Home Institution
Macalester College
Publication Date
Spring 2022
Abstract
As weather patterns change across the world, there are communities impacted by climate change that are left unnoticed. In the Himalayan mountain range, communities have suffered, experiencing an increase in flash flooding and droughts. For Lubrak Village in Lower Mustang, the community faces the threats of flash flooding. Over the last ten years, the amount of flash flooding has increased, occurring more than once each monsoon season. After every flood, concrete-like sediment is left behind, hardening across the riverbed and increasing its elevation. As the riverbed elevation increases, this sediment encroaches on Lu-brak Village’s agricultural fields and ancient mud buildings, making them more vulnerable to flood damages. In the last monsoon season alone, the village has seen the flood swallowing several fields, as well as damaging two homes. In order to keep the community safe, the community themselves have been in discussion of relocating the village entirely to a new and safer location. However, relocating the village is a challenging task, where complex nuances exist in both aspects of civil engineering and communal opinions. To investigate this issue further, we look to conversing with the community to understand their needs and perspective. From them, we will be able to develop a plan that amplifies the voices of Lubrak Village. Additionally, we use the power of remote sensing and 3D digital modeling to visualize the village and the new proposed location sites. These models will then be used by the architecture planning and development team to better understand the terrain and layout of the village. From these models, the team will be able to make more informed decisions on how to plan and develop the new village. Finally, we briefly explore other pertinent issues in redirecting the flow of the flood, predicting the new riverbed elevation after the next monsoon season, and further visualizing flood damages through detailed modeling.
Disciplines
Asian Studies | Climate | Environmental Design | Environmental Engineering | Fresh Water Studies | Hydrology | Rural Sociology
Recommended Citation
Wallace, Ronan, "Using Remote Sensing Technologies in Relocating Lubrak Village and Visualizing Flood Damages" (2022). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3565.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3565
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Climate Commons, Environmental Design Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Fresh Water Studies Commons, Hydrology Commons, Rural Sociology Commons
Program Name
Nepal: Tibetan and Himalayan Peoples