David McCarthy (academic)

McCarthy earned a BSc in Mathematics and Physics in 2004, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering in 2005 from Monash University. He undertook postgraduate research in the Civil Engineering Department there from 2005 and completed his PhD in 2009.

McCarthy joined University of Guelph, where he was appointed Canada Excellence Research Chair in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://news.uoguelph.ca/2023/11/dr-david-mccarthy-joins-u-of-g-as-canada-excellence-research-chair/|title=Dr. David McCarthy Joins U of G as Canada Excellence Research Chair|website=University of Guelph News|date=17 November 2023 |access-date=2025-05-13}}

McCarthy has conducted research in the fields of urban hydrology, stormwater management, sensor networks, and wastewater treatment. He developed a model for predicting microorganism concentrations in urban stormwater.{{cite journal |last1=McCarthy |first1=D.T. |last2=Deletic |first2=A. |last3=Mitchell |first3=V.G. |last4=Diaper |first4=C. |title=Development and testing of a model for Micro-Organism Prediction in Urban Stormwater (MOPUS) |journal=Journal of Hydrology |date=October 2011 |volume=409 |issue=1–2 |pages=236–247 |doi=10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.08.023 |bibcode=2011JHyd..409..236M }}

While investigating urban drainage quality and quantity modeling, McCarthy assessed and characterized the techniques that are used in the uncertainty assessment of the parameters of water models.{{cite journal |last1=Dotto |first1=Cintia B.S. |last2=Mannina |first2=Giorgio |last3=Kleidorfer |first3=Manfred |last4=Vezzaro |first4=Luca |last5=Henrichs |first5=Malte |last6=McCarthy |first6=David T. |last7=Freni |first7=Gabriele |last8=Rauch |first8=Wolfgang |last9=Deletic |first9=Ana |title=Comparison of different uncertainty techniques in urban stormwater quantity and quality modelling |journal=Water Research |date=May 2012 |volume=46 |issue=8 |pages=2545–2558 |doi=10.1016/j.watres.2012.02.009 |pmid=22402270 |bibcode=2012WatRe..46.2545D }} Later, he presented a review of integrated urban water modeling, formulated a new typology for the classification of integrated models, and also addressed the fundamental model features.{{cite journal |last1=Bach |first1=Peter M. |last2=Rauch |first2=Wolfgang |last3=Mikkelsen |first3=Peter S. |last4=McCarthy |first4=David T. |last5=Deletic |first5=Ana |title=A critical review of integrated urban water modelling – Urban drainage and beyond |journal=Environmental Modelling & Software |date=April 2014 |volume=54 |pages=88–107 |doi=10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.12.018 |bibcode=2014EnvMS..54...88B }} He also put forth the process-based MPiRe model (Micro-Pollutants In RaingardEns - quality model) with a team of researchers in order to remove a variety of micro-pollutants from stormwater using biofilters.{{cite journal |last1=Randelovic |first1=Anja |last2=Zhang |first2=Kefeng |last3=Jacimovic |first3=Nenad |last4=McCarthy |first4=David |last5=Deletic |first5=Ana |title=Stormwater biofilter treatment model (MPiRe) for selected micro-pollutants |journal=Water Research |date=February 2016 |volume=89 |pages=180–191 |doi=10.1016/j.watres.2015.11.046 |pmid=26650452 |bibcode=2016WatRe..89..180R }}

Focusing the research on wastewater-based surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic, McCarthy developed a sampler unit for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, and other wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE).{{Cite journal|title=Passive Sampling of SARS-CoV-2 for Wastewater Surveillance|first1=Christelle|last1=Schang|first2=Nicolas D.|last2=Crosbie|first3=Monica|last3=Nolan|first4=Rachael|last4=Poon|first5=Miao|last5=Wang|first6=Aaron|last6=Jex|first7=Nijoy|last7=John|first8=Louise|last8=Baker|first9=Peter|last9=Scales|first10=Jonathan|last10=Schmidt|first11=Bruce R.|last11=Thorley|first12=Kelly|last12=Hill|first13=Arash|last13=Zamyadi|first14=Chi-Wen|last14=Tseng|first15=Rebekah|last15=Henry|first16=Peter|last16=Kolotelo|first17=Jeroen|last17=Langeveld|first18=Remy|last18=Schilperoort|first19=Baiqian|last19=Shi|first20=Steve|last20=Einsiedel|first21=Michael|last21=Thomas|first22=James|last22=Black|first23=Simon|last23=Wilson|first24=David T.|last24=McCarthy|date=August 3, 2021|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=55|issue=15|pages=10432–10441|doi=10.1021/acs.est.1c01530|pmid=34264643|pmc=8291133|bibcode=2021EnST...5510432S }}{{cite journal |last1=Kreier |first1=Freda |title=The myriad ways sewage surveillance is helping fight COVID around the world |journal=Nature |date=10 May 2021 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-01234-1 |pmid=33972790 }} He collaborated with UoG researchers Larry Goodridge, Ed McBean, Heather Murphy and March Habash, who used his device to monitor wastewater at UoG residences and at the Guelph Wastewater Facility (GWF).{{Cite journal|title=Passive sampling, a practical method for wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2|first1=Jemaneh|last1=Habtewold|first2=David|last2=McCarthy|first3=Edward|last3=McBean|first4=Ilya|last4=Law|first5=Larry|last5=Goodridge|first6=Marc|last6=Habash|first7=Heather M.|last7=Murphy|date=March 25, 2022|journal=Environmental Research|volume=204|issue=Pt B|pages=112058|doi=10.1016/j.envres.2021.112058|pmid=34516976|pmc=8433097|bibcode= 2022ER....20412058H}}

