GIS-Based Flood Resilient Shelter Design: Innovations and Implications for Urban Flood Management in Ernakulam District, Kerala

Kerala has experienced flooding several times, with major disasters in 2018 and 2019. In?cities across the country, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kottayam, rapid urbanization, the encroachment of water bodies, and a lack of effective drainage infrastructure have exacerbated flood vulnerabilities. Significant climate change impacts require innovative flood-resilient shelter strategies built on GIS-based spatial?analysis and vernacular architecture methodologies.Aim: This study aimed to propose and design a flood relief shelter in flood-prone areas in Kerala.Objective: (O1) To understand cities in Kerala using GIS Mapping. (O2) To analyze 15 literature reviews related to flood-prone areas in Kerala. (O3) To visualize Kerala�s spatial data and Urban Design Development, we propose a flood relief shelter design.Methodology: To identify flood-prone areas via GIS-based spatial data analysis, assess extant research studies on?flood resilience, and determine potential GIS-driven flood shelter locations based on urban vulnerability mapping. This study incorporated a vernacular flood-adaptive architecture?in shelter design. Using ArcGIS Pro and 2011 census data, this study mapped flood vulnerability zones, assessed encroachment patterns, loss of green cover, and disaster resilience policies, and proposed site selection criteria for flood shelters.Research Questions: This study seeks to answer the following key questions: What are the primary causes of flooding in Kerala? Which vernacular architectural solutions exist for flood resilience? How can GIS mapping optimize the selection of flood shelter sites?Methods and results: Creating Aluva, Kochi, and Kothamangalam flood inundation GIS Mapping using ArcGIS Pro, visualize maps showing the sustainable indicators: Environmental impact and changes (encroachment of water bodies, loss of green cover and policies for conservation) and Natural calamities and resilience (Flood frequencies, economic loss and recovery, and community resilience and government interventions) and propose a flood relief shelter for flood-prone areas.Conclusion/Limitations: Literature reviews revealed gaps in current flood mitigation policies, emphasizing the need for resilient, amphibious, and elevated housing models. These findings highlight that GIS-based flood mapping can optimize flood shelter site selection by identifying high-risk urban zones. Kerala can enhance its flood resilience strategies by integrating vernacular architectural principles into its amphibious and elevated shelter designs. This study provides a foundation for future GIS-driven flood mitigation planning with potential applications in other high-risk Indian cities.