Speaker: Prof. S. B. Dwivedi
When: Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Where: PKI 350 (Omaha)
Zoom: 964 8335 8448
Title: Bathymetric studies of the River for River Aquifer Exchange (RAE)
and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): A case study from Varuna
River, India
Abstract: Perennial rivers are rapidly shifting into seasonal rivers, nearing extinction due to climate change, environmental degradation, pollution, and unsustainable water extraction. Sustaining flows during lean periods depends on River–Aquifer Exchange (RAE), strongly influenced by riverbed lithology. However, conventional methods like borehole studies are costly and limited, failing to capture subsurface heterogeneity. Recent geophysical advances, including walk-TEM and Flo-TEM, allow efficient, near real-time mapping of riverbeds across banks, channels, and beds, improving modeling accuracy. Yet, groundwater models remain highly sensitive to precise riverbed representation. Integrating real-time river-stage monitoring enhances understanding of dynamic surface–groundwater interactions. IoT technologies enable continuous tracking of water levels and RAE variations. Insights from these integrated approaches can be applied across Indian rivers, supporting robust RAE models. Developing decision-support platforms to identify recharge sites and rates will empower policymakers to implement Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), strengthening base flows and sustainable basin-scale water management hieve a more reliable and practical asphalt mixture design. Consequently, the overarching research plan will be introduced, which can contribute to the advancement of sustainable and
resilient transportation infrastructures.
Speaker Bio: Prof. S. B. Dwivedi is a senior professor (HAG) in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT (BHU), Varanasi, India, specializing in engineering geosciences. He served as Dean of Academic Affairs at IIT (BHU) for over five years (Nov. 2019 – Dec. 2024) and is currently the Chairman of the Institute Infrastructure and Chairman of the Institute Works Department at IIT (BHU), Varanasi. Professor Dwivedi has also contributed to academic governance as a member of the Board of Governors at IIT (BHU) for two years and as a member of the Academic Council at the Central University of South Bihar for three years.