Abhay Kumar Soni graduated in Mining Engineering from Ravishankar University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh in 1983. He completed his postgraduate degree from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani and his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from Centre of Mining Environment, Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad in 1998. Dr A.K. Soni is currently Chief Scientist, Scientist-in-charge and Head at the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR) Nagpur office and engaged in research in mine environment and allied areas. His area of interest for research is "Geo-hydrological problems related to mines." Ishwardas L. Muthreja, Professor of Mining Engineering at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, is a graduate of Mining Engineering from the Ravishankar University, Raipur (1979). He obtained his M.Tech. in Mining Engineering at the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad and his Ph.D. from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. He has worked in the Department of Mining Engineering at VNIT Nagpur since its inception in 1983. Presently he is holding the charge of Head of the Mining Engineering Department. It is his fifth tenure as Head of the Department. His areas of interest are Mine Environment, Mine Planning and Slope Stability. He has published more than 70 papers in various national and international journals and has presented at national and international Conferences. Prof. Muthreja has vast experience of more than 40 years in the teaching, research and mining industry in India. He has completed two international collaborative research projects in the area of 'Mine Environment' with the University of Exeter, UK, and Camborne School of Mines funded by The British Council. In addition, he has coordinated several research projects funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, Western Coalfields Ltd, Nagpur and MOIL, Nagpur, Northern Coalfields Ltd etc. Rajendra R. Yerpude is Professor of Mining Engineering at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur. He joined the Institute in 1990 and was elevated as Professor. He holds a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from IIT-ISM (Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 2000) and has a rich teaching and research experience of 31 years. His research areas and interests include system engineering, mathematical and statistical applications to mining engineering, modelling applications, computer applications to mining engineering and management, simulation, computer graphics, virtual reality, mine safety engineering, economics of mining engineering, mine environment slope stability and rock mechanics applications. He has one patent published and completed various research projects in mining areas.
