Faculty details

Prof.Radhakanta Koner

Designation: Associate Professor

Department: Mining Engineering

Email: rkoner[at]iitism[dot]ac[dot]in

Contact Number:

Office Number: +91-326-223-5739

Personal Page: Click Here

About Me: Dr Radhakanta Koner is an accomplished Associate Professor in the Department of Mining Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, a position he has held since 2023. Before this, he served as an Assistant Professor at the same institution from 2016–2023. His academic journey includes a PhD from IIT Kharagpur (2010), an MTech from IIT BHU Varanasi (2004), and a BE from IIEST Shibpur (2002), forming a strong foundation in engineering and applied sciences. Dr Koner’s research bridges numerical modelling, earth observation systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) to address geohazards such as landslides, slope instability, and mine dump failures. Dr Koner continues to explore AI-driven predictive models for hazard mitigation and advocates for sensor-network-integrated cyber-physical systems to enhance real-time slope stability assessments. His vision aligns with global sustainability goals, emphasizing safer mining practices and reduced environmental risks. For further details, Dr Koner is reachable at rkoner@iitism.ac.in or the Department of Mining Engineering office at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad. Hi Dear If you are interested for online course on Mine Automation and Data Analytics please enrol in the following link https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc26_mm33/preview

Research Interest: Mine Automation, Data Analytics, Georesources utilization using Remote Sensing Technology, Slope Stability Analysis, Landslide Analysis, Wireless Sensing Technology, Real-time Monitoring System In Mining, Discrete Element Modelling, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Hi Dear If you are interested for online course on Mine Automation and Data Analytics please enrol in the following link https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc26_mm33/preview

Teaching

Theory/Lecture Course

Undergraduate Studies

MNC305 – Mine Automation and Data Analytics (3rd year Mining Engineering – 100 students) 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 Winter Semester

MND402 (MEE17103) – Open Pit Slope Analysis and Design (4th year Mining Engineering – 70 students) 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-2020, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26  Monsoon Semester

MEC15103 - Underground Coal Mining (3rd year Mining Engineering, 4-year B. E. in Mining Engineering – 48 students) 2016-17 Monsoon Semester

MEM15101 – Elements of Mining (3rd-year Environmental Science and Engineering – 10 students) 2016 – 17 Monsoon Semester

MEM16101 – Surveying (3rd-year Environmental Science and Engineering – 10 students) 2016-17 Winter Semester

Post-Graduate Studies

 

NMND502 - Geospatial Technologies for Natural Resources, 2024-25, Monsoon Semester

NMND509 (MND501) – Mine Simulation and Data Analytics 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2024-25 Winter Semester

MNC513 (MEC52104) - Analysis and Design of Slopes in Surface Mines 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 Monsoon Semester

MEC19103 – Surface Mine Slopes Analysis and Design (5th year Mining Engineering Dual Degree Programme – 15 students) 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 Monsoon

MEC52172 - Remote Sensing and Image Processing 2016-17, 2017-18 Winter Semester

 

Lab/Practical Courses

NMNC508 (MNC509) - Geomechanics Practical (1st year MTech, Mining Engineering, Opencast Mining, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology – 40 students) 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26 Monsoon Semester

MNC306 – Mine Data Analytics Practical (3rd year Mining Engineering – 35 students) 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 Winter Semester

MER17206/23231 – Surveying Lab (Applied Geology and Geophysics Masters Students), 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 Monsoon Semester

Academics

1.2007-10.2010


Ph. D. in Geomechanics – IIT KHARAGPUR, India ” Numerical Analysis of External Overburden Dumps Stability in Wardha Valley Coalfields” advisor Prof. Debashish Chakravarty

7.2002-6.2004


M.Tech in Mining Engineering (Rock Mechanics) – IT-BHU, Varanasi, India (7.38/10)
“Application of artificial neural network in rock system engineering”
advisor Prof. Suprakash Gupta

8.1998-6.2002


B.E. in Mining Engineering – Bengal Engineering College (a Deemed University), Shibpur, India (75.86/100)
“Ore grade modelling”
advisor Prof Suranjan Sinha

