Professor Andrew Quinn BSc(Hons), PhD, PFHEA, FIMA, CMath, CSci

Dr Andrew Quinn

Department of Civil Engineering
Professor of Climate Adaptation

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0) 121 414 5055
Email
a.d.quinn@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Civil Engineering
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Professor Andrew Quinn is Professor of Climate Adaptation, bridging the disciplines of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. His research focuses on the interactions between infrastructure, particularly rail and transport systems, renewable energy and extreme weather events/climate change and how these impact on the resilience of communities and services. Andrew was lead author of the International Union of Railways (UIC) climate change adaptation framework, helping railway organisations globally to improve their preparedness for extreme weather and climate impacts and has presented on the adaptation of transport systems at CoP24 and CoP26.

Andrew is Deputy Director of Education for the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences. The role provides strategic leadership for the College’s education delivery, particularly ensuring excellence through quality assurance and staff development. Andrew works closely with the University of Birmingham’s Higher Education Futures Institute to encourage and support pedagogic research, staff training and educational enhancement. Andrew’s educational research focuses on how students receive and perceive the feedback they are provided with during their courses in order to assist them in maximising their learning experience.

Qualifications

  • Principle Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE), 2019
  • Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) 2018
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2008
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 2008 Chartered Scientist, 2005
  • Chartered Mathematician and Member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, 2001
  • PhD Civil Engineering, 1996
  • BSc (Hons) Mathematical Physics, 1992

Biography

Andrew read Mathematical Physics at the University of Nottingham before undertaking a PhD in Civil Engineering in conjunction with the internationally recognised Wind Engineering group at the former BBSRC Silsoe Research Institute. After successfully completing the PhD he remained at SRI for almost 10 years working on a wide range of multi- and inter-disciplinary projects funded by EPSRC, BBSRC and the EU as well as industrially funded projects including diagnosing the “wobbly” Millennium footbridge in London and the West Coast Mainline (Rail) upgrade.

This wind engineering research into atmospheric wind conditions and vehicle aerodynamics combined complex full-scale measurements, statistical analysis and computational modelling, achieving new safety standards for roadside temporary signage. Andrew’s research also led to improvements in the understanding of ventilation and pollution movement contributing to new guidelines for farm animal welfare through improved ventilation.

Andrew moved to the University of Birmingham as RCUK Research Fellow in Civil Engineering in 2005. Since taking up this role he has been involved in a wide range of research and teaching activities. He is an advocate of interdisciplinary research and its application to global challenges as embodied in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. His work has been supported by EPSRC, NERC, BBSRC, EU, government departments, such as International Development, World Bank and industry bodies, such as RSSB for the rail industry.

This work has had direct impact on industry and society, for example Andrew was lead author of the International Union of Railways (UIC) climate change adaptation framework which he presented at UN CoP 24, helping railway organisations globally to improve their preparedness for extreme weather and climate impacts. Through the Adaptation for Transport Resilience to Climate Change (AfTR-CC) for LICs in Africa and South Asia, funded by FCDO through the HVT programme, Andrew has also supported developing countries to put in place policies that support resilient transport as the climate changes.

This research has led to over 60 scientific journal publication and a similar number of conference and other papers. The quality and impact of Andrew’s research has been recognised, receiving the IMechE J F Alcock Memorial Prize (2002), the IMechE WA Agnew Meritorious Award (2014) and IMechE CN Goodall Award (2014). Andrew is also a member of the EPSRC peer review college and been project prioritisation panel member for NERC and EPSRC.

Teaching

Teaching Programmes

  • BEng/MEng Civil Engineering
  • BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering
  • MSc Railway Systems Engineering and Integration

Andrew has a distinguished track record of achievement in supporting teaching and student learning. He received the Head of College Award for Excellence in Teaching & Supporting Student Learning (2010), received a UoB Teaching Fellowship (2012-13) and was invited to take on the role of EPS Deputy Director of Education (2016). Andrew’s strategic leadership of education was recognised in the awarding of Principle Fellowship of the HEA (2019) for outstanding and sustained contributions to the development of educational practice across the institution.

