Prof. Ayantha Gomes

Dean | Department of Civil Engineering | Faculty of Engineering

CAREER SUMMARY

Academic and researcher in Civil and Environmental engineering. 

Chartered Engineer and reciepient of Presedential awards for scientific publications in 2014.

Specialist in water and environment with expertise on urban ecosystems, urban waterways and hydrology, headwater streams, environmental impact assessments and waste management.  Real estate economics is the minor specialization with special emphasis on condominium apartments.

Has professional and academic experiences in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong (SAR), and Japan.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD (Saitama University, Japan)
  • MSc (Moratuwa, Sri Lanka)
  • BSc (Eng) Hons (Moratuwa, Sri Lanka)

HONOURS AND AWARDS

  • Presidential awards for scientific publications (2014)
  • Researcher of the year award, SLIIT (2018)
  • Certificate of Merit of recognition of the research performance - citations (2020), SLIIT
  • Certificate of Special recognition of the research performance - top 10% Scopus Cite score index (2020), SLIIT

RESEARCH INTERESTS AND MEMBERSHIP

Research Interests

  • Stream, river and urban waterways rehabilitation
  • Temporary (ephmeral) streams
  • Real estate economics 
  • Eco-hydraulics 
  • Climate change and construction industry 

Memberships

  • Member, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka
  • Technical committee member, Green Building Council, Sri Lanka 
  • Member, The International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)

RESEARCH CLUSTERS

Energy and Sustainability

Interdisciplinary research on sustainable energy solutions, policy frameworks, and green technologies to combat climate change.

Fundamental and Applied Hydraulics and Hydrology

"Hydraulics and ecohydrology of rivers (including ephemeral streams) and Environmental pollution assessment and mitigation are the key domains in this group. Study areas cover all types of land uses: pristine, rural to urban. This group has collaborations with the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Irrigation Department, Sichuan University, and Saitama University. 

Areas: Solving real-world problems of lotic and lentic waters and contributing to the fundamental understanding of lotic and lentic waters and their interaction with land/catchment  "

Infrastructures, Project Management, Digital Transformation and Engineering Economics

"The built environment is prevalent for living and working. SIPM is a multi-disciplinary research group looking to identify, articulate and address the challenges faced by the construction industry and built environment.  The research group works across various subject areas to identify how we design, deliver, and utilise built environment assets and infrastructure differently, considering challenges that impact both locally and globally.  

Research group work covers infrastructure, project management, digital transformation, and engineering economics to address wider questions of how we create a resilient infrastructure and built environment in the face of local & global changes. New ideas and approaches require new skills for the construction industry; we work with construction companies to look at new delivery modes and support the development of the professions to meet these new requirements. 

The research group signifies the convolution of the questions posed for the construction industry and recognises that for research to have an impact, it must be driven by collaboration with all stakeholders to improve the well-being of citizens, ensuring that buildings and infrastructure can meet current and future needs.  

Areas: Feasibility of projects, Real estate Economics, Project management, Dispute Resolution and arbitration, Digital Transformation - BIM, Digital Twin"

Advanced AI Applications in Engineering

"The ""Advanced AI Applications in Engineering"" research group focuses on integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques across various engineering fields, including electrical and electronics, telecommunications, civil, mechanical, mechatronics, and biomedical engineering.  The group aims to address complex real-world challenges by applying AI to optimize system performance, enhance energy efficiency, and improve automation. 

Key areas of research include AI-driven system design, signal processing, smart infrastructure, autonomous systems, biomedical diagnostics, and intelligent manufacturing. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the group seeks to advance AI-driven innovations that contribute to smarter, more resilient, and efficient engineering solutions."

ONGOING RESEARCH

  • Dutch canal (Colombo canals) rehabilitation (funds from National Research Council, Sri Lanka; NRC 17-066)
  • Ecological rehabilitation of Yuen Long Nullah, Hong Kong
  • Stream flow generation of headwater streams

PUBLICATIONS

  • Journal Publications 2020

    Vegetation dynamics of ephemeral and perennial streams in mountainous headwater catchments

    Gomes, P. I. A, Wai, O. W.H, & Dehini, G. K. , “Journal of Mountain Science ” , pp. 1684-1695

  • Journal Publications 2020

    Condominium price dynamics in Sri Lanka: correlation with inflation and periods of concern

    Gomes P. I. A. and Yathushan V, “Pacific Rim Property Research Journal”

  • Journal Publications 2020

    Impact of increased instream heterogeneity by deflectors on the removal of Hydrogen Sulfide of regulated urban waterways‐a laboratory study

    Gomes, P. I. A, Samararatne, S., Wai, O. W. H, & Perera, M. D. D. , “Water Environment Research”

  • Journal Publications 2020

    Concrete lined urban streams and macroinvertebrates: a Hong Kong case study

    Gomes, P. I. A, & Wai, O. W. H , “Urban Ecosystems” , pp. 133-145

  • Journal Publications 2020

    Ecological fragmentation two years after a major landslide: Correlations between vegetation indices and geo-environmental factors

    Gomes, P. I A., Aththanayake, U., Deng, W., Li, A., Zhao, W., & Jayathilaka, T. , “Ecological Engineering”

  • Journal Publications 2020

    Investigation of Long-Term River Water Quality Trends in Hong Kong to Identify Role of Urbanization, Seasons and Pollution Sources.

