Utpal Dutta

Utpal Dutta
Professor
Civil Engineering
EIB 301U
Phone: (907) 786-1952
Email: udutta2@alaska.edu

Education

1992 Ph.D.  Dept of Applied Geophysics, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India
1988 M.Sc (Tech)  Dept of Applied Geophysics, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India
1984 B.Sc (Physics Hons)  Calcutta University, India

Biography

Utpal Dutta graduated from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India, with M.Sc (Tech) in Applied Geophysics in 1988 and then received his Ph.D. from the same institute in 1992. After a brief assignment for one year as a Research Fellow at the University of Delhi South Campus, Dr. Dutta joined as Lecturer (Assistant Professor Level) in Geophysics at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, India. He taught various graduate courses in Exploration and Solid Earth Geophysics at GNDU from 1992-1998. He joined as a Visiting Research Scientist at the Geophysical Institute, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in 1998. He carried out work in the field of urban earthquake hazard, seismic microzonation, and engineering seismology. In 2003, Dr. Dutta joined as a Research Associate at Environment and Natural Resource Institute, under the joint appointment of the University Alaska Anchorage and Geophysical Institute, UAF. In 2007, Dr. Dutta moved to the School of Engineering as faculty in the Civil Engineering department. Dr. Dutta has already published nearly 55 technical papers in journals of international repute and in various conferences proceedings on earthquake engineering, earthquake hazards, and urban seismic microzonation related issues. 

Teaching Responsibilities

  • ES A209:  Statics
  • ES A210:  Dynamics
  • CE A610: Engineering Seismology
  • ES A302: Engineering Data Analysis

Professional & Department Service

 Professional

  • Member, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • Member, Seismological Society of America (SSA)
  • Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)
  • Member, Society of Exploration Geophysicist (SEG)
  • Member, The George E. Brown Jr., Network of Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES)

University

  • Member, Undergraduate Academic Board, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2007-present
  • Member, General Education Review Committee, University of Alaska Anchorage 2008-2019
  • Affiliate Director, University of Alaska Anchorage Campus for Alaska Space Grant Consortium, 2014-present.
  • Faculty Advisor, Engineers Without Borders (EWB-UAA), Spring 2009 – 2011
  • Member of Faculty Senate, University of Alaska Anchorage 2012-18


Professional Activities

  • Co-Chair, Joint Scientific Assembly IAGA-IASPEI 2021 (Virtual Conference) on  Site and Source Modeling for Urban Seismic Microzonation Studies, August 21-27, 2021, at Hyderabad, India.
  • Member, Technical Committee: 10th National Conference of Earthquake Engineering Conference, will be held on July 21-25, 2014 at Anchorage, AK, organized by Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, CA.
  • Member, Alaska Earthquake Clearinghouse Committee for coordinating data collection and assessing seismic hazard work following November 30th Earthquake, 2018 earthquake, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (Dec 2018- Jan 2019).
  • Faculty Lead, Earthquake Engineering Teaching for ANSEP Middle School Academy 2012-2019.
  • Faculty Lead, Earthquake Engineering workshop for ANSEP Summer Acceleration Program, 2011-15.
  • Presidedover the Technical Session: Ground Motions 10th National Conference of Earthquake Engineering Conference, held on July 21-25, 2014 at Anchorage, AK, organized by Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, CA.
  • Presided over the Technical Session: Earthquake Engineering Research and Practices in Seasonally Frozen and Permafrost Conditions, 14th. World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Beijing, China, (Oct 12-17, 2008).
  • Presided over the Technical Session on Strong Ground Motion in 7th. U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering held at Boston, MA, July 2002.
  • Reviewed technical articles submitted in:
      • Bulletin of Seismological Society America
      • Society of Exploration Geophysicists
      • Pure and Applied Geophysics
      • Journal of Geophysics
      • Earthquake Spectra
      • Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
      • Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics (Springer)
  • Reviewed project proposals submitted to the Earth Science Division, National Science Foundation.
  • Elected as a member of the Undergraduate Academic Board of the University of Alaska Anchorage.
  • Served in the Technical Committee of 7th. U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering held at Boston, MA, July 2002.