Andrew currently teaches Year 1 Engineering Mathematics, and Climate Impacts for the Railway MSc. Previously he has taught a wide variety of topics including Atmospheric Science, Computer Programming, Energy Engineering, Railway Engineering, Research and Study Skills, Statics, Statistics, Technical Drawing and Natural Hazards through a wide variety of lectures, tutorials and workshops.

Andrew leads the final year dissertation projects in BEng/MEng Civil Engineering and has developed principles of educational support that are now recommended practice across the university.

Andrew is a strong advocate for widening participation in higher education and has led initiatives to expand outreach activities in STEM subjects both directly and through promoting involvement in the STEM Ambassadors scheme.

Postgraduate supervision

Professor Quinn has supervised 16 PhD students and numerous MSc dissertation students to successful completion. These students have collectively published over 20 journal papers and many conference papers of their own and have gone on to become researchers, consultants and senior engineers. Professor Quinn currently supervises 2 PhD students and is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:

  • Wind structure and statistics
  • Wind effects on transport systems and vehicles Wind Energy resource assessment
  • Climate change impact assessment on infrastructure and utilities
  • Resilience of infrastructure and communities to extreme weather events

Research

Research themes

Resilience; Climate Change; Vehicle Aerodynamics (Road and Rail) and Infrastructure; Transport Systems; Wind Engineering and Wind Energy resource assessment

Research activity

Professor Quinn’s research interests cover the broad field of resilience to environmental factors, such as climate change and extreme weather events, and the field of transport systems including pollution and air-quality issues. In resilience to climate change there are significant potential long-term implications for infrastructure adaptation and use that a changing climate and changing social usage patterns will mean. In the short-term there are also significant disruptive potentials from extreme weather events, near- or beyond-capacity usage and aging infrastructure with faster or heavier vehicles. Underpinning both of these fields is an interest in the fundamental study of wind features in the atmospheric boundary layer including coherent structures, extreme wind gusts and the role of topography on wind conditions.

Professor Quinn has been involved in research projects including the 'EPSRC CDFA project Resilience through Innovation: critical local transport and utility infrastructure' and 'iBUILD' which took a multi-disciplinary approach to planning the infrastructure of the future. He was also involved in the EPSRC ARCC FUTURENET project, which first developed quantitative approaches to resilience evaluation; the EU FP7 AeroTRAIN project, which streamlined the assessment of aerodynamic safety for new trains; and 'EU WEATHER – Wind Early Alarm System for Terrestrial Transport Handling Evaluation of Risks' which sought to improve road safety through an understanding of side-wind forces on large vehicle, a major cause of accidents. These major projects complimented many studies of road and rail vehicle slipstreams and the effect on road/trackside objects that Professor Quinn has undertaken for UK and international clients.

Currently Professor Quinn is a partner in the EU RDF project SIRMA - Strengthening Infrastructure Risk Management in the Atlantic Area. This work will build novel decision support for road and rail organisations looking to build their infrastructure resilience to the changing hazards faced in coastal areas. Professor Quinn was also a work package lead for ASAP-East Africa, the international development project helping cities in the region to develop economically whilst maintaining and improving air quality for residents.

In the field of Wind Energy, Professor Quinn has been involved in the testing of micro-scale wind turbines and wind energy resource assessment at all scales. Underpinning this is an interest in the study of vortex structure identification, and other types of non-synoptic wind features, in the atmospheric boundary layer and their impacts on transport systems, structures and pollutant movement through the environment.

This has led to several projects evaluating the risk to vehicles in exposed locations and the potential for local recapture of pollution by vegetation.

Professor Quinn has also carried out a studies of extreme wind characteristics for Network Rail, wind structure characterisation, the effects of topography and urban buildings on local wind conditions and vehicle slipstream effects, including ballast movement under high-speed trains. These studies have been geared toward the improvement of safety for road and rail workers as well as the general public and has led to new operational guidelines and the revision of British Standards.

An important element of all these studies has been the interplay between full-scale measurements, computational modelling and complex data assimilation during the analysis phase. Bringing these elements together in a coherent and sensible way is a challenge because of the very different backgrounds each has developed from and the very diverse assumptions each therefore makes. This raises a number interesting practical and statistical issues for future research.

