Safeguarding People and Infrastructure from Earthquakes – Sekhar Chandra Dutta
Urban areas and cities usually have a higher population concentration than rural areas in almost all countries due to better education and employment opportunities. The significant influx of people into cities increases the need for investing significantly in infrastructure and development projects to cater to the high demand for residence and social welfare. However, most cities and urban centers have limited room to accommodate the entire population without employing innovative techniques like developing high-rise buildings. High-rise apartment and office buildings are common in almost all major cities and urban centers worldwide because they can accommodate more offices and residential units in limited spaces. However, skyscrapers and other buildings or structures risk damage and collapse due to earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Urban planning and design involve efficiently using spaces and areas while focusing on the physical, economic, and social effects of development on people and the environment. Urban planning encompasses numerous development aspects, including architecture, social or political concerns, environmental issues, and engineering. Earthquake engineering and planning is also an essential component of urban development because it enables planners to prevent human and economic losses stemming from earthquakes. Earthquake engineers are vital for the planning and developing of infrastructure and construction projects because they offer essential insights and views regarding damage prevention. Sekhar Chandra Dutta is a civil engineer with the expertise and experience to provide input and advice regarding earthquake engineering. Dutta has substantial research experience in the field, focusing on structural and earthquake engineering.
Natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and cyclones can adversely affect buildings and structures while causing injuries or deaths of many people. Structural and earthquake engineers like Sekhar Chandra Dutta are essential in safeguarding infrastructure and buildings from collapse and damage from natural disasters by offering recommendations and advice about structural integrity and strength. Born to Malaya K. Dutta and Dipali Dutta in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, on December 30, 1965, Sekhar Chandra Dutta completed his early education at the Hare school in Kolkata. He completed his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Kolkata, in 1988 and a master’s degree in 1990. Dutta started his professional career in 1995 by becoming a lecturer at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology in the civil engineering department. He also completed his Ph.D. in structural engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1996.
Dutta developed an interest in structural and earthquake engineering while studying and working for his doctorate. He conducted numerous studies on the effects of earthquakes and natural disasters on structures and buildings. Dutta is a significantly published research scholar with 121 research articles published in various scientific journals as an author or co-author. He co-authored a book with Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay in 2012 on Improving Earthquake and Cyclone Resistance of Structures. Dutta also co-authored a book chapter with Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay on the impact of Indian cyclones and earthquakes on structures in the Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards in 2018. He received several awards and accolades for his contribution to the civil and structural engineering fields, including being in the top 2 percent global scientists list prepared by Stanford University in 2021.
Sekhar Chandra Dutta participated in seven research projects sponsored by public and private universities to enhance the designs and structures of buildings from a natural disaster perspective. The importance of professionals like Dutta increases significantly in developing nations with a deficiency of experienced and skilled structural and earthquake engineers. Developing countries experience significant economic and human losses due to earthquakes, mainly because of a lack of preparedness and scarce resources to withstand and recover from natural disasters. Research scholars and professionals like Sekhar Chandra Dutta are vital for developing countries due to their extensive experience and structural and earthquake engineering skills. Dutta worked on numerous projects and scholarly studies, making him a structural and earthquake engineering expert.
Earthquakes and natural disasters pose significant threats to infrastructure and public or private property in developing nations due to limited resources and a lack of preparedness. However, experts like Sekhar Chandra Dutta safeguard people and infrastructure from earthquakes by offering valuable insights and recommendations for developing and constructing structures or buildings that withstand seismic shocks. Dutta’s extensive academic, research, and professional experience make him unique in structural and earthquake engineering. He can offer beneficial recommendations and proposals regarding materials and designs for significantly increasing the resistance of public and private structures, buildings, and skyscrapers against earthquakes and natural disasters.
