Rafael Moran Moya

Rafael Moran Moya is a Full Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering: Hydraulics, Energy, and Environment at the School of Civil Engineering, Canals, and Ports, Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). He has been a faculty member since 2009 and transitioned to a full-time professorship in April 2024 after nine years of prior industry experience in hydraulic engineering consulting.

His doctoral research at UPM (2013) in Civil Engineering Systems established his expertise in dam engineering. His academic trajectory includes progression from lecturer to full professor with continuous involvement in the Hydroinformatics and Water Management research group since 2009.

Professor Moran Moya's research centers on dam safety with specialized focus on spillway hydraulics, overtopping failure mechanisms, and innovative protection technologies. His work integrates non-conventional data analysis methods for dam monitoring systems and bridges hydraulic engineering with civil infrastructure resilience. Key contributions include patented protection systems like ACUÑA prefabricated elements and POLILAB fuse gates.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Carlos González Cruz Award for best hydraulics/dams thesis (2012-13)
• UPM Extraordinary Doctorate Award
• 2023 UPM Research Award for societal-impact patent

He has secured €3.4+ million in research funding through 17 competitive national projects and 11 industry collaborations. His educational leadership includes directing the CIMNE-UPM Classroom for advanced numerical methods training and co-founding the UPM spin-off ACIS innovation plus engineering (NEOTEC 2021). He has supervised international research stays while serving as associate editor for Water journal special issues.

Professor Moran Moya maintains active roles in ICOLD's European Working Group on Overtopping Erosion (as Dam Protections subgroup co-chair), SPANCOLD technical committees, and the CIVILis research center since November 2024, driving international collaboration in dam safety engineering.