Good day, Dr. Kajal Kumar Mandal. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Professor, please start by introducing your professional journey in academia.

OK.

OK, good evening. Uh, I'm, I'm Doctor Kajal Kumar Mandal. I'm recently working in the Central University, Haryana as a assistant professor engaged. I joined here in 2023 in September. That's my journey, about two years and five months.

I I hold my PhD degree in disaster management from Pondicherry Central University My.

My position degree I have completed from Banaras Hindu University.

During my PhD time, I was a part of the Center National Remote Sensing Center which is in the Hyderabad.

That I learned remote sensing and GIS based data utilization in geography and disaster management.

Additionally, I'm I'm pursuing MSN June Hermetics through IGNOU that is the national in in the Gandhi National Institute.

It's it's about standing my technical capabilities, my academic journey has been anchored in joint Prometheus science and also the applied disaster management and recursion especially. Uh, I can say that, uh, I conduct a research on the players, uh, on blaze or, uh, multi level micro level cloud has a suspended ticket in the advanced remote sensing, uh, datas, particularly in the most advanced, most advanced optical data and also the micro remote sensing data. Using the GI basis spatial analysis, my doctoral that means PhD topic, What's the special analysis of micro level cloud hazard assessment?

It was in and Rick's assessment in Malda district, W Bengal. It's a set of the foundation of my research and directions. If I talk about my technology, technical expertise, I know and I know that GIS based softwares like GIS, QGIS, IDAS, Imagine Geometry and also I know there's some cloud modeling tools also.

Also and also on I'm capable like used with Google Earth Engine for utilization of the remote sensing, analyzing the remote sensing under tasks. Not only that's the I am also conduct some socioeconomic survey like like identifying the social vulnerability in regarding to the particular natural hazards which are the community based. Identifying the community based social vulnerability in this regards I can say.

I'm in my research only. I have now at a time I have I have published 1919 articles among them mostly high impact journals and this citation all the like copas index. Recently my citation is the hundreds and my h-index is now 6 and S10 index is 3.

Uh, I have also worked with, uh, the one international organization, uh, which is, uh, related to the Saudi Arabia, that is the water fund development projects. Uh, uh, the I was a part of the GIS parties like identified the coastal regions, men groups and coastal coastal education activities and education purpose. And lastly, I can introduce that recently. I'm as a teaching expert in the department of. Geography in Haryana, there are also two projects.

In two project I'm also working as a GIS export. That one is the groundwater depletion in the main city districts and another one of the third is artification related problem and that is the like most. Emerging problem in that city because of this the agricultural land all are the like converting to the.

Right land. So this project also I am also working. And then one is I, I said the groundwater related groundwater also depleting the last 10 years is the almost 120 feet. So so because of this chloride also chloride related issues also averaging in the health in this place population. So this is also contacting. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for sharing that, Professor. It’s evident that your research and academic journey have been comprehensive and impactful. I appreciate the detailed insights into your expertise and experiences.

Yes.

Let’s focus on your expertise in disaster management. Could you explain how your research on flood hazard analysis in Malda District aligns with practical disaster mitigation strategies?

Yes, definitely in my during my PhD time like I have used like remote sensing data that is firstly I used optical remote sensing data than I have used microwave remote sensing this data. So that data is like real-time cloud annotation. Earlier I have also PPR prepared which is the more impactful. To like create a hazard mitigation map.

Because the real time translation matter which are the particular place is impact that one also I can identify it and that's data directly. I can give to the district just a minute authority for for live mitigation purpose and the concern of the early responses which are the communities or like localities has highly impact. So that is very useful. Things I have utilized even one things I have also identified that during my during. The like our register or the situation, the people who are citing the the riverbank site and also the childland areas they have they have no any type of houses. So that's people's that's group of peoples and the area also have identified using my the flood hazard donation map and that data is directly. I have provided we can provide to the digestive disaster management authorities.

And then and they can help store 1 like impactful work. I like to save their livelihood, stock livelihood and their houses, households, etcetera.

Yes.

Thank you, Professor Mandal. Your use of microwave remote sensing for real-time cloud penetration analysis and flood hazard mapping is particularly compelling. Linking this data

Yes.

