Samuel Nii Odai
Department of Civil EngineeringLife SciencesPhysical SciencesHealth SciencesSocial Sciences

Samuel Nii Odai

93 Publications35 Research Themes34 Open Access
Research Overview & Focus

The researcher focuses on integrating diverse disciplines across several themes to address challenges and opportunities in Ghana's socio-economic landscape. Their work spans flood risk management, hydrological studies, agricultural innovations, climate change impacts, and educational efforts. Key areas include the application of multi-criteria analysis in water resource management, hydrological drought modeling in the Black Volta Basin, adaptations for agriculture under climate change, sustainable irrigation development strategies, land use changes influenced by mining, and the role of education and remote sensing in rural settings. The researcher also explores computational fluid dynamics as a tool in environmental engineering to model flow processes in agricultural contexts. Their comprehensive approach underscores the multifaceted nature of Ghana's socio-economic needs and opportunities across physical, life sciences, and social sciences.

Faculty Biography

Samuel Nii Odai is a  professor of Hydraulics and Water Resources at the Department of Civil Engineering KNUST, and currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University. He is a Commonwealth Academic Fellow, and a recipient of the National Best Research Scientist Gold Award for water, environment and sanitation. He has served the University in various capacities including Pro-Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Head of the Quality Assurance and Planning Unit, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geo-Engineering, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Director of the Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK), Director of WASCAL Climate Change and Land Use Centre, KNUST, Kumasi, International Director, Scientists Networked for Outcomes in Water and Sanitation (SNOWS), Consortium and the Hostel Master/Hostel Senior Tutor of the Stephen Paris Hostel.He is a distinguished Professor with demonstrated experience in higher education senior management. Loyal and considerate person who actively listens to friends and colleagues, providing appropriate help and support and hence ensuring an excellent working environment for all. He is an energetic leader skilled in motivating future leaders, effective delegation, goal-setting, decision-making, conflict resolution, public speaking and board room skills.

Key Research Themes (35)
Life Sciences

African Botany and Ecology Studies

Life Sciences

Agricultural Innovations and Practices

Life Sciences

Agriculture and Rural Development Research

Physical Sciences

Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Physical Sciences

Biomedical and Engineering Education

Health Sciences

Child Nutrition and Water Access

Social Sciences

Climate Change Communication and Perception

Life Sciences

Climate change impacts on agriculture

Physical Sciences

Climate variability and models

Physical Sciences

Computational Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics

Social Sciences

Economic Growth and Productivity

Physical Sciences

Energy and Environment Impacts

Physical Sciences

Flood Risk Assessment and Management

Physical Sciences

Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping

Physical Sciences

Heavy metals in environment

Social Sciences

Hermeneutics and Narrative Identity

Physical Sciences

Hydraulic flow and structures

Physical Sciences

Hydrology and Drought Analysis

Physical Sciences

Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies

Life Sciences

Irrigation Practices and Water Management

Physical Sciences

Land Use and Ecosystem Services

Physical Sciences

Marine and environmental studies

Social Sciences

Medical and Agricultural Research Studies

Physical Sciences

Mining and Resource Management

Physical Sciences

Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics

Physical Sciences

Precipitation Measurement and Analysis

Physical Sciences

Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods

Physical Sciences

Soil and Unsaturated Flow

Life Sciences

Soil erosion and sediment transport

Physical Sciences

Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

Social Sciences

Urban and Rural Development Challenges

Physical Sciences

Vibration and Dynamic Analysis

Physical Sciences

Water Quality and Pollution Assessment

Physical Sciences

Water resources management and optimization

Physical Sciences

Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies

Publications (93)

Adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers to climate change and variability: The case of the savannah zone of Ghana

Open Access
2025Climate change impacts on agricultureDOI: 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100543

Proceedings of the 2023 Global Polytechnic Summit, Technology Talent: Advancing a Comprehensive and Global Strategy

