The Resilient HydroTwin (RHT) Inception Workshop was held on 4 July 2025 at IIT Madras Research Park. The pilot aims to develop a participatory Digital Twin platform to strengthen flood resilience in Tambaram City Municipal Corporation (TCMC)- a newly formed urban local body within the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA).
The workshop brought together representatives from key departments including Tambaram Corporation, Water Resources Department (WRD), Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency (TNDRRA), Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD Board), Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and Chengalpattu District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
Discussions focused on existing flood management challenges such as poor stormwater drain connectivity, surplus flows from upstream water bodies, fragmented data systems, and the need for real-time monitoring and predictive tools.
Dr. Thiruppugazh IAS, Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Mitigation and Management of Floods in Chennai shared his knowledge and vision for the digital twin development. While, Ms. Sasikala, Deputy Commissioner, Tambaram Corporation, emphasized the importance of embedding local governance, citizen-centric approaches, and real-time urban data into the twin framework.
The technical presentations that followed introduced the concept of a city-scale Digital Twin to simulate flood scenarios, test interventions, and support coordinated action across departments. The breakout sessions mapped departmental roles across pre-monsoon, during-monsoon, and post-monsoon phases, highlighting coordination silos and opportunities for integration.
Key takeaways included the need for high-resolution pluvial flood modelling, integration of stormwater drain data, real-time visibility of flood hotspots, improved tank and channel connectivity mapping, and stronger last-mile early warning systems.
The full workshop report is available here (Link)
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