About

About Robert (Bob) Dickinson

About Me

Hello! I'm Robert "Bob" Dickinson, an Autodesk water technologist with a lifelong passion for solving complex hydrology and hydraulic challenges to build resilient communities. For over five decades, I’ve worked with the U.S. EPA’s Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), shaping its evolution from its early days to the cutting‑edge SWMM5+ engine. My mission is to transform intricate water modeling problems into practical, future‑ready solutions while fostering a vibrant community of modelers through knowledge‑sharing and innovation. Explore my work at SWMM5.org and connect with me on X as @RDickinson.

What I Do

As a leader in stormwater and flood modeling, my work bridges technology, engineering, and community. Here’s a snapshot:

• Innovating modeling tools: I enhance tools like InfoWorks ICM and InfoSWMM, integrating advanced SWMM5 capabilities and developing features like cloud‑based simulations and 2D exceedance analysis to tackle modern water challenges. Learn more.
• Solving real‑world problems: I collaborate with engineers to model storm sewers, drainage systems, and flood scenarios—ensuring accurate simulations from routine rainfall to extreme events.
• Automating workflows: Using Ruby scripting and tools like PySWMM, I streamline complex simulations, making modeling faster and more efficient for engineers worldwide.
• Building community: Through blogs, forums, and X posts (@RDickinson), I share tips, tutorials, and best practices to empower the water modeling community. See also Autodesk’s Tech Blog and my YouTube channel @SWMM5.

My Journey

My journey began in the 1970s with the EPA’s SWMM, where I contributed to versions 3 and 4 and played a key role in the development of SWMM5. For 52 years, I’ve served on the EPA SWMM Technical Advisory Committee, driving advancements in stormwater modeling. In the 2000s, I joined Innovyze (now Autodesk), spending 18 years embedding SWMM’s power into tools like InfoSWMM, InfoSewer, and InfoWorks ICM—helping revolutionize urban and rural catchment analysis. Learn more at SWMM5.org.

Today, I chair the SWMM5+ Technical Advisory Committee at the Center for Infrastructure Modeling & Management (CIMM.org), guiding the open‑source future of SWMM5+. My career has spanned every generation of SWMM—from punch cards to cloud‑powered platforms—and I’ve loved every moment. Whether mentoring engineers, writing how‑to guides, or presenting at conferences like EWRI, I’m driven by a passion for learning, teaching, and connecting. As one colleague put it, I’ve been “nurturing SWMM communities for as long as people have been online.” See the about page on SWMM5.org.

Let’s Connect

If you’re passionate about stormwater, flood modeling, or hydraulic innovation, I’d love to connect. Dive into resources at SWMM5.org, explore tutorials on YouTube (@SWMM5), or follow me on X (@RDickinson) for real‑time updates on modeling tips and industry trends.

Have a question or want to discuss water modeling? Reach out—let’s keep pushing the boundaries of water modeling and building a stronger, more collaborative community!

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