Bruce Macvicar, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Associate Professor
University of Waterloo
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1
(519) 888-4567 x38897
bmacvicar@uwaterloo.ca
Employment
Associate Professor (2016 - present) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo.
Assistant Professor (2009-2016) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo.
Post-Doctoral Fellow (2008-2009), Sediment transport in non-uniform flow and the role of the wall in the generation of bed-forms, directed by Dr. Jim Best, Department of Geology and the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Post-Doctoral Fellow (2006-2008), Spatial and temporal dynamics of wood in European rivers, directed by Dr. Hervé Piégay, National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) UMR5600, Lyon, France. Funding from European program: Environmental Risks to the Continental Ecosphere.
Water Resource Engineer (full-time 1999-2001, contract basis 2001-2006), Water Resources Department, Marshall Macklin Monaghan Ltd., Toronto, Canada
Education
Ph.D. (2006), On Turbulence and the Formation of Riffle-Pools in Gravel-Bed Rivers, supervised by Dr. André Roy, Department of Geography, University of Montreal.
M.A.Sc. (1999), Application of a Rational Model of Stream Equilibrium to Predict Channel Adjustments, supervised by Dr. Rob Millar, Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia.
B.Sc. (Eng) (1996), Water Resources Engineering, University of Guelph.
Graduate Student Supervision
Current
Fatemeh Montakhab, Ph.D. (2016 – present) Unsteady flow in urban rivers.
Sayed Abedin, Ph.D. (2018 – present) Hydraulic uncertainty in urban flood modelling
Taylor Kenyon, Ph.D. (2022-present) Sediment connectivity in a changing alpine climate
Lukas Mueller, M.A.Sc. (2021-present) Riffle formation and destruction during floods
Megan Iun, MASc (2022 – present) Sediment augmentation for lake outlet restoration
Guillaume Poulin, M.A.Sc. (2022-present) (co-supervised with Chul Min Yeum)
Thiruni Thirimanne, M.A.Sc. (2022-present).
Carolane Bergeron, M.A.Sc. (starting Jan 2023) (co-supervised with Christine Dow)
Completed
Hamed Dashtpeyma, Ph.D. (2014 - 2019), Turbulent structures in isolated pool-riffle units. Numerical modeler, Hatch.
Andrew Clow, M.A.Sc. (2018 – 2020) Characterizing sediment transport and stability in remote river systems. Engineer, SNC Lavalin.
Aryn Cain, M.A.Sc. (2017 – 2019) High-precision Sediment Tracking for Characterization of Sediment Transport of a Rural Stream in Southern Ontario Conditioned by Glacial Legacy Deposits. Engineer, Dillon Consulting.
Christopher Muirhead, M.A.Sc. (2016 – 2018) Advances in River Bedload Tracking Technology: Self-righting Radio Frequency Identification Tracers and an In-stream Automated Station. Engineer, GHD Consulting.
Thomas Raso, M.A.Sc. (2015 – 2017) The Impacts of Stormwater Management on Hydromodification and Bedload Sediment Transport in a Gravel-Bed Stream. Teacher.
Kimisha Ghunowa, M.A.Sc. (2015 – 2017) Spatial Decision Support for Urban Streams. Analyst, Credit Valley Conservation Authority.
John Hufnagel, M.A.Sc. (2012-2016), Flume construction and RFID tracking techniques for fluvial sediment transport studies. Professor, Mechanical Technology, Conestoga College Institute of Technology.
Sannan Mansoor, M.A.Sc. (2014-2015), Sediment Transport and Metals Modeling in an Urban Stream: The Don River in Toronto. Co-supervised with Philippe van Cappellen, Faculty of Science. Engineer, Jacobs Consultants.
Scott Dilling, M.A.Sc. (2012-2014), Despiking Velocimetric Data with 2D ARMA Models and the Role of Impulse in Sediment Movement with Variable Bed Slopes. Engineer, Morrison Hershfield.
Vernon Bevan, M.A.Sc. (2012-2014), The effect of urbanization on sediment supply and transport: a field study of Wilket Creek in Toronto. NSERC IPS sponsored by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Consultant in Oregon, USA.
Christina Bright, M.A.Sc. (2010-2014), Development of an RFID Approach for Monitoring Bedload Sediment Transport and a Field Case Study, NSERC IPS sponsored by Water’s Edge Environmental Solutions. Engineer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
Lana Obach, M.A.Sc. (2009-2011), The Hydrodynamics of Pool-Riffle Sequences with Changing Bedform Length. Engineer, City of Winnipeg.
