We developed a Rapid Assessment Tool to help address the crisis faced by water bodies in India due to degradation and encroachment. This tool serves as a valuable resource for government agencies and practitioners, helping them quickly identify water bodies and explore Nature-based and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) rejuvenation options based on their size and other spatial characteristics.

The tool is designed to be a first-pass assessment resource, informing both detailed analysis of specific water bodies and broader blue-green infrastructure planning at the city scale. It aims to provide a starting point for prioritizing water bodies and identifying broad intervention categories, using readily available spatial data.

We used Hyderabad as a case study where 200 water bodies were mapped, and we identified 63 interventions, including 53 structural and 10 non-structural interventions. The tool highlights potential structural interventions like Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), WSUD, and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS). However, successful rejuvenation often necessitates a combination of both structural and non-structural interventions.

The tool aligns with key Indian programs and policies promoting urban waterbodies management, ensuring its relevance and applicability to existing and future projects. The pilot implementation in Hyderabad serves as a test to validate the tool's functionality. Its scalability allows for replication on a larger scale, fostering a data-driven approach to urban water body management and blue-green infrastructure development.

Find out more information here:

RAPID ASSESSMENT TOOL ON URBAN WATER REJUVENATION (arcgis.com)