Sustainable Housing Solutions
As part of the Vembanad Rejuvenation Project led by the District Collector of Alappuzha, Mapathon 2025 was held in Cherthala Municipality from June 9–15, 2025, to ground-truth canal maps, identify unmapped stretches, and carry out catchment delineation for improved sanitation and waste management planning in areas draining into Vembanad Lake. Building on earlier mapping by local colleges, the initiative engaged 29 student interns from Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad (CUCEK), providing them with training in QGIS and QField, open-source geospatial tools. Over the week, students verified and refined canal maps by walking assigned routes, correcting inaccuracies, and adding missing details. Afternoon digitisation sessions transformed field observations into accurate spatial datasets, while expert talks and interactions with local leaders deepened understanding of the project’s environmental significance. The final phase focused on catchment delineation, mapping natural flow paths and drainage boundaries to support flood preparedness and targeted waste and water management interventions. Outcomes included verified canal maps, newly mapped stretches, digitised datasets ready for integration into planning systems, and enhanced student skills in GIS, mapping, and spatial analysis. Mapathon 2025 showcased how youth engagement, technology, and governance can converge to address environmental challenges, setting a replicable model for other municipalities along Vembanad Lake.
Before the Rain Campaign (2022)
Flood resilience in urban spaces often depends on preparation before the monsoon arrives. In 2022, Living Lab Alleppey in collaboration with Alleppey Municipality and local residents initiated the Before the Rain Campaign . The campaign mobilized households, institutions, and civic authorities to undertake preventive measures—clearing drains, managing waste, and improving water flow—before heavy rains could trigger waterlogging. By positioning itself as a facilitator between governance structures and the community, Living Lab Alleppey enabled a culture of proactive flood management rather than reactive crisis response. The campaign demonstrated that coordinated, low-cost actions taken in advance can significantly reduce the scale of urban flooding.
Urban Flood Study (2021)
As part of the Vembanad Rejuvenation Project led by the District Collector of Alappuzha, Mapathon 2025 was held in Cherthala Municipality from June 9–15, 2025, to ground-truth canal maps, identify unmapped stretches, and carry out catchment delineation for improved sanitation and waste management planning in areas draining into Vembanad Lake. Building on earlier mapping by local colleges, the initiative engaged 29 student interns from Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad (CUCEK), providing them with training in QGIS and QField, open-source geospatial tools. Over the week, students verified and refined canal maps by walking assigned routes, correcting inaccuracies, and adding missing details. Afternoon digitisation sessions transformed field observations into accurate spatial datasets, while expert talks and interactions with local leaders deepened understanding of the project’s environmental significance. The final phase focused on catchment delineation, mapping natural flow paths and drainage boundaries to support flood preparedness and targeted waste and water management interventions. Outcomes included verified canal maps, newly mapped stretches, digitised datasets ready for integration into planning systems, and enhanced student skills in GIS, mapping, and spatial analysis. Mapathon 2025 showcased how youth engagement, technology, and governance can converge to address environmental challenges, setting a replicable model for other municipalities along Vembanad Lake.
