The University of Queensland (UQ) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) Research Academy, in partnership with the CSIR National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), have won a fellowship grant from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
The joint project, “Digital Twin Integrated Multihazard Coastal Resilience of Underground Infrastructures”, supports India’s mission to strengthen infrastructure resilience against climate and disaster risks.
The initiative integrates geospatial digital technology for real-time Multihazard coastal resilience assessment, and goals align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action).
UQ-IITD Research Academy PhD candidate, Abhinav Dewangan leads the project in collaboration with his thesis supervisors, IITD Dean (Infrastructure) and Professor, Professor Dipti Ranjan Sahoo, UQ School of Civil Engineering Senior Lecturer Dr Jurij Karlovšek, and Associate Professor David Lange, in partnership with CSIR-NIO Chief Scientist and Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr Jaya Kumar Seelam. The project is also mentored by IITD Department of Civil Engineering Head and Professor, Professor Vasant Matsagar.
“The CDRI Fellowship presents a fantastic opportunity for global collaboration – This partnership is a testament to the power of our joint research and provides a crucial platform to expand our work and impact. We’re eager to use this fellowship not just to advance our project, but also to build a stronger international network dedicated to enhancing disaster resilience worldwide,” said Dr Karlovšek.
Abhinav will use the Fellowship funds to travel, promote the project, and further collaborative work between UQ, IITD, and the CSIR-NIO.
The fellowship grant allows the research project team access to members of CDRI including national governments, international organizations, and the private sector working in the field of Multihazard Coastal Resilience of Underground Infrastructures.
This recognition not only highlights Abhinav’s excellent work but also underscores the growing impact of collaborative research for innovation between UQ and IITD and CSIR India (project team photos below).
The CSIR-NIO is an oceanographic research institution in Goa, India. It is one of the constituent laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and was founded following the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE), which highlighted the need for focused research on the Indian Ocean
The CDRI Fellowship Program 2025–26 financially supports 56 fellows from 12 countries working on 20 innovative projects to enhance disaster resilient infrastructure globally. More information on the awarded projects in 2025-26 is available online.