Elli Papangelakis, Post-Doctoral Fellow. (2021) Watershed scale analysis of erosion in Etobicoke Creek Watershed for Official Plan Update. Mitacs Accelerate with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Assistant Professor and Fairley Gadsby Research Chair in Fluvial Geomorphology, McMaster University.
Sarah Peirce, Post-Doctoral Fellow (2018), Alluvial Cover Dynamics in Fixed-Bed Channels with Irregular Meanders, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, University of Toronto.
Margot Chapuis, Post-Doctoral Fellow (2012–2014) Assessment stability and sediment dynamics of riffle-pool restoration in an urban creek, co-supervised with André Roy, Faculty of Environment. Associate Professor, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.
Kimisha Ghunowa, Research Associate (2018 – 2019) Erosion Risk in a Risk and Return on Investment Tool for Urban Land Development. Specialist, Credit Valley Conservation Authority.
Julian Krick, Research Associate (2015 – 2016) Establishment of four long-term field sites for assessing the impact of urbanization, stormwater management, and stream restoration on stream sediment dynamics. Environmental Technician, Ecofish Research Ltd.Research Contributions
Journal Articles
Papangelakis, E., B. MacVicar, F. Montakhab, P. Ashmore (2022) Flow strength and bedload sediment travel distance in gravel bed rivers, Water Resources Research, 58(7), e2022WR032296, 10.1029/2022WR032296
Papangelakis, E., B. MacVicar, P. Ashmore, D. Gingerich and C. Bright (2022) A test of a watershed-scale stream power index tool for erosion risk assessment in an urban river, Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment (ASCE), 8(3), 04022008, 10.1061/JSWBAY.0000989. *Editor’s choice award.
MacVicar, B., E. Papangelakis (2022) Lost and found: maximizing the information from a series of bedload tracer surveys, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 47(2), 399-408, 10.1002/esp.5255.
Ghunowa, K., B.J. MacVicar, P.A.Ashmore (2021) Stream power index for networks (SPIN) toolbox for decision support in urbanizing watersheds, Environmental Modelling and Software, 144, 105185, DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105185.
H. Ghaffarian*, P. Lemaire*, Z. Zhang*, L. Tougne, B. MacVicar, H. Piégay (2021) Automated quantification of floating wood pieces in rivers from video monitoring: a new software tool and validation, Earth Surface Dynamics, 9, 519-537, DOI: 10.5194/esurf-2020-96
Shumilova, O.*, A.N. Sukhodolov, G.S. Constantinescu, B.J. MacVicar (2021) Dynamics of shallow wakes on gravel-bed floodplains: Data set from field experiments, Earth Systems Science Data, 13, 1519-1529, 10.5194/essd-13-1519-2021 (data description paper).
Zhang, Z.*, H. Ghaffarian*, B. MacVicar, P. Lemaire*, L. Vaudor, A. Antonio, K. Michel, H. Piégay (2021) Video monitoring of in-channel wood: from flux characterization and prediction to recommendations to equip stations, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 46(4), 822-836. DOI: 10.1002/esp.5068.
Peirce, S., B. MacVicar, Papangelakis, E., L. Verynck, P.Ashmore, (2021) Experiments on restoring alluvial cover using gravel augmentation in a variable width channel with irregular meanders, Geomorphology, 379, 107585, special issue on River Morphodynamics and its Restoration, DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107585.
Papangelakis, E., Welber, M.*, P.Ashmore, B. MacVicar (2021) Controls of alluvial cover formation, morphology, and bedload transport in a sinuous channel with a non-alluvial boundary, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 46(2), 399-416. DOI: 10.1002/esp.5032.
Cain, A., B.J. MacVicar (2020) Field tests of an improved sediment tracer including non-intrusive measurement of burial depth, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 45(14), 3488-3495, DOI: 10.1002/esp.4980.
Welber, M.*, Papangelakis, E., P.Ashmore, B. MacVicar (2020) Experiments on restoring alluvial cover in straight and meandering rivers using gravel augmentation, River Research and Applications, 36(8), 1543-1558, DOI: 10.1002/rra.3699.
Papangelakis, E., B.J. MacVicar (2020) Process-based assessment of success and failure in a riffle-pool river restoration project, River Research and Applications, 36(7), 1222-1241, DOI: 10.1002/rra.3636.
