Urban Flood-Risk Mapping and Drainage Planning Using GIS and Remote Sensing

Objective: To develop a GIS and remote sensing-based working model for mapping urban flood-risk zones and optimizing drainage planning in a selected Indian city.

Urban flooding is a recurring problem in Indian cities, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, disrupting livelihoods, and posing health risks to local populations. Rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage, and climate change have exacerbated flood vulnerability, especially in low-lying and densely built areas.

This project proposes an engineering solution using GIS and remote sensing to systematically identify flood-prone zones and plan efficient drainage networks. The team will acquire satellite imagery and municipal GIS datasets, analyze land use, soil permeability, and topography, and overlay rainfall and historical flood data to generate risk maps. Drainage network optimization will be carried out based on these risk assessments.

Key deliverables include: a validated flood-risk map for a city ward, a proposed drainage network plan, a working GIS dashboard prototype, and a technical report. The working model will demonstrate data integration, spatial analysis, and drainage recommendations, using real-world municipal datasets and open-source GIS tools.

Industry and societal impact includes scalable flood-risk assessment for urban planning authorities, cost-effective drainage design, and improved urban resilience. The approach can be replicated in other Indian cities, aiding government and private stakeholders in disaster management and sustainable urban development.