National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal

Dr. Karra Ram Chandar

Name: Mine Waste Utilization
Author: Dr. Karra Ram Chandar
ISBN: 9781032214559

Professor, Department of Mining Engineering

Rock blasting, slope stability, and mine waste utilization. Bridging mining research and industry practice for 25 years.

Email Curriculum Vitae Faculty Page

Ink drawing of Dr. Karra Ram Chandar writing at his desk

Academic record · updated August 2026

60
Journal papers: 55
Conference papers: 2
Books: 4
Book chapters: 8
Ph.D.s produced: 8
R&D projects: 320
Consultancy projects: 10
Countries visited

Figures maintained by Prof. Karra as of August 2026, counting peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, authored books and chapters, completed Ph.D. supervisions, sponsored R&D projects, and industry-sponsored consultancy engagements. Institutional pages may show older totals.

About

Dr. Karra Ram Chandar is a Professor in the Department of Mining Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, where he has taught and researched since 2000, and served as Head of the Department from 2019 to 2021. His work spans rock blasting and blast-performance optimisation, slope and dump stability, mine waste utilization, and the use of IoT-based sensor networks and machine learning for mine monitoring.

He graduated in Mining Engineering from Kothagudem School of Mines (Kakatiya University, Telangana) in 1999, earned his M.Tech in Rock Mechanics from IIT-BHU, Varanasi, and completed his Ph.D. in Rock Blasting at NITK. He later held a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago and holds an MBA in Human Resources. He has produced eight Ph.D.s, and is a Fellow or life member of more than ten professional societies, including ISRM, MGMI, ISTE, and MEAI.

A well-known rock blasting consultant in India, he has completed 320 industry-sponsored consultancy projects across Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya, for clients including Coal India, SCCL, JSW, UltraTech, and NALCO, with vibration-safe blasting studies near the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple. He has delivered more than 75 technical lectures in India and abroad, with research visits spanning the USA, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the UAE, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and Nepal.

Research

Rock Blasting

Blast design and performance optimisation, initiation systems, fragmentation, and ground-vibration prediction and control.

Slope & Highwall Stability

Stability of slopes, highwalls, and dumps in opencast mines, including mining above old underground workings.

Mine Waste Utilization

Turning mine and industrial waste into usable materials, with environmental management of mining operations.

IoT & Machine Learning

Wireless sensor networks, IoT-based slope and vibration monitoring, and ML models for prediction and early warning.

Dust Dispersion

Modelling and prediction of airborne dust from drilling and mining operations in surface mines.

Books

Mine Waste Utilization

2022

Mine Waste Utilization

Ram Chandar Karra, Gayana B. C., Shubhananda Rao P. · CRC Press / Taylor & Francis · ISBN 9781032214559

A practical treatment of how mine and industrial waste can be characterised and put to productive use, from waste rock and overburden to fly ash, with an emphasis on environmental management. Released at the National Mining Conclave 2022, IISc Bangalore.

View at the publisher

Influence of Initiation System

2013

Influence of Initiation System and Pattern on Blast Performance

K. Ram Chandar · Lambert Academic Publishing

A monograph on how initiation systems and firing patterns affect rock fragmentation and overall blast performance in bench blasting.

View on Amazon

Selected Work

2026
Performance Evaluation of an IoT-Enabled Wireless Sensor Network for Monitoring Blast-Induced Ground Vibrations
International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering
2026
Integrated Numerical and Machine Learning Framework for Deformation-Based Assessment of Slopes Over Old Underground Galleries in Opencast Mines
Discover Applied Sciences
2022
Integrated Slope Monitoring System for Slope Stability Over Old Underground Galleries During Surface Mining Operations Using Internet of Things
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering
2016
A Critical Comparison of Regression Models and Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Ground Vibrations
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering
2016
Prediction of Bond's Work Index from Field Measurable Rock Properties
International Journal of Mineral Processing

View all publications

Awards

2024
Engineers' Day Honour
The Institution of Engineers (India), Mangalore
2024
Prof. H. R. Anireddy Memorial Award
Indian Mining & Engineering Journal
2023
MEAI–SCCL Coal Award: Mining Engineer of the Year 2022
Mining Engineers' Association of India
2019
MGMI Engineering Gold Medal 2018
Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India
2017
National Design Award in Mining Engineering
National Design & Research Forum, IE (India)
2015
Smt. Kiran Devi Singhal Memorial Award 2014
Mining Engineers' Association of India
2012
Young Engineer Award
The Institution of Engineers (India)
2012
ISTE–SGSITS National Award
Indian Society for Technical Education
2011
Outstanding Young Person Award
JCI Mangalore

Projects

Performance of Electronic Detonators in Limestone Mines
2024–26
Ramco Cements · PI
Ongoing
Delay Sequencing in Blast Designs Using Advanced Analytical Techniques for Optimised Fragmentation and Mine Economics in Non-Coal Mines
2022–24
Ministry of Mines, with MSPL (collab. CSIR-CIMFR & Anna University) · PI
Impact of Work Conditions and Personal Attributes on Performance of Coal Miners
2016–17
NITK TEQIP · PI
Crushing and Grinding Characteristic Curves for Different Rocks Using Insmart Crushers and Mills
2015–16
Insmart Systems · PI
Modelling of Airborne Dust in Opencast Coal Mines
2011–14
Ministry of Coal · Co-PI
Assessment of Blast Performance Based on Explosive Energy Distribution
2010–13
Coal India · Co-PI
Modernization of Rock Blasting Laboratory
2004–06
Ministry of HRD · Co-PI
Influence of NONELs on Rock Fragmentation in Bench Blasting
2002–03
IDL Industries · Co-PI

Beyond sponsored research, Dr. Karra has led 320 industry-sponsored consultancy projects on controlled blasting, ground-vibration monitoring, and slope, highwall and dump stability, spread across Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya. Clients include Coal India, SCCL, JSW, UltraTech, NALCO, Dalmia Cement, Shree Cement, MSPL, and Southern Railway, with vibration-safe blasting studies near the UNESCO World Heritage Ramappa Temple.

Service

Head of the Department
Mining Engineering, NITK Surathkal · 2019–21
Apex Committee Member
Coal India R&D Board · 2024–26
Expert Committee Member
AICTE · 2025–26
Subject Expert
CMPDI / NaCCER · 2024–25
Syllabus Committee Member
GATE, Mining Engineering
Editorial Board Member
Mining Engineers' Journal · 2021–23
Consulting Editor
The Indian Mining & Engineering Journal · 2016–23
Co-opted Council Member
Mining Engineers' Association of India · 2021–23
Fellow / Life Member
ISRM · MGMI · ISTE · MEAI · IE(I) and other professional societies (10+)