With a team of researchers, he proposed a low-power sensor for discharge detection that can be deployed in the urban drainage network for high-resolution data monitoring against high-end loggers and sensors.{{Cite journal|title=A Low-Cost Water Depth and Electrical Conductivity Sensor for Detecting Inputs into Urban Stormwater Networks|first1=Baiqian|last1=Shi|first2=Stephen|last2=Catsamas|first3=Peter|last3=Kolotelo|first4=Miao|last4=Wang|first5=Anna|last5=Lintern|first6=Dusan|last6=Jovanovic|first7=Peter M.|last7=Bach|first8=Ana|last8=Deletic|first9=David T.|last9=McCarthy|date=January 25, 2021|journal=Sensors|volume=21|issue=9|pages=3056|doi=10.3390/s21093056|pmid=33925612 |pmc=8123848 |bibcode=2021Senso..21.3056S |doi-access=free }} They developed new sensors, loggers, and AI anomaly detection algorithms and applied them to a smart sensor array that could detect illicit connections that introduced pathogens into Australian drinking water supplies and recreational waterways. Using these sensor networks, his research team detected incursions of sewage into Australian waterways.{{Cite journal|title=Illicit discharge detection in stormwater drains using an Arduino-based low-cost sensor network|first1=B.|last1=Shi|first2=S.|last2=Catsamas|first3=B.|last3=Deletic|first4=M.|last4=Wang|first5=P. M.|last5=Bach|first6=A.|last6=Lintern|first7=A.|last7=Deletic|first8=D. T.|last8=McCarthy|date=March 25, 2022|journal=Water Science and Technology |volume=85|issue=5|pages=1372–1383|doi=10.2166/wst.2022.034|pmid=35290218|s2cid=246526814 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2022WSTec..85.1372S |hdl=20.500.11850/531300|hdl-access=free}}

• 2009 – Stormwater Industry Association Award, Storm Water Industry Association
• 2009-2010 – Winston Churchill Fellowship, International Churchill Society
• 2012 – FASIC Fellowship, Australian Academy of Science
• 2014 – Young Tall Poppy Science Award, Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS){{Cite web|url=http://www.aips.net.au/AIPS-retired/tall-poppies/vic-tall-poppies/vic-tall-poppy-winners/2014-vic-award-winners/|title=2014 Victorian Award Winners}}
• 2014 – Victoria Fellow, Victoria State Government
• 2014 –Trevithick Prize, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE){{Cite web|url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/page/awards/richard-trevithick-fund-prize|title=Richard Trevithick Fund Prize|website=ICE Virtual Library}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Schang |first1=C. |last2=Crosbie |first2=N. D. |last3=Nolan |first3=M. |last4=Poon |first4=R. |last5=Wang |first5=M. |last6=Jex |first6=A. |last7=McCarthy |first7=D. T. |year=2021 |title=Passive sampling of SARS-CoV-2 for wastewater surveillance |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |volume=55 |issue=15 |pages=10432–10441 |doi=10.1021/acs.est.1c01530|pmid=34264643 |bibcode=2021EnST...5510432S |url=https://researchmgt.monash.edu/ws/files/348163644/347889083_oa.pdf }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Catsamas |first1=S. |last2=Shi |first2=B. |last3=Deletic |first3=B. |last4=Wang |first4=M. |last5=McCarthy |first5=D. T. |year=2022 |title=A Low-Cost, Low-Power Water Velocity Sensor Utilizing Acoustic Doppler Measurement |journal=Sensors |volume=22 |issue=19 |pages=7451 |doi=10.3390/s22197451|doi-access=free |pmid=36236550 |pmc=9572237 |bibcode=2022Senso..22.7451C }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Murni |first1=I. K. |last2=Oktaria |first2=V. |last3=Handley |first3=A. |last4=McCarthy |first4=D. T. |last5=Donato |first5=C. M. |last6=Nuryastuti |first6=T. |last7=Bines |first7=J. E. |year=2022 |title=The feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance using wastewater and environmental sampling in Indonesia |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=17 |issue=10 |pages=e0274793 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0274793|doi-access=free |pmid=36240187 |pmc=9565423 |bibcode=2022PLoSO..1774793M }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Lim |first1=T. J. |last2=Sargent |first2=R. |last3=Henry |first3=R. |last4=Fletcher |first4=T. D. |last5=Coleman |first5=R. A. |last6=McCarthy |first6=D. T. |last7=Lintern |first7=A. |year=2022 |title=Riparian buffers: Disrupting the transport of E. coli from rural catchments to streams |journal=Water Research |volume=222 |pages=118897 |doi=10.1016/j.watres.2022.118897|pmid=35932702 |bibcode=2022WatRe.22218897L }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Galbraith |first1=P. |last2=Henry |first2=R. |last3=McCarthy |first3=D. T. |year=2022 |title=Plants against pathogens: Effect of significant antimicrobial-producing plants on faecal microbe inactivation throughout the soil profile of stormwater biofilters |journal=Water Research |volume=221 |pages=118707 |doi=10.1016/j.watres.2022.118707|pmid=35717708 |bibcode=2022WatRe.22118707G |doi-access=free }}

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Category:Living people

Category:Academic staff of Monash University

Category:1981 births

Category:Australian civil engineers

Category:Monash University alumni