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Dr Alfred Awotwi

Lecturer

Civil Engineering

Staff Group(s)
Civil Engineering Engineering Environment

Role

Alfred is a Civil Engineer with a PhD in Water Resource Engineering. He teaches Infrastructure Engineering,  Advanced Hydraulics and Hydrology, Water Resources Management and Environmental Responsibility, Application of Geospatial Engineering for Sustainable Civil Engineering Projects and Fluid Mechanics to Undergraduate and Postgraduate Civil Engineering students at NTU. He leads four modules (three postgraduate modules and one undergraduate module).

Career overview

I am a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Nottingham Trent University, UK. My expertise covers hydrology, hydrogeology,  water resources, GIS and remote sensing applications, participatory study designs, and data analysis. My research focuses on developing innovative methodologies that integrate high-resolution remote sensing, GIS-based mapping, high-performance computational modelling, multi-source data fusion, and machine learning approaches to assess disaster impacts and risks from flooding, drought, and other climate-related hazards, with a particular emphasis on data-sparse regions. I aim to deliver advanced, decision-oriented analytics that enhance community resilience and protect lives in the face of climate change, land-use dynamics, anthropogenic interventions and demographic pressures.

Research areas

  • Hydrological modelling
  • Flood monitoring and modelling
  • Spatial and temporal land cover dynamics
  • Integration of hydrological models and remote sensing data into GIS
  • Climate change impact on water resources
  • Surface and groundwater interaction modelling
  • Impact of human activities on water resources
  • Sediment transport
  • Ecohydrology
  • Coupling AI with process-based hydrology
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Green blue infrastructure
  • Carbon stock estimation in above-ground biomass
  • Burning activities

External activity

Supervising post-graduate (PhD and MPhil) students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and University for Development Studies, all in Ghana.