Research Interests

  1. Response of Warm permafrost under climate change and associated Hazard: a Case study of Bethel area (2020). ConocoPhillips Arctic Science and Engineering Endowment Fund, $99,984, Co-PI, PI: Z. Yang.
  2. Filling Major Data Gap in Southcentral Alaska for Assessment of Seismic Risks Considering Frozen Ground Effects (2019).  ConocoPhillips Arctic Science and Engineering Endowment Fund, $99,984, PI, Co-PI(s): Z. Yang and S. Bhattacharya (UAA)
  3. Assessment of Collapse Potential of Multi-story Buildings due to long duration earthquakes (2019). Submitted for INNOVATE research funding UAA, $10K, Co-PI, PI: Wael Hassan.
  4. Bi-propellant Liquid-fueled Rocket Engine development and testing for the UAA Rocketry Team (2017). Alaska Space Grant Program, PI, $14,826
  5. Effect of Load History on Performance Limit States of Bridge Columns: Submitted to Alaska University Transportation Center, Fairbanks, 2010, $27,131, Co-PI. PI: Prof. Mervin Kowalsky (NCSU).
  6. Anchorage Strong Motion Network: Maintenance and Data Archival: U. S. Geological Survey, $77,762, PI, 2009-2010, Collaborating Investigators: Dr. Z. Yang.
  7. Anchorage Strong Motion Network: Maintenance and Data Archival (matching Grant): Municipality of Anchorage, $35,000, 2009-2010, PI, Collaborating Investigators: Dr. Z. Yang
  8. Anchorage Strong Motion Network: Maintenance and Data Archival (matching Grant): University of Alaska Anchorage, $72,000, 2009-2010, PI, Collaborating Investigators: Dr. Z. Yang
  9. Temporary Relocation of Seismic Data recorder of the Port Access Viaduct, Anchorage, AK: U. S. Geological Survey,$10,208, PI, 2009-2010, Collaborating Investigators: Dr. Z. Yang.
  10. Temporary Relocation of Seismic Data recorder of the Port Access Viaduct, Anchorage, AK, Phase II: U. S. Geological Survey,$20,308, PI, 2009-2010.
  11. Structural Investigation: the Frontier Building, Anchorage, Alaska. PI. Funded by Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) of U.S. Geological Survey. $101,800. Aug. 2006 - Dec. 2008. Collaborating Investigator: Dr. Z. Yang, Prof. Niren Biswas.
  12. Strong-Motion instrumentation and study of seasonal frozen ground effects on Soil-Foundation-Structure interaction system using the Port Access bridge in Anchorage, Alaska. Co-PI. Funded by Advanced National Seismic System(ANSS) of U.S. Geological Survey. $209,720. Aug. 2006 - Sept. 2007. Collaborating Investigator: Dr. Z. Yang, Prof. Niren Biswas.
  13. Evaluation of Seasonally Frozen Ground Impact on Civil Structures using Experimental Data, UAA Chancellor's Fund; $10,000. Co-PI, Dec. 2006 - Nov. 2007, Collaborating investigator: Dr. Z. Yang, Dr. Feng Xiong.
  14. Evaluation of UAA Campus Site Amplification using Data from Densified Seismic Network, UAA Chancellor's Fund; $ 10,000. PI, Collaborating investigator: Dr. Z. Yang and Dr. Feng Xiong.
  15. Ground Motion Characteristics of Fossil Creek Power Plant Site, Municipal of Light and Power, Anchorage, $25,000, PI, Collaborating Investigator: Dr. B. Haldoorsson (Iceland) and Prof. Niren Biswas.

