Thrissur: Students recreate deluge, develop response plan

Kochi: As part of developing a flood preparedness and response plan for Meloor panchayat in Thrissur district, the SCMS Water Institute has recreated the flood through retrospective geo-spatial analysis.

The data on extent of inundation and depth of water in different areas was collected through field surveys, using the software Open Data Kit (ODK). 

The method is highly useful in assessing the flood and developing a response plan.  

The retrospective geo-spatial analysis of flood became relevant as the optical sensors in the satellites could not take proper pictures because the atmosphere was highly cloudy during flood days.

“The M Tech environmental engineering students of SCMS could collect the explicit data because the survey was done immediately after the flood so that people remember exact details. The survey was done before people started cleaning flooded houses,” said Dr. Sunny George, director of SCMS Water Institute.

Meloor is one of the worst hit panchayats in Thrissur with 16 of the total 17 wards getting completely marooned.

All details like when water levels started to rise, level of water at different times of the day and duration of flooding in each ward have been recorded. 

“The ODK is a collaborative app using which many people can work at a time and it is highly useful for conducting geo-tagged field surveys. The students did the flood documentation with the support of panchayat authorities, Kudumbasree members and ASHA workers,” he added.

Based on the data, a flood preparedness and response plan has been prepared by the SCMS team which was submitted to the panchayat. The easiest and safest evacuation plan possible has also been developed based on the details.

“The participatory flood documentation through GIS filed survey is the first of its kind initiated by any local body in the state. This can be a role model for other civic bodies in preparing preparedness and response plan for natural disasters like flood,” he added.