Research identifiers

Publications

  • Ferranti, E., Oberling, D., Quinn, A. (2022) Transport resilience to weather and climate: an interdisciplinary view from Rio de Janeiro. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Urban Design and Planning, DOI: 10.1680/jurdp.21.00006a
  • Hoxey, R., Richards, P., Quinn, A., Robertson, A., Gough, H. (2021) Measurements of the static pressure near the surface in the atmospheric boundary layer. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 209, art. no. 104487.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jweia.2020.104487
  • Caro, M., Dirar, S., Quinn, A., Yapa, H. (2021) Shear strengthening of existing reinforced concrete beams with embedded bars - An overview. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Structures and Buildings.  DOI: 10.1680/jstbu.20.00169
  • Palin, E.J., Stipanovic Oslakovic, I., Gavin, K., Quinn, A. (2021) Implications of climate change for railway infrastructure. WIREs Climate Change, 12 (5), art. no. e728.  DOI: 10.1002/wcc.728
  • Vita, G., Shu, Z., Jesson, M., Quinn, A., Hemida, H., Sterling, M., Baker, C. (2020) On the assessment of pedestrian distress in urban winds. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 203, art. no. 104200.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jweia.2020.104200
  • Greenham, S., Ferranti, E., Quinn, A., Drayson, K. (2020) The impact of high temperatures and extreme heat to delays on the London Underground rail network: An empirical study. Meteorological Applications, 27 (3), art. no. e1910.  DOI: 10.1002/met.1910
  • Ferranti, E., Andres, L., Denoon-Stevens, S.P., Melgaço, L., Oberling, D., Quinn, A. (2020) Operational challenges and mega sporting events legacy: The case of BRT systems in the global south. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12 (4), art. no. 1609.  DOI: 10.3390/su12041609
  • Patel, N., He, M., Hemida, H., Quinn, A. (2019) Large-Eddy Simulation of the airflow around a truck. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 195, art. no. 104017.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jweia.2019.104017
  • Suleiman, A., Tight, M.R., Quinn, A.D. (2019) Applying machine learning methods in managing urban concentrations of traffic-related particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Atmospheric Pollution Research, 10 (1), pp. 134-144.  DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2018.07.001
  • Gough, H.L., Luo, Z., Halios, C.H., King, M.-F., Noakes, C.J., Grimmond, C.S.B., Barlow, J.F., Hoxey, R., Quinn, A.D. (2018) Field measurement of natural ventilation rate in an idealised full-scale building located in a staggered urban array: Comparison between tracer gas and pressure-based methods. Building and Environment, 137, pp. 246-256.  DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.03.055
  • Quinn, A.D., Ferranti, E.J.S., Hodgkinson, S.P., Jack, A.C.R., Beckford, J., Dora, J.M. (2018) Adaptation becoming business as usual: A framework for climate-change-ready transport infrastructure. Infrastructures, 3 (2), art. no. 10, .  DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures3020010
  • Ferranti, E., Chapman, L., Lee, S., Jaroszweski, D., Lowe, C., McCulloch, S., Quinn, A. (2018) The hottest July day on the railway network: insights and thoughts for the future. Meteorological Applications, 25 (2), pp. 195-208.  DOI: 10.1002/met.1681
  • Gallagher, M., Morden, J., Baker, C., Soper, D., Quinn, A., Hemida, H., Sterling, M. (2018) Trains in crosswinds – Comparison of full-scale on-train measurements, physical model tests and CFD calculations. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 175, pp. 428-444.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jweia.2018.03.002
  • Gough, H., Sato, T., Halios, C., Grimmond, C.S.B., Luo, Z., Barlow, J.F., Robertson, A., Hoxey, R., Quinn, A. (2018) Effects of variability of local winds on cross ventilation for a simplified building within a full-scale asymmetric array: Overview of the Silsoe field campaign. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 175, pp. 408-418.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jweia.2018.02.010
