Gaurab Das Mahapatra
[Ph.D.]

Dr. Gaurab Das Mahapatra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Regional Planning at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. His research integrates architecture, urban planning, technology, and human behaviour to create built environments that are inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. His primary areas of expertise include Universal Design, Universal Mobility, accessibility assessment, Digital Twins, and evidence-based architectural planning.

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He received his Ph.D. in Architectural and Structural Design from Hokkaido University, Japan, under the prestigious MEXT Scholarship awarded by the Government of Japan. His doctoral research developed empirical approaches for evaluating pedestrian-level accessibility in historic Indian cities by combining field surveys, disability simulation, behavioural studies, and quantitative analysis. His research has been widely published in leading international journals and has contributed to advancing knowledge in inclusive urban design and planning. Prior to joining IIT Kharagpur, Dr. Mahapatra worked as an architect, urban planner, researcher, and educator in India and Japan. This multidisciplinary experience enables him to bridge academic research with professional practice, contributing to projects involving heritage conservation, smart cities, housing, urban regeneration, and mobility planning.

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His current work explores the integration of emerging technologies—including LiDAR, Digital Twins, Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—into architectural research, accessibility assessment, and heritage documentation. Through national and international collaborations, he seeks to develop innovative planning methodologies that combine technological advancement with human-centred design.

Dr. Mahapatra has led and collaborated on research and consultancy projects supported by organisations such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Archaeological Survey of India, the National Institute of Urban Affairs, and The Sumitomo Foundation. As an educator, he is committed to fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based design, with the broader goal of creating resilient, equitable, and universally accessible built environments for present and future generations.