Open Access
2023Biomedical and Engineering EducationDOI: 10.36898/001c.84857

Assessing climate model accuracy and future climate change in Ghana's Savannah regions

Open Access
2023Climate variability and modelsDOI: 10.2166/wcc.2023.070

Capability of satellite rainfall products in simulating streamflows in the Black Volta Basin

2023Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.1007/s40899-023-00871-w

A Preliminary Investigation of Surface and Groundwater Quality Along the Upper Part of the Ankobra River, Impacted by Illegal Mining Activities

2023Heavy metals in environmentDOI: 10.1007/s11270-023-06170-6

Statistical evaluation of Jason-2 satellite altimetry products in a trans-boundary river basin; the case study of the White Volta River basin in Ghana

2023Flood Risk Assessment and ManagementDOI: 10.1007/s40808-022-01655-5

Adaptation Strategies by Smallholder Farmers to Climate Variability and Change: A Study of Ghana's Savannah Zone

Open Access
2023Climate change impacts on agricultureDOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4638422

Climatic Trends Over the Tropics of West Africa: A Case Study of Pra River Basin in Ghana

Open Access
2023Climate variability and modelsDOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4662907

Performance Evaluation of Near-Real-Time Satellite Rainfall Estimates over Three Distinct Climatic Zones in Tropical West-Africa

2022Precipitation Measurement and AnalysisDOI: 10.1007/s40710-022-00613-8

Implications of Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Climate Change on Black Volta Basin Future Water Resources in Ghana

Open Access
2022Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.3390/su141912383

Impacts of climate change on crop and irrigation water requirement in the Savannah regions of Ghana

Open Access
2022Water resources management and optimizationDOI: 10.2166/wcc.2022.129

Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) contamination and ecological risk of sediment in the upper course of the Ankobra River, Ghana

2022Heavy metals in environmentDOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10120-w

Modelling the recent variations of water balance components and water availability within the Senegal River basin: using WEAP21 model

2022Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.1007/s40808-022-01420-8

Climatic trends over tropics of Africa, A case of the Pra River Basin in Ghana

Open Access
2022Climate variability and modelsDOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1557816/v1

Evaluation of potential evapotranspiration assessment methods for hydrological modelling with SWAT in the Densu river basin in Ghana

2022Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.1007/s13762-022-03945-y

Quantifying and analysing water trade-offs in the water-energy-food nexus: The case of Ghana

Open Access
2022Water-Energy-Food Nexus StudiesDOI: 10.1016/j.wen.2022.06.001

Assessment of the quality of the Densu river using multicriterial analysis and water quality index

Open Access
2021Water Quality and Pollution AssessmentDOI: 10.1007/s13201-021-01516-z

Comparison of Missing Data Infilling Mechanisms for Recovering a Real-World Single Station Streamflow Observation

Open Access
2021Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168375

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

2021Mining and Resource ManagementDOI: 10.1016/j.still.2021.105026

Estimating the spatial distribution of evapotranspiration within the Pra River Basin of Ghana

Open Access
2021Plant Water Relations and Carbon DynamicsDOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06828

Evaluation of RFE Satellite Precipitation and its Use in Streamflow Simulation in Poorly Gauged Basins

2021Precipitation Measurement and AnalysisDOI: 10.1007/s40710-021-00495-2

Evaluating the impact of an agricultural land‐use change adaptation strategy on household crop production in semi‐arid Ghana

2020Climate change impacts on agricultureDOI: 10.1111/sjtg.12351

Spatio-temporal rainfall trend and homogeneity analysis in flood prone area: case study of Odaw river basin-Ghana

Open Access
2020Hydrology and Drought AnalysisDOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-03924-3

Potential for small hydropower development in the Lower Pra River Basin, Ghana

Open Access
2020Water-Energy-Food Nexus StudiesDOI: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2020.100757

Evaluation and Comparison of Satellite Rainfall Products in the Black Volta Basin

