Name of project:

Probabilistic Earthquake – Earthquake Induced Landslide Multi – Hazard Analysis: Application to Shimla, Mandi, and Manali

Sanction No : IIRS/DO/DMSP-ASCB/AS/2022/14

Year:

2022-25

Location:

India

Client:

IIRS-ISRO

Main project features:

The main focus of the proposed work is to develop a new methodology that integrates the PSHA results, slope displacement equations, and other causative factors, to perform multi-hazard analysis for seismically active mountainous regions like The Himalayas. The proposal mainly focuses on a selected few cities of Himachal Pradesh state, where no prior studies have been performed. Even though the soil samples will be collected for geotechnical characterization, it is difficult to collect them at each grid of the selected regions. However, the material properties estimated from the collected soil samples will provide an idea of spatial variation in the selected regions. Further, the proposed methodology can be easily adapted for other regions with appropriate material characterization and seismicity parameters.

Position held:

Co-Principal Investigator

Activity

• Data collection and Field investigation in Shimla, Mandi and Manali

• Development of Probabilistic Seismic Hazard assessment (PSHA) and slope displacement equations

• Identification of Causative factor, influencing landslide and other multi-hazard

 

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Name of project:

Spatial distribution of Uranium and associated water quality parameters in Mandi, Kullu and Hamirpur

Sanction No : 36(4)/14/22/2017-BRNS/36192

Year:

2018-21

Location:

India

Client:

BRNS

Main project features:

The project has been proposed to study the uranium concentration and associated water quality parameters in the groundwater and surface water in and around three districts of Himachal Pradesh mainly Mandi, Kullu and Hamirpur. The main aim of the study to establish the baseline data on naturally occurring uranium levels and associated water quality parameters of groundwater / drinking water resources in the study region. Systematic district-wise grid sampling plan will be followed in the project and samples will be selected on the basis of utilization of aquatic environment by the population clusters. The study will establish a spatial map of the uranium and associated water quality parameters (16 nos.) in water sources in the region. The data can be used for intake and dose assessment to members of the public residing in the study area. Studies will be carried out to infer the cause of levels of uranium in water resource. The data will be a part of the national database of uranium and associated water quality parameters of DAE.

Position held:

Principal Investigator

Activity

• Field work was carried out in Hamirpur district for groundwater sample collection from manually operated hand pumps, dug well, bore well and natural water

• Uranium concentration, Lifetime Average Daily Dose (LADD), Hazard Quotient, Annual effective dose and water quality index was calculated for all the 46 groundwater samples

• The spatial distribution of uranium concentration was obtained for Hamirpur district

 

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Name of project:

Snow Mapping and its Parameter Estimation from Geospatial (AVIRIS- NG) and Field data Sanction No : EPSA/4.20/2017

Year:

2017-19

Location:

India

Client:

SAC-ISRO

Main Project Features:

In the Indian Himalayan snow and glaciers not many studies have been carried out using hyperspectral satellite data. The hyperspectral sensors capture data in contiguous narrow bands of the electromagnetic spectrum and allow whole spectral curves to be recorded with individual absorption features. Therefore, hyperspectral remote sensing provides information related to surface material that can be exploited to characterize, quantify and perform automated detection of the targets of interest. With the availability of 4-8 m pixel resolution AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral data over a continuous electromagnetic spectrum spread over 380 – 2510 nm at 5 nm band interval over 57 sites in India and 1-2 in HP for snow and glacier studies, the applicability of this data is very high. Especially in the field of snow and glacier studies, estimation of snow grain size is required along with snow type mapping. Snow type mapping is required for development of an early warning system for snow avalanche. Hence hyperspectral satellite images can be used for preparation of snow type maps. Since applicability of hyperspectral AVIRIS sensor is not explored for study of snow/glacier parameters and characteristics in Indian context, this will be a good opportunity to do the

same.

Position held:

Principal Investigator

Activity

• 57 sites in India were identified using field investigation for snow and glacier studies.

• AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral satellite data at 4-8m pixel resolution over 380- 2510 nm was employed.

• The hyperspectral data was used for estimation of snow grain size and snow type mapping.