Got it. Now, moving to sociology, could you discuss how sociological perspectives influenced your approach to addressing the challenges of communities living in disaster-prone areas?

Yes, that's a good question. Thank you for watching these questions in my research time also research time. One site I have used like census based data like the people or the like most vulnerable populations data also like working population, non working population and the people who are dependent population also and then indigenous peoples like like SCSD population is there so. When I collect the data from the sensors, there is the so much like inequalities I disparities I found. So that time I go into the field to verify like to verify this data and also the mapped my social polynomial in the particular my study area. So during my. Like going to the field, going to the field.

That is, the reality is that census data is whatever the telling is that not not that must evidence. Not provide to the the analysing the social gravity. So field based investigation it's helps me to identify this one and that time also one thing that ethical issue also I have found that's the local communities they are telling something like these are the. Some data, some data. They are providing the itself also but.

Are they not sharing that? No, I don't know published adhesita this data in the locally. So this type of like ethical issue also I have object in my study time and also like people the like gender related issues and the CST population that the leads related population issues some data also the mismatched I have found in my research time.

Thank you, Professor Mandal. Your integration of census data with fieldwork is substantial, particularly in revealing disparities and ethical complexities. It shows an important application of sociological perspectives in disaster settings. Let's proceed. Could you elaborate on your teaching methodology? Specifically, how do you balance theoretical concepts with practical applications in courses like remote sensing or GIS?

It's it's remote sensing is basically the geographical tools. the IT provides a special location related data like mapping the hazard. Hazard is a physical map and calculating that is the but the social sociological perspective or social perspectives, we can say that's that knowledge has provided us the.

Provide us. Provide us as an, equip us that. Top loop population, who is it the population or particularly community why the repeatedly like impact by this particular hazard. So that's all data that all that we can integrate through the sensing and GIS techniques, remote sensing and and this field based variation of sociological data is a non spatial data and then geographical and the hazard related data that is the physical vulnerability or physical as a related data that data. Using this data I can.

Introduce the hazard map and then non special data the based on the GIS integration so we can intersect both each other and then impactful result it is reeks. Also calculate based on these methods.

Thank you.

Got it. Next, Professor Mandal, how do you evaluate student performance, particularly in terms of understanding complex subjects like hydrological modeling or geographic data analysis?

OK. No, I got it. Thank you for asking this question. The and the student assessment purpose particularly if I talk about the MA or BSc or MSC student then. BSc level student likely to knowing to how the hydrological data is It is like in the process you can show the the like precipitation data and the groundwater groundwater groundwater data who is the. You know I lie in the baseline, so for this purpose like I have to introduce the the field based investigation. Field based.

Assessments like I will take the students to the ground then how their this area like groundwater related issues or water hydrological water is evidence in found analogy classroom related assessment.

Based on the knowledge this I can I'll introduce, I will ask teams which are the parameters and which are the data is directly on the impactful for this identification.

Thanks.

Understood. Could you share how you guide student research projects, especially in applying analytical methodologies like GIS or statistical methods?

GI centrist method purpose I can say that finding like. Should I give one example like on my research?

OK.

Yes, feel free to provide an example

OK, OK, so I'm giving that like I have one one article I have published in the. In portfolio like counter potential John related.

Zone here I used the multi criteria addiction multicadiation tools that NCDA tools tools and another one is the like ASP analytical hierarchical process, ASP analytical process these are the 2 are the statistical tools I have I have used.

To another change, the one side is the groundwater potential, another one is the like social vulnerability aspect. Identify the social vulnerability index. In my study area this is the MCDA methods, 1 is the MCD methods. It is totally alerted systematic methods and also with the full investigation of all data. What about that data I have used in the remote sensing like identify the groundwater potential? To all data arise how they are, how they are interlinked or interconnected with each other.

The influencing each other. For this purpose I have used the MCT that is multi graduation making tools and that all influencing values. I have I have taken insight overall analysis statistical tools. In the software we consider the special value. Another side is the ASP based method. ASP is 1 type of the hierarchical or statistical method. So here also so the influencing values I have put it. Got it using my own knowledge and research expertise knowledge and that data. Also I put in the overall analysis methods. So these are the technical technology and statistical.

