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Coastal Vegetation to mitigate Tsunami and Coastal Flood Impacts

pro — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 04:14:34 +0000

Coastal Vegetation to mitigate Tsunami and Coastal Flood Impacts pro Mon, 24/02/2025 - 09:44

Coastal Vegetation to mitigate Tsunami and Coastal Flood Impacts

A sustainable and resilient method to reduce wave forces and debris impact during extreme tsunami and coastal flood events

Image from Pxhere

It’s been two decades since the devastating tsunami struck the Indian Ocean, which left an indelible mark on the minds and lives of thousands of people. The destruction and devastation could have been more if not for the myriad natural barriers along India’s coastline - its mangroves. This natural catastrophic event highlighted the need for an effective measure to reduce the tsunami wave force and trapping debris. Several ‘storm surge’ events – cyclone-induced flooding events as the sea rises – occur every year. Coastal mangroves act as bio-shields against such disasters. The traditional method of constructing sea walls is possible, but they are expensive and may disrupt natural processes.

Researchers from the Rummy Game (Online Rummy) focused on evaluating how emergent coastal vegetation acts as a natural barrier against tsunami impacts. In their recent study, the researchers used both experimental and numerical methods to investigate the effectiveness of mangroves in reducing tsunami-induced debris impacts on buildings and bridges. They created a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model, a computational method used to simulate the flow/behavior of fluids, to observe complex interactions between water, vegetation, and debris.

“We need to understand that Nature is supreme and we must align and work with nature and not against. In this case, waves, coastal currents and coastal sediment transport are the predominant natural processes. It is advisable that any coastal defence system must not adversely interfere with the natural processes,” remarked Prof. Behera, from the Department of Civil Engineering at Online Rummy, about the need for natural barriers.

Among the varied vegetation types found in the coastal regions, researchers have chosen the emergent vegetation type for the study. Emergent vegetation is aquatic plants rooted in the soil, while their stems, leaves, and flowers emerge above the water surface. Mangroves are emergent trees with sturdy submerged roots, stiff stems, and trunks to reduce wave forces. “Mangroves are the best examples of natural bio-shields against extreme ocean disasters. The mangroves present at Bhitarkanika, Odisha have safeguarded the coastal regions against cyclones that attack almost every year,” says Prof. Behera. On the contrary, the study found that floating and submerged vegetation types are either swept away by tsunami waves or not strong enough to dissipate the wave energy.

The experimental set-up involved a replica of a coastal region using a large water tank (dam-break flume) containing a scaled-down column and an aluminium debris model. The column structure mimicked a coastal building, and the debris model was a replica of a shipping container. A vertical sliding gate was opened to release high-speed water mimicking tsunami-like conditions in the tank. Upon releasing the water, the sensor in the column measured the impact force of the debris hitting the structure. Similarly, the accelerometer in the debris model recorded its speed and movement before impact. The study found that heavier debris causes more impact forces on the column structure.

Simulated coastal defence system.
Credits: Dr Aditya Gupta’s PhD thesis at IITB-Monash Academy, Online Rummy (supervised by Prof Behera).

The numerical method involved computer simulations to measure the performance of the vegetation. The SPH modelling was used to simulate the debris impact on the column structure and the effectiveness of the vegetation in decreasing the wave forces. This simulation studied the wave interaction on the models of two types of emergent vegetation—rigid staggered vegetation (RSV) and tilting staggered vegetation (TSV). RSV stays upright, which represents the rigid mangroves or stiff emergent vegetation in real scenarios, while TSV symbolizes a natural bend in vegetation due to forceful waves.

The SPH simulation tested the performance of vegetation in reducing the wave force, slowing down the debris movement, and lowering the wave height, using three indices—Reduced Fluid Force Index (RFI), Reduced Momentum Index (RMI), and Transmission Coefficient (CT), respectively. RFI and RMI are higher for rigid staggered vegetation than tilting staggered vegetation. The rigid vegetation efficiently resisted enormous volumes of water and reduced the wave energy. Compared to the 89% reduction of debris impact with tilted vegetation, the rigid vegetation reduced the debris impact on the column structure by 96%.

