Karnataka Engineering Research Station (KERS) was established in the year 1944, as a small research unit. Which was functioning as a wing of the Karnataka State Water Resources Department. Today KERS is one of the oldest research organizations of its kind in the country.

KERS has diversified its research fields in Irrigation Structures Hydraulics, Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering, Coastal Engineering, and Technical Services, through these divisions this Research Station has solved many civil engineering problems faced by field engineers as and when referred by project authorities. KERS is also imparting training for capacity building to in-service engineers and administrative staffs of State Water Resources Department, Karnataka Public Works, Ports & Inland Water Transport Department and other State departments. In addition to the research activities, KERS has also been offering the guidance to the students from different Engineering colleges along with lab facilities to enable them to complete their project works as part of their curriculum.

The Karnataka Engineering Research Station is headed by the Director of the rank of Chief Engineer who is assisted by 4 Chief Research Officers (Executive Engineers), 19 Research Officers (Assistant Executive Engineers) and 62 Assistant Research Officers (Assistant Engineers) and 19 Junior Research Officers (Junior Engineers). Who are working under the different research divisions of KERS. The Research station has a well-equipped Laboratories supported with computers facility and library for conducting the research activities. Dam Safety Cell 1 and 2, which are headed by Assistant Executive Engineer for monitoring and evaluating the safety measures of existing dams as per the central water commission’s guidelines is functioning under the director’s office.

• Director, KERS is a Member of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) representing Karnataka State, which is constituted by Government of India.
• Director, KERS is a Member Secretary of the State Level Dam Safety Committee (SLDSC) in Karnataka, which is constituted by Government of Karnataka.
• Director, KERS is a Nodal officer for the State Dam Safety Control Room created by the Government of Karnataka in connection with submission of reports on the catastrophic phenomena like earthquakes, severe storms, cyclones and cloud bursts etc.