Vishal Mehta

Vishal Mehta is a Naturalist and Associate Professor at CEPT University, where he currently works as Program Chair of the CEPT Foundation Programme. His academic and professional work is distinctly multidisciplinary, spanning civil engineering, systems design and analysis, urban studies, transportation systems, public policy, design education, and visual communication. At CEPT University, his role extends beyond teaching to include curriculum development and refinement, coordination of foundation studios, and the establishment of academic and operational systems that prioritise teaching – learning processes. His work reflects a strong commitment to interdisciplinary pedagogy and foundational education. In addition, he has been involved in several institutional initiatives as a committee member and aiding mentorship programmes. As a System and Policy Analyst, his core expertise includes system design and analysis, public policy and planning, feasibility studies, cost – benefit analysis, scenario analysis and forecasting, stakeholder analysis, and impact and causal analysis. Between 2005 and 2010, he was actively engaged in research and consultancy in the areas of urban transportation, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and urban infrastructure. His research has examined the integration of technological systems, policy frameworks, and institutional design to address complex urban challenges. This work includes research and application of ITS solutions such as Intelligent Speed Adaptation, Adaptive Cruise Control, Vehicle Tracking and Fleet Management Systems, Automated Fare Collection Systems, Automated Parking Management Systems, and Traveller Information Systems, as well as their integration through city-level Traffic Information and Management Control Centres. He has also contributed to the development of a National ITS Framework as a policy instrument for implementing ITS in India. Since 2010, his research and practice have expanded to include sustainable construction materials and techniques, with a focus on bamboo and earth construction, cool roofing, and passive ventilation strategies. In parallel with his academic work, he practices as a photographer and infographic illustrator. His visual work was published in Smithsonian Travel magazine and has exhibited at the Delhi Photo Festival (2013), National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Yokohama Civic Art Gallery, Japan, and the Japan Foundation, New Delhi.