Publications

  1. U.Dutta and J. D. Thornley (2020). Study of spatial variability of ground motions in Anchorage Bowl from Anchorage earthquake (MW=7.1), Proceed of 17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 17WCEE Sendai, Japan - September 13th to 18th, 2020 (Paper#01-0108).
  2. Thornley, J. D., U. Dutta, J. Douglas (2020). Nonlinear site response analysis at the Delaney Park downhole array in Anchorage, Alaska, Proceed of 17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 17WCEE Sendai, Japan - September 13th to 18th, 2020 (Paper#04-0025).
  3. Thornley, J. D., U. Dutta, J. Douglas and Z. (Joey) Yang (2021). Nonlinear Site Effects from the 30 November 2018 Anchorage, Alaska, Earthquake, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 111 (4): 2112–2120.
  4. Thornley, J. D., U. Dutta, J. Douglas and Z. (Joey) Yang (2021). Evaluation of horizontal to vertical spectral ratio and standard spectral ratio methods for mapping shear wave velocity across Anchorage, Alaska, Soil Dyn. and Earthq. Engg. 150 106918. (Published)
  5. Thornley, J. D., J. Douglas, U. Dutta, and Z. (Joey) Yang (2021). Engineering site response analysis of Anchorage, Alaska using site amplifications and random vibration theory. Earthquake Spectra, (Accepted).
  6. Abaza, O., M. S. Uddin, U. Dutta (2019). Development of Trooper Spatial/Crash Database to Quantify Enforcement Countermeasures, Road Safety & Simulation 2019 Conference, Iowa City, Iowa, 14-17 October 2019.
  7. Thornly, J., U. Dutta, P. Fahringer, Z. Yang (2018). In-situ shear wave velocity measurements at the Delaney Park Downhole Array, Anchorage, Alaska, in Seismo. Res. Lett. 90, 395-400
  8. Skolink, D. A., M. Ciudad-Real, D. Swanson, E. Bishop, U.Dutta (2016) “Engineering Display” at the New Engineering Industrial Building, University of Alaska –Anchorage, 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, CA.
  9. Canon, E and U. Dutta (2015). Evaluating Topographically-Derived Vs30 Values for Seismic Site Class Characterization in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. 6th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering 1-4 November 2015, Christchurch, New Zealand
  10. Agrawal, M., J. Pulliam, M. K. Sen, U. Dutta, M. Pasyanos, R. J. Mellors (2015). Crustal and Upper mantle structure in the Middle-East: Assessing constraints provided by joint modeling Ps and Sp receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion curves, Geophy. Jour. Int. vol. 201, 783-810.
  11. Canon, E and U. Dutta (2014). The influence of glacial process on sedimentary depositional history and earthquake ground motions in Anchorage, Alaska. Proc. of 10th National Conference of Earthquake Engineering (10NCEE), EERI, CA.
  12. Dutta, U. (2014). Near surface velocity structure of Anchorage basin from time domain modeling of local earthquake. Proc. of 10th National Conference of Earthquake Engineering (10NCEE), EERI, CA.
  13. Thornley, J., U. Dutta and Z. Yang (2014). Modeling the site response of a downhole array site in Anchorage, Alaska . Proc. of 10th National Conference of Earthquake Engineering (10NCEE), EERI, CA.
  14. Dutta, U. (2013). Estimation of Spatial variation of spectral Acceleration in Anchorage basin, Alaska from strong motion network data, 10th International Symposium on Cold Region Engineering, Anchorage. Alaska June 1-3.
  15. Pulliam, J., M. K. Sen, M. Agrawal, U. Dutta, R. Ghosh, F. Sepulveda, R. J. Mellors, and M. E. Pasyanos (2012). Joint, Non-linear Modeling of Receiver Functions, Surface Wave Dispersion, and Waveforms with Formal Assessments of Constraints, in Proc. National Nuclear Security Administration.
  16. Mandal, P., and U. Dutta (2011). Estimation of earthquake source parameters in the Kachchh seismic zone, Gujarat, India from strong motion network data using generalized inversion technique. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 10, 1719-1731.
  17. U. Dutta, H. Liu and Z. Yang (2011). Seismic microzonation and infrastructural response monitoring programs in Alaska, Jour. Highway and Trans. Res. and Dev. 28, 49-62.
  18. Z. Yang, U. Dutta, G. Xu, K. Hazirbaba and E. Marx (2011). Numerical Analysis of Permafrost effects on the seismic site response, Jour. Soil Dyn. and Earthq. Engg, 31, 282-290.
  19. G. Xu, Z. Yang, U.Dutta, L. Tang and E. E. Marx (2011). Seasonally frozen soil effects on the seismic site responses, Jour. of Cold Reg. Engg. 25, 53-70.
  20. G. Xu, U. Dutta, Z. Yang and K. Hazirbaba (2010). Frozen soil effect on the observed ground motion characteristics, in Proc. of 9th US National and 10th Canadian Conference on Earthquake Engineering: Reaching Beyond Boarder
