MRS. ABHAYAA NAYAK WON MOST PROMISING RESEARCHER AWARD IN THE FIELD OF REMOTE SENSING AND GIS, SURFACE AND GROUND WATER HYDROLOGY USING GEE

BY SCIENTIFIC LAURELS Remote Sensing and GIS, surface and ground water hydrology using GEE INDIA

Mrs. Abhayaa Nayak is an esteemed Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, Odisha. She has been serving in this role since September 2017, contributing significantly to academia and research. With a solid foundation in Civil Engineering, she holds an M.Tech in Water Resource Engineering from VSSUT, Burla, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the same field at the same institution.

Her teaching portfolio spans a wide range of subjects, including Hydraulic Structures, Fluid Mechanics, Environmental Engineering, and Remote Sensing and GIS. Her expertise in integrating advanced technologies such as Google Earth Engine and GIS tools into hydrological modeling is evident through her research and academic contributions.

Research Interests

Mrs. Nayak’s research focuses on the application of Remote Sensing and GIS for surface and groundwater hydrology. Her work in hydrological modeling emphasizes water availability studies using Google Earth Engine, leveraging both JavaScript and Python APIs. She is particularly interested in land use and land cover analysis and its implications for water resources.

Academic and Research Contributions

Mrs. Nayak has supervised 8 M.Tech and 25 B.Tech theses, reflecting her dedication to mentoring the next generation of engineers and researchers. She has co-authored several research publications, including a book chapter and conference papers presented at prestigious national and international platforms. Her work, such as studying the impact of urban expansion on local surface temperatures and land use predictions, demonstrates her commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges.

Her research and consultancy projects include the Improvement of a Pond in Sambalpur (2024) and Dam Safety Analysis for JSW Steel at Gobardhanpur (2022), where she served as a Co-Principal Investigator.

Professional Achievements

Mrs. Nayak holds several administrative and professional roles, including serving as the Project Coordinator for the Centre of Excellence at VSSUT since August 2024 and Faculty-in-Charge of the Hydraulic Flow Laboratory since March 2023. She is also the NSS Program Officer, actively engaging in community services such as organizing blood donation camps and special NSS camps.

Workshops and Programs Conducted

She has successfully organized significant events such as the One-Day International Workshop on Worldwide Water Resources Scenario (2024) and the annual departmental technical festival STHAPANA. Additionally, her participation in AICTE Training and Learning Faculty Development Programs showcases her dedication to professional development and lifelong learning.

Notable Publications

Her notable contributions include:

  • Book Chapter: "Study and prediction of built-up land use for Bhubaneswar and its corresponding effects," published by CRC Press.
  • Conferences: Presentations at CHEMCON 2021, ETETI-2023, and IC-GPREC-2023, where she highlighted innovative applications of GIS in hydrology.

Awards and Recognition

Mrs. Abhayaa Nayak’s exceptional dedication to research and innovation has made her eligible for the Most Promising Researcher Award under the Scientific Laurels initiative. This recognition acknowledges her impactful work in hydrology, remote sensing, and GIS applications, as well as her contributions to academia and societal development.

Mission

Mrs. Nayak is committed to advancing scientific knowledge in water resources engineering, fostering sustainable practices, and mentoring young engineers. She aims to bridge the gap between technology and traditional hydrological practices to address pressing environmental challenges and improve water resource management.