Dr Sekhar Somenahalli
Senior Lecturer
View researcher profile

Organisation unit

College of Engineering and Information Technology School of Civil Engineering and Construction

Location

Adelaide University, P Building, Mawson Lakes, Level 2 Room: 17
Profile of Dr Sekhar Somenahalli

My skills

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Public Transport Planning
Road Safety
Traffic and Transport Modelling
Transport and Ageing

About me

Dr Sekhar Somenahalli is a Senior Lecturer in Transport Engineering in the School of Civil Engineering and Construction Management at Adelaide University. His work brings together transport engineering, transport planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to make transport systems safer, more sustainable and more accessible, especially for older people and public transport users. His research spans public transport planning, travel behaviour, road safety, network reliability and accessibility. It has been funded by the Australian Government, the CRC for Low Carbon Living and iMOVE CRC, and has informed policy and practice in South Australia. He is currently a Co-Chief Investigator on a National Road Safety Action Grant project encouraging greater use of advanced driver assistance systems. Dr Somenahalli has supervised eleven PhD candidates to completion and teaches traffic and transport modelling, road design and GIS for engineers. He serves on the national Executive Committee of the Australasian Transport Research Forum and on the organising committees of the 17th Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS) Conference, to be held in Adelaide in 2027.

  • UniSA Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (team award), 2023 
  • ITEE Teaching Commendation, UniSA, 2019 
  • UniSA Supported Teacher Award, 2005, 2006 
  • Research Impact recognition: CRC for Low Carbon Living, 2016, 2019 
  • Mawson Lakes Fellowship, Nagoya University, Japan, 2014 
  • Best Paper Award, 24th ARRB Conference, 2010 
  • Best Paper Award, 8th EASTS Conference, 2009 
  • UniSA Supported Researcher Award, 2009, 2011, 2012 
  • Endeavour India Research Fellowship (Australian Government), 2007 
  • Elected member, ATRF National Executive Committee, 2023–present 
  • Inaugural member, ATRF Standing Committee on Public Transport, 2023–present 
  • Scientific and Local Organising Committees, EASTS 2027 (Adelaide) and ATRF 2022 
  • Guest Editor, Transportation in Developing Economies (Springer)
  • 2023–24 - Editorial Boards: Journal of Asian Transport Studies
  • Journal of Urbanization, Sustainable Planning and Progress 

  • 2026–present: Senior Lecturer in Transport Engineering, School of Civil Engineering and Construction Management, Adelaide University
  • 2014–2026: Senior Lecturer, UniSA STEM, University of South Australia
  • 2003–2013: Lecturer, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia
  • 1999–2002: PhD candidate and research staff, University of South Australia
  • 1996–1999: Lecturer, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 1994–1996: Assistant Manager, Transport Planning, RITES Ltd (Government of India transport consultancy)
  • 1989–1994: Traffic Engineer, RITES Ltd (Government of India transport consultancy)

Dr Somenahalli has taught transport engineering and GIS for over 25 years at the University of Malaya, the University of South Australia and Adelaide University. He currently teaches Traffic and Transport Modelling, Road Design and Traffic Management, and GIS for Engineers, and supervises honours, Masters and PhD research projects. He was Program Director of the OUA Master of Engineering (Civil and Transport) and teaches at AnDe College, Xi'an, China.
Highlights
  • Designed three new Adelaide University transport and GIS courses
  • Summative Peer Review of Teaching, 2023–24
  • UniSA Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, 
  • 2023- Industry-based learning with Aimsun, SIDRA, 12d and ArcGIS Pro, and iMOVE CRC student projects
  • Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (High Distinction), QUT

  • Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF): Member; elected member of the National Executive Committee and inaugural member of the Standing Committee on Public Transport- 
  • Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS): Founding member; International Research Group member; member, EASTS-Australia
  • Was a member of Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI), Australia: 
  • Was a Member- Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE): 
  • Member- Institution of Engineers (India)
  • Member- Institute of Town Planners, India: 

Media experience
Dr Somenahalli is available for media comment on public transport, road safety, transport for older Australians, and traffic and transport planning in Adelaide and South Australia.
Last updated on 01/10/2026 by Sekhar Somenahalli