M Sathiyamoorthy
An early warning is useful only when it arrives before the water does. This is the challenge M. Sathiyamoorthy hopes to address through his research on urban flood forecasting. An Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, he is also a part-time Ph.D. scholar at Saveetha College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
His research combines rainfall measurements, water-level sensors, satellite imagery, weather information and terrain data to predict urban flooding. It also explores edge computing and prediction uncertainty, with the aim of helping communities and authorities prepare for floods in time.
“I wanted to choose a research problem that could help society,” he says.
His association with NPTEL began as part of his doctoral coursework, which required him to complete four courses. However, he went beyond the requirement, earning 20 certifications across ‘Artificial Intelligence’, ‘Deep Learning’, ‘Internet of Things (IoT)’, ‘Research Methodology’ and more. “I wanted to learn beyond the minimum requirement,” he explains.
The courses strengthened different aspects of his knowledge. ‘Artificial Intelligence’ introduced him to pattern recognition and data-driven decision-making, while ‘Deep Learning’ helped him understand models that learn from complex data. ‘Introduction to Internet of Things’ offered insights into sensor-based data collection, particularly relevant to flood monitoring. ‘Python for Data Science’ and ‘Mathematical Foundations for Machine Learning’ further strengthened his technical understanding.
Deep Learning was particularly interesting, although understanding its mathematical concepts was challenging. “Studying the topics step by step helped me understand them better,” he shares. ‘Research Methodology’, which he completed twice, also helped him approach his research more systematically, from defining a problem to reviewing existing studies and planning experiments.
Balancing teaching, doctoral research and coursework requires consistency. With college hours from 8 in the morning to 3 in the evening, Sathiyamoorthy uses his available time for NPTEL lectures, assignments and research. Recorded lectures allow him to revisit difficult topics at his own pace. “I try to make steady progress through regular study,” he says.
The learning extends into his classroom, too. While teaching ‘Mobile Computing’, he draws on concepts related to connected devices, computing and communication. He believes NPTEL has helped him connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications. “NPTEL has also encouraged me to remain a learner while working as a teacher.”
His efforts have earned him the NPTEL Believer recognition in two consecutive terms, July-December 2025 and January-April 2026, along with the NPTEL Discipline Star in Computer Science and Engineering for January-April 2026. He has also attended the “Interaction with NPTEL Stars” event at IIT Madras twice, an experience he counts among the memorable moments of his life.
For fellow research scholars, his advice is to begin with the basics, choose courses aligned with their interests and revisit difficult concepts rather than rush through them. Above all, he encourages learners to focus on understanding and applying what they study.
“For me, learning is a continuous process”. A principle that continues to guide him as both an educator and researcher.
~written by Kushi
