Dr. Keval Jodhani | Water Resources Engineering | Young Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India

Dr. Keval H. Jodhani is an outstanding early-career researcher whose impressive contributions in water resources, flood modeling, and environmental sustainability demonstrate strong potential for the Best Researcher Award. With a recent PhD (2024) and numerous publications in high-impact Q1 journals—including Scientific Reports and Results in Engineering—his research combines advanced tools like Google Earth Engine and machine learning to address pressing environmental challenges. Dr. Jodhani’s editorial roles and two granted patents reflect his active engagement and innovation within the scientific community. His experience includes funded projects and collaboration with ISRO, highlighting practical and impactful research. While his international collaborations and leadership as a principal investigator could be expanded, his current achievements and consistent productivity make him a highly deserving candidate. Overall, Dr. Jodhani exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated, innovative, and promising young researcher poised to make significant future contributions to his field.

Professional Profile

Education🎓

Dr. Keval H. Jodhani has a strong academic foundation in civil and environmental engineering, marked by a steady progression of qualifications. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Civil Engineering from B.V.M. Engineering College, affiliated with Gujarat Technological University (GTU), in 2014. Building on this, he completed his Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Water Resources and Management from L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, also under GTU, with an excellent CGPA of 8.74 in 2016. Demonstrating a commitment to advanced research, Dr. Jodhani recently completed his PhD from Pandit Deendayal Energy University (P.D.E.U.), Gandhinagar, in July 2024. His doctoral research focused on soil erosion studies in flood-prone areas, showcasing his specialization in water resource management and environmental sustainability. Complementing his formal education, he gained valuable practical experience through a project trainee position at the Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad, which provided hands-on exposure to satellite data applications. This robust academic background underpins his expertise and ongoing contributions to research in his field.

Professional Experience📝

Dr. Keval H. Jodhani possesses significant professional experience that complements his academic achievements. He has worked as a Project Trainee at the Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad, gaining valuable expertise in satellite data and geospatial technologies, which are integral to his research in water resources and environmental monitoring. Since April 2019, he has been actively involved as a Schedule I GPCB Auditor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Nirma University, contributing to environmental compliance and consultancy projects with substantial financial turnovers each year. His role reflects strong practical knowledge and industry engagement. Additionally, Dr. Jodhani has served in various editorial capacities, including Associate Editor and Guest Editor for reputed international journals such as Elsevier and Springer, demonstrating his leadership within the research community. He has also managed funded research projects, collaborating as a Co-Principal Investigator, showcasing his ability to handle research administration alongside technical work. This blend of academic, consultancy, and editorial roles highlights his well-rounded professional experience.

Research Interest🔎

Dr. Keval H. Jodhani’s research interests lie at the intersection of water resources management, environmental sustainability, and geospatial technologies. He focuses on flood risk assessment and modeling, soil erosion studies, and sustainable groundwater management using advanced tools like remote sensing, GIS, and machine learning. His work extensively employs Google Earth Engine and Earth Observation data to analyze land use changes, water quality, and hydrogeological patterns, addressing critical challenges in urban flood management and groundwater quality monitoring. Additionally, Dr. Jodhani explores the application of multi-criteria decision-making techniques to develop integrated solutions for water resource sustainability. His innovative approach includes developing predictive models for urban flood scenarios and designing monitoring systems that support real-time environmental decision-making. By combining technical expertise with practical insights, his research contributes to advancing climate resilience, resource conservation, and environmental risk mitigation, making significant impacts on both academic knowledge and real-world applications in water and environmental engineering.

Award and Honor🏆

Dr. Keval H. Jodhani has earned several notable awards and honors that highlight his excellence in research and academic contributions. In 2025, he was honored with the prestigious Editor of Distinction Award, recognizing his outstanding editorial contributions to scientific journals. He serves as an editorial board member, associate editor, and guest editor for multiple reputable international journals published by Springer, Elsevier, and others, which is a significant achievement for a young researcher. Early in his career, Dr. Jodhani won the 1st prize for Best Poster Presentation at KAIZEN, LDCE in 2016, showcasing his research communication skills. Additionally, his innovative spirit is reflected in the granting of two design patents related to urban flood management and groundwater quality monitoring. These accomplishments demonstrate his dedication to advancing research, contributing to scientific literature, and fostering innovation in environmental and water resource engineering. Collectively, these awards and honors affirm Dr. Jodhani’s growing reputation as a promising young researcher.

Research Skill🔬

Dr. Keval H. Jodhani possesses a diverse and advanced set of research skills that enable him to tackle complex environmental and water resource challenges effectively. He is proficient in geospatial analysis tools such as ArcGIS, ERDAS, and Google Earth Engine, which he uses extensively for remote sensing, land use classification, and environmental monitoring. His expertise includes hydrological modeling using Delft3D and Delft Dashboard, enabling accurate flood risk assessment and soil erosion studies. Additionally, Dr. Jodhani integrates machine learning techniques and multi-criteria decision-making approaches to enhance predictive modeling and decision support systems in water management. He is skilled in data analysis and programming environments like Google Colab, facilitating the application of cutting-edge computational methods. Complemented by strong problem-solving and management abilities, his technical and analytical proficiency allows him to conduct high-impact research that bridges theory and practice in sustainable environmental engineering. These skills make him a versatile and innovative researcher in his field.

