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Staff Profile

Professor Oliver Heidrich

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6563
  • Address: School of Engineering
    Room 3.10, Cassie Building
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

I teach and research Civil and Environmental Engineering. I investigate urban climate change strategies to implement mitigation and adaptation technologies and determine the impact these strategies have on natural resources across the globe. 


My vision is to make this world an even better place. My mission is that Government, Industry and Society will appreciate the environmental and resource consequences of their actions (or indeed inaction). Having worked in the construction industry and graduated as a fully qualified Civil Engineer in Germany I completed a PhD in Environmental Management and Business Psychology (School of Engineering and the School of Biology and Psychology) at Newcastle University in 2006. After working for more than 8 years as a company director, consultant, and trainer of business leaders worldwide I re-joined academia in 2011. 

I develop and apply engineering and management methodologies to increase the profitability and understanding of industrial and urban processes. My projects have been assessed independently and received the highest possible ratings for the transfer of technical and management knowledge. I have designed and delivered training courses and consulted local and multinational companies from the construction to the banking sector. My work enhances the research and training of science, engineering, and managerial knowledge as they are directly relevant to businesses and governmental organisations.

I now develop new approaches to model and manage climate change adaptation, mitigation, natural resources, and material flows using e.g. life cycle assessment, industrial ecology, and standardised systems e.g. 9001, 18001 and 14001 in urban environments. I aim to provide researchers and decision-makers with a system-scale understanding of the inter-relationships between resource mapping and resource use in cities. I consider climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and technologies in the built environment. We quantify the intended and indeed unintended consequences of climate change interventions. 

My research, consultancy and publications feed directly into my teaching bringing expertise into the classroom. I lead modules, teach and conduct the associated administration of Higher Education (HE) Programs for UG, PG, and doctoral students. My leadership, lecturing, and administration in HE has been assessed by colleagues and students as being “very effective” and “excellent”.

I research and develop new theories for urban areas (cities) and climate change adaptation and mitigation by considering resource models, life cycle assessment and costing, industrial ecology principles, and standardised management systems.


Roles and Responsibilities

Researcher of Resource Models and Urban Areas; teaching Civil Engineering, Waste Management, Business and the Environment, Supply Chain Management and Life Cycle Assessment

Qualifications

-Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering and Business Psychology (School of Psychology and School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences), Newcastle University (2004-2006)

-Master of Science in Clean Technologies (Chemical Engineering), Newcastle University (1998-99)

-Diplom Ingenieur (Master of Engineering) in Civil Engineering HTWd Saarlandes, Germany (1993- 97)

-Fully qualified and practiced steel construction fitter, Fredenhagen, Offenbach, Germany (1985-88)

Previous Positions


Foreman in the construction industry (1988-1993)

Consultant, Plocher GmbH, Meersburg, Germany and Hsinchu, Taiwan (1997-1998)

Consultant, University (HTW) Saarland, Saarbrucken, Germany (1998-1999)

Project manager; United Chemicals Belgium (1999-2000)

Business and Research Manager; Newcastle University (2000-2004)

Director of Econoplas Ltd. (2004-2011) 

Environmental Engineering Lecturer and School Business Developer (CEG); Newcastle University (2006-2008)

Associate Director of Safety, Environment and Quality Management- SEQM Ltd. (2008-2010)

Director of Biscuit Management and Training (2010-2019) 

Memberships

International Solid Waste Management Association (ISWA)

International Society of Industrial Ecology (ISIE), Vice- Chair of the Sustainable Urban System (SUS) Section

Senior researcher at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research

Regional Expert Advisory Panel of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on Sustainability

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Languages

German (mother tongue)

Spanish (basic)

French (basic)

Google scholar: Click here.

SCOPUS: Click here.

Research

My vision is that Government, Industry and Society will appreciate the environmental and resource consequences of their actions (or indeed inaction). We develop assessment methods and decision-making tools to quantify the intended and indeed unintended consequences of climate change interventions. 

Research Interests

• Climate change adaptation and mitigation,

• Urban planning and infrastructure systems,

• Environmental, resource and waste management,

• Life cycle assessment and costing,

• Standardised management systems.

I always welcome enquiries from potential PhD students, industry and governmental organisations

Current Work

Climate change, resource models and cities

Esteem Indicators

- Researcher with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research https://tyndall.ac.uk/

- Editor for Resources, Conservation and Recycling https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/resources-conservation-and-recycling/about/editorial-board 

- Invited speaker at many national and international institutes

- Proposal reviewer for EU, Kuwait, German, Netherlands and UK research funding bodies.

