Automatic weather stations to detect landslides in Meenachil river basin

Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), and Environmental Resources Research Centre (ERRC) in Thiruvananthapuram have joined hands for a social responsibility project titled 'Creating an automated warning system for landslides in the landslide susceptible zones of the Meenachil river basin, Kerala'.
As part of the multi-institutional project, three automatic weather stations (AWS) have been installed with the support of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Indian Space Research Organisation in Theekoy, Poonjar Thekkekara, and Munnilavu panchayats in the Meenachil river basin, according to a communication
S. Abhilash, Director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cusat, said that the overall objective of the pilot project was to develop and test the concept of a reliable and robust monitoring and alerting system for detecting landslides.
The release said that a proof-of-concept project would be implemented in the selected study area in the Western Ghats region, which is vulnerable to landslides during the monsoon season.
In the context of increasing landslides and localised floods caused by extreme rainfall, the pilot project aims to develop and test the operational feasibility of a reliable and robust observation and early warning system with community participation. The project is being implemented in collaboration with Meenachil River Protection Committee, a people's collective in the Meenachil river basin, it said.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

2 hours ago

• The Hindu

Kanjirappally taps technology for disaster preparedness

With landslides and flash floods on the rise due to extreme rainfall events, the eastern high ranges of Kottayam are gearing up for a tech-enabled defence by installing rain gauges to establish an early warning system to improve disaster preparedness. As part of this initiative, the Wayanad-based Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology has begun a preliminary study to identify the most vulnerable zones within the Kanjirappally Block. According to officials, rain gauges will be installed in these areas to monitor rainfall trends and assess the risk of potential landslides and floods. 'The project also includes detailed mapping of the region, dividing it into 2.5-sq.-km grids based on rainfall data. This grid-based approach will help pinpoint disaster-prone areas and support the development of focused mitigation and preparedness plans,' they said. With precipitation levels regularly exceeding that of neighbouring regions, the Kanjirappaly region is susceptible to climate change-induced hazards. Officials have identified the hill tracts of Vagamon, Kootickal, Enthayar, Elamkadu, Koruthodu and Kanamala as priority zones where the risk of cloudbursts and landslides is especially high. A couple of weeks ago, the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), and the Environmental Resources Research Centre (ERRC) joined forces to deploy an automated landslide warning system in the region. Supported by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, three Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) have been set up in Theekoy, Poonjar Thekkekara, and Moonnilavu panchayats, all located within the Meenachil river basin. These AWS units continuously track key environmental parameters such as wind speed, humidity, temperature, rainfall, soil moisture, and soil temperature. The real-time data is transmitted to servers at CUSAT, where it is analysed for early signs of potential disasters.

Time of India

15-06-2025

• Time of India

Subhash Park's trees save Kochi lakhs a year, finds Cusat study

Kochi: The 339 trees at Subhash Bose Park in the heart of Kochi, play a crucial role in improving air quality by removing nearly 124.8kg of air pollutants annually. Without these trees, residents would require air purifiers in at least 150 homes, according to a recent study. While air purifiers can remove allergens, dust, pollen, smoke, and other pollutants, they are expensive and require regular maintenance — unlike trees, which provide long-term environmental benefits for ages. The study, titled "A Comprehensive Study of Subhash Park and Projected Benefits for Queen's Way Urban Expansion," was conducted by the School of Environmental Studies at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) in collaboration with the Nansen (India). It stresses the importance of enhancing green cover in the few remaining open spaces in Kochi. The study quantifies the many environmental benefits trees offer, including air purification, carbon sequestration, stormwater mitigation, energy savings, and health cost reduction. According to the findings, residents in and around the park can save nearly Rs 3.74 lakh annually in healthcare costs due to improved air quality and lower exposure to pollutants. The study also highlights how trees mitigate the urban heat island effect by cooling the surrounding area. This cooling reduces the energy needed for indoor air conditioning in nearby buildings, especially during summer months. The park's canopy helps nearby buildings save about 13,400 kWh of electricity annually by lowering indoor temperatures. In addition, the park's dense tree cover acts as a natural barrier during heavy rainfall, reducing runoff and helping prevent urban flooding. This benefit translates to savings of nearly Rs 1.80 lakh per year in drainage infrastructure costs for the local authorities. "Given the multifaceted benefits, including public health, carbon sequestration, flood risk mitigation and groundwater recharge as pointed out in the study, urban planners must prioritise the integration of green cover in high-risk zones like hospitals, clinics, and schools. Green corridors and trees in these zones can strengthen health resilience, especially in climate-vulnerable regions like Kochi, which is facing intense heat in summer and flooding in monsoon," said Sravan Shaji, the author of the study. Dr Giby Kuriakose, assistant professor of Botany department in SH college Thevara said trees play multiple roles for ecosystem. "Trees reduce pollutants and there are a lot of native species the leaves of which even traps dust in the air. In the case of Subash Park, authorities can utilise it to raise native species to create awareness on it." The study was conducted jointly by Sravan Shaji of Cusat and Dr Bindu G of Nansen Environmental Research Centre. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .

The Hindu

14-06-2025

• The Hindu

Cusat publishes results of BTech, LLB, PG programmes

The Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has published the final semester results for various postgraduate (PG), BTech and LLB programmes. The results are available on the student portals: and https:// according to a release. The pass percentage for the BTech final examinations is 78.38. For the five-year LLB programme, the pass percentage is 76.4. The results for nine BTech programmes—Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Safety and Fire Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Science and Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering and Naval Architecture and Ship Building—were released on June 12, 2025, the release said.