Access to and availability of safe drinking-water is paramount for survival. My interests are centered on these very issues. Past and current research efforts include:
- Studying the occurrence and distribution of arsenic in Texas aquifers.
- Evaluating the impact of Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs) on nitrate occurrence in the Middle Trinity aquifer.
- Evaluating climate-change models for suitability of use for Texas water management.
- Studying spatio-temporal trends in hydro-climatalogical variables.
- Investigating the nature of extreme hydrologic events
Multi-disciplinary student involvement (UG and MS) is a key component of all the afore-mentioned projects.
Google scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8ciqoZ4AAAAJ&hl=en
COURSES OFFERED
Undergraduate
- ENGR 1211 Engineering Fundamentals I (Fall & Spring)
- ENGR 1212 Engineering Fundamentals II (Spring)
- ENGR 2322 Principles of Engineering II (Thermodynamics) (Fall)
- ENGR 4360 Senior Design/Capstone (Spring)
- ENVE 2310 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (Spring)
- ENVE 2311 Soil Mechanics (Fall)
- ENVE 3310 Engineering Hydrology (Fall)
- ENVE 3333 Groundwater Contamination & Remediation (Spring)
- ENVE 3400 Mechanics of Fluids (Spring)
- ENVE 4302 Atmospheric Systems and Air Quality (Spring)
- ENVE 4310 Water Resources Engineering (Fall)
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
Research Activities
- Impacts of climate change on wind speed and the water energy nexus in Texas. Tarleton State University Office of Faculty Research Organized Research Grant (2016-2017; $3489.95)
- Multi-decadal hydrologic trends in the Brazos River basin of Texas. Tarleton State University Office of Faculty Research Organized Research Grant (2014-2015; $9,350.44).
- Modelling nitrate contamination of groundwater: implications for aquifer monitoring and management. Tarleton State University Office of Faculty Research Organized Research Grant (2013-2014; $9,811.11).
- GIS-Based DRASTIC Model for Assessment of Vulnerability of the Trinity Aquifer of Central Texas to Nitrate Contamination. Tarleton State University Office of Faculty Research Organized Research Grant (2012-2013; $8,211)
Scholarly Activities
- Spatio-temporal hydrologic trends in South Texas. Tarleton State University Office of Student Research and Creative Activities (2014; $4000). [faculty mentor for undergraduate research]
- Land use effects on subsurface arsenic occurrence in South Texas (2018; $1000). [faculty mentor for undergraduate research]
- MS Thesis Supervisor for Dave Thomas [thesis title: Streamflow trends in the Nueces River Basin from 1970-2014]
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Publications
- Venkataraman, K, Nelson, M and Frandsen, C (2016). Comparison of two temperature-based methods of estimating potential evapotranspiration (PET) in Texas. World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2016, 699-708.
- Venkataraman, K, Tummuri, S, Medina, A, and Perry, J (2016). 21st century drought outlook for major climate divisions of Texas based on CMIP5 multimodel ensemble: Implications for water resource management. Journal of Hydrology, 534, 300-316.
- Venkataraman, K, Crawford, J, and Emmert, K. (2015). Modeling the Impact of CAFOs on Nitrate Contamination in the Middle Trinity Aquifer of Central Texas. World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2015, 585-594.
- Kurwadkar, S and Venkataraman, K (2013). Groundwater Quality Impact Reconnaissance: 2012 – 2013. Water Environment Research, 85(10), 1700-1714.
- Uddameri, V and Venkataraman, K (2013). Assessing the effect of initial vapor-phase concentrations on inhalation risks of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in multi-use shower facilities. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 15(4), 591-606.
- Venkataraman, K. and Uddameri, V. (2012). A GIS-based evaluation of risks due to trihalomethane exposure during showering in coastal Texas. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 14(4), 551-564.
- Venkataraman, K. and Uddameri, V. (2012). Modeling Simultaneous Exceedance of Drinking-Water Standards of Arsenic and Nitrate in the Southern Ogallala Aquifer using Multinomial Logistic Regression. Journal of Hydrology, 458-459, 16-27.
Non-Refereed Publications
- Venkataraman, K. and Uddameri, V. Mapping Arsenic and Nitrate Exceedance in Southern Ogallala Aquifer. American Water Resources Association Spring Specialty Conference on GIS and Water Resources VII, March 26-28 2012, New Orleans, LA.
- Venkataraman, K., Ortegon, J., Uddameri, V., and Dyke, R. GIS Based Mapping of Wind-Powered Desalination Potential in South Texas. American Water Resources Association Spring Specialty Conference on GIS and Water Resources VII, March 26-28 2012, New Orleans, LA.
- Rainwater, K, Jones, MW, Venkataraman, K, McEnery, JA, and Bathulla, A (2004). Sorption of Selected Metals on Blackwater Draw Sediments. Final Report to BWXT Pantex, Amarillo, Texas, 74 p.
Presentations
- Venkataraman, K, Medina, A and Perry, J. Assessment of Long-term Drought Characteristics in 14 Major Texas Cities Based on CMIP5 Multi-Model Projections. Abstract H23N-1073, presented at Fall 2014 Meeting, American Geophysical Union San Francisco, Dec 15-19., 2014.
- Venkataraman, K, Crawford, J and Emmert, K. Modeling Spatial Trends in Nitrate in the Middle Trinity Aquifer of Central Texas: A Comparison of Approaches. AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference: Portland, OR, November 4-7, 2013.
- Venkataraman, K and Foyt, S. Modeling Vulnerability of the Middle Trinity Aquifer to Nitrate Contamination using a Geospatial DRASTIC Model. ASCE 2013 Texas Section Fall Conference, Dallas, TX. September 11-14, 2013.
- Arsenic in the Southern High Plains aquifer system of Texas, USA. Anna University, Chennai, India. Jul 05, 2012.
- Evaluation of the Potential for Brackish Ground Water Desalination using Wind Power in Coastal South Texas. CREST-RESSACA Environment and Energy Sustainability Conference: Houston, TX. April 26-27, 2012.
- Mapping Arsenic and Nitrate Exceedance in Southern Ogallala Aquifer. American Water Resources Association Spring Specialty Conference on GIS and Water Resources VII: New Orleans, LA. Mar 26-28, 2012.
- Impacts of Sea Level Rise caused by Climate Change on Saltwater Intrusion into the Gulf Coast Aquifer of South Texas. American Geophysical Union Fall 2011 Meeting: San Francisco, CA. Dec 5-9, 2011.
- Speciation and Source Identification for Arsenic in the Southern High Plains (poster). American Geophysical Union Fall 2009 Meeting: San Francisco, CA. Dec 14-18, 2009.
- Subsurface Occurrence, Distribution and Speciation of Arsenic in the Southern High Plains. American Geophysical Union Fall 2007 Meeting: San Francisco, CA. Dec 10-14, 2007.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACCREDITATIONS
- Texas PE # 128773
- American Geophysical Union
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- Sigma Xi
DEGREES
- PhD, Civil Engineering. Texas Tech University
- BS, Chemical Engineering, SRM University
GRADUATE GROUP MEMBERSHIPS
- Tarleton State University Graduate Faculty Status