  21. Dutta, U., M. K. Sen, N. Biswas, and Z. Yang (2009). Investigation of shallow sedimentary structure of the Anchorage basin, Alaska using simulated annealing inversion of site response. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 99, 326-339.
  22. Dutta, U., M. K. Sen, N. Biswas, and Z. Yang (2008). Waveform Modeling of Earthquake Data for Delineating the Sedimentary Structure of the Anchorage Basin, Alaska, Proceeding of 14th. World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Beijing, China, (Oct 12-17, 2008). CD ROM., Paper #02-125.
  23. U. Dutta, Z. Yang, G. Xu and K. Hazirbaba (2008). Effect of seasonally frozen soil and permafrost on seismic site response, Proceeding of 14th. World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Beijing, China, (Oct 12-17, 2008). CD ROM., Paper #S09-09.
  24. Mavroeidis, G.P., B. Zhang, G. Dong, A. S. Papageorgiou, U. Dutta, and N. N. Biswas (2008). Estimation of strong ground motion from the Great 1964 Mw 9.2 Prince William Sound, Alaska, earthquake, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 98, 2303-2324.
  25. Miranda, R., Z. Yang and U. Dutta (2008). Seasonally frozen ground effects on the dynamic response of high-rise buildings. Ninth International Conference on Permafrost (NICOP), University of Alaska Fairbanks, June 29 – July 3, 2008.
  26. Mandal, P., U. Dutta, and R. K. Chadha (2008). Estimation of Site Response in the Kachchh Seismic Zone, Gujarat, India, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 98, 2559-2566
  27. Yang, Z., U. Dutta, F. Xiong, N. Biswas and H. Benz. (2008). Seasonal frost effects on the dynamic behavior of a twenty-story office building.Cold Reg. Sci. and Tech. 51, 76-84.
  28. Dutta, U., T.Satoh, H. Kawase, T.Sato, N.Biswas, A.Martirosyan, and M.Dravinski (2007). S-wave velocity structure of sediments in Anchorage, Alaska estimated with array measurements of microtremors, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 97, 234-255.
  29. Xiong, F., Z. Yang, and U. Dutta (2007). Effects of Seasonally Frozen Soil on a Four-Story Reinforced Concrete Garage in Anchorage, Alaska, in Proc. 8th International Symposium on Cold Region Development ISCORD.
  30. Dutta, U., M. K. Sen, N. Biswas, and Z. Yang (2007). Waveform inversion of local earthquake data from Delaney Park downhole seismic array, Anchorage, Alaska, Modern trends in Geophysical Science, Indian School of Mines University, Dhanbad, India. Nov 10-14th., 2007, pp. 1-5
  31. Yang, Z., U. Dutta, D. Zhu, E. Marx, and N.Biswas (2007). Seasonal frost effects on soil-foundation structure interaction system. ASCE Jour. Cold Region Engg. 21, 108-120.
  32. Xiong, F., Z., Yang, and U. Dutta (2007). Effects of seasonally frozen soil on the seismic behavior of bridge bent-foundation-soil system, Structures Congress in Long Beach, May 16-20, 2007. 13 pp.
  33. Liu, H., M. Wang, Y. Zheng, Y. Yao, X. Zhou, and U. Dutta (2005). Identification of Site Dynamic Properties for Soil-Structure Systems, Proceeding of Structures Congress Metropolis and Beyond, Structural Engineering Institute, April 20-24, New York, USA, 13 pp.
  34. Liu, H., Z. Yang, W. Scott, T. Kono and U. Dutta (2005). Seismic Response of Atwood Building, Anchorage, Alaska: comparison study by finite element modeling, Proceedings of McMat2005, Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Conference on Mechanics and Materials, June 1-3, 2005, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
  35. Yang, Z., U. Dutta, H. Liu, R. Pratt, E. E. Marx, N. Biswas, D. Zhu (2005). Strong-motion instrumentation and structural health monitoring of the port access bridge, Anchorage, Alaska, Proceedings of McMat2005, Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Conference on Mechanics and Materials, June 1-3, 2005, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
  36. Dutta, U., N. Biswas, D. Adams, A. Martirosyan, A. Papageorgiou (2004). Analysis of S-wave attenuation in southcentral Alaska. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 94, 16-28.
  37. Badal, J., U. Dutta, F. J. Seron, N. Biswas (2004). 3D imaging of shear wave in uppermost 30m soil column in Anchorage, Alaska, Geophys. Jour. Int. 158, 983-997.
  38. Badal, J., U. Dutta, F. J. Seron, N. Biswas, and F. Gomez (2004). Delineacion de suelos en un area metropolitana medinate el empleo de ondas Rayleigh de alta frecuencia. Geo-Temas, 6 (3), 2, 209-212.