2020Precipitation Measurement and AnalysisDOI: 10.1007/s40710-020-00465-0

Rainfall variabilities and droughts in the Savannah zone of Ghana from 1960-2015

Open Access
2020Hydrology and Drought AnalysisDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00571

Assessment of Hydro-climatic Trends and Variability over the Black Volta Basin in Ghana

2020Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.1007/s41748-020-00171-9

Monitoring land-use and land-cover changes due to extensive urbanization in the Odaw River Basin of Accra, Ghana, 1991–2030

2020Land Use and Ecosystem ServicesDOI: 10.1007/s40808-020-00746-5

Ecological vulnerability of the Densu river Basin due to land use change and climate variability

Open Access
2020Flood Risk Assessment and ManagementDOI: 10.1080/23311916.2020.1735714

Land Use Landcover Change Monitoring and Projection in the Dano Catchment, Southwest Burkina Faso

Open Access
2019African Botany and Ecology StudiesDOI: 10.23953/cloud.ijarsg.445

Challenges and facilitators of public engagement with water, sanitation, hygiene and other environmental health issues in Ghana and Uganda: perspectives of scientists, journalists and the public

Open Access
2019Climate Change Communication and PerceptionDOI: 10.2166/washdev.2019.019

Quantitative management of groundwater resources in regional aquifers under uncertainty: A retrospective optimization approach

2019Reservoir Engineering and Simulation MethodsDOI: 10.1016/j.gsd.2019.02.005

Volta basin precipitation and temperature climatology: evaluation of CORDEX-Africa regional climate model simulations

2019Climate variability and modelsDOI: 10.1007/s00704-018-2746-4

Evolutional characteristics of hydro-meteorological drought studied using standardized indices and wavelet analysis

2019Hydrology and Drought AnalysisDOI: 10.1007/s40808-019-00569-z

Stochastic Modelling of Great Letaba River Flow Process

Open Access
2019Water resources management and optimizationDOI: 10.4236/gep.2019.76004

Recent climate trends for the Volta Basin in West Africa

2018Climate variability and modelsDOI: 10.1002/wea.3303

Modeling the impacts of climate change on the thermal and oxygen dynamics of Lake Volta

2018Marine and environmental studiesDOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2018.11.010

Evaluation of Satellite Rainfall Estimates in the Pra Basin of Ghana

2018Precipitation Measurement and AnalysisDOI: 10.1007/s40710-018-0344-1

Land use/land cover dynamics using landsat data in a gold mining basin-the Ankobra, Ghana

2018Geochemistry and Geologic MappingDOI: 10.1016/j.rsase.2018.10.007

Simulation of climate characteristics and extremes of the Volta Basin using CCLM and RCA regional climate models

2018Climate variability and modelsDOI: 10.1007/s00704-018-2485-6

Local level impacts of climatic and non‐climatic factors on agriculture and agricultural land‐use dynamic in rural northern Ghana

Open Access
2018Climate change impacts on agricultureDOI: 10.1111/sjtg.12236

The Impacts of Climate Change on the Thermal and Oxygen Dynamics of a Tropical Lake in Ghana, West Africa

2018Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Innovative Sustainable Soil Nutrient Management Options for Improving the Resilience of West African Smallholder Farms Livelihoods Under Climate Change Context

2017Agriculture and Rural Development Research

Micro-level social vulnerability assessment towards climate change adaptation in semi-arid Ghana, West Africa

2017Climate change impacts on agricultureDOI: 10.1007/s10668-017-9988-7

Change and Analysis of Extreme Rainfall Indices During 1960–2010 and 2011–2100 in Abidjan District (Côte d’Ivoire)

2017Hydrology and Drought AnalysisDOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-58214-6_18

A Quantitative Groundwater Resource Management under Uncertainty Using a Retrospective Optimization Framework

Open Access
2016Reservoir Engineering and Simulation MethodsDOI: 10.3390/su9010002

