Dr. Gaurav Talukdar

402, Moore Hall

Kansas Geological Survey

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas, 66047

United States

Email: gauravt@ku.edu

https://www.gaurav-talukdar.com

About me

Dr. Gaurav Talukdar is currently working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) at the University of Kansas (KU), United States. Prior to joining KU, he worked as a Research Scientist at North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Department of Space, Govt. of India. He have a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (water resources specialisation) from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati in 2023. He is a recipient of the International Travel Support (ITS) grant by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India in 2021. He was also awarded the Best paper award under the theme of Climate Change in HYDRO 2018 International Conference (Hydraulics, Water Resources and Coastal Engineering), held at NIT Patna, India. He completed his Master of Technology (water resources specialization) from National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela in 2016. Prior to joining his doctoral studies, he worked as an Assistant Professor in National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), Berhampur, Odisha.

Research background

Dr. Talukdar's research work focused on optimally utilizing the riverine ecosystem keeping in view the socio-economic perspective of the communities residing and dependent on it for their livelihood within the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India. His pioneering doctoral research, titled 'Utilizing Riverine Ecosystem for Optimal Benefits,' encompasses a broad spectrum of disciplines, including hydrology, sediment analysis, agriculture, hydrodynamic modeling, geospatial techniques, and risk assessment.

Dr. Talukdar's work primarily centers around the strategic utilization of sandbars within riverine ecosystems, considering the socio-economic welfare of communities reliant on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. His innovative approach involves multifaceted analysis, integrating hydrological insights, agricultural dynamics, sediment assessment, remote sensing and advanced modeling to develop optimization strategies. These strategies address uncertainties prevalent in complex riverine environments, ensuring the formulation of sustainable cropping patterns that directly benefit marginalized agricultural communities.

During his doctoral studies, he developed optimization and damage estimation models to determine optimal cropping patterns in a complex riverine ecosystem under uncertainties that would be beneficial for the marginalized community and dwellers practicing agriculture and farming activities. The need for the research is in view of increasing urbanization and diminished mainland for agricultural activities, the majority of the people have shifted their occupation and moved to the industrial sector. On the contrary, the global food demand has increased, and the population needs to be fed. To address these challenges, his research explores innovative strategies to optimize the use of available land and water resources for food production and developing resilient cropping systems that can thrive in reduced spaces.

Research Interests:

Agro-Hydrology and Water resources
Optimization approaches
Water energy food nexus
Remote sensing and land use change studies
Agricultural risk assessment and damage estimation

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D), Water Resources Engineering (2017-2023)

Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, India.

Thesis Title: Utilizing Riverine Ecosystem for Optimal Benefits.

Thesis Supervisors: Prof. Arup Kumar Sarma & Prof. Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya.

Fellowship : Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India

Master of Technology (M.Tech), Water Resources Engineering (2014-2016)

Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, India.

Thesis Title: Flood Inundation Mapping of Baitarani River Basin Using Hydrologic and Hydraulic Model.

Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Kanhu Charan Patra.

Fellowship : Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India

Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) (2009-2013)

Department of Civil Engineering, RTM Nagpur University, Maharashtra, India.

Final year project title: Wastewater treatment using Vetiver grass Technology.

Project Supervisor: Prof. A L Nashine.

Lab Development and Teaching Experience

Lab Development

Basic Civil Engineering Laboratory at National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) Berhampur, Odisha (July-December 2016)

Teaching

Basic Civil Engineering (UG- Course)- Assistant Professor, NIST Berhampur

Water Resources Systems Analysis, planning & Management (PG- Course)-Teaching Assistant, IITG

Advanced Hydraulic Engineering (PG- Course)-Teaching Assistant, IITG

Surface Water Hydrology (PG - Course)-Teaching Assistant, IITG

Mentoring Experience

Mr. Shivendu Prakash for B. Tech Project (NIST Berhampur) entitled “Estimation of Surface runoff” under my supervision. (2016)

Mr. Jitendra Senapati for B. Tech Project (NIST Berhampur) entitled “Estimation of Surface runoff” under my supervision. (2016)

Mr. Hemraj Choudhary for B. Tech. Project (IIT Guwahati) entitled “River sandbar auto digitization using simplified image processing” under the supervision of Prof. Arup K Sarma. (2019).