“The rigid emergent vegetation can be planted along the coastal zones to reduce erosion, provide protection against storm surges and coastal floodings. Vegetations also known as bio-shields are the eco-friendly protection that will act as carbon sinks and help to achieve net zero target of India,” adds Prof. Behera.

The study shows that the emergent type of vegetation is an effective defence system that significantly reduces the damage caused by tsunami waves to coastal infrastructure. Further study is required to replicate it in natural conditions with varied vegetation types, patterns of wave movement, and different types of debris materials. Researchers believe that future studies can focus on advanced simulations for more accurate findings.

The findings of this research provide clues to coastal planners on how to select and use vegetation types in designing a better disaster mitigation strategy. This encourages policymakers and engineers to adopt a resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable defence system, fostering the coastal ecosystem using a nature-based solution.

Article written by:	Divyapriya Chandrasekaran
Image/ Graphic Credit:	Lead image: Pxhere Inline: Source: Research paper. Credits: PhD thesis of Dr. Aditya Gupta, Online Rummy - Monash Academy under the supervision of Prof Behera, Dept. of Civil Engg. Online Rummy
Link to Gubbi Labs:	---

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Mon, 24/02/2025 - 12:00

Natural Disasters and Climate Change Have a Long-Term Impact on State Finances

pro — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:11:14 +0000

Natural Disasters and Climate Change Have a Long-Term Impact on State Finances pro Thu, 30/01/2025 - 09:41

Natural Disasters and Climate Change Have a Long-Term Impact on State Finances

Researchers use a Disaster Intensity Index (DII) to assess disaster impacts on state budgets, offering a roadmap for better disaster preparedness and economic protection.

Representative image: Courtesy PixaHive

India’s location and tropical monsoon climate make the region highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones, especially in coastal and river areas. Each year, the country experiences five to six tropical cyclones, with two or three being severe. These disasters cause not only immediate loss of life and property but also put a significant financial strain on the government.

The state government bears much of the disaster response cost after natural disasters such as floods and cyclones, impacting its budget. A recent study by Ms. Nandini Suresh, Prof Trupti Mishra, and Prof D. Parthasarathy of the Rummy Game (Online Rummy) analysed the financial impact of floods and cyclones on 25 states over 24 years (1995–2018). The research is published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Traditionally, disaster response funding relies on estimating the cost of damages based on evaluating economic losses, the number of deaths, and the number of people affected. These evaluations are often inconsistent and biased. Instead, “We relied on data from weather and geographic sources (IBTrACS and the India Meteorological Department) to accurately measure cyclone strength (using wind speeds) and flood severity (based on unusual rainfall),” says Ms
Nandini Suresh. By combining this information, the researchers created a Disaster Intensity Index (DII), ensuring all types of disasters are treated fairly. The method avoids inconsistencies and biases and gives a clearer picture of disaster impacts, especially for floods and cyclones, which caused 80% of disaster-related losses in India during the study period.

The study uses a statistical model called panel Vector Auto Regression (VAR) to examine how revenue and expenditure affect each other from one year to the next few years. The model allows accounting for differences between states and ensures that past economic conditions don’t unfairly influence disaster severity measurements, giving a reliable way to study the financial impacts of disasters.

The findings from the study show that disasters put a heavy financial burden on affected states. First, disasters increase the state’s expenditure. The government must allocate substantial funds for immediate relief efforts such as evacuation, medical aid, food, and shelter. After the disaster, it must invest in rebuilding essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and homes. Secondly, these disasters reduce the government's revenues. As agriculture, trade, and business operations are often disrupted, tax collection and income from these services are reduced. The study highlights a cycle in which increased expenditures and falling revenues lead to more significant budget deficits.

