Research Fellow/Senior Researc
Research Fellow
Overview
Dr Dia Adhikari Smith is the Tritium E-Mobility Research Fellow at The University of Queensland’s Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation (School of Chemical Engineering) and the Transport Research Group (School of Civil Engineering). Her research focusses on advancing the performance, economics, and uptake of E-Mobility globally, with a particular focus on the decarbonisation of both on-road and non-road heavy vehicles used in transport, construction, and mining sectors. Dia’s research expertise in low and zero emission heavy vehicles, powered by electric, hydrogen and advanced biofuels, has been demonstrated through several industry and government engagements to deliver decarbonisation feasibility studies, emissions modelling, cost benefit analyses, total cost of ownership scenarios and developing strategic roadmaps and recommended policy packages to achieve net zero emissions. Dia has a PhD in Power and Energy Systems Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University, UK and worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Integrated Renewable Energy Generation and Supply, Cardiff University, UK and as a Lecturer at the Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, USA.
Dia's postdoctoral research experience involved in-depth research to investigate Smart Grid network assessment and planning methodologies that would consider type, extent, and pathway of various smart, innovative, and sustainable technology interventions (renewable energy sources, distributed generation, battery storage, electric vehicles, and hydrogen). Dia has worked on different quantitative and qualitative research methods to analyse the factors affecting the diffusion of low and zero emission technologies in the UK and conducted feasibility studies to evaluate the inhibiting factors for Smart Grid transition within the building industry (smart sustainable houses) and the mining sector (electric heavy vehicles, renewable energy sources, and energy storage) in the perspective of users, energy experts, energy providers, respective industries, policymakers, regulators, and the government. Dia's research projects involved close collaboration with Academia, Government and Industry to propose strategic guidelines, evaluate policies, and publish joint work-stream reports, for the successful diffusion of zero-emission technologies and renewable energy systems.
Research Interests
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low and zero emission road-freight transport
low and zero emission road-freight vehicles, powered by electric, hydrogen, and advanced biofuels -
construction site decarbonisation
low and zero-emission technologies that could drive the transition to fossil-fuel free and ultimately zero emission construction sites -
decarbonisation of heavy vehicles
decarbonisation of both on-road and non-road heavy vehicles used in transport, construction, and mining sectors
Qualifications
- Master of Science, University of Sussex
- Doctor of Philosophy, Glasgow Caledonian University
Publications
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Adhikari Smith, Dia and Hickman, Mark (2023). Opportunities to Decarbonise Queensland’s Road Freight Task: developing a strategic roadmap to a smooth transition to low and zero emission technologies. Transport Academic Partnership (TAP) Project: Opportunities to decarbonise Queensland’s road freight task Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
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Other Outputs: Planning a Transition to Low and Zero Emission Construction Machinery
Adhikari Smith, Dia, Whitehead, Jake and Hickman, Mark (2022). Planning a Transition to Low and Zero Emission Construction Machinery. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/93110de
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Other Outputs: A feasibility assessment of transitioning to low or zero emission truck technologies in Queensland
Adhikari Smith, Dia, Whitehead, Jake and Hickman, Mark (2021). A feasibility assessment of transitioning to low or zero emission truck technologies in Queensland. Transport Academic Partnership (TAP) Project: Opportunities to decarbonise Queensland’s road freight task Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Grants
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(2023) Swinburne University of Technology
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Emissions and economic modelling of road and rail freight in NSW
(2022–2023) iMove Cooperative Research Centre
Publications
Journal Article
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PD characteristics and degradation in PET insulation with vented and unvented internal voids
Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D. M. and Stewart, B. G. (2013). PD characteristics and degradation in PET insulation with vented and unvented internal voids. Electric Power Systems Research, 100, 65-72. doi: 10.1016/j.epsr.2013.02.012
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Comparison of partial discharge characteristics and degradation in several polymeric insulators
Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D.M. and Stewart, B.G. (2012). Comparison of partial discharge characteristics and degradation in several polymeric insulators. IET Science, Measurement & Technology, 6 (6), 474-484. doi: 10.1049/iet-smt.2011.0226
Conference Publication
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Real time closed-loop test rig for decentralized control of smart distribution networks
Adhikari, D., Wu, J. and O'Malley, G. (2015). Real time closed-loop test rig for decentralized control of smart distribution networks. 6th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE), Taipei, Taiwan, 30 May - 2 June, 2014. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.948
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Characterisation of PD occurring in injected air bubbles in block polymeric insulation
Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D. M. and Stewart, B. G. (2012). Characterisation of PD occurring in injected air bubbles in block polymeric insulation. IEEE Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, CEIDP 2012, Montreal, QC, Canada, 14 - 17 October 2012. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/ceidp.2012.6378719
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PD degradation analysis of PET with enclosed voids and voids connected to closed and vented channels
Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D. M. and Stewart, B. G. (2012). PD degradation analysis of PET with enclosed voids and voids connected to closed and vented channels. 47th International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC), Uxbridge, United Kingdom, 4-7 September 2012. doi: 10.1109/upec.2012.6398692
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Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D. M. and Stewart, B. G. (2012). Comparative study of PD characteristics and degradation of PET insulation with a self-contained void, void with closed channel and void with vented channel. 19th IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation, San Juan, PR, United States, 10 -13 June 2012. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/elinsl.2012.6251519
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Comparison of PD characteristics and degradation in PET insulation with vented and unvented voids
Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D. M. and Stewart, B. G. (2011). Comparison of PD characteristics and degradation in PET insulation with vented and unvented voids. Annual Report Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, CEIDP 2011, Cancun, Mexico, 16-19 October, 2011. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ceidp.2011.6232690
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Analysis of deterioration of PET insulation with multiple voids due to electrical stressing
Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D. M. and Stewart, B. G. (2011). Analysis of deterioration of PET insulation with multiple voids due to electrical stressing. 30th Electrical Insulation Conference, EIC 2011, Annapolis, MD, United States, 5 - 8 June 2011. NEW YORK: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/eic.2011.5996135
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Analysis of partial discharge characteristics in artificially created voids
Adhikari, D., Hepburn, D. M. and Stewart, B. G. (2010). Analysis of partial discharge characteristics in artificially created voids. 45th International Universities Power Engineering Conference UPEC2010, Cardiff, United Kingdom, 31 August - 3 September 2010.
Other Outputs
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Adhikari Smith, Dia and Hickman, Mark (2023). Opportunities to Decarbonise Queensland’s Road Freight Task: developing a strategic roadmap to a smooth transition to low and zero emission technologies. Transport Academic Partnership (TAP) Project: Opportunities to decarbonise Queensland’s road freight task Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
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Planning a Transition to Low and Zero Emission Construction Machinery
Adhikari Smith, Dia, Whitehead, Jake and Hickman, Mark (2022). Planning a Transition to Low and Zero Emission Construction Machinery. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/93110de
-
A feasibility assessment of transitioning to low or zero emission truck technologies in Queensland
Adhikari Smith, Dia, Whitehead, Jake and Hickman, Mark (2021). A feasibility assessment of transitioning to low or zero emission truck technologies in Queensland. Transport Academic Partnership (TAP) Project: Opportunities to decarbonise Queensland’s road freight task Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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(2023) Swinburne University of Technology
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Emissions and economic modelling of road and rail freight in NSW
(2022–2023) iMove Cooperative Research Centre