Ms. Bhaswatee Baishya for M. Tech. thesis (IIT Guwahati) entitled “Hydrological study of Lake and stream system: A case study in the Deepor Beel Basin” under the supervision of Prof. Arup K Sarma. (2020): [PMRF]

Ms. Dipsikha Devi for Ph.D. thesis (IIT Guwahati) entitled “Characterizing Dam induced flood at downstream of a hydrologic project” under the supervision of Prof. Arup K Sarma.(2018)

Publications

Journal Publications

Gaurav Talukdar, Arup Kumar Sarma, and Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya. “Integrating optimization and damage estimation to increase economic benefit and ensure food security under seasonal land variability." Journal of Environmental Management 320 (2022): 115872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115872 [IF:8.91, Q1, SCI]

2. Gaurav Talukdar, Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya and Arup Kumar Sarma (2023). "Understanding the effect of long term and short term hydrological components on landscape ecosystem". Ecological Informatics, 102267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102267 [IF:5.1, Q1, SCI]

3. Gaurav Talukdar, and Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya (2021). "Sediment analysis and modelling based approach for optimal allocation of riverine sandbar for socio economic benefits". Ecological Engineering, 173, 106415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106415 [IF:4.379, Q1, SCI]

4. Gaurav Talukdar, Arup Kumar Sarma, and Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya (2022). “Assessment of Land use change in riverine ecosystem and utilizing it for socio-economic benefit.” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10495-w [IF:3.307, Q1, SCI]

5. Gaurav Talukdar, Janaki B Swain, and Kanhu Charan Patra (2021). “Flood inundation mapping and hazard assessment of Baitarani River basin using hydrologic and hydraulic model”. Nat Hazards, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04841-3 [IF:3.158, Q1, SCI]

6. Gaurav Talukdar, Arup Kumar Sarma, and Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya (2020). “Mapping agricultural activities and their temporal variations in the riverine ecosystem of the Brahmaputra River using geospatial techniques”. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, Elsevier 20(August), 100423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2020.100423 [IF:4.7, Q1, SCI]

7. Gaurav Talukdar, Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya, and Arup Kumar Sarma. “Optimal cropping pattern based on short-term streamflow forecasts to improve agricultural economic benefits and crop productivity under uncertainties” Hydrological Sciences Journal, Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2022.2151914 [IF:3.942, Q1, SCI]

8*. Frichot, J. J. H., Rubiyatno, & Talukdar, G. (2021). “Water Quality Assessment of Roof-collected Rainwater in Miri, Malaysia”. Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution, 1(2), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v1i2.19 *(In collaboration with Curtin University, Malaysia)

9*. Lau, Y. Y., Talukdar, G., Widyasamratri, H., Wang, J., & El-shaammari, M. (2023). Utilization of Green Materials and Technology for Sustainable Construction in Malaysia. Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology, 1(1), 47-66. https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v1i1.238 *(In collaboration with Curtin University, Malaysia)

10*. Tie, S. Y., Emre, M., Bennani, C., Garcia, S., Talukdar, G., & Maharjan, R. (2023). Environmental Management and Green Practices in the Construction Industry Across ASEAN Countries: A Comparative Study. Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering, 3(2), 163-180. https://doi.org/10.53623/csue.v3i2.336 *(In collaboration)

11*. Tang, Y. Y., Slimani, Y., Al-Ghazal, M. A., Talukdar, G., & Maharjan, A. K. (2023). Sustainable Urban Development in Malaysia: Enhancing Green Roofs with Integrated Technologies. Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering, 3(2), 148-162. https://doi.org/10.53623/csue.v3i2.335 *(In collaboration)

Book Chapter Publications

1. Gaurav Talukdar and Arup Kumar Sarma. (2021). “Assuring Water Intake Sustainability under Changing Climate”. Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources: Hydraulics, Water Resources and Coastal Engineering, 233–239, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64202-0_21

2. Gaurav Talukdar, Anupal Baruah, and Arup Kumar Sarma (2023). "2D Hydrodynamic Model for Evaluating Impact of Possible Riverfront Activities in an Urbanized Bank of Brahmaputra River". In: Bhattacharjya, R.K., Talukdar, B., Katsifarakis, K.L. (eds) Sustainable Water Resources Management. Advances in Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7535-5_12

3. Gaurav Talukdar, Arup K Sarma and Rajib K Bhattacharjya (2024) “Unraveling the nexus between socioeconomic facets and land use - cover change for analyzing agricultural productivity within riverine ecosystems” (accepted), Springer Geography Book Series. ISBN: 978-3-031-62376-9

