Pandit, Ashok
Ashok Pandit
Professor, Department Head | College of Engineering and Science - Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Contact Information
Personal Overview
I received my B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India, M.S. in Water Resources Engineering from Clemson University and a Ph.D. from Clemson University in 1982.
In addition to research and teaching, I am active in STEM education and outreach and education. I recently received a NSF STEM grant to grow STEM education to students from Community and State Colleges (https://www.fit.edu/transfer-admissions/cost-scholarships-and-aid/fits-stem-scholarship/) . I have also organized week-long Engineering Summer Camps since 2009 (http://www.totalcamps.com/FITENGINEERINGCAMPS ). The extremely successful summer camp is for 9th to 12th graders who are interested in engineering. The camp attendees witness laboratory demonstrations and conduct well-designed experiments in Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Ocean Engineering as well as Computer Science, Construction Management, Nanotechnology and Physics. They also learn about MATLAB, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and Pro Engineer. My primary research focus has been in the area of applying numerical models to solve real-world problems. I have also conducted research in Stormwater Management, primarily developing models to forecast nutrient loads from watersheds and estimating removal efficiencies of some of the best management practices (BMPs).
I truly enjoy teaching and am constantly looking for innovative ways to communicate information to students. My style of lecturing is highly interactive and I try to keep students engaged in the classroom. I have also authored a book (through ASCE Press; https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/9780784414040) that shows students on how to use spreadsheets to solve problems in Hydraulics and Hydrology
Educational Background
B.S., Cvil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 1973
M.S. Clemson University 1976
Ph.D. Clemson University 1982
Professional Experience
Professor and Department Head of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology (2018-current)
Professor and Department Head of Civil Engineering and Construction Management, Florida Institute of Technology (2016-2018)
Professor and Department Head of Civil Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology (2000-2016)
Professor and Program Chair of Civil Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology (1998–2000)
Selected Publications
Pandit, A., Mamoua, Kamal., and Heck, H. H. 2018. “Salt Transport from an Estuary into the Underlying Aquifer – Field Measurements” EWRI World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, June 3-7, Minneapolis, USA. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481417.014
Mamoua, Kamal., Pandit, A., and Heck, H. H. 2018. “The Effect of the Vertical Hydraulic Conductivity on the Salt Transport from an Estuary into the Underlying Aquifer” EWRI World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, June 3-7, Minneapolis. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481417.013.
Al-Taliby, W., Pandit, A., and Heck, H. H., and Berber, A. 2017. “Improved Groundwater Model Calibration and Evaluation Using Interpolated Distribution of Observed Data.” International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, ISSN Print: 0976-6308, ISSN Online: 0976-6316, Vol. 8, Issue 12, pp 438-450. (open access article: http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=12).
Mamoua, K., Pandit, A., and Heck H.H., 2017. “Stochastic Nature of Salt Mass Transport in Porous Media Under Unstable Conditions.” Hydrology: Current Research, ISSN: 2157-7587, Vol. 8, Issue 2, 000278, pp 1-11. (open access article: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/stochastic-nature-of-salt-mass-transport-in-porous-media-under-unstable-conditions-2157-7587-1000278.pdf).
Pandit, A., Ali, N. Heck, H., and Mamoua, K., 2016. “Estimation of Submarine Groundwater Discharge into the Indian River Lagoon.” Austin Journal of Irrigation. Vol. 2, Issue. 1, http://austinpublishinggroup.com/irrigation/online-first.php.
Pandit, A., Jansen, J., Ali., N., Heck, H. H., Mamoua, K., and Al-Taliby, W. 2016 “Groundwater Nutrient Loads from a Watershed to a Coastal Estuary” Building a Sustainable Structure in the Asia Pacific Region, Civil Engineering Conference in the Asia Region CECAR 7, August 30 to September 2, Oahu, Hawaii, USA.
Mamoua, K., Pandit, A., Heck, H. H., Araujo, D. S. A. and Berber, A. 2016 “Physical and Numerical Modeling of Unstable Flow Due to Heavier Saltwater Overlying Freshwater” EWRI World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, May 22-26, West Palm Beach, USA.
Pandit, A., Ali, N., and Heck, H. H., 2011. "Spatial Calibration of Vertical Hydraulic Conductivity below an Estuary." ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 10, pp 763-771.
Youn, C. H., and Pandit, A., 2012. “Estimation of Average Annual Removal Efficiencies of Wet Detention Ponds Using Continuous Simulation.” ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, Vol. 17, No. 11, pp 1230-1239.
Pandit, A., and Heck, H. H., 2008. "Estimations of SCS Curve Numbers for Concrete and Asphalt." ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, Vol. 14, NO. 4, pp 335-345.
Pandit, A., and Gopalakrishnan, G., 1997. "Estimation of Annual Pollutant Loads Under Wet Weather Conditions." ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp 211-218.
Pandit, A., and Gopalakrishnan, G., 1996. "Estimation of Annual Storm Runoff Coefficients by Continuous Simulation." ASCE Journal of Drainage and Irrigation Engineering, Vol. 122, No. 4, pp 211-220.
Pandit, A. and Abi-Aoun, J., 1994. "Numerical Modeling of Axisymmetric Flow in an Aquifer Subjected to Pumping." Ground Water, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp 458-464.
Pandit, A., C.C. El-Khazen, and Sivaramapillai, S. P., 1991. "Estimation of Hydraulic Conductivity Values in a Coastal Aquifer." Ground Water, Vol. 29, no.2, pp 175-180.
Research
Groundwater
Nutrient Transport to the Indian River Lagoon: Recently I have been conducting research to determine the nutrient loads into the Northern Indian River lagoon (NIRL) transported via groundwater that originated from the mainland and barrier islands, or leaked through the confined aquifer. These results are significant as they will allow the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to better manage the NIRL to prevent phenomena such as algal blooms and red tides. A key element of this research was that we designed and employed a unique system of nestled piezometers to be able to calibrate and validate the numerical model.
Salt Transport from an Unstable Source: This research is an offshoot of the Indian River lagoon (IRL) research. While conducting our field measurements, we noticed that there was a significant amount of salt within the aquifer below the IRL, i.e., there was salt being transferred from the IRL into the underlying aquifer. Currently, this salt transport is not accounted for in hydrodynamic models used to conduct salt balance within the estuary. Through meticulous experiments, we have been able to develop a methodology that can very accurately predict, for experimental domains (approximately one m2), the rate of salt mass transfer from an unstable salt source to the underlying porous media. We have determined that this salt transport can be fairly significant and should be accounted for when conducting a salt balance of the estuaries. Our recent results have shown that numerical models indeed do duplicate the results measured in our experiments and predicted by the equations developed by us. The calibrated numerical models could therefore be used to estimate salt mass transfers from unstable source like estuaries.
Research & Project Interests
Dr. Pandit’s research activities focus on simulation of contaminant transport in subsurface media using numerical and physical models, saltwater intrusion, hydrologic modeling, and stormwater management.