However, based on the created DII, the study shows that disasters impact states differently. Less disaster-prone states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which experience droughts and occasional floods, can handle relief with their own resources and suffer less financial damage. The disaster intensity is not high enough to affect people’s income or production; hence, there is no decrease in tax or non-tax revenues. On the other hand, disaster-prone coastal states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, which frequently experience cyclones and floods, have higher recovery expenses and higher revenue losses. As a result, they often need to rely on external funding like loans, increasing state debt and making it difficult to fund other development projects.

The assistance offered by the National and State Disaster Response Funds (NDRF and SDRF) could be optimised for improved efficiency and faster disbursal. Certain regulations, such as the 25% cap on SDRF allocations for relief operations and some procedural requirements, may create hurdles in utilising these funds in a timely manner. By simplifying these processes, there may be an opportunity to enhance the overall impact of disaster relief initiatives.

The study emphasises the need for proactive disaster risk financing mechanisms such as resilience bonds, disaster insurance, and catastrophe bonds. Resilience bonds encourage investments in disaster prevention projects and offer incentives for reducing the effects of disasters. Disaster insurance supports individuals, companies, or governments in recovering from losses brought on by natural disasters. Catastrophe bonds allow governments or organisations to shift disaster risk to investors who receive interest unless a disaster occurs. “These provide quick funds during emergencies and reduce the need to take external loans after disasters,” says Ms Nandini.

However, implementing such measures in India is challenging due to a lack of awareness and understanding among stakeholders, including governments and the public, about the benefits of such instruments. The other key challenges include the high cost of disaster insurance premiums and a lack of a clear financial and legal framework for issuing resilience bonds or incorporating them into state budgets.

Public-private partnerships are also essential for building a climate-resilient economy. Governments can offer tax incentives for businesses to invest in climate resilience infrastructure and enforce sustainability regulations.

Diverting funds from other projects is a usual way for governments to handle disasters while staying within budget. However, it’s difficult to move money from fixed expenses like debt payments, salaries, or pensions as these take up most of the budget and are already set by law. Governments need flexible budgets, backup plans, and quick ways to adjust spending based on what is required so that they can quickly reallocate funds during emergencies.

The study also suggests states invest in early warning systems, cyclone shelters, and resilient infrastructure and promote sustainable land use that can minimise the economic impact of climate change and lower the long-term costs of dealing with disasters. Many states have already made progress: Tamil Nadu has installed advanced cyclone monitoring systems, Kerala has adopted climate-adaptive urban planning, and Odisha and many others have introduced budget tracking for climate-related spending.

With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters, Indian states will face greater financial challenges. “By adopting these measures, India can mitigate long-term financial risks while protecting lives and infrastructure and build a stronger, more sustainable future,” concludes Ms Nandini.

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Amartya Mukhopadhyay: Pioneering Sodium-Ion Battery Technology for a Sustainable Future

pro — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:10:19 +0000

Amartya Mukhopadhyay: Pioneering Sodium-Ion Battery Technology for a Sustainable Future pro Thu, 23/01/2025 - 10:40

Amartya Mukhopadhyay: Pioneering Sodium-Ion Battery Technology for a Sustainable Future
Prof. Amartya Mukhopadhyay won the Tata Transformation Prize 2024 in December for his work.

In December 2024, Amartya Mukhopadhyay, Professor at the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (Online Rummy), was honoured with the Tata Transformation Prize in Sustainability for his groundbreaking work in developing sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery technology. By focusing on Na-ion batteries, which are more affordable, safer, possess better fast charging capability, possess wider temperature window of operation and are more sustainable compared to ‘traditional’ lithium-ion (Li-ion) counterparts, Mukhopadhyay is forging a path towards a cleaner, more self-reliant energy future for the country.

Launched in 2023, the Tata Transformation Prize aims to identify and support visionary scientists in India who are developing breakthrough technologies that address India’s most significant societal challenges in Food Security, Sustainability, and Healthcare.