Evaluation of Satellite Rainfall Estimates in the Pra Basin of Ghana

Open Access
2016Precipitation Measurement and AnalysisDOI: 10.20944/preprints201611.0073.v1

Flood risk assessment and mapping in Abidjan district using multi-criteria analysis (AHP) model and geoinformation techniques, (cote d’ivoire)

Open Access
2016Flood Risk Assessment and ManagementDOI: 10.1186/s40677-016-0044-y

Assessment of the water balance of the Barekese reservoir in Kumasi, Ghana

Open Access
2016Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.4314/just.v35i3.4

The Role of Science, Technology and Innovative Industries in National Development

2016Economic Growth and ProductivityDOI: 10.4324/9781315591018-26

A Stochastic Weather Generator Model for Hydroclimatic Prevision in Urban Floods Risk Assessment in Abidjan District (Cote d’Ivoire)

2016Flood Risk Assessment and ManagementDOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-25814-0_15

An Approach for Simulating Soil Loss from an Agro-Ecosystem Using Multi-Agent Simulation: A Case Study for Semi-Arid Ghana

Open Access
2015Soil erosion and sediment transportDOI: 10.3390/land4030607

Heterogeneous Farm Household Perceptions about Climate Change: A Case Study of a Semi-arid Region of Ghana

2015Climate change impacts on agricultureDOI: 10.18848/1835-7156/cgp/v07i03/37247

Success factors for sustainable irrigation development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Open Access
2014Medical and Agricultural Research StudiesDOI: 10.5897/ajar2014.8630

Needs assessment to strengthen capacity in water and sanitation research in Africa: experiences of the African SNOWS consortium

Open Access
2014Child Nutrition and Water AccessDOI: 10.1186/1478-4505-12-68

Application of satellite-derived rainfall for hydrological modelling in the data-scarce Black Volta trans-boundary basin

Open Access
2014Precipitation Measurement and AnalysisDOI: 10.2166/nh.2014.111

MULTI-AGENT SIMULATION APPROACH ON THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND-USE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGY (FARM CREDIT) ON FARM HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD IN SEMI-ARID GHANA

Open Access
2014Land Use and Ecosystem ServicesDOI: 10.13140/2.1.3744.8001

Impacts of variable energy prices on the financial sustainability of water facilities: case from Ghana

2014Energy and Environment ImpactsDOI: 10.1504/ijw.2014.060966

Analysis of Upscaling of Irrigation Development in the White Volta sub-Basin

2014Agriculture and Rural Development Research

Examining Agricultural Land-use/Cover Change Options in Rural Northern Ghana: A Participatory Scenario Exploration Exercise Approach

Open Access
2014Agricultural Innovations and PracticesDOI: 10.18848/2329-1621/cgp/v08i02/15-35

Examining Agricultural Land-use/Cover Change Options in Rural Northern Ghana

2014Agriculture and Rural Development ResearchDOI: 10.18848/2329-1621/cgp/v08i02/59382

Assessing human resource capacity needs to meet the MDG targets on water and sanitation in Ghana

Open Access
2014Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

The Potential Utilization of Satellite Derived Rainfall in a Data-Scarce Basin

2013Precipitation Measurement and AnalysisDOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.3531

Evaluating Access to Potable Water and Basic Sanitation in Ghana's Largest Urban Slum Community: Old Fadama, Accra

2013Child Nutrition and Water Access

Simulation of runoff for the Black Volta Basin using satellite observation data

2012Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesDOI: 10.1080/15715124.2012.679735

Reservoir storage for managing floods in urban areas: a case study of Dzorwulu basin in Accra

Open Access
2012Flood Risk Assessment and ManagementDOI: 10.1002/hyp.9286

A comparison of TAMSAT satellite rain derived products with meteorologically measured rainfall in the Volta Basin (West Africa)

2012Precipitation Measurement and Analysis

Available data and gaps at basin level and tentatively initial agro-ecological (biophysical) domain analysis