 

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Name of project:

Study of solute transport parameters through porous medium

Year:

2018-21

Location:

India

Client:

Ministry of Environmental Sciences

Main Project Features:

In this project experimental setups of soil column, stratified porous media, fractured media will be constructed in lab which will depict the near real field scenario. The information about soil type, grain analysis, porosity, permeability etc will be gathered from field sampling and analysis. These values and stratified media soil column will be recreated in laboratory to get the near real field setup. In these soil column the various solutes/ contaminant will be passed and the dispersion behavior will be studied. These contaminant will be both reactive and non-reactive. The concentration of contaminant will be measured using various conductivity sensors, and a pre-calibrated curve (concentration vs conductivity in each soil media to be used) will be used to convert the conductivity in concentration. This will be used to observe the break through curves (BTC) for these contaminants. Numerical codes related to non-ideal transfer through heterogeneous porous media will be developed. These codes will be employed to simulate the observed BTC’s for all types of solute by calibrating and optimizing different parameters. The obtained parameters then will be analyzed for statistical relations, especially mass transfer coefficient, dispersivity, physical properties of porous media and chemical properties of contaminant. These models will depict the near field scenarios and in future could be used to analyze the dispersion of ant contaminant in spatial domain as well as temporal domain. This will help to identify the areas that will become contaminated in near future within given time frame. This will be helpful in planning, managing and overall development of any location. Hence it will benefit the society in long term.

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Position held:

Co-Principal Investigator

Activity

• In this project, field sampling was done for soil type, grain analysis, porosity, permeability data collection

• Experimental setup of soil column, stratified porous media and fractured media was constructed in lab

• The model depicted the near field scenarios for dispersion of contaminant in spatial domain and temporal domain

 

 

Name of project:

Site selection studies for construction of bunds, gabions, diversion drains along steep slopes of Himachal Pradesh using digital elevation model and satellite images.

Sanction No : DEM_HYDR1925

Year:

2017-19

Location:

India

Client:

DLR (German Aerospace Centre)

Main Project Features:

This study investigated the extent to which satellite data both in the form of images as well as DEM may provide information on the location, pattern of sediment that may be stored at various places along the stream channel. As there are many cases of cloud burst and flash floods in this area of Mandi district, such information has a high relevance and utility. Using the geospatial techniques, we can analyse the slopes and mark suitable sites in the Mandi district, for creation of bunds, gabions etc so that the sediment can be trapped in the way of the 1st to 3rd order streams. This will convert the kinetic energy to potential energy and thus the effect of the velocity by which the water comes down in the streams will be reduced. Geospatial data reduces the need of tedious field surveys which are also very difficult to carry out in the rugged terrain of Himachal Pradesh. Due to rugged terrain, Himachal suffers most during the rainy season due to the blockage of roads, slope failures etc. After completion of this project, the suitable sites for creation of bunds, gabion walls, loose boulder check dams, community pond, contour staggered trenches and diversion drains as well as the most susceptible steep slopes will be available, which will be a precursor information for any planning activity.

Position held:

Principal Investigator

Activity

• Location affected by cloud burst and flash flood were identified using field investigation

• Remote sensing technique were used to analyse the slope for creation of gabions and creation of bunds

• Suitable sites were identified for creation of bunds, gabion walls, loose boulder check dams

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Name of project:

Comparison and analysis of DEM derived information from TanDEM and Drone DEM for Landslide study.

Sanction No : DEM_GEOL0926

Year:

2017-19

Location:

India

Client:

DLR (German Aerospace Centre)

Main project features:

DEM was created using drone images and compared with other datasets. Photogrammetric methods are promising tools to overcome such problems by reconstructing 3D from overlapping images of the surface. Airborne and terrestrial image acquisition platforms are possible data sources for comprehensive digital landslide modelling. This study presents a computer vision application of the structure from motion (SfM) technique in 3-D high-

resolution landslide monitoring. Based on feature detection technique such as scale invariant feature transform (SIFT), image features can be detected, described, and matched between photographs. This can be used to create a sparse 3D point cloud, whose densification can be done using Clustering View for Multi-View Stereo (CMVS) algorithm. Finally, surface reconstruction will be carried out using Surface Reconstruction methods. For visualization and analysis of final 3D model, open source software CloudCompare/ MeshLab will be used.

Position held:

Principal Investigator

Activity

• A 3 dimensional digital elevation model was developed using Drone data

• Landslide feature detection technique was used for scale invariant feature transform (SIFT)

 

 

Name of project:

Semi-Automatic framework for preparation of LHZ & LSZ using machine learning techniques NRDMS/02/41/016(G)

Year:

2017-19

Location:

India

Client:

NRDMS-DST

Main Project Features:

The focus of this research investigation was collection of parameters contributing towards the landslide and their impact modelling in GIS environment, development of efficient model for assignment of weightage & rating to different layers and evolving a semi-automated system for the development of LSZ & LHZ maps using satellite data & machine learning methods such as SVM in an efficient, accurate and cost effective way. The ground terrain temporal study like collection of parameters contributing towards the landslide and their impact modelling in GIS environment is the key issues. This project was carried out in Alaknanda river basin of Garhwal Himalaya from the origin of the river to Rudra Prayag. The length of the river is approximately 168 Kms in this stretch. This area has seen many landslides in the past. Buffer of 10 Kms on both side of river (shown in green colour in figure) will be considered for this study. This buffer has an area of approximately 2700 Sq. Km of the Garhwal area. The red and blue color in elevation map shows high and low altitudes respectively. All the sub-basins of the river, lying in Uttarakhand state of India are also shown in map. These LSZ maps are an important input for preparing the risk assessment of LSZ. These zonation maps show the areas that are prone to landslides and the safe areas, which in-turn help the administrators for safer planning and future development activities.