Integrations I have applied in my research.

One thing to 1 things I can do is that one paper I have also published that like track frequency analysis. In that paper I have utilized the gamble distribution methods. For analyzing the like plat frequency on my study area that is in my PhD topic, the Malda District 1 is the Paraka Paris. So in that status hydrological data that is the air wise the maximum peaks data.

Thank you for sharing, Professor

Using the volume. So I have utilized the gamble distribution techniques, the statistical techniques to know the flat frequency in my study area.

Thank you, Professor Mandal. Your detailed explanation on guiding students with methodologies such as MCDA and analytical hierarchical process, along with your application of statistical techniques in publications, demonstrates your depth in fostering research skills. Next, could you elaborate on your approach to publishing research in reputed journals and maintaining academic rigor?

Yes, definitely.

So in the speaker I can say that recently I already said in my introduction that's who work I have two, I work in the two work 2 projects that is 1 is the depletion of the groundwater and it's like contamination of the upright. So that work I have already competed so that research. Write up also even I it is I have.

One journal that is the Hydrological Journal, is there in LGBT. I have submitted this one. It has gone through the on the 1st division and another one is the like the one thing is the coastal vulnerability analysis.

Of. This region. But Orisha Orisha cost so due to the cyclone impact. And storms are charging. So that that write up and research also I have already like submitted into general it has already acceptance it will publish as soon as possible. So even not only that's one book that is the coastal like coastal vulnerability related one book also assigned with the Spencer Spencer in the last six months ago. So that books also under under process, it will be published in the as soon as possible. So. I haven't I can say that I have an ability to publish the reported journal and also.

Write the high impact articles.

Thank you for detailing your publication efforts, Professor Mandal. Your work in hydrology and coastal vulnerability, along with your engagements with reputed journals and publishers, reflects strong academic rigor. Could you outline your experience in working with or consulting for industry projects, especially within the scope of disaster management and GIS applications?

Sorry, I don't got it. Can you repeat?

Certainly, Professor Mandal. Could you share your experience in collaborating with or consulting for industry projects, particularly in the context of disaster management and GIS applications?

OK. OK. I got you. I haven't experienced working experience with like as a GI specialist in the waterfront development project in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi, Saudi Arabia as a GI specialist and but I have no any like field based like experience or institutional experience to work with the disaster management. Departments because after.

After completing my PhD like completed my PhD, I joined here at this department geography department of Central Haryana. Here I'm teaching a geometric GIS and remote sensing and disaster management. So so in this gaps my like positional journey I'm just teaching only but I have no neither industrial experience.

Thank you for asking this one. Sorry for this.

Thank you, Professor Mandal, for your clarity. Your teaching experience and analytical expertise remain notable assets. Just to finalize, your Ph.D., certifications, and achievements make up a solid foundation for this academic role. Could you confirm how your specialty aligns with guiding advanced theory and lab courses in disaster management or GIS?

In this regard, I I can say that if I go to like any position like institution we are directly working with like disaster management or research oriented institution. So then then definitely I can able to. I wish to give my own all efforts to develop this institution or the lab.

Utilizing my research and my knowledge.

Thank you, Professor Mandal. That concludes the technical verification of your skills. You seem well-prepared for the role.

OK. Thank you.

You're welcome. Let's start with a question about your teaching preferences: In your experience, do you find it more effective to engage students through structured lectures or a more dialogue-oriented seminar approach?

Ah, yes.

Could you elaborate on which approach you prefer and why?

I'll interesting. I'll I'll directly perform preferred only preferred the remote sensing GIH and development and development powers and also remote sensing.

And disaster management applications in the gendarmatics and also the core adjusted management activities which are related to the like social perspectives.

Thank you, Professor. It seems like you are emphasizing the importance of integrating remote sensing and disaster management within the broader social framework. Could you share a specific example of how you have applied these concepts in a classroom or curriculum to enhance student learning?