Conference presentations/ publications

Gaurav Talukdar , Sam Zipper, Alaura Custard, Camden Hatley, Erin Seybold (2024), "Unraveling Changing Precipitation Patterns over US Great Plains" WaterSciCon24 (AGU), Saint Paul, MN, USA, 24-27 June 2024.
Gaurav Talukdar and Arup Kumar Sarma. “Understanding the behaviour of sandbars of Brahmaputra River and its utilization”. 11th World Congress on Water Resources and Environment (EWRA 2019) “Managing Water Resources for a Sustainable Future”, 25-29 June 2019, Madrid, Spain© European Water Resources Association. http://ewra.net/pages/EWRA2019_Proceedings.pdf
Gaurav Talukdar, Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya, and Arup Kumar Sarma. “Effect of Long-term and Short Term Hydrological Components in Riverine Sandbars”. AGU Fall meeting 2022, Chicago, USA, 12 - 16 December 2022
Gaurav Talukdar, Arup Kumar Sarma, and Dipima Sarma. “Surprises in alluvial river due to diverse anthropogenic activities”. EWRI Congress 2023, Henderson, Nevada, USA, May 21-24, 2023.
Gaurav Talukdar, Dipsikha Devi and Arup Kumar Sarma. “Mathematical Model tale: A success story of protecting river bridge over a mountainous river”. STREAM-2022 (Sustainable Technologies for River Erosion Alleviation and Management), Assam Water Centre, Guwahati, 14-15 December 2022.
Gaurav Talukdar, Vishnu Krishnan, Arup Kumar Sarma, and Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya. Evaluating the Phytoplankton activities near Riverine Sandbars by estimating Chlorophyll-a Concentrations. AGU Fall meeting 2021, New Orleans, LA, USA, 13 - 17 December 2021
Gaurav Talukdar, Arup Kumar Sarma, and Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya. “Riverine ecosystem for socio economic development” 15th IHE PhD Symposium for Collaborative Water Resources Management for a Water Secure World organized by IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, 14-15 October 2021, Netherlands
Gaurav Talukdar and Arup Kumar Sarma “Assuring Water Intake Sustainability under Changing Climate”. 23rd HYDRO 2018 International (Hydraulics, Water Resources and Coastal Engineering), 19-21 December 2018, NIT Patna.
Gaurav Talukdar, Anupal Baruah, and Arup Kumar Sarma. “2D hydrodynamic model for evaluating impact of possible river front activities in an urbanized bank of Brahmaputra River”. International Conference on Sustainable Water Resources Management (SWARM 2020), June 19-21, 2020, Guwahati, Assam
Bhaswatee Baishya, Gaurav Talukdar and Arup Kumar Sarma. “Chlorophyll-a estimation and evaluating the effect of land use change in a Ramsar Site of North East India”. EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-11568. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22- 11568, 2022
Dipsikha Devi, Gaurav Talukdar, Amit Kalita, and Arup Kumar Sarma. “Introducing a Flood Risk Factor (FRF) for Effective Flood Warning at Downstream of a Hydel Project using BRAHMA 1-D Model”. STREAM-2022 (Sustainable Technologies for River Erosion Alleviation and Management), Assam Water Centre, Guwahati, 14-15 December 2022.

Worshops/seminars/short term courses

Webinar on Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) organized by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and Vigyan Prasar (VP) on 10 September 2021.
Short Term Web Training Course on “Advanced Hyperspectral Data Analysis Software tool” (AVHYAS) under TREES (Training and Research in Earth Eco-System) organized by Space Application Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad during 11-12 February 2021.
Basic course on Remote Sensing, Geographical Information System & Global Navigation Satellite System conducted by Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO, Government of India from August 10 to November 27, 2015.
Short Term Course on Classical and Metaheuristic Optimization Methods for Engineering planning and design under the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP-III) sponsored by Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India during 22-26 February 2021.
Advances in Integrated Water Resources Management under the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP-III) sponsored by Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India during 16 - 18 December 2019.
Monsoon school on Urban Floods organized by Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore during July 02-08, 2017 sponsored by Information Technology Research Academy (ITRA)
Geospatial Technology for Climate Smart Agriculture conducted during 10-07-2023 to 14-07-2023 by Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)