Underground 3D study to transform Varanasi into smart city

Kolkata, May 12 (IANS) IIT Kharagpur, in collaboration with the British Geological Survey, is in the process undertaking a 3D underground survey of Varanasi that will aid redesigning it as a future, smart city.

"Three-dimensional geological modelling of the geology under Varanasi will be prepared to help improve the building of new transport and service infrastructure, preservation of archaeological sites, the management of flooding hazards and the sustainability of water supplies," said Abhijit Mukherjee, Project Leader from IIT Kharagpur's Department of Geology and Geophysics.

Retro-fitting ancient cities like Varanasi to meet rising demand for modern telecommunication and transport networks presents a challenge to existing water supply and sewer infrastructure, the preservation of archaeological sites and sustaining a reliable water supply, he said, adding that the project includes application of geoscientific methods (e.g. drilling, geological, geophysical, tectonics, hydrogeological and remote sensing).

The retrieved information will lead to construction of a multi-scale 3D conceptual model to allow visualisation of the ground beneath the city.

"It would be the first major 3D subsurface urban study and planning of its kind in India, with the ultimate aim of developing methodologies and input of suburban geology for planning and hazard risk assessment," said Martin Smith, Director, Science, in the British Geological Survey.

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