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Project Details

Title of Project
Leveraging A Stepwell - Based Blue Green Infrastructure Framework for Mitigation of Heat and Water Based Risk in Vijayapura Karnataka
Starting Date
20 July.2026
Ending Date
19.March.2027
Principal Investigator
Dr. Anurag Bagade (PI)
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CAR Project 26 01

Project Description

Leveraging A Stepwell - Based Blue Green Infrastructure Framework for Mitigation of Heat and Water Based Risk in Vijayapura Karnataka

(CAR_26_01)

TOD District Rendering
Metro Station Influence Zone Map
Stepwell-Based Climate Adaptation
Urban Heat and Water Risk Mitigation
Multi-Hazard Urban Resilience
Microclimate Simulation
Climate change continues to intensify the frequency and severity of heatwaves, water scarcity, and extreme rainfall events, particularly in rapidly urbanizing semi-arid regions where compound climate risks amplify urban vulnerability. While national initiatives emphasize sustainable water management, they often rely on centralized, energy-intensive infrastructure, creating a pressing need for decentralized, context-specific adaptation strategies. Traditional water systems, such as stepwells, offer passive cooling, groundwater recharge, and stormwater retention-aligning seamlessly with contemporary Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) approaches-yet they remain largely disconnected from modern planning frameworks. The city of Vijayapura, characterized by a hot semi-arid climate, declining groundwater levels, and a rich but neglected legacy of traditional stepwells and underground water systems, presents a compelling environment for this research.
This City Specific Applied Research Project adopts a two-stage, mixed-method approach to reintegrate these heritage water systems into contemporary urban planning frameworks. The initial stage involves a comprehensive baseline assessment featuring multi-hazard risk mapping, a geospatial inventory of stepwells, and field-based microclimate measurements to establish cooling potential. The second stage focuses on BGI network design and scenario simulation utilizing advanced microclimate and hydrological models, such as ENVI-met and SWMM. Ultimately, the study aims to deliver a scalable, evidence-based Multi-Hazard Climate Adaptation Plan that bridges traditional knowledge with modern spatial analysis, providing actionable guidelines to enhance urban resilience.
A-CUPCB-SPAV

Project
Benefits

Evolving a stepwell-based Blue-Green Infrastructure network in Vijayapura shall accomplish the following:

  • Evidence-Based Heat Mitigation: Providing mapped heat hotspots and cooling zones to enable targeted interventions, such as stepwell-based cooling hubs and shaded corridors, while strengthening city-level Heat Action Plans (HAPs).
  • Water-Sensitive Urban Planning: Assisting municipalities in enhancing stormwater management, groundwater recharge, and overall drought resilience by utilizing existing traditional stepwell systems.
  • Cost-Effective Infrastructure: Promoting low-energy, decentralized solutions that significantly reduce long-term operational costs when compared to expensive grey infrastructure.
  • Heritage-Linked Development: Enabling urban local bodies to revive and repurpose historical stepwells as functional assets, aligning heritage conservation with climate adaptation.
  • Regulatory Integration: Offering direct, actionable inputs for Development Control Regulations (DCRs) and local plans to legally protect and systematically utilize water structures.
  • Strategic Deliverables: Delivering highly practical planning tools, including a Multi-Hazard (Heat and Flood) Zone Map, prioritized BGI provision zones, and a finalized Multi-Hazard Climate Adaptation Plan.
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