Prof. Dheeraj Kumar
Professor (HAG),
Department of Mining Engineering
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Dy. Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Director – TEXMiN | Director – ACIC
Expert in Mine Digitization, Mining 4.0 & Geospatial Technologies
Biography
Prof. Dheeraj Kumar is a Professor (HAG) at the Department of Mining Engineering, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and holds administrative positions as Dy. Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Directors of TEXMiN and ACIC (the Mining Technology Innovation Hub of DST & the Community Innovation Hub of NITI Aayog). Prof. Kumar did his M.Tech. from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. He has 21 years of experience in Academic, Research, Outreach activities, and Administration in various positions, including Dean (Innovation), Dean (International Relations & Alumni Affairs), Assoc. Dean (Infrastructure), and academic positions. His areas of expertise include Mine Digitization & Mining 4.0 and Geospatial Technologies. Prof. Kumar has guided 20+ PhD Scholars and 50+ M. Tech students on Digitization, Automation, Remote Sensing, and GIS. He has organized several Professional Development Programmes (PDP) from one week to 14 weeks and trained 700+ mining professionals in Mine Digitization, Monitoring, and Digitalization. Prof. Kumar has developed and commercialized indigenous mining technologies for safe, intelligent, and sustainable mines. Prof. Kumar has mentored several startups and innovators and completed industrial projects on Mine Digitization, Monitoring, and digitalization. Prof. Kumar founded the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) in “Mining Technology,” the TEXMiN for developing technologies, innovation, and startup ecosystems in mining and earth science domains with substantial contributions from both Govt. and Industries. Prof. Kumar also founded the ACIC (A Section 8 company under NITI Aayog) for community innovations.
Professional Experience Achievements
- 22+ years’ experience in Academic, Research & Consultancy, and Administration
- Founded the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) in “Mining Technology” in the name of TEXMiN for developing technologies, innovation, and start-up ecosystems in mining and earth science domains with substantial contributions from both Govt. and Industries
- 20+ start-up companies in the Mining Technology domain are incubated in TEXMiN with substantial financial support. Most of the founders are from top-notch institutions, including IITs.
- A group of 25+ engineering entrepreneurs are working under my mentorship in TEXMiN Technology Development, Innovation & Enerprenureship activities.
- 40+ projects of Technology Development are presently executed in TEXMiN under my Guidance, out of which 10 technologies are commercialized and used in coal and metal mines.
- Significant credentials in Mining and Construction industries, with R&D projects (ongoing and completed projects) and CoEs with Rs. 400 Million funded by CIL, MoM, MOC, DST, DoS, MoWR & MoE.
- Developed and commercialized 3 nos of Indigenous mining technologies for safe, smart, sustainable mines.
- Guided 22 PhD Scholars in Mine digitization, Automation, Remote Sensing, and GIS.
- Published 50+ Journal papers in SCI indexed Journals (WoS database)
- Completed 80+ Industrial projects worth Rs. 350 Million on Mine Digitization, Monitoring, and digitalization, including Orientation and Alignment of the longest road tunnel (Chenani – Nasri Road Tunnel) connecting Jammu with Srinagar.
- Organized 50+ Professional Development Programmes (PDP) of one week to 14 weeks and trained 700+ Mining Executives in Mine Digitization, Monitoring, and digitalization.
- Started M. Tech Geomatics program with an emphasis on applications of LIDAR, AI-based Image Processing, Drone, and Remote Sensing (Optical and Microwave).
- Coordinator and member at various committees constituted by the Govt. and Industry, namely, Coordinator, Satellite-Based IIRS Outreach Programmes on GIS, GPS & Remote Sensing, IIRS; Member of GISAcademia Council of India; Member of National Geodetic and Geospatial Consortium (NGGC), DST, Govt. of India, Coordinator, RESPOND program of SAC, ISRO, Jharkhand Cluster, etc.
- Operationalizing International Relations and Alumni Cell, Centre for Innovation, Incubation, Entrepreneurship, Centre for Societal Mission, and Media and Branding Cell.