Research Projects

The origin of seismic microzonation and MASW studies in Prayagraj, India, can be traced back to the broader national and regional initiatives to improve seismic resilience and understand local geotechnical conditions. Several key factors and developments contributed to the initiation of these studies in Prayagraj. In recent decades, seismic hazards have received increased attention in India due to devastating earthquakes (e.g., Bhuj in 2001 and Kashmir in 2005), which underscored the need for improved earthquake preparedness. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Geological Survey of India (GSI), and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) have led initiatives to conduct seismic microzonation in major urban centers, particularly in regions with seismic risk, including Seismic Zones III, IV, and V. As a part of this broader initiative, the need to assess and address the seismic risk in cities located in Seismic Zone III, like Prayagraj, became evident. Prayagraj has experienced significant urban growth, infrastructure development, and population increase in recent years, heightening the need for resilient infrastructure planning. The city’s location in seismic zone III, coupled with dense urban expansion, raised concerns about the structural safety of buildings, leading to a push for more localized seismic assessments. The local government and urban planners in Prayagraj recognized the importance of site-specific seismic studies to make informed decisions on land use, construction standards, and disaster preparedness. Advances in geophysical survey methods, including Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), provided cost-effective and efficient tools to assess the dynamic properties of soil layers. MASW became particularly popular in seismic microzonation as it enables detailed assessments of shear-wave velocity profiles, which are essential for evaluating site-specific ground response. The adoption of MASW in Prayagraj and other Indian cities allowed for a more accurate understanding of soil behaviour and seismic response, critical for implementing effective building codes. Research institutions and universities in India have been instrumental in promoting seismic studies and geotechnical research in various regions, including Prayagraj. Studies initiated by engineering and geoscience departments aimed at assessing soil behavior and earthquake response have helped build a foundation for larger microzonation and MASW projects in Prayagraj. As Prayagraj was selected as part of India’s Smart Cities Mission, there has been a push to integrate disaster-resilient planning within the city’s modernization efforts. Seismic microzonation and MASW studies are being used to support safer infrastructure planning, as well as to guide retrofitting and construction in line with modern standards.