CV

Education

• Ph.D in Geography and the Environment, University of Alabama, Current (GPA 4.0)
• M.S. in Geoinformatics, University of Muenster, 2017
• B.E. in Geomatics Engineering, Kathmandu University, 2013

Work experience

• Aug 2022- Current: PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant
  • University of Alabama
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant (Aug 2022- Currently): Instruct GY 101: Atmospheric Processes & Patterns,
  • GY 102:Earth Surface Processes,
  • GIS and Remote Sensing
  • Research: River Meander Classification and Detection, Geomorphology, Remote Sensing, GIS, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Flood Risk
  • Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Davis
• Summer 2025: Graduate Research Assistant
  • University of Alabama
  • Hydraulic Modeling: Developed and calibrated HEC-RAS 2D models to simulate flood inundation and extents for Hurricane Helene in the Southern Appalachian watersheds.
  • Geospatial Data Integration: Acquired and integrated diverse datasets, including DEMs, USGS gauge data, NHDPlus, SWORD, and satellite imagery (Landsat/Sentinel/Planet Lab).
  • Vulnerability Analysis: Performed spatial analysis to couple flood maps with Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) data, identifying high-risk communities.
  • Drone Surveying: Conducted drone flight planning and data processing to create high-resolution imagery and a Digital Terrain Model (DTM).
  • Mapping & Visualization: Generated 1-foot contour maps and other project deliverables, including impact-based flood risk maps, for a reservoir feasibility study.
• Summer 2024: Graduate Teaching Assistant
  • University of Alabama
  • Duties included: Teach Lab of GY102:Earth Surface Processes
  • Hydrolearn Fellows: Develop course and attend conference
• Summer 2023: Graduate Research Assistant
  • University of Alabama
  • Conduct lake and river surveys to collect water quality, bathymetry and flow data using ADCP, YSI multiparameter sonde, ASD spectrometer, and HyCAT autonomous surface vehicle,
  • Fly drones to collect lake and river multispectral and hyper spectral data, archive and processing field and drone data,
  • Develop and test algorithms and software tools to processing remote sensing and field data, assist to prepare and write research reports and manuscripts
  • Supervisor: Dr. Hongxing Liu
• Nov 2019 - Jul 2022: Lecturer
  • Kathmandu University
  • Teaching: Cadastre, Engineering and Construction Survey, Spatial Data Infrastructure, Database and Geoinformation Modelling for Land Administration, Problem Assessment Project, Final Independent Project, Engineering Project, Field Survey
  • Research: Remote Sensing, GIS, Geoinformatics, Geomatics Engineering
• Nov 2018 - Nov 2019: Head of Department
  • Nepal Banepa Polytechnic Institute
  • Teaching: GIS, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Survey Project Management, Survey Computation and Adjustment, Field Survey
  • Research: Remote Sensing, GIS, Geomatics Engineering
• Nov 2016 - Oct 2016: Traine
  • International Training Center, Enschede, The Netherlands
  • Research: Land Use, Web GIS, Mobile GIS, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics

Skills

Programming Language Proficiency

• Python
• Javascript
• R

Softwares

• ArcGIS
• ERDAS IMAGINE
• QGIS
• RSQ
• River Surveyor
• HYPACK
• EXO Sonde
• ViewSpec Pro
• Hyperspec III and SpectralView
• CloudCompare
• POSPac UAV
• Velodyne LIDAR Veloview
• HPI Trajectory Plotter
• ImageJ
• UgCS Missions
• GPS Pathfinder Office

Instruments

• Unmmaned Aerial Vehicles
• Vessel
• DGPS
• GPS
• Total Station
• YSI
• ASD
• RS5 Pro Max
• HYCAT
• Hand-held Spectroradiometer

Licenses

• Unmmaned Aerial Vehicle
• Vessel
• Driving

Publications

MMATWidth: Detection of River Centerlines Extraction and Width Estimation

Thapa, P. (2025). "MMATWidth: Detection of River Centerlines Extraction and Width Estimation." Conference proceedings for IEEE Region 10 Symposium 2025. 1(1).

Enhanced River Planform Analysis Using Deep Learning and Medial Axis Transform with Sentinel 1A Imagery

Thapa, P., et al. (2025). "Enhanced River Planform Analysis Using Deep Learning and Medial Axis Transform with Sentinel 1A Imagery." CEarth Surface Processes and Landforms. 1(1).

Time Series Analysis and Forecast of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Thapa, P. (2022). "Time Series Analysis and Forecast of COVID-19 Pandemic.." JSpringer, Cham. 1(3).

Potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Agriculture: A Review.

Thapa, P. (2021). "Paper Potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Agriculture: A Review." Review of Behavioral Aspect in Organizations and Society. 1(2).

Spatial estimation of soil erosion using RUSLE modeling: a case study of Dolakha district, Nepal.

Thapa, P. (2020). "Spatial estimation of soil erosion using RUSLE modeling: a case study of Dolakha district, Nepal." Environmental Systems Research. 1(3).