    Gomes, P. I. A, & Wai, O. W. H., “Water, Air, & Soil Pollution” , pp. 1-15

  • Conference Proceedings 2008

    Spatial distribution and growth characteristics of Eragrostis Curvula in a flood meadow: Effect of soil morphology, water content and water stress

    P. I. A. Gomes, T. Asaeda, , (The 55th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of Japan)

  • Conference Proceedings 2018

    Relationship between Chromium accumulation and calcification in Nitella spp

    P. I. A. Gomes, T. Asaeda, , (73rd Limnology conference of Japanese Society of Limnology)

  • Conference Proceedings 2018

    Spatio-temporal trends of tree colonization in a mid- stream sediment bar of a regulated river and major mechanisms on tree removal during a major flood

    T. Asaeda, P. I. A. Gomes, K. Sakamoto , (First Triennial Symposium for the International Society of River Science (ISRS))

  • Conference Proceedings 2018

    Accumulation of heavy metals by charophytes: A reality?

    P. I. A. Gomes, T. Asaeda, L.X. Jie, (7th Joint seminar between Korea and Japan on Ecology and Civil Engineering)

  • Conference Proceedings 2009

    Charophytes as a hyperaccumulator of heavy metals and role of calcite encrustation

    P. I. A. Gomes, T. Asaeda, (112th Annual sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka)

  • Conference Proceedings 2009

    Charophytes as a tool for phytoremediation of heavy metals,

    T. Asaeda, P. I. A. Gomes, M. M. Bahar, (Ecological Engineering from concepts to applications, International Congress, )

  • Conference Proceedings 2010

    Stoneworts (chara, nitella) as a tool for sustainable Treatment of low strength wastewaters

    P. I. A. Gomes, T. U. L. Liyanage, & N. M. S. Wasanthi, (International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment (ICSBE))

  • Conference Proceedings 2013

    Comparison of cell-in-series and mesoscale physical habitat sampling for the interpretation of spatiotemporal variation of stream water quality

    P. I. A. Gomes, O. W. H. Wai, (IAHR Congress)

  • Conference Proceedings 2013

    Physical heterogeneity and rain induced flushing on water quality variation and pollution control of stream.

    P. I. A. Gomes, O. W. H. Wai, (International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Remediation)

  • Conference Proceedings 2014

    Ecological quality of concreted and unlined sections of a disturbed stream network in Yuen Long, Hong Kong

    Gomes, P. I. A, & Wai, O. W. H., (The 2nd symposium of Benthological Society of Asia, Busan)

  • Conference Proceedings 2015

    A holistic approach for sustainable eco-flood channel design for Yuen Long Nullah

    W.H.O. Wai, P. I. A. Gomes, D. Lam, S. W. M. Chan, , (Second International Conference on Sustainable Urbanization (ICSU2015))

  • Conference Proceedings 2018

    A comparative eco-hydrologic study of perennial and non-perennial streams of a headwater catchment

    P. I.A. Gomes, G.K. Dehini, W.D.G.B. Weerasinghe , (72nd Annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science)

  • Conference Proceedings 2016

    Deriving eco-hydraulic reference conditions for physical heterogeneity for canals in Colombo

    P. I. A. Gomes, G. Weerasinghe and R.C.M.Paulnath, (110th Annual sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka)

  • Conference Proceedings 2016

    Development of a data base of non-perennial (ephemeral and intermittent) stream flows: hindscast of historical flow rates

    P. I. A. Gomes, Onyx W. H. Wai, G. Tharmarajah , (6th Digital Earth Summit, )

  • Conference Proceedings 2018

    Harmonising flood safety and ecological rehabilitation in urban lotic waters of Sri Lanka: current status, constraints and solutions

    P.I.A. Gomes and W. Weerasekera , (8th International Perspective on Water Resources and the Environment)

  • Journal Publications 2017

    Deflectors to introduce heterogeneity to canals.

    Randima, W. A. H., Wijethilaka, M. A. D. K., Kumara, G. H. V. S., & P. I. A. Gomes , “IEEE Explorer ” (National Conference on Technology and Management (NCTM))

  • Conference Proceedings 2017

    The structure and implications of land prices in Colombo suburbs

    P. I. A. Gomes, and R.K. Hashan , (111th Annual sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka)

  • Conference Proceedings 2018

    Impact of southern expressway on land prices

    G. L.S. Dabare, P. I. A. Gomes , (ACEPS)

  • Conference Proceedings 2018

    Spatiotemporal variation of water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in a concrete lined stream network

    P. I. A. Gomes, O. W. H. , (12th International symposium on Ecohydraulics)

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