Open Access
2011Hermeneutics and Narrative Identity

Capacity Estimation of Small Reservoirs Using Remotely Sensed Data: Case Study of a Semi Arid Region of Ghana

2011Reservoir Engineering and Simulation MethodsDOI: 10.1115/1.859902.paper32

Mapping Irrigation Potential in a Semi-Arid Region in West Africa

2011Irrigation Practices and Water ManagementDOI: 10.1115/1.859902.paper31

Remote Sensing Approaches and Tools for Water Management in the Volta Basin

2010Water resources management and optimization

Productivity of irrigation technologies in the White Volta basin

2010Irrigation Practices and Water ManagementDOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2010.07.005

Water conservation potential in educational institutions in developing countries: case study of a university campus in Ghana

2009Water resources management and optimizationDOI: 10.1080/15730620903108975

Assessing sediment inputs to small reservoirs in Upper East Region, Ghana

2009Soil erosion and sediment transportDOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2009.00410.x

Productivity of Stored Water in Some Selected Multiple Use Small Reservoirs in the Upper East Region of Ghana

2009Water resources management and optimization

Water footprint of Ghana

2009Child Nutrition and Water Access

Influence of Cadmium and Lead Concentrations of Irrigation Water on Dry Matter Yield of Vegetables

2008Soil and Unsaturated FlowDOI: 10.3923/jest.2009.68.72

Capacity Estimation of Small Reservoirs Using Remotely Sensed Data---A Case Study of Upper East Region of Ghana

2008Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods

Delineation of small reservoirs using radar imagery in a semi-arid environment: A case study in the upper east region of Ghana

2008Flood Risk Assessment and ManagementDOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2008.08.005

Preserving the hydrology of urban Ghana through implementing integrated water resources management

2008Water resources management and optimizationDOI: 10.1201/9780203884102-11

Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) Concentrations Effects on Yields of Some Vegetables Due to Uptake from Irrigation Water in Ghana

2008Heavy metals in environmentDOI: 10.3923/ijar.2008.243.251

Influence of Transpiration on Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) Uptake by Cabbage, Carrots and Lettuce from Irrigation Water in Ghana

2008Heavy metals in environmentDOI: 10.3923/ajar.2008.56.60

Heavy Metals Uptake by Vegetables Cultivated on Urban Waste Dumpsites: Case Study of Kumasi, Ghana

2008Heavy metals in environmentDOI: 10.3923/rjet.2008.92.99

Water supply coping strategies in Accra

Open Access
2008Urban and Rural Development Challenges

The Burgers equation model and the monoclinal wave phenomenon in conveyance channels

2007Vibration and Dynamic AnalysisDOI: 10.1080/00221686.2007.9521744

Analytical Solution of the Burgers Equation for Simulating Translatory Waves in Conveyance Channels

2006Hydraulic flow and structuresDOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(2006)132:2(194)

Case Study: Ghana.

2005

Strategic partnerships for sustainable water education and research in developing countries

2004Child Nutrition and Water AccessDOI: 10.1201/9780203023402.ch21

KNUST experiences in capacity building in the water and sanitation sector

2004Water resources management and optimizationDOI: 10.1201/9780203023402.pt3

TOWARDS POLLUTION REDUCTION IN PERI-URBAN WATER SUPPLY: A CASE STUDY OF ASHANTI REGION IN GHANA

2003Child Nutrition and Water Access

Nonlinear Kinematic-Wave Model for Predicting Open-Channel Flow Rate

1999Hydraulic flow and structuresDOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(1999)125:8(886)

Application of the Burgers' equation for theoretical analysis of open-channel unsteady flow

1999Hydraulic flow and structuresDOI: 10.11501/3153965

Burgers' Equation Model for Unsteady Flow in Open Channels

1998Computational Fluid Dynamics and AerodynamicsDOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(1998)124:5(509)
Academic Metrics
DepartmentDepartment of Civil Engineering
Total Publications93
Research Themes35
Open Access Papers34

Department of Civil Engineering

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

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