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00462.x.
  36. Giacomoni, M., Mendes, C.A.B. (2008) “Regional Evapotranspiration Estimates Using Remote Sensing Techniques integrated to Energy Balance Model”. Brazilian Journal of Water Resources (RBRH). V. 13 n. 4, p. 33-42. (Published in Portuguese). https://www.abrhidro.org.br/SGCv3/publicacao.php?PUB=1&ID=13&SUMARIO=153.
  37. Veríssimo, M., Rosa, J.W.C., Ribeiro, M.C.L., Giacomoni, M., Pinha, P.R.S. (2001) Urban Index to Water Systems Sustainability. Case: Federal District. Revista Universa, Brasília, v. 9, n. 2, p. 245-278, 2001. (Published in Portuguese).

Referred Book Chapter

  1. Ward S, Dornelles F, Giacomoni M, Memon FA. (2014) Incentivising and Charging for Rain Water Harvesting – Three International Perspectives, Memon FA,Ward S (eds), Alternative Water Supply Systems, IWA, 153-168.
  2. Veríssimo, M., Giacomoni, M.H., Ribeiro, M.C.L., Rosa, J.W.C., Meneses, P.R. APA Gama Cabeça-de-Veado – Conservation Unit Mosaic. In: Subsidies to environmental zoning of APA Gama Cabeça-de-Veado. Characterizations e Socio-Environmental Conflicts. Brasília: UNESCO, MAB, Biosphere Reserve of Cerrado, 2003.

People

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Minority Student Recruitment and Mentoring

Active recruitment and mentoring of minority students is an important component of my teaching and education program. With an increasing percentage of the US population of minority background, it is important to encourage, recruit and mentor minority students. As a result, I have made it a priority to recruit and develop minority students. If you are a minority student willing to do research in the field of water resources, send an email to marcio.giacomoni@utsa.edu.

Former Graduate Students:

  • Olufunso Ogidan. PhD in the Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Graduation: December 2016. Dissertation Title: “Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reduction Optimization using Multiobjective Evolutionary Computation”.
  • Vahid Zarezadeh. PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Graduation: December 2017. Dissertation Title: “Coupling Hydrologic and Urbanization Modeling: A Multi-Scale Investigation to Enhance Urban Water Resource Systems Sustainability”.
  • Bruno Itaquy. Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduation: May 2016. Thesis Title: “Multi Objective Genetic Algorithm Approach to Reduce Sanitary Sewer Overflow”.
  • Jules Tallichet. Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduation: May 2018. Thesis Title: “Exploring the Optimization of Placement and Sizing for Low Impact Developments Using Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm”.
  • Siavash Eidi. Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduation: December 2018. Thesis Title: “Analyzing the Effect of Urbanization on Surface Runoff for Intense Rainfall Storm Events: Case Study of Olmos Creek in San Antonio, Texas”.
  • Cesar do Lago. PhD in Civil Engineering, Graduation: August 2022. Dissertation Title: “Battling Climate Change Induced Flooding: Rapid Flood Modeling, Optimization, Uncertainties and Metrics”.
  • Abtin Shahrokh Hamedani. PhD in Civil Engineering, Graduation: December 2022. Dissertation Title: “Experimental and Modeling Study on the Performance of Low Impact Development: a Multi-Scale Study to Identify Enhanced Stormwater Control Measures”.

Former Undergraduate Students:

  • Paul Martinez. The McNair Scholars program. Summer 2014. Research Title: “Assessing the Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting on Storm water and Water Supply of an Institutional Watershed in San Antonio, Texas”.
  • Alexander Manjarres. Undergraduate Research Assistant. Bachelor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Graduation: May 2019. Research Title: “Low Impact Development Soil Media Column Experiments to Test Removal of Stormwater Pollution”.
  • Herta Montoya. Undergraduate Research Assistant. Bachelor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Graduation: December 2018. Research Title: “Sensitivity Analysis of an Optimization Approach to Identify Cyber Attacks on Water Distribution Networks”.
  • Travis Lung. Undergraduate Research Assistant. Bachelor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Graduation: December 2016. Thesis Title: “Storm Water Quality Monitoring for the Development of Low Impact Basin Design Alternatives”.
  • Aldo Hernandez. Undergraduate Research Assistant. Bachelor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Graduation: December 2019. Research Title: “Storm Water Quality Monitoring of Sand Filter Basins”.
  • Crista G. Cerda-Garcia. Alamo Colleges CIMA Summer Research Program. Summer 2016. Research title: “Sand Filter Efficiency on Treating Storm Water at UTSA Main Campus”.
  • Maya Abounasr. Undergraduate Research Assistant. Bachelor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Graduation: May 2022. Research Title: “Water Quality Analysis of Low Impact Development Testbed”.
  • Michelle Barkley. Undergraduate Research Assistant. Bachelor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Graduation: December 2020. Research Title: “Quantitative Water Analysis of Bioretention and Sand filter Basins Systems: Is Impermeable Liner Requirement Necessary?”.
  • Ivan Cuervo. Undergraduate Research Assistant. “Development of Low Cost Real Time Water Sensors for Monitoring Stormwater Control Measures and Green Infrastructure”.