Integrated Planning and Design Framework for Sustainable and Resilient Urban Environments: A Case Study of Kumar Bhaskar Barman Township, North Guwahati, Assam

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, 781039, India
² Centre for Sustainable Water Research, Indian Institute of Technology, 781039, India

^* Corresponding author: rkbc@iitg.ac.in

Abstract

This paper introduces an integrated planning and design framework to create sustainable and resilient urban environments that endure extreme events with minimal damage. The framework employs a watershed-based design approach, focusing on the fixation of the road, ground, and foundation levels of the building. It comprehensively addresses new development and redevelopment while prioritizing wetland preservation, effective land use, and land cover management. Key principles include minimizing human intervention, using gravity-based systems to reduce reliance on pumps and sluice gates, and planning extreme events to mitigate significant damage to lives and properties. The framework also advocates for early-stage corrective measures and long-term planning spanning at least 100 years. This approach aims to establish robust and adaptable urban systems, ensuring safety and sustainability amidst environmental challenges. The design philosophy is applied to the urban drainage network of Kumar Bhaskar Barman Township in North Guwahati, Assam. The drainage system incorporates natural drainage patterns and introduces artificial primary drains to mitigate urban flooding effectively.