Talks

UAV-based Velocimetry Techniques for stream flow velocity field: comparison of NIR with a traditional natural color video camera: Rapid River Surface Flow Velocity Measurement

April 23, 2024

Poster Presentation at Brayant Conference Center, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Automated extraction of River Morphological Attributes using Phase-Coded Disk Algorithm and Cloud Computing Platform

April 16, 2024

Oral Presentation at AAG Annual Meeting, Honolulu, USA

Phase Coded Disk Algorithm for Automation of River Width Extraction from Remotely Sensed Imagery with the Google Earth Engine

December 11, 2023

Poster Presentation at Convention Center, San Francisco, USA

Derivation of River Channel Morphology Information from Time Series Satellite Images

March 23, 2023

Oral Presentation at Hyatt Regency, Denver, USA

Teaching

Teaching experience 3

Teaching experience 2

Teaching experience 1

Awards

1. Travel Award ($1500) for participating in the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) CyberTraining Workshop on June 27th, 2025, in Laramie, WY.
2. Received Travel Award for Developer Conference 2025 ($1500), A230230 - CIROH HydroLearn, Vermont, USA.
3. Received Graduate award for AGU Annual Meeting ($1000), 2025, Conference and Research Funding, and College grad travel for Fall 2025.
4. Received Graduate award for AAG Annual Meeting ($1000), 2025, Conference and Research Funding, and College grad travel for spring 2025.
5. Finalist ($200) GISS Student Honors Paper Competition 2025, at AAG Annual Meeting 2025 https://aag.secure- platform.com/aag2025/solicitations/82/sessiongallery/schedule/items/22823
6. HydroLearn Fellowship ($5000) for participating in the CIROH Development Conference and HydroLearn in-person events in Salt Lake City, UT, May 29 – June 1, 2024
7. Shortlisted for AAG Remote Sensing Specialty Group Student Illustrated Paper Competition
8. Received Graduate Research Funding for summer ($8000), May 16 to Aug 15, 2023, from NASA project (GR29315 & GR29415).
9. Received Graduate award for AAG Annual Meeting ($1000), 2023, Conference and Research Funding: Approved and College grad travel for spring 2023.
10. Best Presentation on Management of Training (MoT) education-training seminars seven sessions, Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSoM), Balkumari, Lalitpur, Nepal (25th March to 1st April 2022).
11. International Federation of Surveyors Awarded for the 6th FIG Young Surveyors Conference and 2021 FIG Working Week.
12. Centre for International Migration and Development Awarded for Returning Expert Jun 2020-Jun 2022
13. DAAD Graduation Support 2017 Awarded for Dissertation entitled: “Vulnerability Assessment of Indigenous Communities to Climate Change in Nepal.”
14. Erasmus Exchange Student Memberships References awarded by the University of Twente, 2016 International Training Center, Enschede, Netherlands.
15. Government of Nepal Award by the Land Management Training Center for Bachelor of Engineering, 2012.
16. Community Scholarship Awarded by the community of Bakhundole, Dhulikhel, for Bachelor Study 2009.

Memberships

1. Member of Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society, Feb 2024.
2. General Member of American Geophysical Union (AGU), June 2023.
3. Developing Regional Member and Specialty Group of American Associations of Geographers (AAG), Dec 1, 2022-2024.
4. Member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, 2022-2023.
5. Affiliated Member of Alabama Water Institute, 2022.
6. Lifetime member of Nepal Engineers Association (NEA), Sept 2013.
7. Member of Nepal Engineering Council (NEC), 2013.
8. Individual member of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS). Editorial Broad member of Global Scientific Journals (GSJ).
9. Editorial Broad member of International European Extended Enablement in Science, Engineering & Management (IEE SEM).
10. Reviewer of International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research (IJSER). Reviewer of Journal of Geographic Information System (JGIS).
11. Reviewer of Journal of Environmental Systems Research (ESR).
12. Guest Reviewer of International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics (IJEG) and Review of the Behavioral Aspect in Organizations and Society.
13. Student Representative for Geomatics Engineering study (2010-2012)
14. Vice president in Student Council during Bachelor study, 2010-2013.
15. Scientific Committee Member of the International Scientific Council (ISC).

Certifications

1. Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software, Duke University, Aug 2020 (Online).
2. Cloud Computing Basics (Cloud 101), Learn Quest, Aug 2020 (Online).
3. Developing AI Applications on Azure, Learn Quest, Aug 2020 (Online).
4. Disaster Preparedness, University of Pittsburgh, Aug 2020 (Online).
5. Introduction to GIS Mapping, University of Toronto, Aug 2020 (Online).
6. Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis in Public Health, Imperial College London, Aug 2020 (Online).
7. Linear Regression and Modeling, Duke University, Aug 2020 (Online).
8. Machine Learning in ArcGIS: Map Land Use/Land Cover in GIS, Udemy, Aug 2020 (Online).
9. Academic Listening and Note-Taking, University of California, Irvine, Aug 2020 (Online).
10. Perfect Tenses and Modals, University of California, Irvine, Aug 2020 (Online).
11. Object-Oriented Design, University of Alberta, July 2020 (Online).
12. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox, The Johns Hopkins University, July 2020 (Online).
13. Geospatial and Environmental Analysis, University of California, Davis, Sept 2020 (Online).
14. Going Places with Spatial Analysis, ESRI, Sept 2020 (Online).
15. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (Project-Centered Course), Ecole Polytechnique, Sept 2020 (Online).
16. Introduction to Applied Machine Learning, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), Sept 2020 (Online).
17. Introduction to Marketing, Alberta University of Pennsylvania, Sept 2020 (Online).
18. Machine Learning for ALL, University of London, Sept 2020 (Online).
19. Python Basics, University of Michigan, Sept 2020 (Online).