Bryan Karney

Bryan William Karney (born April 21, 1957) is a Canadian civil engineer and academic known for his work on hydraulic transients, water distribution systems, and energy efficiency in infrastructure. He is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto and a founding principal of HydraTek and Associates Inc.

According to Google Scholar, as of March 2026, Karney has an h-index of 55 and his publications have received more than 10k citations.

Education Karney received all his degrees from the University of British Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Bio-Resource Engineering in 1980, a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering in 1982, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering in 1984. His doctoral research focused on the analysis of fluid transients in large distribution networks.

Academic career Karney joined the University of Calgary in 1985 before moving to the University of Toronto in 1987. He was appointed Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in 1996.

He has held several academic and administrative roles. From 2009 to 2021, he served as Associate Dean for Cross-Disciplinary Programs in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.

Research and professional contributions Karney's research focuses on hydraulic transients, energy efficiency in water infrastructure, and the modeling of complex pipe networks. His work has contributed to the understanding of unsteady flow phenomena in pressurized systems, including water hammer, transient behavior, and the effects of entrapped air in pipelines. He has developed analytical and computational techniques used in the design and operation of municipal water supply systems.

A major area of his research concerns the integration of sustainability and energy considerations into water infrastructure planning. His studies examine the interdependence of water and energy systems, including pressure management, energy loss reduction, and environmental impacts of infrastructure design and operation. His work also addresses system vulnerability, infrastructure aging, and climate change adaptation.

Karney has served as principal investigator on research projects funded by organizations including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Water Network, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). His funded research has included studies on smart water distribution systems, transient fault detection, infrastructure investment evaluation, and the role of air valves in system efficiency. He has also examined broader environmental and resource issues, including the sustainability of hydropower and water–energy system interactions.

He has published more than 200 refereed journal articles, as well as books, book chapters, and technical reports. His publications address topics in civil and environmental engineering, applied fluid mechanics, and infrastructure planning.

Industry work In addition to his academic work, Karney co-founded HydraTek and Associates Inc. in 1988.

Awards and honours

2024 – Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto 2022 – Innovation Award, Water Power Association of Ontario 2016 – Camille A. Dagenais Award, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering 2010 – Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science Multiple Erskine Fellowships, University of Canterbury, New Zealand 2009 – Northrop Frye Award, University of Toronto Multiple teaching awards, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto

Selected publications

Karney, B.; Simpson, A. (2007). “In-line Check Valves for Water Hammer Control.” Journal of Hydraulic Research. Gibson, J.; Karney, B. (2021). “Misbehaving Drinking Water Systems: Risk and the Complex Nature of Failure.” In Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business. Karney, B. (1990). “Energy relations in transient closed conduit flow.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. 116 (10): 1180–1196. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1990)116:10(1180). Karney, B. (2000). “Hydraulics of Pressurized Flow.” In Water Distribution Systems Handbook. McGraw-Hill. Boulos, P.; Lansey, K.; Karney, B. (2004; 2006). Comprehensive Water Distribution Systems Analysis Handbook for Engineers and Planners. MWH Soft Inc. Moradi-Jalal, M.; Karney, B.; Karterakis, S. (2010). “Water Resource Management in Iran’s Ancient Persepolis Complex.” In Ancient Water Technologies. Springer.