LAS VEGAS - August 3, 2009 - UNLV researcher Sajjad Ahmad received a prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop an interactive computer model - a decision support system - for regional water managers that will more effectively align the myriad factors that influence long and short-term water policy and management decisions.

The decision support system is a sophisticated computer model that takes into account multiple environmental and social variables and is designed to assess the vulnerability of the Valley's water infrastructure to climate variability. When complete, the system will enable water managers to analyze the potential effects of policy decisions and contribute to developing a diverse array of management and flood control options that will make regional water infrastructure less vulnerable to climate change.

The five-year, $430,000 award is the highest honor the United States government gives to scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers and is particularly focused on those faculty who most effectively combine research and teaching.

"In order to effectively manage our water resources and determine the best course for new projects, we need to gain a better understanding of the dynamic relationship between climate change, water resources and energy demand," said Ahmad, an assistant professor in the civil engineering department. "Population and economic growth exert pressure on water resources, which in turn leads to greater energy demand. Understanding how these factors interact will reduce the vulnerability of the region's water systems to climate variability and lead to sustainable management of water resources."

Traditionally, energy/water policies and vulnerability reduction measures are developed independently or with little coordination. Ahmad's model combines energy, water and vulnerability measurements and adds the critical component of climate variability. The introduction of climate variability to decision support systems is important, says Ahmad, because a water system's ability to cope with, recover from and adapt to environmental changes are just as important as its ability to withstand a certain threshold of floods or droughts.

Ahmad will collaborate with regional water management agencies throughout the project to evaluate the reliability of current water supply and flood control systems. Short and long-term water management policies will also be examined to determine which are most sustainable and cost-effective.

Ahmad will also work with students from Henderson's Coronado High School each summer, as part of the award, to develop a water use simulation game for area school children. The game will focus on how individual water use habits impact the Valley's water resources. Users will be able to examine conservation options - such as watering restrictions, gray water use and existing home retrofitting - to see how each affects the water demand. UNLV undergraduate and graduate students will also contribute to the research.

Ahmad has received funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA and the UNLV Office of Urban Sustainability Initiatives. He is the fourth College of Engineering professor to earn the CAREER award. For more information on Ahmad's research, please visit http://faculty.unlv.edu/sajjad .