Rajan Chandra Sinha

@bitmesra.ac.in

Associate Professor Department of Architecture and Planning
Birla Institute of Technology Mesra

Rajan Chandra Sinha


                  Download Compact PDF  
https://researchid.co/rajanchandra

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Multidisciplinary, Decision Sciences, Water Science and Technology, Nature and Landscape Conservation
11

Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • An Integrated Model for Water Resource Allocation, Distribution and Management: A Genetic Algorithm-Based Optimisation Model
    Shama Parween, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    Water Resources Management, 2025
  • Suitability assessment for pluvial flood mitigation in dense urban areas, using nature-based solutions: a case of Delhi
    Manish M. NAIR, Shama PARWEEN, Rajan Chandra SINHA
    Journal of Urban and Regional Analysis, 2025
    Over the past few years, pluvial floods have become a major concern for Indian cities. Factors that exacerbate the conditions include climate change, urbanisation, outdated stormwater infrastructure, decreasing capacity of natural wetlands, and natural stormwater sinks. India's metropolitan cities are at risk due to the current rate of urbanisation. The paper aims to develop a methodology that can be used to identify the areas at risk due to pluvial floods at a watershed scale and its mitigation through nature-based solutions (NBS) using geospatial analysis by considering the case of Delhi. Based on local flood data, the settlements at risk of pluvial floods were mapped using GIS, and the "Pluvial flood susceptibility map" has been developed to assess the risk of flooding, followed by selection of the most vulnerable local action area with the help of parameters like susceptibility (based on past pluvial flooding incidences) and urbanisation. Further, in the research, the "NBS suitability map" for the milli watershed (area of about 1000 to 10,000 ha) has been generated using the geospatial overlay technique of GIS. It can help identify potential areas within the study region at a sub-watershed level where nature-based solutions can be integrated, considering suitable and unsuitable conditions based on physical, environmental, and planning parameters.
  • An Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach for Prioritization of Objectives and Parameters for an Integrated Urban Water Management
    Shama Parween, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    Ksce Journal of Civil Engineering, 2024
  • Identification of indicators of urban affordable housing location choice for low-income households: a Delphi analysis
    Nishat Afshan, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    Housing and Society, 2024
    The rapid growth of urbanization has resulted in an unprecedented housing crisis, particularly in developing nations. Tackling housing challenges is essential for the sustainable development of cities. One of the prime challenges in this domain is the identification of suitable locations for developing affordable housing projects. This research aims to identify the indicators that affect the choice of affordable housing locations for low-income households. Through exploration of relevant literature, a comprehensive list of 48 indicators was identified and classified into five categories; neighborhood embedded characteristics, urban characteristics, economic context, and social and housing characteristics. The Delphi method was adopted to gain consensus on the parameters identified. To encompass diverse viewpoints, experts were chosen from five metropolitan cities, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Mumbai, and Chennai, representing five geographical zones across India; criteria for selection included expertise in affordable housing, low-income housing, or sustainable development. 36 indicators gained consensus through a two-round Delphi survey with 0.71 as the value of Kendall’s coefficient of Concordance. The parameters of mobility, high employment opportunities, and proximity to various facilities were found to be significant when considering location choice. The indicators determined can help identify the relative locations of affordable housing development in urban areas.
  • Leveraging Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation
    Manish M. Nair, Shama Parween, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    Urban Sustainability, 2024
  • Identification of Indicators for Developing an Integrated Study on Urban Water Supply System, Planning, and Management
    Shama Parween, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    Journal of Environmental Engineering United States, 2023
    The increasing population growth, urbanization, climate change, mismanagement of water resources, and poorly planned water distribution systems with negligible integration with spatial planning are increasing water stress in many countries across the globe. Even though optimization of water distribution systems and integrated water management practices are being implemented in many cities and regions, there is a lack of an integrated study considering the urban water supply system, planning, and management. This paper identifies the various parameters and indicators to be considered along with the relevant tools and techniques for optimizing water resources, optimum water resource allocation, and integrated water supply and management. During the research, 116 indicators were identified through a literature review, followed by a three-round Delphi survey to attain consensus from 30 experts. At the end of the third round, 72 indicators achieved maximum consensus among the experts (W=0.741). The identified indicators can be used for developing an integrated model for urban water supply systems, planning, and management.
  • An Investigation of the Parameters Affecting Affordable Housing Location Choice †
    Nishat Afshan, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    Engineering Proceedings, 2023