  • Thomas, R.M., Mackenzie, A.R., Reynolds, S.J., Sadler, J.P., Cropley, F., Bell, S., Dugdale, S.J., Chapman, L., Quinn, A., Cai, X. (2018) Avian sensor packages for meteorological measurements. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 99 (3), pp. 499-511.  DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0181.1
  • Caro, M., Jemaa, Y., Dirar, S., Quinn, A. (2017) Bond performance of deep embedment FRP bars epoxy-bonded into concrete. Engineering Structures, 147, pp. 448-457.  DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.05.069
  • Soper, D., Gallagher, M., Baker, C., Quinn, A. (2017) A model-scale study to assess the influence of ground geometries on aerodynamic flow development around a train. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 231 (8), pp. 916-933.  DOI: 10.1177/0954409716648719
  • Murrant, D., Quinn, A., Chapman, L., Heaton, C. (2017) Water use of the UK thermal electricity generation fleet by 2050: Part 1 identifying the problem. Energy Policy, 108, pp. 844-858.  DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.05.011
  • Murrant, D., Quinn, A., Chapman, L., Heaton, C. (2017) Water use of the UK thermal electricity generation fleet by 2050: Part 2 quantifying the problem. Energy Policy, 108, pp. 859-874.  DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.03.047
  • Suleiman, A., Tight, M.R., Quinn, A.D. (2016) Assessment and prediction of the impact of road transport on ambient concentrations of particulate matter PM10. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 49, pp. 301-312.  DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2016.10.010
  • Suleiman, A., Tight, M.R., Quinn, A.D. (2016) Hybrid Neural Networks and Boosted Regression Tree Models for Predicting Roadside Particulate Matter. Environmental Modeling and Assessment, 21 (6), pp. 731-750.  DOI: 10.1007/s10666-016-9507-5
  • Sanderson, M.G., Hanlon, H.M., Palin, E.J., Quinn, A.D., Clark, R.T. (2016) Analogues for the railway network of Great Britain. Meteorological Applications, 23 (4), pp. 731-741.  DOI: 10.1002/met.1597
  • Ferranti, E., Chapman, L., Lowe, C., McCulloch, S., Jaroszweski, D., Quinn, A. (2016) Heat-related failures on southeast England's railway network: Insights and implications for heat risk management. Weather, Climate, and Society, 8 (2), pp. 177-191.  DOI: 10.1175/WCAS-D-15-0068.1
  • Lee, S.E., Quinn, A.D., Rogers, C.D.F. (2016) Advancing city sustainability via its systems of flows: The urban metabolism of birmingham and its hinterland. Sustainability (Switzerland), 8 (3), art. no. 220, .  DOI: 10.3390/su8030220
  • Ferranti, E.J.S., Quinn, AD. and Jaroszweski, D. A framework for Climate Adaptation and Resilience. In Best-Practices Handbook on Rail Infrastructure Resilience. Editors Calcada, R. and Kaewunruen, S. Elsevier S&T books.
  • Baker, C., Johnson, T., Flynn, D., Hemida, H., Quinn, A., Soper, D., Sterling, M. (2019) Train aerodynamics: Fundamentals and applications. Academic Press ISBN 978-0-12-813310-1
  • A Quinn, A Jack, S Hodgkinson, E Ferranti, J Beckford, J Dora (2017) RAIL ADAPT - Adapting the railway for the future. International Union of Railways (UIC), Paris, ISBN 978-2-7461-2680-0.
  • Richards, PJ; Quinn, AD; Parker, S; (2002) A 6 m cube in an atmospheric boundary layer flow-part 2. computational solutions. Wind and Structures 5(2-4) 177-192
  • Baker, CJ; Dalley, SJ; Johnson, T; Quinn, A; Wright, NG; (2001) The slipstream and wake of a high-speed train. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 215(2) 83-99
  • Quinn, AD; Wilson, M; Reynolds, AM; Couling, SB; Hoxey, RP; (2001) Modelling the dispersion of aerial pollutants from agricultural buildings—an evaluation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 30: 219-235
  • Dobney, K; Baker, CJ; Quinn, AD; Chapman, L; (2009) Quantifying the effects of high summer temperatures due to climate change on buckling and rail related delays in south-east United Kingdom. Meteorological Applications 16(2) 245-251
  • Sterling, M; Quinn, AD; Hargreaves, DM; Cheli, F; Sabbioni, E; Tomasini, G; Delaunay, D; Baker, CJ; Morvan, H; (2010) A comparison of different methods to evaluate the wind induced forces on a high sided lorry. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 98(1) 44105
