Dr Jagannath Aryal received his PhD degree in Optimisation and Systems Modelling. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering at The University of Melbourne.

He leads a research group on Earth Observation and AI.

His research focuses on optimal utilisation of Earth Observation, geo-information, and geo-statistics to develop new methods in object recognition and geospatial situational awareness in disaster and emergency situations. Objects of interest derived from sensing technology (Ground / Satellite based) are applied in modelling and mapping various environmental systems taking sustainability and resilience into account.

His contributions on digital infrastructure engineering solutions are the results of his working experience from high impact educational institutions and professional bodies including The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a leading global authority on the environment. His research collaboration on Earth Observation, geospatial engineering, and spatial analysis extend to the prominent UK/European universities (including the University of Cambridge; CNRS, France; University of Salzburg; University of Twente). He currently serves to the global remote sensing community as an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (TGRS) journal, an editor of the Journal of Spatial Science (Taylor & Francis), and Remote Sensing (MDPI) and a reviewer of the scientific journals for IEEE, Springer, and Elsevier.

He leads the GIS, digital analytics and remote sensing , area of practice of Geospatial Council of Australia as a national chair. He is the program director of the Master of Digital Infrastructure Engineering and Graduate Certificate Degrees.