    The provision of affordable housing has become a major concern for policymakers and urban planners, especially in developing nations of the world. One of the key challenges in this domain is the identification of suitable locations for the development of affordable housing. Appropriate locations of affordable housing will improve the housing satisfaction of residents by increasing the social and economic benefits for low-income residents, providing better accessibility to opportunities and services, and reducing the poverty concentration. A bidirectional relationship exists among affordable adequate housing and health, and has been recognised as an essential sustainable development component. Therefore, this research aims to identify the factors that govern the spatial location choice of affordable housing. The determinants were derived via an exploratory study of relevant literature studies encompassing different geographical contexts, socio-economic backgrounds, and technological and economic advancement levels. A total of 61 parameters were identified, each of which lies in one of the following six categories: neighbourhood characteristics, urban characteristics, social factors, economic parameters, demographic factors, and housing quality. The findings indicate that the location choice of users varies with regard to the context of an urban area. Broadly speaking, most of the prior studies have considered accessibility, transport-related factors, and housing prices as important attributes in determining the optimal location for siting affordable housing. However, parameters such as socio-economic criteria, accessibility to various facilities, and employment opportunities have greater significance in developing nations. Contrasting results are observed in the case of several developed nations, wherein factors such as safety, environmental aspects, and dwelling type were emphasised over elements of accessibility. The identified parameters can be considered by the policymakers to evaluate optimal locations for siting affordable housing projects, thereby ensuring that low-income residents reside in neighbourhoods that promote social and economic sustainability.
  • Critical Appraisal of Parameters for Successful Implementation of BRTS in India
    Mustafa Kapadia, Satyaki Sarkar, Bimal Chandra Roy, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    Periodica Polytechnica Transportation Engineering, 2022
    Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is establishing itself as a new and sustainable solution to mass transit against the conventional transit systems in many cities across the globe as well as in India. Different BRTSs have adopted various case-specific solutions to make the system contextual to the place, user-friendly, strategic, technologically advanced, and ecologically sustainable. In most cases, the most favoured solution is governed by aspects related to available infrastructure, budgetary allocations, demand and behavioral patterns of passengers, and areas of focus. The paper makes a critical appraisal of various parameters contributing to the implementation of BRTS services across the world and applicability of the same in India. It also deals with how the application of a new transportation system affects the surrounding area and with the resulting various social and physical impacts. As a conclusion, this paper establishes that successful BRTS must combine proper station design, track design, maintained vehicles and running ways with backup infrastructure, educated and updated drivers and workforce, public cautiousness, and system-backed information technology. Further, it concludes that the institutional framework needs revamping in Indian scenario for successful implementation of BRTS projects.
  • Quantitative analysis of sound absorption properties of plants in indoor environment for enabling sustainable practices
    Namrata Baruah, Satyaki Sarkar, Bimal Chandra Roy, Rajan Chandra Sinha
    International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2019
    This paper showcases the results of the sound attenuation properties of some plants with a soil substrate for use as green sound absorbers in an indoor space. The plants used in this experiment were needed to survive in an indoor environment, hence only tropical, thermophilic plants which could grow in high humidity and warm temperatures with indirect sunlight were selected. An impedance tube of 100 mm dia. was used to calculate the direct incidence acoustic absorption coefficient of the plants and larger samples were tested within a reverberation chamber. The soil substrate used was a high porosity and low-density sample of perlite and coconut fibres. The results show that ferns and baby tears were good absorbers along with the soil substrate, whereas begonia was a better absorber at the lower and higher frequencies. The decibel drop by the fern with soil substrate is the highest with a decrease of frequency and the lowest is by Green Ivy which is due to morphological conditions.
  • Development of quality indicators for multi-family residential buildings in India - a Delphi analysis
    Naresh Kumar
    International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2018
    This paper attempts to map the social identities of Meos and other households in Mewat, Haryana. Similarity and difference determine their identity. This study looks at whether social groups are similar or dissimilar in terms of social and cultural capital(s) in Mewat, Haryana. Similarity implies belongingness and togetherness while being dissimilar means the praxis of explicit categorisation that one is different from other(s). The analysis shows that similarity outnumbers the differences in relation to the social capital in Meos and other sample households. It shows that there is a greater similarity between Meos and other(s) in social capital as reflected in their participation in the Panchayati Raj institutions, social cohesion, particularised trust and participatory appraisal. On this basis, it can be argued that in general, there are more differences in cultural than social capital(s). Therefore, it can be concluded that cultural capital is more important in the formation of social identities as compared to social capital and in turn affecting local development outcomes.
  • An Overview of Key Indicators and Evaluation Tools for Assessing Housing Quality: A Literature Review
    Rajan Chandra Sinha, Satyaki Sarkar, Nikhil Ranjan Mandal
    Journal of the Institution of Engineers India Series A, 2017