Ghaffarian, H.*, H. Piégay, D. Lopez, E. Mignot, B. MacVicar, A. Antonio, and N. Rivière (2020) Video-monitoring of wood discharge: first inter-basin comparison and recommendations to install cameras, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 45(10), 2219-2234, DOI: 10.1002/esp.4875.
MacVicar, B.J., A. Clow, C. Muirhead, R. Al-Hammoud, J. Craig (2020) Design, construction, and destruction in the classroom: Experiential learning with earthen dams, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 146(6), 04020037, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001745.
Mehraein, M., M. Torabi, Y. Sansefidi+, B.J. MacVicar (2020) Numerical simulation of free flow through side orifice in a circular open-channel using response surface method, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 76, 101825, DOI: 10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2020.101825.
Papangelakis, E., B.J. MacVicar, P. Ashmore (2019) Bedload sediment transport regimes of semi-alluvial rivers conditioned by watershed urbanization and stormwater management, Water Resources Research, 55 (12), 10565-10587, DOI: 10.1029/2019WR025126.
Papangelakis, E., C. Muirhead, A. Schneider, B.J. MacVicar (2019) A new synthetic Radio Frequency Identification tracer stone with a weighted inner ball for burial depth estimation, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 145(12), 06019014, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001650. *Editor’s Choice, December 2019.
Sangsefidi, Y., B.J. MacVicar, M. Ghodsian, M. Mehraein, M. Torabi, and B.M. Savage (2019) Evaluation of flow characteristics in labyrinth weirs using response surface methodology, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 69 (10), 101617, DOI: 10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2019.101617.
MacVicar, B.J., A. N. Sukhodolov (2019), Sampling strategies to improve scaling parameter estimates in rivers, Journal of Hydraulic Research, 57(6), 10.1080/00221686.2018.1522379.
Mansoor, S.Z., S. Louie, A.T. Lima, P. Van Cappellen, B.J. MacVicar (2018), The spatial and temporal distribution of metals in an urban stream: A case study of the Don River in Toronto, Canada, Journal of Great Lakes Research, 44(6), 1314-1326, 10.1016/j.jglr.2018.08.010.
Bevan, V., B.J. MacVicar, M. Chapuis, K. Ghunowa, E. Papangelakis, J. Parish, W.Snodgrass (2018), Enlargement and evolution of a semi-alluvial creek in response to urbanization, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 43 (11), 2295-2312, DOI:10.1002/esp.4391.
Hufnagel, J., B.J. MacVicar (2018) Design and performance of a Radio Frequency Identification scanning system for sediment tracking in a purpose-built experimental channel, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 144(2), 06017028, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001412.
Dilling, S., and B.J. MacVicar (2017), Cleaning high-frequency velocity profile data with autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 54, 68-81, doi: 10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2016.12.005.
MacVicar, B.J., M. Chapuis, E. Buckrell, and A.G. Roy (2015), Assessing the performance of in-stream restoration projects using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponders, Water, 7, 5566-5591, doi: 10.3390/w7105566.
MacVicar, B.J., L. Obach, (2015), Shear stress and hydrodynamic recovery over bedforms of different length in a straight channel, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 141(11), 04015025, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001043
MacVicar, B.J., S. Dilling, and J. Lacey (2014), Multi-Instrument Turbulence Toolbox (MITT): Opensource MATLAB algorithms for the analysis of turbulent flow time series, Computers and Geosciences, 73, 88-98, doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2014.09.002.
Chapuis, M., C. Bright, J. Hufnagel, and B.J. MacVicar (2014), Detection ranges and uncertainty of passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponders for sediment tracking in rivers and coastal environments, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 39(15), 2109-2120, doi: 10.1002/esp.3620.
MacVicar, B.J. and J. Best (2013) A flume experiment on the effect of channel width on the perturbation and recovery of flow in straight pools and riffles with smooth boundaries, Journal of Geophysical Research – Earth Surface, 118 (3), 1850-1863, doi: 10.1002/jgrf.20133.
MacVicar, B.J. (2013) Local head loss coefficients of riffle-pools in gravel bed rivers, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 139 (11), 1193-1198, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000787.
MacVicar, B. J., and H. Piégay (2012), Implementation and validation of video monitoring for wood budgeting in a wandering piedmont river, the Ain River (France), Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 37(12), 1272–1289, doi: 10.1002/esp3240.