- Journal reviewer (Climatic Change, International Journal of Production Economics, Water, Sustainability, Journal of Cleaner Production, Institution of Civil Engineers and many others)

- External and internal PhD examiner

- I welcome well-thought through PhD enquiries 

 Funding

Since my return to the University in 2011 I have worked on 18 research projects (6 as a project leader) that had significant impacts on cities, society, industry and academia. I published 26 peer-reviewed journal papers, with a Google Scholar H-Index of  36 (Scopus is 31) with over 7,000 citations (November 2022). I have initiated and conducted internationally leading research in environmental engineering and management. I co-developed patents e.g. recycling technology (Patent number WO2004082912), green infrastructure (WO2000073593) and products from waste (WO2006123111). The following research contracts were awarded:

  •  Project Leader (PL)  ViTAL Living Lab; Oct 2021- Sep 2024. The Defence Innovation Fund www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2021/11/vitallivinglab/
  • Collaborator; PL H. Fowler (NU) ONE Planet Doctoral Training Partnership, Sep 2019- Aug 2026, NERC (Natural Environment Research Council).  https://research.ncl.ac.uk/one-planet/
  • Project Director (PD), Global and Urban Metabolism of Potassium to feed the City (GUMP City), Sep 16- Mar 17, IfS
  • Collaborator; Project Leader (PL) P.Anderson (Birmingham University) and Simon Lambert (Newcastle) Recycling of Li-Ion Batteries ReLIB, Mar 18- Feb 2021, Faraday Institution, EPSRC. https://faraday.ac.uk/recycle-reuse/
  • PL for Newcastle University (NU); PL U.Kral (Vienna University), Mining the European Anthroposphere (MINEA), Mar 16- Feb 2020, EU COST Action. http://www.minea-network.eu/
  • Project Director Newcastle, PD: M. Rubinato (Sheffield), OPTIMISTIC-  floOd PredicTIon and Management In STeep urbanIsing Catchments, Sichuan, China, Sep-16, Newton Fund
  • Collaborator; PD: P. Blythe, Low Carbon Transitions of Fleet Operations in Metropolitan Sites (LC TRANSFORMS), Jan 16-Dec 18, EPSRC
  • Collaborator, PD John Kamara; Towards a Standardised Assessment of Building Adaptability-TOBY; Newcastle, Milano, Dec 15-Nov 16, Institute for Sustainability
  • Project collaborator; PD: D. Manning (CEG, NU), LAYERS of material flows for E-tech elements, 09/13-05/14, NERC Catalyst grant
  • Project collaborator; PD: R. Dawson (CEG), IBUILD- Infrastructure BUsiness models, valuation and Innovation for Local Delivery; 06/13- 05/17; EPSRC and ESRC
  • Project collaborator; PD: Graham Farmer (Architecture NU); U-Tec (Up-cycle to Engage Communities); 11/12-05/13; EPSRC Sandpit and SURE
  • Project collaborator: PDs: J. Kropp (PIK Berlin) and R. Dawson (CEG, NU); RAMSES (Reconciling Adaptation, Mitigation and Sustainable Development for Cities); 01/13-12/16; EC FP7
  • Project collaborator; PD: R. Dawson (CEG NU); Resource implications of adaptation of infrastructure to global change; 07/11-03/14; EPSRC
  • Project collaborator; PD: W. Weileder (Fine Art NU); Green House Singapore: Hub-to-Hub Sustainable Singapore; collaboration and interdisciplinary interventions in architecture and housing; 04/11-11/11; Urban Redevelopment Agency Singapore
  • Project director; writing and presenting: “Stewardship tools for production and operations management” at the 21stInternational Conference on Production Research, Stuttgart (Germany), 02/11-08/11; Newcastle University Business School (NUBS), Newcastle
  • Project director; reviewer of book proposal; 03/11; CAB International Publishing, Wallingford
  • Project collaborator; PD: T. Roskilly (NIRES NU); Inomanship-Energy management for conventional and renewable energy recovery and generation systems on ships; 05/11/04/14; EC FP 7
  • Project director; supervisor of MBA and MSc projects; 01/11-09/11; Newcastle University Business School (NUBS)
