IIT Madras develops climate resilience framework for India's coastal areas

Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an integrated framework to assess climate risks along India's coast. The work links modelling, infrastructure planning and community adaptation to support preparedness and policymaking.

In Short

• The Centre studies cyclones, surges, erosion and rainfall across coastlines
• A wind-merging technique aims to improve storm-surge prediction accuracy significantly
• Flood inundation mapping for Chennai supports preparedness and better urban planning

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed an integrated framework to assess the impact of climate change on India’s coastal regions and identify adaptation measures to protect critical infrastructure, ecosystems and vulnerable communities.

The framework has been developed by IIT Madras’ Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure and Adaptation Strategies, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

India’s coastline is home to major ports, fishing harbours, power plants, industries and urban settlements. These regions are increasingly exposed to climate-related risks such as cyclones, storm surges, coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, sea-level rise and extreme rainfall.

The interdisciplinary Centre brings together expertise in climate science, coastal engineering, water resources and environmental engineering to develop models and tools for assessing these risks and planning adaptation measures.

CLIMATE RISK MODELS, VULNERABILITY MAPS

The researchers have developed advanced climate, cyclone, storm-surge, wave, hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models tailored to the Indian coast. A novel wind-merging technique developed by the team is aimed at improving storm-surge predictions.

The Centre has also undertaken flood inundation modelling and mapping for Chennai to support disaster preparedness and urban planning.

Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) maps incorporating the effects of sea-level rise and storm surges have been prepared for Chennai, Ennore and Karaikal. The researchers have also developed structural health monitoring approaches to assess climate-driven deterioration of port infrastructure.

The team has proposed climate-resilient reservoir management strategies for flood-prone urban areas and assessed different measures to prevent and mitigate saltwater intrusion in coastal regions.

The Centre's work also covers water and environmental sustainability. Researchers have developed climate-resilient wastewater treatment solutions, including a patented in-stream wastewater treatment method.

The team has also introduced the BASIEC framework to support community-based adaptation to sea-level rise and other coastal hazards.

Prof S A Sannasiraj, Principal Investigator of the Centre and faculty member in the Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, said climate change is increasing the risks faced by coastal infrastructure and communities.

“Our Centre has adopted a systems-level approach that integrates climate modelling, engineering solutions and community adaptation to provide actionable strategies that can help reduce risks and improve preparedness across coastal regions,” he said.

Prof B S Murty, Centre Coordinator and faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, said climate adaptation requires the assessment of multiple hazards and their interconnected impacts.

The Centre is using advanced simulations, field observations and stakeholder engagement to develop solutions that can support coastal planning and policymaking, he added.

The research traces the chain of impacts from changing cyclone behaviour and coastal flooding to infrastructure vulnerability and adaptation planning. It combines field measurements, laboratory experiments and numerical simulations with policy-oriented solutions, while focusing on open-source tools and locally appropriate adaptation measures.

The Centre's findings were presented at the IAHR World Congress 2025 in Singapore through a paper on climate change impacts and adaptation strategies for coastal infrastructure, water and waste management facilities.

A major output from the project is an edited volume, Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Coastal Infrastructure, Water Resources, and Waste Management Along the Coasts, published by Springer Nature.

The Centre has 15 Co-Principal Investigators from four IIT Madras departments. Its research output includes 73 journal articles, six book chapters, one edited book, 60 conference papers and one patent.

The researchers said the work could help strengthen protection of ports, fishing harbours, power plants and transport networks, improve flood preparedness in coastal cities, safeguard groundwater resources and support nature-based approaches to coastal protection.

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