MacVicar, B. J., and C. D. Rennie (2012), Flow and turbulence redistribution in a straight artificial pool, Water Resources Research, 48(2), W02503, doi: 10.1029/2010wr009374.
MacVicar, B.J., and A.G. Roy (2011), Sediment mobility in a forced riffle-pool, Geomorphology, 125, 445-456, doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.10.031.
MacVicar, B. J., C.D. Rennie, and A.G. Roy (2010), Discussion of “Unifying criterion for the velocity reversal hypothesis in gravel-bed rivers” by D. Caamano, J. M. Buffington, J. C.P. Liou, and S. Daley-Laursen, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 136, 550-552, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.19437900.0000120.
MacVicar, B.J., H. Piégay, A. Anderson, C. Oberlin, F. Comiti, and E. Pecorari (2009), Quantifying the temporal dynamics of wood in large rivers: new techniques for wood tracking, monitoring, surveying, and dating, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 34, 2031–2046, doi: 10.1002/esp.1888.
Rollet, A. J., B.J. MacVicar, H. Piégay, A. Roy (2008), A comparative study on the use of Passive Integrated Transponders to estimate sediment transport: first results, La Houille Blanche, 4, 87-93.
MacVicar, B.J., and A. G. Roy (2007), Hydrodynamics of a forced riffle pool in a gravel bed river: 1. Mean velocity and turbulence intensity, Water Resources Research, 43, W12401, doi:10.1029/2006WR005272.
MacVicar, B.J., and A. G. Roy (2007), Hydrodynamics of a forced riffle pool in a gravel bed river: 2. Scale and structure of coherent turbulent events, Water Resources Research, 43, W12402, doi:10.1029/2006WR005274.
MacVicar, B.J., E. Beaulieu, V. Champagne, and A.G. Roy (2007), Measuring water velocity in highly turbulent flows: Field tests of an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) and an Electromagnetic Current Meter (ECM), Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32, 14121432, doi:10.1002/esp.1497.
MacVicar, B.J., L. Parrott, and A.G. Roy (2006), A 2-D discrete particle model of gravel-bed river systems, Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface, 111, F03009, doi:10.1029/2005JF000316.
Lamarre, H., B.J. MacVicar, and A.G. Roy (2005), Using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to investigate sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers, Journal of Sedimentary Research, 75, 736-741, doi: 10.2110/jsr.2005.059.
D.H. de Boer K., M.A. Hassan, B.J. MacVicar, and M. Stone (2005), Recent (1999-2003) Canadian research on contemporary processes of river erosion and sedimentation, and river mechanics, Hydrological Processes, 19, 265-283.
Book Chapters
Thompson, D. M., & MacVicar, B. J. (2022). Pool-Riffle. In: Shroder, J.J.F. (Ed.), Treatise on Geomorphology, vol. 6. Elsevier, Academic Press, pp. 587–608. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12087-1..
MacVicar, B.J., L. Obach, and J. Best (2013), Large-scale turbulent flow structures in alluvial pools, Coherent Flow Structures in Geophysical Flows at Earth’s Surface, edited by J.G. Venditti, J.L. Best, M. Church, and R.J. Hardy, Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp. 243-259.
MacVicar, B.J. (2012), Secondary flows in rivers: The effect of complex geometry, in Gravel Bed Rivers: processes, tools, environments, edited by M. Church, P. Biron, and A.G. Roy, Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp. 23-30. ISBN 978-0-470-68890-8.
MacVicar, B. J., A. Hauet, N. E. Bergeron, L. Tougne, and I. Ali (2012), River monitoring with groundbased videography, in Fluvial Remote Sensing for Science and Management, edited by P. Carbonneau and H. Piégay, Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp. 367-383.
Discussions
MacVicar, B.J. (2013), Interactive comment on “The mass distribution of coarse particulate organic matter exported from an alpine headwater stream” by J. M. Turowski et al., Earth Surface Dynamics Discussions, C1-6.
MacVicar, B.J. (2012), Discussion of “The geomorphic response of gravel-bed rivers to dams: Perspectives and prospects” by G.E. Grant, in Gravel Bed Rivers: processes, tools, environments, edited by M. Church, P. Biron, and A.G. Roy, Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp. 181.
MacVicar, B.J. (2012), Discussion of “River restoration: Widening perspectives” by N.J. Clifford, in Gravel Bed Rivers: processes, tools, environments, edited by M. Church, P. Biron, and A.G. Roy, Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp. 158.