And and classroom. In classroom register disaster related example I can say that I am. I teach the students. Like like field best study field and just data collection based studies and and here here I'm starting the all student in the register at issue register registered program by hands on practice basis with with. Or laboratory work you wanna like like generating the hazard generation, where and how this hazard generation makes particularly impacting the what is the populations like local level. So in that way the students one is learning the theoretical basis in the classroom and then the another one is the laboratory basis and the note opposite area is impacted and then the students. I've taken the students to the fields particular location. Is it?

Uh, rightly they're infecting, uh, based on this, uh, hazard or disaster. So that's why also it's verified and a student also interested us to know, uh, this type of techniques and these are the teaching techniques and very excited, uh, to learn from me.

Thank you, Professor. It’s wonderful to see you incorporate a hands-on, field-based approach in teaching disaster management. Combining theoretical concepts with real-world applications certainly engages students and builds practical skills. One follow-up: How do you assess or measure the effectiveness of these experiential learning techniques in achieving your educational goals?

In this content I can say that's I want to acid as a.

As a teacher or as a faculty or researcher in the high impactful level that I can use my knowledge and my knowledge, it can be like, utilize like.

Use for the society and the student can develop their own self for better preparation purpose.

Thank you, Professor. It’s clear that you’re deeply committed to fostering societal impact and empowering students to prepare themselves effectively for disaster-related challenges. I appreciate your dedication. Let’s proceed to the next section.

Our scheduled time for the interview is now up. Before we conclude, do you have any questions related to the role or the company?

Thank you for asking this. No I have no any questions but after like how this This is my first experience in the AI based interview. So how like evolution?

Like candidates. So that one is the curious for me to know.

Professor, I understand your curiosity about the evaluation process. However, I cannot provide details regarding how candidates are evaluated during these interviews. Let's stay focused on our conversation. Let us proceed to discuss your research and teaching approach in more depth. I noticed your Ph.D. research was dedicated to disaster management, including methodologies like hydrological modeling, GIS, and microwave remote sensing. Could you elaborate on how your research contributes directly to classroom instruction, particularly in connecting theory with practical applications for students?

Uh, yes, uh, like, uh, micro remote sensing data is, uh, uh, like cloud netting data. It is an optical remote sensing in, in classroom. I can teach the student that like that, like optically, what's that during the, during the plot or during the cloud and the coverage time it's not penetrate properly. We can say the, the what at the ground reality and what is the land use that the behind the cloud, but the micro remote sensing data, it's can.

Get up with the 58 percent, 5058% so so so we can so we can easily to identify the what are the like land use, land use, the behind the behind the. Behind the cloud in the surface. So this is the emerging things on this, the competitive techniques I I may use.

Guys in the classroom, then the student can easily easily adopt this one and happy to learn that the iteration of the optical remote sensing and then this is the micro remote sensing or data.

Professor, that is an interesting approach. Demonstrating the capabilities of microwave remote sensing, especially in overcoming limitations of optical remote sensing like cloud cover, could indeed captivate students and provide hands-on learning experiences. Considering the technical nature of your research, could you explain how you simplify these advanced concepts, such as the difference between optical and microwave remote sensing, for students who might be new to geospatial technologies? How do you ensure these concepts are accessible and relatable?

It's relatable optical remote sensing. There's lots of boundaries there.

As as I already said the cloud related issue and one thing is another one is like a construction data will found and then deters the spectral signature related issue. We can observe this one and also the like. Like if I if I collect the data and from.

Like like the region we are the the normal plane region and also hilly region. There are also headliness the the shadow who is impacts into the data. So so behind the heels, what are the land use and what are the pictures is there we can identify from this one. So but the micro remote micro remote sensing where where is in backspace where we can that is 1 technique using the like long range data.

Using the like angular position data to that is that is like helps to identify the particular features also and also it has helped to that students identify the in the laboratory.

OK.

Thank you, Professor. Your ability to highlight real-world challenges, like cloud coverage and shadow interference, and explaining how microwave remote sensing can provide solutions is a valuable teaching approach. Demonstrating how these concepts are applied both in theory and practical laboratory settings is a strong connection between research and pedagogy. One final question in this area: Given the interdisciplinary nature of this field, how do you incorporate broader disaster management principles when teaching students about geospatial technologies? For instance, how do you ensure students understand the societal impacts alongside the technical aspects?

Thank you.

Time is up! Ending the interview now.