Ranjan Kumar Dahal

Dr. Ranjan Kumar Dahal, a renowned engineering geologist and geohazard expert from Nepal, has been researching earthquakes, landslides, and debris flows for over 25 years. Born in Kathmandu in 1972, he earned his Ph.D. and postdoctoral degrees in geohazards from Japan. Currently, he is an Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Geology.

He has published over 100 scientific papers, authored five books, and co-authored three. His work has earned him prestigious awards, including the Best Research Award-2009 from Kagawa University, Nepal Bidhya Bhushan ‘Ka’ 2009, and the Young Scientist Award from NAST in 2009. He serves as a visiting professor at Kagawa University, Ehime University, and UNESCO Chair Program of Shimane University in Japan.

Dr. Dahal has developed an original methodology for topo-stress-based landslide hazard mapping and identified the rainfall threshold for landslides in the Nepal Himalayas. He has been actively involved in geohazard risk assessment projects in Japan, Uganda, India, and Taiwan. As the Management Director of the International Consortium of Geodisaster Reduction (ICGdR), he collaborates with global experts to advance geodisaster mitigation.

He is the Associate Editor-in-Chief of Geoenvironmental Disasters (Springer Open) and serves on the editorial board of Bulletin of Engineering Geology and Environment (IAEG). He has played a key role in establishing IAEG National Groups in Nepal and Bangladesh and is working on similar initiatives in Bhutan and Pakistan.

Dr. Dahal has been instrumental in Nepal’s disaster management, aiding in the Sunkoshi Landslide Dam rescue (2013) and serving on Nepal’s National Reconstruction Consulting Committee post-2015 Gorkha Earthquake. He has also contributed to ADB and World Bank geohazard management projects and introduced rockfall hazard mitigation techniques in Nepal in collaboration with Austrian experts.

With over 2,500 citations, an h-index of 23, and an i10-index of 38, his research is widely recognized. More details on his achievements and publications are available on Google Scholar and ResearchGate.