MacVicar, B.J. (2010), Interactive comment on “A flume experiment on the effect of constriction shape on the formation of forced pools” by D.M. Thompson and C.R. McCarrick, Hydrology and Earth Systems Science Discussions, 7, C709-713.
Articles in refereed conference proceedings
Montakhab, F., B. MacVicar, (2022) How fast is “flashy”? Hydraulics of flood hydrographs in small urban rivers, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, Ottawa and Kingston, Canada, November 2022.
Abedin, S., B. MacVicar, (2022) Understanding the Impacts of Hydraulic Uncertainties on Urban Flood Mapping using a Two-dimensional (2D) Unsteady Flow Modeling based Stochastic Flood Mapping Framework, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, Ottawa and Kingston, Canada, November 2022.
Barlow, V., P. Ashmore, B. MacVicar (2022) Predicting response of channel width along an urbanizing river channel, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, Ottawa and Kingston, Canada, November 2022.
Papangelakis, E., B. MacVicar, F. Montakhab, P. Ashmore (2022) Modelling bedload particle travel lengths in rivers with different hydrologic regimes, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, Ottawa and Kingston, Canada, November 2022.
A. Cain, M. Iannetta, C. Muirhead, E. Papangelakis, T. Raso, P. Ashmore & B.J. MacVicar (2020) Bedload tracking in urban semi-alluvial creeks: technological improvements and comparisons of the mean annual particle velocity, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, Delft, Netherlands, July 2020.
Muirhead, C., R. Al-Hammoud, J. Craig, B.J. MacVicar (2018) Linking academic courses with practical hands-on experience for civil, environmental and geological engineering students, Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA-ACEG18) Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Dashtpeyma, H., B.J. MacVicar (2018) Vortex-Resistance Hypothesis: Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Flow in Isolated Pool-Riffle Units, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, Lyon, France.
Papangelakis, E., B.J. MacVicar, F.A. Montakhab, P. Ashmore (2018) Hydromodification and bedload sediment transport in urban streams in Southern Ontario, Canada, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, Lyon, France.
Alencar, P., D. Cowan, D. Mulholland, B. MacVicar, S. Courtenay, S. Murphy, F. McGarry (2017) iEnvironment: A Software Platform for Integrated Environmental Monitoring and Modeling of Surface Water, IEEE Conference on Big Data, Boston, Massachusetts.
Duguay, J., J. Lacey, A.E. Benchikh Lehocine, B. MacVicar (2017) Comparison of velocity and turbulence statistics obtained using a Nortek Vectrino Profiler and stereo particle image velocimetry, Hydraulic Measurement and Experimental Methods, International Association of Hydraulic Research, July 9-12, Durham, New Hampshire.
Hufnagel, J., E. Papangelakis, B.J. MacVicar (2017) Advances in Sediment Tracking using Radio Frequency Identification Transponders: A purpose-built flume and gyroscopic tags, Hydraulic Measurement and Experimental Methods, International Association of Hydraulic Research, July 9-12, Durham, New Hampshire.
Dilling, S., and B.J. MacVicar (2016) Good, bad, and the ugly: Seasonal Filtering and Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) models for detecting and replacing spikes in velocity profile data, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, St. Louis, Missouri.
Chapuis, M.*, V. Bevan, B. MacVicar, and A. Roy (2014), Sediment transport and continuity in a urbanized river: issues and assessment of sediment fluxes, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, 2119-2126, Lausanne, Switzerland.
MacVicar, B.J., S. Dilling, J. Lacey, and K. Hipel (2014), A quality analysis of the Vectrino II instrument using a new open-source MATLAB toolbox and 2D ARMA models to detect and replace spikes, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, 1951-1959, Lausanne, Switzerland.
MacVicar, B.J. and H. Piégay (2012), Validation of video monitoring technique to measure wood transport in a river, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, 735-740, San Jose, Costa Rica.
MacVicar, B.J., L. Obach, S. Kara, T. Stoesser, and J. Best (2011), Shear flow in a mildly sloped rifflepool sequence, 7th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena (TSFP-7), 6 pp., Ottawa ON.
Stoesser, T., B.J. MacVicar and J. Best (2010), Turbulence Structures over a mildly sloped pool-riffle sequence, RiverFlow, International Association of Hydraulic Research, 409-417, Braunschweig, Germany.
