CHENNAI : Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) researchers have created an integrated framework to evaluate the impact of climate change on India’s coastal regions and identify practical adaptation measures to protect critical infrastructure, ecosystems and vulnerable populations.
India’s long coastline supports major ports, fishing harbours, power plants, industries, urban settlements and sensitive ecosystems. Growing climate variability and more frequent extreme events threaten infrastructure and livelihoods, making robust, evidence-based adaptation essential.
This research was undertaken at IIT Madras’ Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure and Adaptation Strategies, which is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. This interdisciplinary centre brings together climate science, coastal engineering, water resources and environmental engineering.
The significant findings were presented at the IAHR World Congress 2025 in Singapore through the paper titled Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure and Adaptation Strategies for Coastal Infrastructure, Water and Waste Management Facilities. We also recently published the edited book Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Coastal Infrastructure, Water Resources, and Waste Management Along the Coasts with Springer Nature.
The researchers in this centre develop advanced models and tools to address rising risks from cyclones, storm surges, coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, sea-level rise and extreme rainfall.
Key achievements of the Centre include advanced climate, cyclone, storm-surge, wave, hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models tailored for the Indian coast. A novel wind-merging technique developed by the researchers notably improves storm-surge predictions. The team also conducted flood inundation modelling and mapping for Chennai to aid disaster preparedness and urban planning.
Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) maps that incorporate sea-level rise and storm-surge effects were produced for Chennai, Ennore and Karaikal. The researchers developed structural health monitoring approaches to track climate-driven deterioration of port infrastructure and proposed climate-resilient reservoir management strategies for flood-prone urban areas. The effectiveness of different saltwater intrusion prevention and mitigation measures in coastal areas was analysed.
In water and environmental sustainability, the Centre created climate-resilient wastewater treatment solutions, including a patented in-stream wastewater treatment method. The team 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, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “India’s coastline hosts some of the country’s most critical infrastructure and supports millions of livelihoods. Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of coastal hazards, making resilience an urgent priority. 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.”
Prof. B. S. Murty, Centre Coordinator and Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, added, “Climate adaptation requires much more than understanding individual hazards. We are developing scientifically robust and practically-implementable solutions through advanced simulations, field observations and stakeholder engagement. The outcomes from this Centre can support evidence-based policymaking and contribute to sustainable coastal development in India.”
The Centre’s distinctive approach traces the full chain of impacts from changing cyclone behaviour and coastal flooding to infrastructure vulnerability and adaptation planning. It integrates field measurements, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations and policy-relevant solutions, while emphasizing open-source tools and locally appropriate adaptation measures.
The research outputs are expected to strengthen protection of critical infrastructure ports, fishing harbours, power plants and transport networks, improve disaster preparedness and flood management in coastal cities, safeguard groundwater resources and encourage sustainable nature-based coastal protection.
A major deliverable from the project is the 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 brings together 15 Co-Principal Investigators from four IIT Madras departments and has produced substantial scientific output, including 73 journal articles, six book chapters, one edited book, 60 conference papers and one patent.
