Background

Dr. Erfan Goharian’s research focuses on water resources systems analysis and integrated management of water resources. He develops complex quantitative and computational models with the purpose of providing enhanced knowledge needed to better understand interactions in coupled human-natural systems and water-energy-food nexus, and how they are shaped by climate, environmental, economic, social and political changes. Before joining University of South Carolina, he was leading the research on re-operation of integrated water systems in California as a part of University of California Water Security and Sustainability Research Initiative (UC Water). Dr. Goharian holds a Ph.D. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering with emphasize on Water Resources Management from the University of Utah. Beyond his technical background, he has experience working in collaborations across institutions and disciplinary boundaries.

Research Interests

• Integrated Water Resources Modeling and Management
• Systems Thinking and Analysis
• Water-Energy-Food Nexus
• Hydroinformatics
• Multi-objective Optimization and Decision Making in Coupled Human-Natural Systems

Education

Post-doctoral, Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, 2016-2018

Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 2015

M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tehran, May 2012

B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 2009

Selected Publications

Full list of publications on Google scholar.

Goharian, E., Burian, S.J. (2018), “Developing an Integrated Framework to Build a Decision Support Tool for Urban Water Management”. Journal of Hydroinformatics, jh2018088; DOI: 10.2166/hydro.2018.088.

Goharian, E., Zahmatkesh, Z., Sandoval-Solis, S. (2018), “Uncertainty Propagation of Hydrologic Modeling in Water Supply System Performance: Application of Monte Carlo Markov Chain Method.” Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001646.

Goharian, E., Burian, S., Karamouz, M. (2017), “Using Joint Probability Distribution of Reliability and Vulnerability to Develop a Water System Performance Index.”  Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000869.

Goharian, E., Burian, S., Lillywhite, J., Hile, R. (2016), “Vulnerability Assessment to Support Integrated Water Resources Management of Metropolitan Water Supply Systems.”  Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000738.

Goharian, E., Burian, S., Bardsley, T., and Strong, C. (2015). "Incorporating Potential Severity into Vulnerability Assessment of Water Supply Systems under Climate Change Conditions." J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000579, 04015051.

Karamouz, M., Zahmatkesh, Z, Goharian, E., Nazif, S. (2014), “Combined impact of inland and coastal floods: mapping knowledge base for development of planning strategies.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000497 , 04014098.

Zahmatkesh, Z., Karamouz, M., Goharian, E., Burian, S. (2014), “Analysis of the Effects of Climate Change on Urban Storm Water Runoff Using Statistically Downscaled Precipitation Data and a Change Factor Approach.” Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001064 , 05014022.

Zahmatkesh, Z., Burian, S., Karamouz, M., Tavakol, H., Goharian, E. (2014), “Low-Impact Development Practices to Mitigate Climate Change Effects on Urban Stormwater Runoff: Case Study of New York City.” Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 141(1), 04014043.