Journey into Material Science - from Durgapur to Oxford

Mukhopadhyay’s passion for science dates back to his childhood. Growing up, the support and encouragement of his parents profoundly influenced him. The interactive way his teachers taught and demonstrated science at his school also inspired him. Throughout his school years, Mukhopadhyay gravitated towards science, eventually leading him to the interdisciplinary field of materials science and engineering. After a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Regional Engineering College Durgapur (now NIT Durgapur) in 2003 and an M Tech in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur in 2006, he left for the University of Oxford, UK, for a Doctor of Philosophy (D Phil) in Materials.

“I was fortunate and privileged to join a top institution like Oxford. The environment there was very academic and research-oriented. Even those who were not experts in your field would still ask thought-provoking questions and engage in academic/research conversations. I learnt a lot by being there,” remarks Mukhopadhyay about his enriching time at Oxford.

As he learnt more about the structure, mechanics, and electrochemistry of materials and their properties, his interest in engineering burgeoned, setting the stage for his future career in materials science and engineering. On completing his studies and despite the opportunities in the international arena, he remained committed to returning to India to contribute to the nation’s growth and development. “I wanted to contribute to the country, so the plan was always to come back,” says Mukhopadhyay.

Journey back to India - from Oxford to Online Rummy

In particular, Online Rummy was close to Mukhopadhyay’s heart. The institution's reputation for excellence in science and engineering education/research and Mukhopadhyay's affinity for Mumbai made it a natural choice. Growing up, Mukhopadhyay deeply admired Mumbai, mainly because it was home to icons such as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and singer Lata Mangeshkar, who had inspired him greatly as a young boy.

Talking about starting at Online Rummy, he says, “I remember, as a young researcher, I was nervous to ask for Institute funding for specific equipment, but just with a meeting of around 5-10 mins, they approved my funding, which is very encouraging as a young faculty. The students and faculty here are highly motivated and informal, which makes the environment very encouraging.”

At Online Rummy, Mukhopadhyay soon took on a formidable challenge within the battery domain: the development of sodium-ion batteries. With India’s limited reserves of crucial lithium-ion battery materials like lithium and cobalt, there is an urgent need to identify viable alternatives. Enter sodium-ion technology (Na-ion), which promises a more sustainable, affordable option with many benefits over ‘traditional’ Li-ion systems.

“I remember a friend once told me that, with the electric vehicle boom, we will have to shift our imports from Petrochemicals from the Middle East to lithium from elsewhere in the world. These words remained with me. They reminded me that we need technology that can be produced within the country, including the raw materials, and be self-reliant” says Mukhopadhyay about his motivation to take up Na-ion battery development.

Sodium sources, unlike lithium, are abundantly available in India, ensuring a stable supply chain for producing these batteries and reducing the country's dependence on imports. Na-ion batteries are also cost-effective, promising to be at least 20-25% cheaper. Additionally, they can operate over a wider temperature range and present fewer storage hazards, enhancing their safety profile. These factors make sodium batteries ideal for a tropical nation like India.

Indigenous and Sustainable Batteries for India

Mukhopadhyay soon established the Advanced Batteries & Ceramics Laboratory at Online Rummy, focusing on alkali metal-ion battery systems. He began working on the hurdles to the adoption of Na-ion batteries. “Back then, many people told me this was impossible, and sodium-ion could never replace lithium-ion batteries. But I have to thank DST, SERB and a few industries for their research grants, which helped me pursue this research,” says Mukhopadhyay.

Today, the lab’s research addresses several hurdles that have historically limited the adoption of sodium-ion batteries, namely their energy density and stability when exposed to environmental factors. His innovative work in developing air- and water-stable sodium-transition metal oxide cathodes has paved the way for more durable and practical battery solutions. To tackle the challenges of environmental exposure, Mukhopadhyay's team designed cathodes that resist damage caused by ambient air, moisture and even water, which are prevalent obstacles in the processing of traditional battery materials.