Position

Academic Appointments

9.2023 – to date
Associate Professor at the Mining Engineering Department at the IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, India

7.2016- 9.2023
Assistant Professor at the Mining Engineering Department at the IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, India

3.2016- 7.2016
Assistant Professor at the Applied Mechanics Department at the MS University of Baroda, Gujarat

Professional Positions

6.2013-2.2016
Principal Investigator, SERB funded R&D Project at the IIT Kharagpur, India

5.2010-5.2013
Research Associate, Sponsored Project, at the IIT Kharagpur, India

Professional Registrations
Chartered Engineer in India (MIE), affiliated with IE(I) Kolkata since 2017

Associate Editor

Journal Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 

 

Member

International Committee on Mine Safety Science and Engineering (ICMSSE)

Awards and Honors

2024

Smt. Lalitha Srinivasan Innovation & Invention Award at the 99th Foundation Day and Award Ceremony on December 09, 2024, at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

2023


Best Paper “Application of Low-Cost Energy Efficient ZigBee Network Protocol to Develop A Cyber-physical Intelligent System for Monitoring Mine Slope Health” IEEE OTCON 2022

2015


UGC-Assistant Professor was awarded by the University Grant Commission, New Delhi

2013


DST-Young Scientist by Science Engineering Research Board, New Delhi

2010


The MGMI Institute Bronze Medal by The Mining, Geological, and Metallurgical Institute of India, Kolkata

Publications

Books Published

A few Book Chapters

 

Chand, K., Koner, R. (2025). Mine Waste Dump Stability Monitoring Using the Combination of Drone Technology and 3D Numerical Modelling. In: Agnihotri, A.K., Reddy, K.R., Bansal, A. (eds) Sustainable Infrastructures. EGRWSE 2023. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 355. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8393-9_10

 

Adabala, R.V.S.N., Tiwari, A., Koner, R. (2024). The Segment Anything Model (SAM) for Mining Engineering Applications: From Zero to One Shot. In: Garg, L., Sisodia, D.S., Dewangan, B.K., Shukla, R.N., Kesswani, N., Brigui, I. (eds) AI Technologies for Information Systems and Management Science. ISMS 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1136. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-70789-6_33

 

 

List Of Research Publications (only in Peer-reviewed Journals)

A few publications

Mankar A. K, Koner R. (2026) Predictive Risk Profiling of Slopes Through Multi-Scale UAV-Based Spatiotemporal Monitoring, Advances in Space Research,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2026.04.022.

Mankar A. K, Koner R. (2026) Topographic deformation and geomorphic instability of mine dump slopes: A UAV-based multi-scale analysis framework, The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, Volume 29, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 133-146, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrs.2026.02.003.

Das, M., Gautam, G.K., Jain, S., Bhat, M.F., Mankar, A.K. & Koner, R. (2026) A comparative analysis of AHP, FR, AHP-FR and LR models for landslide susceptibility mapping in Sikkim Himalaya, India. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 51(2), e70257.  https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70257

Sing, D., Das, M., Das, S., Mankar, A.K., Koner, R., Urban Sprawl Dynamics in Bhubaneswar UA (1991–2024): Analyzing Land Use Changes through Remote Sensing Technique, Advances in Space Research (2026), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2026.01.029

Koner R, Bohra S, Mankar AK, Venkata Sai Naresh AR. Machine learning-driven framework for blast vibration assessment in mining sites. Journal of Vibration and Control. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/10775463251399754

Chand, K., Koner, R. (2025) Mine Internal Dump Optimum Geometric Design Parameters Identification for Mine Ground Floor Inclination Conditions Using Numerical Modelling and Machine Learning. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 42, 2813–2838 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-025-01344-8

Koner, R. (2025). Optimum mine dump design in Wardha valley coalfields using finite difference based numerical methods. Journal of Analytical and Numerical Methods in Mining Engineering, (), -. doi: 10.22034/anm.2025.22754.1665