Conclusion💡

Dr. Keval H. Jodhani clearly demonstrates the qualities of a rising star in civil and environmental engineering research. His prolific publishing record in top journals, technical skills, editorial contributions, and focus on sustainability make him highly deserving of this recognition. With continued emphasis on leadership in research grants and international collaborations, he is well-positioned to be a leading researcher in his field.

Publications Top Noted✍

A review on analysis of flood modelling using different numerical models
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, D. Patel, N. Madhavan
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 50
Assessment of forest fire severity and land surface temperature using Google Earth Engine: A case study of Gujarat State, India
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, H. Patel, U. Soni, R. Patel, B. Valodara, N. Gupta, A. Patel, …
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 44
Soil erosion assessment by RUSLE, Google Earth Engine, and geospatial techniques over Rel River watershed, Gujarat, India
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, D. Patel, N. Madhavan, S.K. Singh
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 36
Synergizing Google Earth Engine and Earth observations for potential impact of land use/land cover on air quality
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, N. Gupta, A.D. Parmar, J.D. Bhavsar, H. Patel, D. Patel, S.K. Singh, …
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 30
Unveiling seasonal fluctuations in air quality using Google Earth Engine: a case study for Gujarat, India
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, N. Gupta, A.D. Parmar, J.D. Bhavsar, D. Patel, S.K. Singh, …
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 15
Shoreline change and rate analysis of Gulf of Khambhat using satellite images
- Authors: K. Jodhani, P. Bansal, P. Jain
- Year: 2021
- Citations: 15
Unravelling flood risk in the Rel River watershed, Gujarat using coupled earth observations, multi criteria decision making and Google Earth Engine
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, D. Patel, N. Madhavan, N. Gupta, S.K. Singh, U. Rathnayake
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 14
Land use land cover classification for REL river using machine learning techniques
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, D. Patel, N. Madhavan
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 13
Channel planform dynamics using earth observations across Rel river, western India: A synergetic approach
- Authors: K.H. Jodhani, D. Patel, N. Madhavan, U. Soni, H. Patel, S.K. Singh
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 10
Integrating GEE and IWQI for sustainable irrigation: A geospatial water quality assessment
- Authors: U. Vyas, D. Patel, V. Vakharia, K.H. Jodhani
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 8

Hamid Balali - Water Management - Best Sustainable Development Project Award

New Mexico State University - United States

AUTHOR PROFILE

SCOPUS

🎓 ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Hamid Balali holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics with a focus on Policies and Development from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. His doctoral research involved modeling the impacts of pricing and agricultural policies on groundwater resource conservation and balance, utilizing GAMS. He also completed a Sabbatical at Bologna University, where he explored linear and nonlinear dynamic programming of groundwater. Balali earned his MSc in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics from Tarbiat Modares University, with research on labor economics and agricultural investment impacts.

📝 RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS

Balali’s research spans a range of topics in water economics, including the spatial analysis of water stress, groundwater market development, and resilience of water-community systems against climate change. His work integrates system dynamics and socio-ecological frameworks to address complex environmental and economic challenges. Notable publications include studies on groundwater sustainability, resilience assessment, and the impacts of economic sanctions on energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

🌍 SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH PAPERS

His published work includes influential papers such as “Economic Sanctions, Energy Consumption, and CO2 Emissions: A System Dynamics Model,” and “Fallowing Strategy and Its Impact on Surface Water and Groundwater Withdrawal.” These studies are crucial in understanding the intersection of environmental policy, economic sanctions, and resource management.

📚 CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS

Balali has actively participated in conferences, presenting papers on topics such as groundwater sustainability and socio-ecological systems. His contributions to conferences underscore his commitment to advancing knowledge in water resource management and environmental economics.

🔬 ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

Balali’s ongoing research projects include exploring resilience concepts for social-ecological systems and developing frameworks for groundwater governance. These projects reflect his dedication to addressing the evolving challenges in water resource management and environmental sustainability.

🌐 INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

His research has had a significant international impact, with studies submitted and published in renowned journals such as "Groundwater for Sustainable Development" and "Water." Balali’s work is instrumental in shaping global discussions on water resource management and agricultural economics.

🏆 PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Balali’s expertise and contributions have been recognized in the field of agricultural economics and water resources. His research has received acclaim for its innovative approach and practical implications in managing groundwater resources and addressing environmental challenges.

NOTABLE PUBLICATION

Importance of good groundwater governance in economic development: The case of western Iran
Authors: T.S. Foroushani, H. Balali, R. Movahedi, I.J. Stamenkovska, H. Azadi
Year: 2023
Journal: Groundwater for Sustainable Development

The impact of water-pricing policies on water productivity: Evidence of agriculture sector in Iran
Authors: O. Zamani, H. Azadi, S.A. Mortazavi, S.M. Moghaddam, L. Jurik
Year: 2021
Journal: Agricultural Water Management

Applying a system dynamics approach for modeling groundwater dynamics to depletion under different economical and climate change scenarios
Authors: H. Balali, D. Viaggi
Year: 2015
Journal: Water (Switzerland)

Groundwater balance and conservation under different water pricing and agricultural policy scenarios: A case study of the Hamadan-Bahar plain
Authors: H. Balali, S. Khalilian, D. Viaggi, F. Bartolini, M. Ahmadian
Year: 2011
Journal: Ecological Economics

Keval Jodhani | Water Resources Engineering |