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Projects

Solar Thermal Modeling

Detailed mathematical modeling is underway for a large scale solar thermal power project.

Karnataka ESCOMs IT Analysis and Roadmap

This project involves detailed studies of existing business processes and information flows in four Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) in Karnataka to analyze IT needs under RAPDRP and beyond. The aim is to create a framework and a roadmap for deployment of IT over the medium to long term.

Slum Evolution in Bangalore

This project analyzes slums and their evolution with a focus on links between housing, livelihoods, and transportation.

Data challenges, not to mention different definitions of the term "slum," have slowed this project down. We currently are working on gathering literature and existing data to organize, present, and analyze.

Disaster management

An initial multi-agent model demonstrating movement of people and emergency vehicles has been completed, but will be further honed as
more data is collected.

Energy Related Infrastructure

Focused on ecological sustainability and renewables - Currently underway include models on the Indian exceed and trade system, demand side management of electricity in a microgrid, and development of an energy game to think about maximizing use of renewable energy resources in the Indian context.

Institutional aspects of infrastructure

Focus on case studies of Chennai, Bangalore, and possibly Mumbai (and/or Delhi) – Before we incorporate the transportation sector into models, we need to develop further expertise in the institutional side -- how these systems are designed, financed, built, implemented, maintained, and regulated.

Serving the poor to serve the rich in health care

Economic analysis of health care provision with a focus on serving the poor to serve the rich - The benefits to the rich come from accumulating knowledge and expertise from serving large numbers of poor people, allowing processes to become more efficient and thus lower-cost.

Simulation and Game development: energy, agricultural supply chain, industrial clusters

Agricultural Supply Chain: A simulation-based game built on a model of agricultural supply chains is underway in collaboration with TUD. Once a basic game is developed, it is hoped that we can make further revisions to use to guide policymakers in appropriate policy for resolving this critical problem for rural India.

Industrial Clusters: A simulation built on a model of industrial clusters, developed by TUD, will be applied to the case of Chennai to help determine what is needed to make it more ecologically sustainable. Data collection has begun.

Regional/rural airlink

Research on the economic and technical context of using regional aircraft to bring transportation benefits to rural areas.

New materials for batteries

"Harnessing Materials for Energy: Special Issue of the Materials Research Society Bulletin". This comprehensive report on challenges and progress made in materials research as they apply to energy. CSTEP Chairman V.S. Arunachalam, the editor of this issue, has received a Board Special Recognition Award from the Material Research Society "for meritorious service in and important contribution to the development and publication" of this issue.

Watercasting: Piloting the use of participatory media for identifying public health and water management concerns

The goal of the Watercasting project is to encourage bilateral engagement among public health researchers and policy makers using cultural artifacts as participatory media to drive critical thinking about personal, community and policy decisions affecting water and public health management.