Climate Resilience
The deltaic region of Kuttanad is most vulnerable to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, increasing tidal influence, frequent and severe flood disasters, and displacement of people because of its Below Sea Level location.
Climate change impacts have affected vulnerable deltaic regions such as Kuttanad in Kerala. This has posed a serious threat to the livelihoods, access to health and education, drinking water and sanitation in the region. Climate resilience and localizing adaptive strategies are crucial to reduce vulnerability and help communities prepare for and recover from these events, minimizing the damage and impact.
Sustainable Housing Solutions
In the Kuttanad region, where homes are constantly exposed to flooding, conventional housing models often prove inadequate. The Living Lab Alleppey with the funding support from the Tata Centre for Technology and Design (TCTD), a systematic study was undertaken to reimagine housing for this fragile ecosystem. The project analyzed landform typologies and developed a framework for assessing sustainability in construction. It also identified the structural and financial barriers facing the LIFE Mission housing program. Building on these insights, the team designed an affordable, flood-resilient housing model that aligns with the ecological realities of Kuttanad while remaining cost-effective. This prototype offers a replicable pathway for future housing programs in vulnerable geographies.
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
Urban flooding is both a technical and governance challenge. To build an evidence base for solutions, Living Lab Alleppey carried out a detailed flood risk assessment across Alleppey Municipality in 2021. The study mapped vulnerable zones, identified hydrological bottlenecks, and analyzed the underlying causes of recurring waterlogging. Beyond diagnosis, it provided a structured set of engineering and planning recommendations tailored to the municipality’s context. The report has since served as a reference point for local authorities to design interventions, making it one of the first comprehensive knowledge resources on flood management for the town.
Nature-Based Solutions & Livelihoods
The agricultural landscape of Kuttanad depends on the strength of its polder embankments. However, conventional methods of constructing embankments with concrete and stone have proven ecologically unsuitable. To address this, Living Lab Alleppey piloted innovative, nature-based approaches that combine ecological integrity with community livelihood benefits. Drawing on local expertise and engaging academic partners, the project tested coir-based embankment reinforcements and other alternative techniques. These interventions proved to be cost-effective while simultaneously strengthening the local coir economy. By integrating the MGNREGS workforce into construction activities, the initiative not only safeguarded farming systems but also created new livelihood opportunities within the community.
Decongestion and Canal Rejuvenation
Kuttanad’s canal network is more than a transport corridor it underpins agriculture, fisheries, and the ecological balance of Vembanad Lake. Yet decades of siltation, coupled with unchecked dumping of solid and liquid waste, have eroded its capacity. Living Lab Alleppey responded with a pilot decongestion and rejuvenation plan over a 2 km canal stretch. The intervention combined civil engineering solutions with participatory planning, involving local governments and community representatives throughout the process. Beyond physical restoration, the project built an operational framework for managing canals as shared ecological assets. It has since served as a reference model for integrating technical expertise with community stewardship in urban water body management.
Disaster Preparedness Online Course
2019
Strengthening the capacity of local governments is central to building resilient communities. In 2019, Living Lab Alleppey contributed to the development of an online course on Disaster Preparedness for the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA). The course was designed to equip elected representatives and officials with practical knowledge and decision-making tools to manage disasters more effectively. Covering areas such as risk assessment, response planning, and community coordination, it provided a structured framework for institutional preparedness. By bringing together technical expertise and governance needs, the initiative created a scalable training model for disaster management that continues to inform local government practice in Kerala.
Nedumudi Panchayat-Canal Map
2019
Improving spatial knowledge is critical for managing water resources in flood-prone regions. In 2019, Living Lab Alleppey facilitated a collaborative initiative with IIT Bombay and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) to digitally map the 35 km-long canal network of Nedumudi Grama Panchayat. The project actively engaged students in field mapping and data collection, integrating academic learning with practical problem-solving. The outcome was a digital platform that provided a comprehensive spatial understanding of the canal system, offering local authorities a valuable tool for planning, monitoring, and rejuvenation efforts. By bridging research, governance, and youth participation, the project demonstrated how digital innovations can support decentralized water management.
Localizing Disaster Management
The flood of 2018 in Kerala and the recurring floods post this, has devastated several parts of Alleppey and Kuttanad and has also created new vulnerabilities. The gap between regional level disaster management plans and the local level institutional requirements and capacities indicated the need for an alternate approach to flood and disaster management for such sensitive socio ecological systems.
We collaborated with local government institutions, Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and prepared Kerala’s first community disaster management plan. Additionally, a comprehensive local level flood relief plan was prepared, findings of which are being incorporated into the annual plans of the local government bodies.
A part of localizing disaster management was to review the existing flood hazard assessments and the findings of the study called for the importance of understanding the concept of risk within the contextual setting of the affected region and the involvement of local communities and authorities for effective risk assessment. As an outcome of the study, an early hazard monitoring system. Data and insights from local level institutions, communities and experts made the process participatory.
Post flood impact assessment
In the aftermath of the 2018 Kerala floods, a large-scale rapid impact assessment was conducted across 15 panchayats in the Kuttanad region. With facilitation from Living Lab Alleppey, and in collaboration with IIT Bombay and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), the initiative mobilized nearly 5,000 volunteers to collect and analyze data within a short timeframe. The assessment documented the extent of damage to housing, agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods, producing critical evidence to guide recovery and rehabilitation strategies. By linking citizen participation with technical analysis, the exercise demonstrated the potential of community-driven data generation in shaping disaster response policies.
Disease mapping
Prolonged flooding in Kuttanad during mid-2018 created serious public health risks, including the spread of waterborne and vector-borne diseases. To address this, Living Lab Alleppey facilitated a coordinated disease surveillance program in collaboration with Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad, National Health Mission, Kudumbashree Mission, KILA, and IIT Bombay. The initiative combined digital surveys, awareness campaigns, and field-based interventions across six village panchayats. By integrating health data with local governance systems, the program enabled early detection and response mechanisms while strengthening community-level healthcare capacity. This collaborative effort not only mitigated immediate health risks but also demonstrated how data-driven, participatory methods can improve disaster-linked health resilience.