Chand, K.; Bhat, M.F.; Koner, R.; Fissha, Y.; Cheepurupalli, N.R.; Saidani, T.; Ikeda, H. (2025) Open-Pit Mine Reclamation Monitoring and Management for a Sustainable Future Using Drone Technology: A Review. Drones, 2025, 9, 601. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones9090601

Chand, K. , Kumar, V. , Raj, P. , Sharma, N. , Mankar, A. Kumar and Koner, R. (2025). Artificial Intelligence Tool for Prediction of Mine Tailings Dam Slope Stability. Journal of Mining and Environment, 16(1), 127-142. doi: 10.22044/jme.2024.14602.2754

Chand, K., & Koner, R. (2025). Mine dump slope stability and failure behaviour analysis under geo-mining condition using hybrid numerical modelling. Current Science, 128(7), 667–676. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v128/i7/667-676

Chand, K., Koner, R. (2024) Agent-Based Numerical Modelling of Mine Dumps and Estimation of Potential Failure in Dump Slope: A Study Considering Ground Vibration and Rainfall Precipitation. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 41, 3315–3337 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-024-01117-9

Bisoyi, S. K., Chand, K., & Koner, R. (2024). Copper’s Strategic Analysis for India: Resource Assessment, Demand Projection, and Global Partnerships. Mineral Metal Energy Oil Gas and Aggregate, 1(3), 220–229. https://doi.org/10.18311/2MEOGA/2024/v1i3/45679

Chand, K., & Koner, R. (2024). Large dump critical zone of interest identification and slope failure prediction using realistic 3D  numerical modelling. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2024.2361809

Malik, B.A., Koner, R. (2024) Comprehensive review of the monitoring and sensing system in slopes with a special focus on the mining sector. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 66588–66614 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-35693-6

Koner R, Mankar AK, Chand K. (2024) Open-pit overburden dump characterization using digital image processing technique. Mining Science. 2024;31:81–101. doi:10.37190/msc243105.

Chand, K., Mankar, A.K., Koner, R. et al. (2024) Dump slope change detection and displacement monitoring using UAV close-range photogrammetry. Sādhanā 49, 277 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-024-02631-8

Chand, K., & Koner, R. (2024). Mine Active Internal Dump Susceptible Zone Identification using MMO Technique. Journal of Mines, Metals and Fuels, 72(2), 165–177. https://doi.org/10.18311/jmmf/2024/35719

Naresh, A.R.V.S., Koner, R. (2024) Automatic Extraction of Accurate Particle Sizes from a 3D Point Cloud of Rock Masses Based on a Hybrid Modified Bounding Box Algorithm. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 41, 449–461 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-023-00893-0

Soni, A., Koner, R., & Villuri, V. G. K. (2024). Uncertainty based regional-decision fusion of multispectral and nDSM for ultra-high resolution UAV imagery. Journal of Spatial Science69(3), 745–771. https://doi.org/10.1080/14498596.2023.228636

Papers in conference abstract volumes / presented

A few Conference publications

 

as, M., Sing, D., Mankar, A.K., Koner, R. (2026). Geospatial Technologies for Sustainable Environmental Management in Jharia Coalfield. In: Sinha, A., Sarkar, B.C., Mandal, P.K. (eds) Innovative and Responsible Mining for Inclusive Growth. AMC 2025. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-09929-7_50

Moon, P.R., Mankar, A.K., Koner, R. (2026). Green Technologies in Mining: Practices and Adoption Challenges. In: Sinha, A., Sarkar, B.C., Mandal, P.K. (eds) Innovative and Responsible Mining for Inclusive Growth. AMC 2025. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-09929-7_49

Mankar, A.K., Koner, R. (2025). Drone Technology and 3D Reconstruction Approach for Efficient Management of Mine Dump Slope. In: Gorai, A.K., Ram, S., Bishwal, R.M., Bhowmik, S. (eds) Sustainable and Innovative Mining Practices. ICSIMP 2023. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76614-5_46

