Dr Chris Saunders

Dr Chris Saunders is a member of the School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering based at Mawson Lakes Campus. Chris is also part of the Institute of Sustainable Systems and Technologies and joined to work with Agricultural Machinery Research and Design. Chris has a background in Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering and has a PhD in machinery related soil dynamics from Cranfield University in England. Chris also has experience as Mechanical Design Engineer of heavy construction and mining equipment as well as offshore subsea equipment.

Chris currently holds a 0.5 FTE teaching position for the school with the rest of his time spent on research and student supervision. Areas of research include; reduction of soil compaction in established vineyards, Sub-soil improvement through innovative compost products and applications also for the viticulture industry. The use and evaluation of sensors to improve agricultural machinery control. Grain harvesting and storage, along with improvements to machinery operation and efficiency. Chris also works with other researchers on the evaluation of sensors for animal welfare and livestock housing improvement.

Previous past projects that Chris was involved with include a national GRDC project "Optimising grain yield and quality: Integrating high moisture harvesting and grain storage strategies". The South Australia component of this project was lead by Chris and looked at technology involved in harvesting grain at higher moistures and the ability to handle and store this grain. Also a Grape & Wine RDC funded project as part of the SARDI/CSIRO "soil management for yield and quality" project, improving soil condition and grape yield in vineyards.

Chris also provides support and supervision to final year Bachelors students, PhD candidates and visiting international students. Other areas of work also include contract research and consulting to engineering companies around Adelaide and South Australia, especially heavy industry construction and mining.

Cranfield University at Silsoe, Centre for Agricultural and Environmental Engineering.

Cranfield University at Silsoe, Centre for Precision Farming.

Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation

Grains Research and Development Corporation

The Society for Engineering in Agriculture

• Engineering Design
• Computers for Engineering
• Research for Engineers

Member of the Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Australia (SEAg)

Affiliate of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, United Kingdom (AIMechE)

Associate Member of the Institute of Agricultural Engineers, United Kingdom (AMIAgrE)

Ph.D, Soil/Machine Dynamics; Cranfield University, Silsoe, United Kingdom.

BEng(Hons), Agricultural Engineering; Cranfield University, Silsoe, United Kingdom.

• Agricultural Machinery Technologies
• Agricultural Machinery Design
• Agricultural Machinery Operation and Efficiency
• Soil / Machine Dynamics
• Sensors and sensing for Agriculture
• Computers and Automation for Agriculture

Application of power spectral density to recognise the important factors creating tractor-subsoiler vibrations. Australian Journal of Multi-Disiplinary Engineering, Volume 7, No1 (2009). Gholamhossein Shahgoli, Chris Saunders and John Fielke.

The effect of oscillation angle on the performance of oscillatory tillage. Journal of Soil & Tillage Research 104 (2009) 97–105. Gholamhossein Shahgoli, Chris Saunders, Jacky Desbiolles, John Fielke.

Logistics and efficiency of Grain harvest and transport systems in a South Australian context. ASABE Annual International Meeting Sponsored by ASABE Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, Rhode Island June 29 – July 2, 2008

Optimal Field-Bin Locations and Harvest Patterns to Improve the Combine Field Capacity: Study with a Dynamic Simulation Model. Manuscript CIOSTA 07 001. Vol. IX. December, 2007. Busato P, Berruto R and Saunders C.

A force prediction model for mouldboard ploughs incorporating the effects of soil characteristic properties, plough geometric factors and ploughing speed. Biosystems Engineering, Volume 97, Issue 1, May 2007, Pages 117-129 R.J. Godwin, M.J. O’Dogherty, C. Saunders and A.T. Balafoutis

Simulation model to determine optimum field bin allocation for wheat harvesting and transportation to the grain silo. SEAg Biennial Conference, Adelaide, Australia. 23-26 September 2007. Busato P, Berruto R and Saunders C.

G. Shahgoli, C. Saunders, J. Desbiolles and J. Fielke (2007). The effect of oscillation angle on the performance of oscillatory tillage. Proceedings of the Biennial Conference of the Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture (SEAg), September 2007, Adelaide, South Australia. p.167-178

G. Shahgoli, C. Saunders, J. Fielke and J. Desbiolles (2007). Simulation of the dynamic behaviour of a tractor-oscillating subsoiler system. Proceedings of the Biennial Conference of the Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture (SEAg), September 2007, Adelaide, South Australia. p.179-189

G. Shahgoli, C. Saunders, J. Desbiolles and J. Fielke. An investigation into the performance of oscillatory tillage using different frequencies. Proceedings of the Biennial Conference of the Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture (SEAg), September 2007, Adelaide, South Australia. p.154-166

Shahgoli G, Saunders C, Desbiolles J and Fielke J. An investigation into the performance of vibratory tillage using straight and bent leg tines. Advances in GeoEcology 38: Soil Management for Sustainability. Chapter 1: Soil Dynamics and Traction. Editors Horn R, Fleige H, Peth S and Peng X. Catena Verlag Gmbh, Germany. 2006 pp. 21-30.

An investigation into the performance of vibratory tillage using straight and bent leg tines. Advances in GeoEcology 38: Soil Management for Sustainability. Chapter 1: Soil Dynamics and Traction. Eds Horn R, Fleige H, Peth S and Peng X. Catena Verlag Gmbh, Germany. 2006 pp. 21-30. Shahgoli G, Saunders C, Desbiolles J and Fielke J.

Soil throw characteristics of no-till furrow openers: a pilot study. 17th Triennial ISTRO Conference (International Soil Tillage Research Organisation), Kiel Germany. 28Aug – 1Sept 2006, Desbiolles, J.M.A, Saunders, C.

Soil loosening Energy – A new concept in deep tillage energy comparisons. SEAg Biennial Conference, Dubbo, Australia. 14-17 September 2004, Saunders, C; Desbiolles, JMA; Slattery, M.

Prediction of soil forces acting on mouldboard ploughs. 4th International Conference on Soil Dynamics, Adelaide, Australia, 26-30 March 2000. Saunders, C; Godwin, R G. and O'Dogherty, M J.