Upcoming Events
Explore our collection of memorable moments and achievements captured over the years.
Double Decker Metro Train Bridges
Speaker: Venu B (Vice President, Delhi Transit Ltd)
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Searching for a new paradigm in rainfall-runoff modelling
Modern hydrological science can be said to have begun with the rational method for predicting peak discharge. It was Sherman's unit hydrograph concept that rationalized this method by proposing to consider runoff generation and routing as two distinct processes. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) approach epitomized the unit hydrograph concept by considering soil as the main mediator of rainfall-runoff generation processes. The soil-centric paradigm, however, has left many unaddressed puzzles because of several reasons including parameter interaction. The main objective of this talk is to underscore the need for a new paradigm and argue that adopting a climate-centric viewpoint could advance rainfall-runoff modelling further.
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Multiphysics Simulation of Flow and Transport Processes in Water Resources Engineering
About the speaker: Mr. Sharjad A J is currently working as a Senior Applications Engineer at COMSOL Multiphysics with 4+ years of experience in CFD, heat transfer, structural mechanics, and Multiphysics simulations. Previously worked as an Assistant Professor in the Aeronautical Engineering department. Skilled in developing advanced simulation workflows, supporting customers, and creating validated technical models across aerodynamics, turbomachinery, and thermo-fluid systems. Published multiple papers in reputed international journals and conferences, and currently serves as a reviewer for Aerospace Science and Technology (Elsevier).
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Natural Catastrophe Modelling in Practice: Insights and Case Studies
The talk will focus on Natural Catastrophe (NatCat) modelling and its role in quantifying risk and uncertainty associated with hazards such as earthquakes, cyclones, and floods. The lecture will cover hazard, vulnerability, exposure, and financial frameworks, with emphasis on geotechnical effects, probabilistic loss estimation, and real-world case studies. Dr. Vipin is a specialist in natural catastrophe modelling with over a decade of experience in probabilistic hazard and loss modelling across multiple perils. He currently leads the Natural Catastrophe Centre of Excellence at Swiss Re and has extensive experience bridging scientific modelling with industry applications.
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Caves, Civilization & Climate: The Stories Earth Left Behind by Dr. Annapureddy Phanindra Reddy.
Understanding future hydroclimatic risks requires long-term perspectives on how monsoon systems have varied under different climate states and how societies responded to these changes. This talk presents high-resolution speleothem-based reconstructions of Indian Summer Monsoon variability spanning the last two millennia and the late Holocene, with particular emphasis on extreme wet and dry phases and their forcing mechanisms. Near-annually to multidecadally resolved oxygen isotope records from peninsular India reveal distinct monsoon regimes during the Dark Age Cold Period, Medieval Warm Period, and Little Ice Age, modulated by shifts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, ENSO variability, volcanic forcing, and North Atlantic influences. Spectral analyses of irregular paleoclimate datasets further highlight coherent monsoon variability across interannual to centennial timescales and demonstrate teleconnections between the Indian monsoon, Pacific, and North Atlantic climate systems. The talk also explores the relationship between hydroclimatic extremes and human societies. Integrated analyses of speleothem records, archaeological settlement patterns, and historical data from South India show how consecutive wet and dry climatic stresses around 2.9-2.8 ka led to settlement abandonment in vulnerable low-lying regions, while simultaneously driving adaptive innovations such as water-harvesting and tank-based irrigation systems in interior regions. These findings underscore how past societies responded to climatic thresholds through migration, technological adaptation, and landscape modification. Finally, ongoing and unpublished work on coastal South India and glacial–interglacial hydroclimate variability will be briefly introduced, highlighting the role of U–Th geochronology and speleothems in bridging paleoclimate science, archaeology, and climate-resilient water management. The talk emphasizes why understanding Earths climatic past is essential for addressing future challenges related to water security and societal sustainability.
Read More →Multiphysics Simulation of Flow and Transport Processes in Water Resources Engineering
Skanda N Prasad, working as a technology specialist at COMSOL's India office since 2023. He holds a master's degree in computational mechanics from the University of Duisburg-Essen, where he was also a research assistant. Prior to this, he contributed as a project assistant in the aerospace department at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
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Extreme Precipitation Events in the Indian Himalayas: Trends, Drivers, and Prediction
Extreme precipitation events in the Indian Himalayas frequently lead to devastating floods and landslides, posing significant risks to communities and infrastructure. This talk explores the multiscale atmospheric mechanisms driving these events, highlighting the interaction between large-scale circulation patterns and regional dynamical processes. Emphasis will be placed on tropical–extratropical interactions, moisture transport dynamics, and recent high-resolution modelling efforts aimed at improving prediction and early-warning systems in complex mountainous terrain.
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The Chenab Bridge: The tallest railway bridge in India and the World
Matti-Esko Järvenpää is the head of GCC operations in Finland. He is also the Director of structures division at WSP Global Inc. He has over 20 years of experience in engineering and management positions.
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Urban Flood Management: Advances in Modeling with an Overview of PCSWMM Talk by Dr. Kaushika G. S.
Urban flooding has become one of the most critical challenges in modern city management due to rapid urbanization, increased impervious surfaces, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. It not only disrupts mobility and damages property but also poses risks to health, safety, and economic productivity.It is driven by high-intensity, short-duration rainfall events, reduced time of concentration (ToC), and the proliferation of impervious surfaces that limit natural infiltration. Effective assessment requires integrated hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling that represents rainfall-runoff generation, surface flow routing, drainage network hydraulics, floodplain interactions, and the influence of urban topography and land use. These models simulate how stormwater moves through urban catchments, identify bottlenecks in the drainage system, and help in designing resilient infrastructure. Commonly used software for urban flood modeling includes SWMM, PCSWMM, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS (2D), MIKE URBAN, and InfoWorks ICM, each capable of simulating rainfall-runoff processes and dynamic flood propagation. PCSWMM, in particular, offers a robust and user-friendly GIS-integrated platform that excels in simulating complex urban drainage and flood scenarios with spatial precision. PCSWMM offers a comprehensive and flexible environment for simulating urban hydrology and hydraulics, making it one of the most advanced tools for stormwater and flood management. It is fully GIS-enabled, allowing seamless integration of spatial data such as DEMs, land use, and drainage networks for accurate catchment representation and analysis. The software supports both pipe and open channel flow modeling, enabling realistic simulation of dual drainage systems where surface and subsurface flows interact during heavy rainfall events. With its integrated 1D–2D modeling capability, PCSWMM accurately represents complex flow dynamics, including surface inundation, flow exchange between networks, and floodplain behavior, providing detailed insights for flood risk assessment, infrastructure design, and urban resilience planning.
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