  • Quinn, AD; Hayward, M; Baker, CJ; Schmid, F; Priest, JA; Powrie, W; (2010) A full- scale experimental and modelling study of ballast flight under high-speed trains.
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 224(2) 61-74
  • Quinn, AD; Baker, CJ; Wright, NG; (2001) Wind and vehicle induced forces on flat plates—Part 1: wind induced force. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 89(9) 817-829
  • Quinn, AD; Baker, CJ; Wright, NG; (2001) Wind and vehicle induced forces on flat plates—Part 2: vehicle induced force. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 89(9) 831-847
  • Sanz-Andrés, A; Santiago-Prowald, J; Baker, C; Quinn, A; (2003) Vehicle-induced loads on traffic sign panels. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 91(7) 925-942
  • Baker, CJ; Chapman, L; Quinn, A; Dobney, K; (2010) Climate change and the railway industry: a review. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 224(3) 519-528
  • Quinn, AD; Sterling, M; Robertson, AP; Baker, CJ; (2007) An investigation of the wind-induced rolling moment on a commercial vehicle in the atmospheric boundary layer. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering 221(11) 1367-1379
  • Dobney, K; Baker, CJ; Chapman, L; Quinn, AD;  (2010) The future cost to the United Kingdom's railway network of heat-related delays and buckles caused by the predicted increase in high summer temperatures owing to climate change.
  • Proceedings of the institution of mechanical engineers, Part F: Journal of rail and rapid transit 224(1) 25-34
  • Baker, Christopher; Jordan, Sarah; Gilbert, Timothy; Quinn, Andrew; Sterling, Mark; Johnson, Terry; Lane, John;  (2014) Transient aerodynamic pressures and forces on trackside and overhead structures due to passing trains. Part 1: Model-scale experiments; Part 2: Standards applications. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 228(1) 37-70
  • Rogers, Christopher DF; Bouch, Christopher J; Williams, Stephen; Barber, Austin RG; Baker, Christopher J; Bryson, John R; Chapman, David N; Chapman, Lee; Coaffee, Jon; Jefferson, Ian;  (2012) Resistance and resilience–paradigms for critical local infrastructure. Proceedings of the ICE-Municipal Engineer 165(2) 73-83
  • Baker, Chris J; Quinn, Andrew; Sima, Mikael; Hoefener, Lars; Licciardello, Ricardo; (2014) Full-scale measurement and analysis of train slipstreams and wakes. Part 1:
  • Ensemble averages. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 228(5) 451-467
  • Baker, Chris J; Quinn, Andrew; Sima, Mikael; Hoefener, Lars; Licciardello, Ricardo; (2014) Full-scale measurement and analysis of train slipstreams and wakes. Part 2 Gust analysis. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 228(5) 468-480
  • Dorigatti, F; Sterling, M; Rocchi, D; Belloli, M; Quinn, AD; Baker, CJ; Ozkan, E; (2012) Wind tunnel measurements of crosswind loads on high sided vehicles over long span bridges. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 107: 214-224
  • Gilbert, Timothy; Baker, Christopher; Quinn, Andrew; (2013) Aerodynamic pressures around high-speed trains: the transition from unconfined to enclosed spaces. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 227(6) 609-622
  • Gilbert, T; Baker, CJ; Quinn, A; (2013) Gusts caused by high-speed trains in confined spaces and tunnels. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 121: 39-48
  • Quinn, AD; Kettlewell, PJ; Mitchell, MA; Knowles, T; (1998) Air movement and the thermal microclimates observed in poultry lairages. British Poultry Science 39(4) 469-476
  • Jaroszweski, David; Hooper, Elizabeth; Baker, Chris; Chapman, Lee; Quinn, Andrew; (2015) The impacts of the 28 June 2012 storms on UK road and rail transport. Meteorological Applications 22(3) 470-476
  • Dorigatti, F; Sterling, M; Baker, CJ; Quinn, AD; (2015) Crosswind effects on the stability of a model passenger train—A comparison of static and moving experiments. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 138: 36-51

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