Career
He has held the office of Dean (Alumni & International Programmes) at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2004–2007) and retains his lien as Professor of Civil Engineering at the same institute. Professor Datta obtained his B.Tech (Civil Engg) from IIT Delhi in 1977, with a Director’s Silver Medal for standing first amongst the graduating students. He obtained his Doctorate Degree from the same institute.
He has taught at IIT Delhi since 1980.
His areas of specialization include geotechnical engineering, foundation engineering, ground engineering, earth dams, landfill engineering and geoenvironmental engineering. He has edited three books in the areas of landfills, solid waste management and ash ponds.
He has co-authored a text book for undergraduate students titled “Geotechnical Engineering” with Professor South.K Gulhati. He has published over 90 papers in journals and conferences.
He has been the Principal Investigator for 5 sponsored projects.
Currently he is the India team co-leader for the project “Protection of Environment in Asia” funded by the European Commission in which institutions from Netherlands, Germany and China are also partners. He has been associated with the Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests as well as Ministry of Urban Development in framing of guidelines and design manuals for municipal solid waste landfills and hazardous waste landfills. He has visited Stanford University, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, Imperial College, Cambridge University and Cardiff University in United Kingdom, Tianjin University in China, IHE and Technology Union Delft in Netherlands and Waterloo and McGill Universities in Canada.
He was also awarded the Indian Geotechnical Society (Delhi Chapter) Leadership Award in July 2008.
Project Incharge (Principal Investigator) of 5 sponsored research projects – four national projects funded by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, Flyash Mission and one international project funded by European Commission (Asia Link Programme)
Involved in over 100 consulting projects. Consultant incharge in over 40 projects.