  • Project director; report to AEA Technology for the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with North Tyneside Council; 09/10-12/10; School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG) Newcastle University, Newcastle
  • Project collaborator; PD: R. Dawson (CEG NU); Integrated assessment technologies to support the sustainable development of urban areas; 10/09-10/13, EU Corporation in Science and Technology
  • Project director; design and delivery of undergraduate lecture of Sustainability Codes in Civil Engineering; 08/10-11/10; CEG, Newcastle University
  • Project director; design and deliver a MSc module and Continual Professional Development (CPD) course in Environmental Engineering; 08/10-02/11; CEG, Newcastle University
  • Project director; deliver a 5 day EMS Associate course for Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA); 09/10; SEQM, Newcastle
  • Project director; design and deliver a 5 day waste management and resource efficiency in the Oil Industry course; 07/10 CPT Training; Newcastle
  • Project director; co-supervisor of the KTP with North Tyneside Council; 05/10-08/10; CEG, Newcastle University
  • Project director; design and deliver a 5 day waste management and resource efficiency in the Oil Industry course, 05/10 CPT Training, Newcastle
  • Project director; Business Development and Knowledge Transfer; 10/06-08/08; Higher Education Innovation Fund
  • Project manager; PD: Prof. Blythe; YorCard, Smart card payment for public transport; 04/07-04/09; Scheidt Bachman and Yorkshire Forward
  • Project manager; PD: Prof. Blythe; Transport Issues in Cambridge; 05/07-01/08; Cambridge Council
  • Project director; New PD: Dr. Sallis; Waste management in North Tyneside; 04/08-04/00; North Tyneside Council and KTP;
  • Project manager; PD: Prof. Bell; Demand responsive signal control for roadworks; 11/07-06/08; Hatton Traffic Management; North Tyneside
  • Project manager; PD: Prof. Hall; Predicting uncertainty and flooding; 08/07-04/08; Thames Estuary 2100 and EA; London
  • Collaborator; STaR City-Science, Technology and Research for Sustainable Cities (01/05-05/08) funded by EU Marie Curie; University of Essen (Germany)
  • Collaborator; DIM SUM, Decision Making in Water Management (11/04-10/07) funded by EU FP 6; University of Natural Resources, Vienna (Austria)
  • Project manager; BIONICS-Biological and Engineering Impacts of Climate Change on Slopes (06/04-05/08) funded by EPSRC (UK).
  • Project manager; Mecoprop-Leachate Management (04/04-10/04); funded by Alco Waste Management Ltd
  • Consultant; Life Cycle Assessment and its Strategic Importance to the Construction Industry (01/04-04/04); funded by Aggregate Industries (UK)
  • Project manager; Socrates Erasmus-Teaching and Student Mobility Grant (09/03-09/05); funded by EU FP 6
  • Collaborator; SEDIS Sewage Sludge Treatment (09/03-08/06); funded by EU FP 6; IZES, Saarbruecken (Germany)
  • Consultant; Plastic Waste Management, Treatment Technologies and its Supply Chain (07/03-04/05); funded by Econoplas Ltd (UK)
  • Project manager; The Development of Pilot-plant Methodologies and Procedures for the Assessment of the Treatability for Hazardous Liquid Wastes (10/02-10/04); funded by EPT Ltd, DTI and EPSRC (UK)
  • Consultant; Waste Management Techniques and Scenarios for Tehran (08/02-02/03); funded by the Municipality of Tehran (Iran)
  • Project manager; Life Cycle Inventory of a Thermal Treatment Facility for Municipal Solid Waste (01/02-06/02); funded by Tyneside City Council (UK)
  • Project manager; The Development and Implementation of an Integrated Solid Waste Management System Incorporating Waste Reduction and Recycling Methodologies and Working Procedures (08/01-08/04); funded by United Chemicals Belgium, DTI and EPSRC (UK)