Talking about the challenges in adopting Na-ion batteries, Mukhopadhyay says, “Sodium-ion batteries still face challenges such as improving energy density and stability of the batteries. High-capacity cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries are also difficult to handle since they are highly hygroscopic (absorb and retain moisture). We are working on solving these problems.”

Additionally, the introduction of "aqueous processing" of cathodes is a significant innovation in battery electrode technology. By replacing toxic organic solvents with water during the fabrication of battery electrodes, the process significantly reduces costs and environmental impact. Adopting this water-based method should lead to approximately 15% savings in fabrication costs while also cutting down on energy consumption and hazardous emissions. For instance, a 1 GWh sodium-ion battery manufacturing facility utilising “aqueous processing” could potentially save around 2 million kWh of energy and prevent the release of 1,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.

He went on to win several accolades for his work, including being selected as a Young Scientist awardee by the Indian Ceramic Society, Young Associate of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Founder Member - cum - Vice-President of the newly formed Battery Research Society (of India), the Swarnajayanti Fellowship, and now the Tata Transformation Prize.

Looking ahead, Mukhopadhyay intends to focus on scaling up this technology for broader applications and acknowledges that “the award represents a vital boost to these efforts, supporting research and infrastructure development to commercialise Na-ion batteries.”

Amartya Mukhopadhyay’s journey went from being a science-inspired schoolboy to becoming a leading researcher at Online Rummy, working on cutting-edge technologies and solving the nation's problems. By pioneering sodium-ion battery technology, he addresses India’s material scarcity and energy challenges and contributes to a global movement towards cleaner, sustainable energy solutions.

As a message to younger researchers, Mukhopadhyay signs off by saying, “Today, there’s not much difference between science and engineering; it is all inter-disciplinary, which one must embrace. To make a real impact, it is important to attempt challenging questions, even what seems improbable, to start with; and not just do science as a job, and always target the benefit of the nation and society.”

Article written by	Dennis C. Joy
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Thu, 23/01/2025 - 12:00

Bacterial cocktail for farm soil to clean up pollutants and pesticides and enhance crop yield

pro — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 04:02:13 +0000

Bacterial cocktail for farm soil to clean up pollutants and pesticides and enhance crop yield pro Thu, 02/01/2025 - 09:32

Bacterial cocktail for farm soil to clean up pollutants and pesticides and enhance crop yield

Online Rummy researchers have identified bacteria that can consume toxic pollutants in the soil and produce helpful nutrients as a byproduct.

Representative Image. Courtesy: Flickr

Researchers from the Rummy Game (Online Rummy) have been studying bacteria that feed on toxic chemicals and pollutants as a solution for the ever-increasing pollution of our natural resources. In a recent study published in the journal Environmental Technology & Innovation, they have used the power of specific bacterial species to remove organic pollutants from soil. Moreover, these bacteria were also found to help boost the growth hormones of the plants, inhibit the growth of harmful fungi, and help in making essential nutrients readily available to plants. These could reduce our dependence on chemicals currently used as insecticides and pesticides and help improve soil health and fertility.

Soil contamination from aromatic compounds (organic compounds with a benzene-like ringed structure) in the form of pesticides (insecticide and herbicide) is one of the major issues the agriculture industry faces today. These compounds are toxic, can inhibit seed germination, reduce plant growth and yield, and also accumulate in seeds and plant biomass. Many aromatic pollutants such as carbaryl, naphthalene, benzoate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and phthalates are extensively used in pesticide formulation and also released as by-products from various other industries, like cosmetics, textile, construction, food and feed preservatives, dyes, petroleum, and plastics. Traditional approaches to remove these pollutants, like chemical treatments or soil removal, often turn out to be band-aid solutions – expensive and unable to tackle the problem completely.