Publications

  1. Awotwi,A., Gyadu, S., Nsiah, J.J., Amadu, C.C., Ackom, E.K., Incoom, A.M., Boscoe-Wallace, A., Waaley, L. and Anornu, G., 2026. Responses of potential groundwater recharge zones to land use and land cover changes in semi-arid region: Case study of Black Volta Basin. Solid Earth Sciences, 11(3), p.100313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sesci.2026.100313.
  2. Nsiah,  J.J., Awotwi, A.,  Gyamfi, C.,  Anornu, G.K., Boakye, E., Darko, S. and Ackom, E.K. (2024). Evaluating water balance components in a tropical ecological zone under land use changes. Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecohyd.2024.09.007.
  3. Yeboah, F., Ackom, E.K., Yidana, S.M. and Awotwi, A., 2024. Hydrologic modelling for flood threshold and hazard prediction in the Black Volta River Basin, West Africa. Environmental Modeling & Assessment, 29(2), pp.375-394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-023-09946-6.
  4. Atayi, J., Anornu, G.K., Awotwi, A., Andam-Akorful, S.A., Kabo-bah, A.T., Twumasi, Y.A., Adu-Afari, E. and Anim-Gyampo, M., 2023. Terrestrial water storage and climate variability study of the Volta River Basin, West Africa. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, pp.1-17.
  5. Incoom, A.B.M., Adjei, K.A., Odai, S.N., Akpoti, K., Siabi, E.K. and Awotwi, A., 2023. Assessing climate model accuracy and future climate change in Ghana's Savannah regions. Journal of Water and Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2023.070.
  6. Forkel, M., Andela, N., Huijnen, V., Wessollek, C., Awotwi, A., Kinalczyk, D., Marrs, C. and de Laat, J., 2023, May. Effects of land use, fuel loads and fuel moisture on fire intensity and fire emissions in South America derived by reconciling bottom-up and top-down satellite observations. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (pp. EGU-11297). https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-11297.
  7. Amadu, C.C., Awotwi, A., Foli, G. and Gawu, S.K., 2021. Rock fracture characterization and discrete network modeling and its implication for groundwater flow in crystalline rocks of south-eastern Ghana. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, pp.1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-021-01139-y.
  8. Bessah, E., Boakye, E.A., Agodzo, S.K., Nyadzi, E., Larbi, I. and Awotwi, A., 2021. Increased seasonal rainfall in the twenty-first century over Ghana and its potential implications for agriculture productivity. Environment, Development and Sustainability, pp.1-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01171-5
  9. Awotwi, A., Anornu, G.K., Quaye-Ballard, J.A., Annor, T., Nti, I.K., Odai, S.N., Arhin, E. and Gyamfi, C., 2021. Impact of post-reclamation of soil by large-scale, small-scale and illegal mining on water balance components and sediment yield: Pra River Basin case study. Soil and Tillage Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105026.
  10. Awotwi, A., Annor, T., Anornu, G.K., Quaye-Ballard, J.A., Agyekum, J., Ampadu, B., Nti, I.K., Gyampo, M.A. and Boakye, E., 2021. Climate change impact on streamflow in a tropical basin of Ghana, West Africa. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 34, p.100805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100805
  11. Amankwah, A.A., Quaye-Ballard, J.A., Koomson, B., Amankwah, R.K., Awotwi, A., Kankam, B.O., Opuni-Frimpong, N.Y., Baah, D.S. and Adu-Bredu, S., 2021. Deforestation in forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana: Boabeng-Fiema monkey sanctuary. Global Ecology and Conservation, 25, p.e01440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01440.
  12. Abdul, I., Ntori, C., Awotwi, A., Adeyinka, M. and Moore, T., 2020. Location mapping of hydrothermal alteration using Landsat 8 data: A case of study in Prestea Huni Valley district, Ghana. nternational Journal of Geography and Geology 9(1), pp 13-37. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.10.2020.91.13.37.
  13. Tankpa, V., Wang, L., Ane, R.A., Guo, X. and Awotwi, A., 2021. Assessment of Institutional and Legal Framework for Sustainable Land Use Management Practices in Ashi River Watershed. China, 28(6), pp.23-36. https://doi.org/10.11916/j.issn.1005-9113.20022
  14. Quaye-Ballard, J.A., Okrah, T.M., Andam-Akorful, S.A., Awotwi, A., Antwi, T., Osei-Wusu, W., Tang, X. and Quaye-Ballard, N.L., 2020. Spatiotemporal dynamics of rainfall in Upper East Region of Ghana, West Africa, 1981–2016. SN Applied Sciences, 2(10), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03463-x
  15. Osei-Wusu, W., Quaye-Ballard, J., Antwi, T., Quaye-Ballard, N.L. and Awotwi, A., 2020. Forest loss and susceptible area prediction at Sefwi Wiawso District (SWD), Ghana. International Journal of Forestry Research, 2020(1), p.8894639.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8894639.
  16. Quaye-Ballard, J.A., Okrah, T.M., Andam-Akorful, S.A., Awotwi, A., Osei-Wusu, W., Antwi, T. and Tang, X., 2020. Assessment of vegetation dynamics in Upper East Region of Ghana based on wavelet multi-resolution analysis. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, pp.1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-020-00789-8
  17. Ashaley, J., Anornu, G.K., Awotwi, A., Gyamfi, C. and Gyampo-Anim, M. 2020. Performance evaluation of Africa CORDEX regional climate models: case of Kpong irrigation scheme, Ghana. Spatial Information Research.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-020-00331-z
  18. Tankpa, V., Wang, L., Atanga, R.A., Awotwi, A., and Guo., X., 2020. Evidence and impact of map error on land use and land cover dynamics in Ashi River watershed using intensity analysis. PLoS ONE, 15 (2), e0229298. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0229298.
  19. Awotwi, A., Anornu, G.K., Quaye-Ballard, J.A., Annor, T., Forkuo, E.K., Harris, E., Agyekum, J. and Terlabie, J.L., 2019. Water balance responses to land-use/land-cover changes in the Pra River Basin of Ghana, 1986–2025. CATENA, 182, p.104129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.104129
  20. Awotwi, A., Anornu, G.K., Quaye‐Ballard, J.A. and Annor, T., 2018. Monitoring land use and land cover changes due to extensive gold mining, urban expansion, and agriculture in the Pra River Basin of Ghana, 1986–2025. Land Degradation & Development, 29(10), pp.3331-3343. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3093.
  21. Quaye-Ballard, J.A., Akorful-Andam, S.A., Sackey, M.N., Quaye-Ballard, N.L. and Awotwi, A., 2017. Usability research laboratory for geospatial and allied applications. Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana), 37(3), pp.24-31.
  22. Awotwi, A., Anornu, G.K., Quaye-Ballard, J., Annor, T. and Forkuo, E.K., 2017. Analysis of climate and anthropogenic impacts on runoff in the Lower Pra River Basin of Ghana. Heliyon, 3(12), p.e00477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00477.
  23. Yeboah, F., Awotwi, A., Forkuo, E. K. and Kumi, M., 2017. Assessing the Land Use and Land Cover Changes due to Urban Growth in Accra, Ghana. Journal of Basic and Applied Research International, 22(2): 43-50, 2017
  24. Awotwi, A., Bediako, M.A., Harris, E., Forkuo, E.K., 2016. Water Quality Changes Associated with Cassava Production: Case study of White Volta Basin. Heliyon, 2, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2016.e00149
  25. Awotwi, A., Yeboah, F. and Kumi, M. 2015. Assessing the impact of land cover changes on water balance components of White Volta Basin in West Africa. Water and Environment Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/wej.12100
  26. Awotwi A, Kumi M, Jansson PE, Yeboah F, Nti IK 2015. Predicting Hydrological Response to Climate Change in the White Volta Catchment, West Africa. Journal of Earth Science and Climate Change 6: 249. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7617.1000249.

See all of Dr Alfred Awotwi's publications...