Mr. Deme Hirko is a Water Resources Engineer, Climate Researcher, and Lecturer with extensive experience in teaching, research, and project coordination in the fields of hydrology, irrigation, and water systems management. His work focuses on sustainable water resource strategies, integrating advanced hydrological models with machine learning to optimize water allocation and assess the impacts of climate change. As a PhD researcher at Stellenbosch University, he develops Python-based analytical tools and applies data-driven methods to enhance climate impact assessments and water management efficiency. He has taught and supervised numerous students in hydraulic engineering and water resource modelling, combining academic rigor with practical insights from his earlier experience in infrastructure project management. His research explores the intersection of climate science, data analytics, and high-performance computing, aiming to improve resilience in water-scarce regions. He has published several peer-reviewed papers on topics such as machine learning applications in hydrology, water allocation modelling, and irrigation performance evaluation. In addition to his academic work, he actively participates in international conferences and specialized training programs related to climate modelling, Earth observation, and water resource assessment. Committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, he strives to advance research that supports equitable and data-informed water management policies, particularly within the context of climate variability in Africa.
Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar
Featured Publications
Hirko, D. B., Du Plessis, J. A., & Bosman, A. (2025). Using machine learning and satellite data to analyse climate change in the Upper Awash Sub-basin, Ethiopia. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C.
Hirko, D. B., Du Plessis, J. A., & Bosman, A. (2025). Review of machine learning and WEAP models for water allocation under climate change. Earth Science Informatics.
Hirko, D. B., Gebul, M. A., Du Plessis, J. A., & Emama, W. O. (2023). Assessment of irrigation water allocation, Koftu, Ethiopia. Water Practice & Technology, 18(6).
Hirko, D. B., & Du Plessis, J. A. (2023, April 16). Assessing the effectiveness of Koftu’s small-scale irrigation schemes in enhancing water resource utilization in Ethiopia [Preprint]. ESSOAr.
Hirko, D. B. (2022, July 27). Irrigation land suitability assessment of Sibilu River catchment using geographic information system. Irrigation & Drainage Systems Engineering.