Position held:

Principal Investigator

Activity

• Field Investigation was performed in Alaknanda basin for obtaining a detailed field inventory

• Machine learning algorithms such as information value, logistic regression and Fisher discriminant analysis were applied for LSM-LSZ

preparation

 

 

Name of project:

Facile, Low Cost Synthesis of Graphene/Zeolite composite and their Application in Removal of Heavy Metals from Water PDF/2016/000338

Year:

2016-18

Location:

India

Client:

SERB-NPDF

Main Project Features:

In the present research, zeolite was synthesized using fly-ash by hydrothermal

process. Huge quantities of fly ash are generated by power plants and their disposal is of global concern. Though, fly-ash is being put in use as raw material by concrete manufacturing and construction purposes, still remaining quantities are being dumped in the landfill sites. The dumping of fly-ash without proper treatment is a threat to the environment. Therefore, the possibility of using fly ash in synthesis of zeolites can be attractive for various applications. Researchers have reported that high content of aluminosilicates makes fly-ash an interesting start up material for synthesis of zeolites. Use of fly-ash in synthesis of zeolites partially solves the problem, thus minimizing the impact on environment and may turn a waste resource to a marketable commodity.

Position held:

Mentor

Activity

• Heavy metals concentration were from water were calculated

• A composite low cost synthesis graphene/Zeolite composite were developed for the removal of heavy metal from water

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Name of project:

Arsenic and Heavy Metal Mapping in Water, Coal and Fly-Ash samples from Urjanchal (Singrauli) Area of Central India

SR/FTP/ES-6/2013

Year:

2014-17

Location:

India

Client:

SERB-DST

Main Project Features:

The main objective of this research is to study the arsenic concentration in coal, fly-ash and soil samples with respect to global averages. The effect of pollution best visualized in hydrosphere will also be studied where water pollution for Arsenic & Heavy metal contamination and its relation to mode of occurrence using chemical techniques and field checks will be carried out. Therefore, work is focused on mapping of arsenic contamination in this area followed by its source identification (coal).

Position held:

Principal Investigator

Activity

• In this project field samples of coal, fly-ash and soil were collected for arsenic concentration

• Arsenic and Heavy metal contamination were mapped in this area using geospatial technology

 

 

Name of project:

Detailed Geophysical –GPR Investigation Required for Structural Design of Imja Lake Lowering" in Nepal

Sanction No : UNDP/RFP/16/2014

Year:

2014

Location:

India

Client:

UNDP

Main project features:

The Community Based Flood and Glacial Lake Outburst Risk Reduction Project (CFGORRP) intendeds to reduce human and material losses from probable GLOF at Imja Lake, Solukhumbu District (5010 m) and 27 settlements in downstream in the valley. Based on the previous studies it is proposed that 3m reduction of water level in Imja Lake will reduce GLOF risk through construction of an open channel. To design such a structure, a detailed survey is required and as a part of the project the task of “Detailed Geophysical-GPR Investigation for Structural Design of Imja Lake Lowering” was awarded to the MEH Consultants Pvt. Ltd. Kathmandu.

Position held:

Co-Principal Investigator

Activity

• Field investigation was performed for GPR survey at Imja lake

• Name of project:

• Map the Neighbourhood in Uttarakhand (MANU) Sanction No :  NRDMS/11/3010/013 (G

• Year:

• 2013-14

• Location:

• Client:

• NRDMS-DST

• Main project features:

• The programme is to be named ‘Map the Neighbourhood in Uttarakhand’ (MANU). It involved local student/teacher community in data collection. The area to be covered was ‘Char Dham’ and Pindar Valley around 8,000 sq. km. Exact area were indicated on topographical maps which was provided by Survey of India (SOI) immediately after quick updating using Cartosat images. The observational activity was completed in 4 months and number of interns were trained keeping the quantum of work. Hence in this work detailed investigation of landslides were carried out by us and also work for rehabilitation of the area were also be suggested by us.

• Position held:

• Co-Principal Investigator

• Activity

• Here data collection was performed in the areas of Pindar Valley for landslide mapping

• Rehabilitation of the areas was suggested based upon the landslide data