Bhat, M.F., Koner, R. (2025). Enhancing Load-Bearing Capacity of a Haul Road in Opencast Mine using Non-Woven Geotextiles: A CBR Analysis. In: Gorai, A.K., Ram, S., Bishwal, R.M., Bhowmik, S. (eds) Sustainable and Innovative Mining Practices. ICSIMP 2023. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76614-5_41

Chand, K., Koner, R. (2025). Internal Dump Stability Assessment Using UAV Technology and 3D Numerical Modelling Technique. In: Gorai, A.K., Ram, S., Bishwal, R.M., Bhowmik, S. (eds) Sustainable and Innovative Mining Practices. ICSIMP 2023. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76614-5_19

 

Projects & Activities

Sponsored Research Projects (External Funded)

Title: Micromechanical Simulation of Overburden Dump Slope under Field Geomining Conditions (Ongoing)

Funding Agency: SPARC MHRD NEW DELHI

Role: Principal Investigator

Budget (in Rupees): 5399720

Year: 2023 - 2025

Title: Real-time energy efficient cyber-physical intelligent system for mine slope health monitoring (Completed)

Funding Agency: Coal India R&D Board

Role: Principal Investigator

Budget (in Rupees):  27300000

Year: 2022 - 2025

Title: Mine Slope Management and Monitoring System (Completed)

Funding Agency: SERB, New Delhi

Role: Principal Investigator

Budget (in Rupees): 40 Lakhs

Year: 2020 - 2023

Title: 2-D numerical analysis for investigation of external overburden dumps stability on BCS layer (Completed)

Funding Agency: SERB, New Delhi

Role: Principal Investigator

Budget (in Rupees):  23.11 Lakhs

Year: 2013 - 2016

 

Consultancy Project

 

EDP Course on Application of Artificial Intelligence for Responsible Mining & Sustainable Future EDP CIL 2360000 Ongoing

 

Determination of existing capacity and enhancement of capacity by increasing the height of slime dam at two slime dam at Noamundi Iron Ore Mines of Tata Steel Ltd Consultancy Tata Steel Ltd. 804311 Ongoing

 

 

Scientific study of Bansra OCP under Kunustoria Area, Eastern Coalfields Limited. Consultancy ECL 1055385 Completed

Membership of Scientific Societies

Member, International Society of Rock Mechanics (ISRM), Indian Group, since 2017
Member, IEEE, Kolkata Chapter, since 2017
Member, ASCE, Indian Group, since 2017
Life Member, The Mining, Geological, and Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI), 10732-LM
Life Member, Institution of Engineers India (IE(I)), M-1578698

Member, Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, since 2025

Associate Editor, Journal Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 

Other Academic and Administrative Activities

8.2018- 7.2025
Member of the Departmental Undergraduate Committee (DUGC), Dept. of Mining Engineering, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

1.2017- 12.2021
Departmental Time-Table Incharge, Member, Institute Central Time Table Committee, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

10.2019-10.2019
Chair and organiser for the GIAN Course, “ROCK MECHANICS: RECENT ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES IN THE 21ST CENTURY”, October 21-25, Dhanbad
01.2023-01.2023

 

Guidance

Dr Kapoor Chand (16DR0068) was awarded PhD on 28-04-2025 from the Department of Mining Engineering. The thesis title was "INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR OPEN-PIT MINE DUMP MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING."

 

Dr Shirshendu Layek (Admission No: 16DR000150) was awarded PhD on 17-04-2023 from the Department of Mining Engineering. The thesis title was "COMPUTER AIDED 3D RECONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE FOR ASSESSING VOLUMETRIC CHANGE IN OPEN-PIT AND OVERBURDEN DUMP STABILITY USING UAV IMAGERY." Prof. Radhakanta Koner (Co-Guide)

 

Dr. Ashish Soni (Admission No: 16DR000196) was awarded PhD on 08-08-2022 from the Department of Mining Engineering. The thesis title was "URBAN FEATURE EXTRACTION IN REMOTE SENSING IMAGES USING CONVOLUTION NEURAL NETWORK."