Industrial Relevance

In industry I led the implementation teams, developed new technologies and introduced managements systems and engineering applications. I successfully tendered and conducted senior management training courses in environmental engineering in the UK, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and South Africa as well as well auditing programmes in the UK, Japan and Italy for e.g. Barratt Housing, Unilever, City Group and Thompsons of Prudhoe Construction and Demolition. Here are some of the projects:

  • Project collaborator PD: J. Ringer; Review of environmental legislation across 27 countries; 05/10-08/10; Inspectorate; Witham
  • Project director; Design and deliver three 3 day training for data collectors and verifiers of Corporate Social Responsibility; 05/10-07/10; Kuwait National Petroleum Company; Kuwait
  • Project director; Design and implement ten 3 day courses to communicate SHE (Safety, Health and Environment); 05/10-10/11; United Utilities; Leeds
  • Project director; Design and implement Integrated Management System (ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001); 02/10-06/10; Koru Property Services; Gateshead
  • Project director; Design and deliver Contractor Safety and Engagement policy training, 02/10-08/10; E.ON and PMMS Consulting; Nottingham
  • Project director, Conduct an environmental review, 12/09-02/10, Arcon Housing; Manchester
  • Project director; Design and deliver three 3 days Behaviour Based Health and Safety courses; 08/09-03/10; Kuwait Petroleum Company, Kuwait
  • Project director; Design and implement Environmental Management System 14001 (EMS); 11/09-02/10; P F Burridge Construction, North Tyneside
  • Project director; Environmental Best Practice Group for Registered Social Landlords, 08/09-08/12; SEQM, Newcastle
  • Project director; Supply chain assessment and Country of Origin study; 10/09-12/09; Made In Nations; Gateshead
  • Project director; 3 Quality Management System courses International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA); 11/09-12/09; Nigeria LNG
  • Project director; Introduction of Environmental Management System; 11/09-06/10; South Tyneside Homes, Gateshead
  • Project director; taught a 5 day MSc module in Environmental Engineering; 08/09-11/09; CEG, Newcastle University
  • Project director; Develop legal register for an Environmental Management System (EMS); 09/09; P F Burridge Construction, North Tyneside
  • Project director; 5 day safety, health and environment framework standard course (IEMA and IRCA); 09/09-10/09; Unilever Europe, Greece
  • Project director; deliver a 5 day Associate course for Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA); 09/09; SEQM, Newcastle
  • Project director; deliver a 5 day Advanced environmental management system course for Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA); 08/09; SEQM Newcastle
  • Project director; Develop and implement Integrated Management System (IMS) ISO 9001; ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001; 08/09-11/09; Manor House Development; York
  • Project director; deliver a 3 day IMS course;02/09; JPD; Plumely
  • Project director; design and deliver a 3 day in-house internal auditor course; 08/09; Encore Envelops; Gateshead
  • Project director; Design and implement Quality Management System 9001 (QMS); 07/09-12/09; P F Burridge Construction, North Tyneside
  • Project director; Increase staff awareness on World Environment Day; 05/09-07/09, Duco, Newcastle
  • Project director; Develop and implement Integrated Management System (IMS) ISO 9001; ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001; 06/09-10/09; Newton Architects; Newcastle
  • Project director; design and deliver a 5 day safety, health and environment framework standard course; 04/09-05/09; Unilever Worldwide, Vietnam
  • Project director; deliver a 3 day environmental auditor course for Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA); 03/09; SEQM; Newcastle
  • Project collaborator PD: J. Ringer (SEQM); Environmental assessment of a site in Germany; 09/09-10/09; Kellogg’s; Schwartau Germany
  • Project director; design and deliver a 1 day course Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for businesses; MSc Clean Technology; 04/09; School of Chemical Engineering, Newcastle University
  • Project director; deliver a 3 day Integrated Management System (IMS) course of International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) and IEMA; 04/09; JPD; Dunstable
  • Project director; design and deliver 7x1 day course for the operation and management of an incinerator; 12/08-02/09; UPM Kymmene; Irvine
  • Project director; Gap analysis of ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001; 05/08-10/08; Citi Group (UK, Switzerland; Czech Republic and Germany)
  • Project director; deliver a 2 day IEMA Resource Efficiency course; 04/08; SEQM; Newcastle
  • Project director; IMS audits for 4 Japanese companies; 04/08; Ocean Cert. (Japan)
  • Project collaborator PD: J. Ringer (SEQM); Initial environmental review; 10/08-04/09; Derwentside Homes; Derwentside
  • Project director; Producer Responsibility Packaging Waste Packaging; 09/08-11/08; Epson printers; Telford
