GYAN BASYAL

2000 Brightside Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70820

Cell: (225) 614-6261
Email: gyan_basyal@hotmail.com
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gyanbasyal/

SUMMARY
I am a Nepalese international with expertise in water resources engineering. My experience includes
watershed modeling (TMDL, storm water management), hydrodynamic modeling, sediment
transport, GIS, hydropower development, coastal processes, programming and high performance
computing. My efforts during graduate research were focused on numerical and physical modeling
of flow and sediment transport processes. I have good numerical modeling experience using popular
software like HECRAS and Delft3D, and have built a strong knowledge base for further development.
In my thesis, a Delft3D-based 2D model and a VBA-based 1D model were used to study land building
by Mississippi River sediment diversions. Image analysis techniques (using MATLAB) were developed
to post-process simulation results, delineate the delta shoreline, and extract the distributary
network properties. During group research projects, I frequently contributed valuable work in GIS
and HEC-GEORAS while taking every opportunity to step up and hone my problem solving skills. My
time in the LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio (CSS) was spent developing VBA interactive graphical
interfaces to simulate multiple Mississippi River diversions and HECRAS post-processing tools. With
my masters degree complete, I am eager to gain experience, utilize my hydrological and hydraulic
design and modeling skillset, and be given the opportunity for professional development. Some
future goals of mine include: obtaining P.E. license, and developing the capacity to manage all phases
of a project, from conceptualization, planning, and design to implementation.

EDUCATION
2014 Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University, GPA 4.0
Thesis, Comparison of Land Building by Mississippi River Diversion Using: (1) 1D Delta Model
and (2) Depth-Averaged Delft3D Based Model Using High Performance Computing (HPC)
2009 Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, GPA 3.9
Final year project, Prefeasibility Study of 42 MW Super-Madi Hydropower project

COMPUTER SKILLS
Languages
Proficient using: Visual Basic for Application (VBA), MATLAB
Experience using: QBASIC, FORTRAN, Visual Basic, HTML, JavaScript, PHP
Software
Proficient using: HECRAS, BASINS, ArcGIS, Delft3D, MS Office, Photoshop, Linux, Visjet
Experience using: HSPF, SWMM, STWAVE, HECGEORAS, AutoCAD, OpenEarth tool, CorMix

EXPERIENCE
20102012

Lecturer/ Coordinator, Kathmandu Engineering College

Coordinator of first year civil engineering undergraduates
Taught undergraduate Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics courses, filled in
transportation engineering class and oversaw surveying field works and concrete
laboratory

2012-

Graduate Research Assistant, Advisor: Clinton S. Willson, Louisiana State University

Conducted flume tests for Expanded Small Scale Physical Model (ESSPM) of the
Mississippi River, particularly for the study of model sediment behavior
Tutored for Fluid Mechanics (CE2200)

2013

Coastal Sustainability Studio (CSS), Collaborated with landscape design, architect and
coastal engineering students and researchers for One Prize design and science
competition, providing technical expertise and tools for sediment diversion and delta
building projects

GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSE WORK & PROJECTS

1. Modeling Physical Hydrology

Fecal Coliform TMDL for Upper Pearl River using

BASINS/HSPF

2. Advanced Hydraulics

Study of Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) spill in Mississippi river

using analytical method and HECRAS water quality module

3. Coastal Engineering

STWAVE analysis of wind generated waves in lake

Pontchartrain

4. Numerical Modeling of
Ocean Circulations

Advection-diffusion of tracer in Stommels ocean

circulation model

5. Mechanics of Sediment
Transport

Effect of concentration on sediment settling (poster)

6. Dynamics of Sedimentation

Study of sand transport and bed shear stress in Lower

Mississippi River

7. Engineering Mathematics

Fourier transforms, solution of differential equations, etc.

8. GIS

Spatial analysis, geo-referencing, geocoding, raster analysis,

vector model, coordinate systems, etc.

9. Hydro-kinetic Turbines

Literature Review Report on potential impact of hydrokinetic turbines on Mississippi River and infrastructures for
Louisiana Transportation Research Center (LTRC)

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SELECTED WORKS
Comparison of Land Building by Mississippi River Diversion Using One and Two Dimensional
Numerical Models
The topic of my masters thesis at Louisiana State University, this work compares two approaches to
simulating the land building by sediment diversions: (1) a 1D spatially averaged model (Kim et al., 2009);
and (2) a horizontal 2D Delf3D based model. Simplified assumptions were made regarding model
parameters and the working scheme of the sediment diversion. Comparisons were made based on area
and radial extent of land formed. Distributary channel network information missing in the 1D model, but
important to eco-hydrological processes, was extracted and quantified from the 2D model results. Deltaic
properties from the 2D model were obtained by developing an image analysis methodology. The image
analysis procedure, consisting of more than 50 MATLAB m files, was set up in a systematic way to expedite
input, processing, and output of the data. In a relatively short period of time, I was able to learn: Delft3D,
image analysis techniques, numerical implementation of 1D delta model, and working knowledge of Linux
clusters. One of my memorable moments was contributing to the Delft3D open source community by
reporting an observed software bug.

Fecal Coliform TMDL for Upper Pearl River Using BASINS/HSPF

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has identified Upper Pearl River Segment
1 as being polluted by a number of contaminates. For a class project, I approximated the Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL) of fecal coliform for an 18 mile long impaired segment which extended from Beasha
Creek to the confluence with Standing Pike Creek. The drainage area of the impaired segment was
delineated into sub-basins using BASINS and converted to HSPF model. Land use data and point and
nonpoint pollutant sources were collected for the sub-basins. The HSPF model was calibrated and
validated for flow and fecal coliform counts using historic data from Edinburgh gage station located in the
impaired river.

Numerical Analysis of Mississippi River Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) Spill on April 2000
In 2000, a barge owned by River City Towing Services was docked at the Formosa Chemical Plant (just
below Baton Rouge Huey P. Long Bridge) when a chemical spill occurred. Court claims indicate the spill
consisted of 3000 gallons of EDC was released on or about April 30, 2000 through May 1, 2000. The Early
Warning Organic Detection System (EWOCDS) was able to provide time series data on the chemical plume
as it was transported downstream, which provided a platform to investigate spill claims. For part of a
graduate level hydraulics class, a classmate and I truth checked the spill quantity through application of
known transport equations and water quality modeling program. A Mississippi River HECRAS model was
developed from Baton Rouge to Head of Passes and applied as the primary analysis tool. Historic tracer
analysis data were collected for dispersion coefficient calculation and model calibration.

Prefeasibility Study of 42 MW Super-Madi Hydropower Project

This study was the capstone project for my undergraduate program. It was accomplished under the
guidance of Himal Hydro & General Construction Limited, which was responsible for constructing the
Super-Madi hydropower station. Topographic maps, surveys, and meteorological data were obtained and
used for hydrological analysis. Geological information of probable locations for headwork, intake, tunnel
and powerhouse were analyzed. The headwork (weir) was designed to pass maximum flood discharge
while design discharge was passed through the orifice-type intake structure. Designs for a gravel trap,
overflow spillway, settling basin, headrace tunnel, surge tank, variable thickness penstock pipe, pelton
turbine, and power house space were submitted. Results showed the project could produce 42 MW of
electricity with benefit to cost ratio of 1.6, payback period of 6 years, and IRR 16.5 %.