Dante Fratta Associate ProfessorGeological Engineering Program Director Department Civil & Environmental Engineering Contact 2218, Engineering Hall 1415 Engineering Dr Madison, WI p: (608) 265-5644 e: fratta@wisc.edu Education PhD 1999, Georgia Institute of TechnologyMaster of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) 1995, University of WaterlooDiploma 1993, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Research interests Geomaterial process evaluation using elastic and electromagnetic wavesFundamental physical behavior of soils and rocksGeophysical assessment of the on-shore and off-shore near surfaceDistributed sensing using fiber optic measurements Awards 2021 6th World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE'21), Keynote Lecture2015 In-Situ Testing and Site Characterization Session. 2015 XV Congreso Panamericano de Mecánica de Suelos e Ingeniería Geotécnica, Invited Panelist2013 Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Distinguished Alum (Graduado Distinguido)2012 XXI Congreso Argentino de Mecánica de Suelos e Ingeniería Geotécnica, Keynote Speaker2012 College of Engineering, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Benjamin Smith Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching2008 Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honor Society, Chi Epsilon Excellence in Teaching Award (North Central District)2007 Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Estudios de Occidente, Keynote Speaker2006 GeoCongress: Geotechnical Engineering in the Information Technology Age, Best Paper Award, Sensing Methods and Devices Track2003 College of Engineering, Louisiana State University, Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award2002 Louisiana State University, Tiger Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award2000 Engineering Society (Student Society), Armstrong Atlantic State University, Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program Teacher of the Year1997 Geosystems Program, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, George F. Sowers Distinguish Graduate Student Award1995 University of Waterloo, Sandford Fleming Foundation Teaching Assistantship Excellence Award (Nominated)1994 Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Graduate Scholarship1994 University of Waterloo, Graduate Scholarship Recent publications Catudal, J., Zhou, Z., Pan, W., Barford, P., Fratta, D., & Wang, H. (2024). Homebrew: Optical Polarization Change Detection for Ground Motion Sensing. In Optical Fiber Communication Conference (pp. M2K–4).Heeg, E., Tinjum, J. M., Fratta, D., Attri, S. D., Hart, D. J., & Luebbe, A. K. (2024). Quantifying the Long-Term Performance of a District-Scale Geothermal Exchange Field. In 49th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford University.Attri, S. D., Heeg, E., Tinjum, J. M., Fratta, D., Hart, D. J., & Aydin, O. (2024). Time Series Analysis for Long-term Monitoring and Forecasting of Subsurface Temperatures for a Campus-scale Geothermal Exchange Field. In 49th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering.Alshammari, A. M., & Fratta, D. (2024). Image processing algorithm for systematic evaluation of angle of repose and void ratio for particulate media. Advanced Powder Technology, 35(3), 104368.Yilmaz, M., Enos, C. A., Tinjum, J. M., & Fratta, D. (2024). Moment-Based Analysis of Onshore Wind Turbine Generator Foundation-Soil Response. International Journal of Geomechanics, 24(3), 04024003.Lee, J., Fratta, D., & Palomino, A. M. (2024). The effect of diatom content on the physical, electrical, and mechanical properties of soils. Acta Geotechnica, 19(4), 2251-2271.Tinjum, J. M., Yilmaz, M., Heeg, E., Fratta, D., Hart, D. J., & Attri, S. D. (2023). Energy Efficiency and Life Cycle Assessment of a District-Scale Geothermal Exchange Field. In 48th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering. Stanford University, Stanford, California.Catudal, J., Dowsett, K., Barford, P., Fratta, D., Jensen, B., Lord, N., & Wang, H. (2023). On the Efficacy of Using Commodity Optical Transceivers for Environmental Sensing. In Optical Fiber Sensors (pp. W4–38).Lu, S., Wang, H. F., & Fratta, D. (2023). Ambient Noise and Traffic Signals: Using a DAS Array to Image the Near Surface. AGU23.Lee, J., & Fratta, D. (2023). Geophysical surveys and satellite imaging for the evaluation of near-surface terrain dynamic-A case study on Grand Portage, MN, USA. Near Surface Geophysics, 21(5), 343-357. Courses CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Fall 2025)CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Fall 2025)CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2025)CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Fall 2025)CIV ENGR 999 - Advanced Independent Study (Fall 2025)GEOSCI 594 - Introduction to Applied Geophysics (Fall 2025)GEOSCI 595 - Field Methods in Applied and Engineering Geophysics (Fall 2025)GLE 594 - Introduction to Applied Geophysics (Fall 2025)GLE 595 - Field Methods in Applied and Engineering Geophysics (Fall 2025)GLE 699 - Independent Study (Fall 2025)GLE 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Fall 2025)GLE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2025)GLE 990 - Research and Thesis (Fall 2025)CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Summer 2025)CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Summer 2025)CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2025)CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Summer 2025)CIV ENGR 999 - Advanced Independent Study (Summer 2025)EP D 654 - Teaching in Science and Engineering (Summer 2025)GLE 699 - Independent Study (Summer 2025)GLE 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Summer 2025)GLE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2025)GLE 990 - Research and Thesis (Summer 2025)CIV ENGR 432 - Introduction to Shallow and Deep Foundation Systems (Spring 2025)CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2025)CIV ENGR 939 - Geotechnical Engineering Seminar (Spring 2025)GLE 432 - Introduction to Shallow and Deep Foundation Systems (Spring 2025)GLE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2025)GLE 900 - Seminar (Spring 2025)CIV ENGR 532 - Foundations (Fall 2024)CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2024)GEOSCI 594 - Introduction to Applied Geophysics (Fall 2024)GEOSCI 595 - Field Methods in Applied and Engineering Geophysics (Fall 2024)GLE 532 - Foundations (Fall 2024)GLE 594 - Introduction to Applied Geophysics (Fall 2024)GLE 595 - Field Methods in Applied and Engineering Geophysics (Fall 2024)GLE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2024)CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Summer 2024)CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2024)GLE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2024)CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2024)GLE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2024)CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2023)GLE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2023)