  • Project manager; PD: J. Ringer (SEQM); successful submission to MIDAS; 05/08-06/08; Connect Physical Health; Ashington
  • Project collaborator PD: C. Campbell (SEQM); several 1 day environmental awareness course; 03/08-05/08; Barratt Development Plc; Newcastle
  • Project director; developed green tenancy guide; 04/08-08/08; The Gateshead Housing Company; Gateshead
  • Project director; Healthcare Organisations in Italy and OSHAS 18001; 04/08-05/08; Orazio Piacenza; Italy
  • Project collaborator PD: C. Campbell (SEQM); Developed sustainable purchasing strategy; 04/08-10/08; The Gateshead Housing Company
  • Project collaborator PD: C. Campbell (SEQM); Developing Environmental Management System (EMAS); 04/08-08/09; The Gateshead Housing Company
  • Project director; design and deliver a 5 day waste management and resource efficiency course; 03/08-04/08; Kararchaganak Petroleum Company; Kazakhstan, Newcastle
  • Project director/manager; PD: J. Ringer (SEQM); Design and implement Corporate Social Responsibility; 08/08-07/10; Kuwait National Petroleum; Kuwait
  • Project director; 5 day MSc module in Environmental Engineering; 08/08-11/08; CEG, Newcastle University
  • Project collaborator; PD: J. Ringer; designing and implementing Quality Management System; 06/08-05/09; North Tyneside Council
  • Project collaborator; PD: J. Ringer; Effluent review and assessment of treatment techniques; 04/08-05/08; Rosewood Packaging; North Shields
  • Project director; Supply chain assessment and Country of Origin study; 10/09-12/09; Made In Nations; Newcastle
  • Project director; Design and implement Quality Management System 9001 (QMS); 07/09-12/09; P F Burridge Construction, North Tyneside
  • Project director; Develop and implement Integrated Management System (IMS) ISO 9001; ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001; 06/09-10/09; Newton Architects; Newcastle
  • Project director; 5 day safety, health and environment framework standard course; 04/09-05/09; Unilever Worldwide, Vietnam
  • Project director; 5 day course business and supply chain management; 08/06-10/06; CPT Training; Newcastle
  • Project director; 5 day course in health and safety and environmental standards; 05/08-07/08; Unilever; South Africa
  • Project director; Develop and implement IMS; 06/08-05/09; Southern Green
  • Project director; design and deliver a 5 day course in health and safety and environmental standards; 05/08-07/08; Unilever; South Africa
  • Consultant; Environmental Management in Asia and Europe (05/00-04/03); funded by Sinolog Project Services GmbH (Germany and China|)
  • Director; Strategic Guidance and Direct Support for Attracting Investment; Raw Materials; Manufacturing; Marketing and Sales (01/04-present); funded by Econoplas Ltd. (UK)
  • Consultant; The Management of Waste Tyres (01/04-03/04); funded by AEA Technologies (UK)
  • Project manager; The Development of Pilot-plant Methodologies and Procedures for the Assessment of the Treatability for Hazardous Liquid Wastes (10/02-10/04); funded by EPT Ltd, DTI and EPSRC (UK)
  • Consultant; Waste Management Techniques and Scenarios for Tehran (08/02-02/03); funded by the Municipality of Tehran (Iran)
  • Project manager; Analysis of Groundwater and Landfill Leachate (04/03-05/05); funded by C.F. Harris Ltd (UK
  • Project manager; Life Cycle Inventory on the Introduction of On-board Weighing for Charging in Municipal Waste Management and its Support for Decision Making (01/03-06/03); funded by PM on Board (Uk)
  • Consultant; Life Cycle Assessment and its Strategic Importance to the Construction Industry (01/04-04/04); funded by Aggregate Industries (UK)
  • Consultant; The Management of Waste Tyres (01/04-03/04); funded by AEA Technologies (UK)
  • Consultant; Plastic Waste Management, Treatment Technologies and its Supply Chain (07/03-04/05); funded by Econoplas Ltd (UK)
  • Project manager; The Feasibility of Detecting PVdC on Polypropylene Film (6/00-12/00); funded by Mercantile Taiwan Enterprise Ltd. (Taiwan)
Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

I lead and teach on the following modules:

- Sustainable Solutions in Civil Engineering (1st and 2nd year in BEng and MEng Civil Engineering)

- Water and Waste Management (2nd year BEng and MEng Civil Engineering)

- Introduction to Resource and Solid Waste Management (3rd year BEng and MEng Civil Engineering)

- Ethics and Sustainability (4th Year BEng and MEng Civil Engineering)

- Final year Individual Project (BEng Civil Engineering)

and I supervise BEng or MEng final-year student projects


Postgraduate Teaching

I lead and teach the following modules:

- Recycling and LCA for Sustainable Materials (MSc Clean Technology, MEng Chemical Engineering and MEng Mechanical Engineering)

- Resource and Solid Waste Management (MSc Environmental Engineering and MEng Civil Engineering)

- Climate Change: Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (MSc in Water Resource Management and MSc in Hydrology and Climate Change)

- Public policy and infrastructure (MEng Civil Engineering)

And I

- Supervise or co-supervise MSc and MBA student projects (from Engineering to Business Studies)

- Supervise or co-supervise PhD projects

- Act as internal or external PhD Examiner


I very much welcome inquiries from potential students

Publications