  39. Yang, Z., U. Dutta, M. Chelebi, H. Liu, N. Biswas, T. Kono and H. Benz (2004). Strong motion instrumentation and structural response of Atwood Building in Downtown Anchorage, Alaska, 13th. World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. (Aug 1-6, 2004).
  40. Yang, Z., U. Dutta, H. Liu, N. Biswas (2004). Seismic Instrumentation of the building/Downhole Array system and Analysis of Preliminary Data. 17th. ASCE Engineering Mechanics Conference, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (13-16th. June).
  41. Biswas, N., A. Martirosyan, U. Dutta, M. Dravinski, and A. Papageorgiou (2004). Investigation for Seismic Zonation of Anchorage, in Earthquake Hazard, Risk, and Strong Ground motion, Y. T. Chen, G.F.Panza, and Z. L.Wu (Editors), IUGG Special Volume, Seismological Press, Beijing, 243-257. (ISBN 7-5028-2506-1).
  42. Dutta, U., N. Biswas, A. Martirosyan, A. Papageorgiou, and S. Kinoshita (2003). Estimation of earthquake source parameters and site response in Anchorage, Alaska from strong motion network data using generalized inversion method. Phys. Earth and Planet. Inter. 137, 13-29.
  43. Martirosyan, A., N. Biswas, U. Dutta, D. Cole, and A. Papageorgiou (2003). Ground motion analysis in the Anchorage basin: 1-D approach. Jour. Earthq. Engg. 7, 251-274.
  44. Dutta, U., H. Kawase, T. Satoh, T. Sato, N. Biswas, A. Martirosyan, and M. Dravinski (2002). Estimation of S-wave velocity structure in Anchorage basin, Alaska using array measurements of Microtremors. In Proc 7th. U.S. National Conferrence on Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Oakland, CA.,Vol. II, 1325-1333.
  45. Martirosyan, A., U. Dutta, N. Biswas, A. Papageorgiou, and R. Combellick (2002). Determination of Site response in Anchorage, Alaska, on the basis of spectral ratio methods, Earthquake Spectra 18, 85-104
  46. Martirosyan, A., N. Biswas, U. Dutta, D. Cole (2002). Investigation of the ground-motion characteristics in Anchorage, Alaska: using 1-D soil model. In Proc. 7th. U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Oakland, CA., Vol.II, 1335-1343.
  47. Dutta, U., A.Martirosyan, N. Biswas, A. Papageorgiou, and R. Combellick (2001). Estimation of S-wave site response in Anchorage, Alaska from weak motion data using general­ized inversion method, Bull. Seism. Soc. America, Vol. 91, 335-346.
  48. Dutta, U., N. Biswas, A. Martirosyan,S. Nath, M. Dravinski, A. Papageorgiou, and R. Combellick (2000). Delineation of spatial variation of shear wave velocity with high fre­quency Rayleigh waves in Anchorage, Alaska, Geophysical Journal International, Vol.143, No. 2, 365-375.
  49. Dutta, U., A. Martirosyan, N. Biswas, and A. Papageorgiou (2000). Determination of site factor in Anchorage, Alaska for seismic microzonation studies, In Proc. 6th. International Conference on Seismic Zonation, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Oakland, CA., 253-258
  50. Martirosyan, A. H., U. Dutta, N. N Biswas, M. Dravinski, A. Papageorgiou, and R. Combellick (2000). Site Amplification studies for Anchorage, Alaska, In Proc.6th. International Conference on Seismic Zonation, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Oakland, CA. 557-562.
  51. Dutta, U., and R. K. Verma (1996). Analysis of aeromagnetic anomalies over the eastern part of the Narmada-Son lineament, Jour. Assoc. Expl. Geophys. Vol. XVII, No. 1., 17-33.
  52. Verma, R. K., G. S. Roonwal, V. P. Kamble, W. K. Mohanty, U. Dutta, Y. Gupta, D. Chatterjee, N. Kumar, and P. K. S. Chauhan (1995). Seismicity of Delhi and surrounding region, Jour. Himalayan Geology, Vol. 6, No. 1, 75-82.
  53. Verma, R. K., G. S. Roonwal, V. P. Kamble, U. Dutta, N. Kumar, Y. Gupta, and S. Sood (1995). Seismicity of Northwestern part of the Himalayan arc, Delhi-Hardwar ridge and Garhwal -Kumaun Himalaya region: A synthesis of existing data, Mem. Geol. Soc. India, No. 30,83-99.
  54. Verma, R.K., and U. Dutta (1994). Analysis of aeromagnetic anomalies over the central part of Narmada-Son lineament, Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 142, No. 2,383- 404.

Career History/Work Experience

July 2021 - Present: Professor, University of Alaska Anchorage

July 2011 - June 2021: Associate Professor, University of Alaska Anchorage.

July 2007 - June 2011: Term Associate Professor, University of Alaska Anchorage

Jan 2003 - June 2007: Research Associate, University of Alaska Anchorage

Sept 1998 - Dec 2002: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Sept 1992 - Aug 1998: Lecturer of Geophysics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India

Aug 1991 - Aug 1992: Research Fellow, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi, India

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