To address this issue, the Online Rummy team identified bacteria from toxic environments. While doing so, they noticed that certain bacterial species, specifically from the genera Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, were especially good at breaking down aromatic compounds. “These bacteria were isolated from contaminated soil and agricultural fields. They feed on pollutants, breaking them down into simpler, harmless, non-toxic compounds. In this way, they act as natural cleaners of polluted environments,” explains Prof. Prashant Phale, from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at Online Rummy, under whose guidance Mr. Sandesh Papade carried out the research for his PhD.

Like feeding two birds with one scone, while breaking down aromatic pollutants, these bacteria were also found to convert insoluble forms of essential nutrients, such as phosphorus and potassium, into soluble forms and make them readily available to the plants. They also produce substances called siderophores, which help plants absorb iron in nutrient-limited environments. Moreover, these bacteria also contribute to plant growth and health by producing a high amount of growth hormone called indoleacetic acid (IAA). “So, while these bacteria are cleaning the soil, they are also helping plants grow healthier and more robust by fertilizing the soil and improving soil health,” Prof. Phale added.

Interestingly, when a mixture of bacteria from the Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter genera is used, they significantly boost the growth and yield of crops (wheat, mung bean, spinach, fenugreek, etc.) up to 45-50%. “As they say, 'unity is the best policy.' Some strains might be really good at breaking down pollutants, while others might be better at promoting plant growth or defending against diseases. By combining them, we assembled a team of bacteria that can work together cooperatively, doing a variety of jobs simultaneously and more efficiently,” remarks Prof. Phale.

Image demonstrating the effects of bacterial mixture from the study.
(Credits: Sandesh Papade and Prof Prashant Phale)

Fungal diseases are another problem affecting several crops worldwide. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, hundreds of fungal diseases impact 168 crops essential to human nutrition. Despite the use of fungicides and disease-resistant cultivars, fungal infections still cause global crop losses of 10–23% annually, with key calorie crops consumed in India, like rice and wheat, particularly affected.

The Online Rummy study has a potential solution to this grave problem, too.

These helpful bacteria produce substances like lytic enzymes and HCN (hydrogen cyanide) that can kill or inhibit the growth of plant pathogenic fungi. “These bacteria act like a natural defence system for plants. Unlike chemical pesticides, which can harm the environment and beneficial organisms, these bacteria are eco-friendly and target only the harmful fungi,” Prof. Phale points out.

Although the findings from the research have a lot of potential in a real-world situation, Prof. Phale believes that “it will take some time for widespread adoption, as the technology will need to be scaled up, tested in different environments, and made available as commercial products.”

In the future, researchers also want to test how these helpful bacteria benefit plants during droughts and other environmental stress conditions. They also intend to create easy-to-use products, called "bio-formulations," that combine the bacteria with natural materials, making them long-lasting and simple for farmers to apply in agriculture fields.

Article written by:	Manjeera Gowravaram
Image/ Graphics Credit:	Lead image: Flickr Inline image: Prof Prashant Phale
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Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp. capable of metabolizing aromatics displays m…

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Thu, 02/01/2025 - 12:00

Needle-Free Shock Syringes for painless medical treatments

pro — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 11:48:02 +0000

Needle-Free Shock Syringes for painless medical treatments pro Thu, 26/12/2024 - 17:18

Researchers at Online Rummy develop a shockwave-based needle-free syringe that ensures painless and safe drug delivery with lesser damage to skin and lower risk of infection

Image generated using Image Creator by MicrosoftDesigner

Medical practitioners have been using needles to inject medicines into human bodies for decades. But no one likes getting pricked, be it children or adults. In some cases, the fear is so strong, especially in children, that many miss out on vaccinations and other medical treatments. For patients who have diabetes, the stress is even greater as they may require frequent insulin injections.

As a relief to patients, a team of researchers led by Prof. Viren Menezes from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Rummy Game (Online Rummy) has now worked a way around to deliver drugs without needles by developing a shock syringe. In their study published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials & Devices, the Online Rummy researchers compared the effectiveness of drug delivery by a shock syringe versus a regular needle on laboratory rats.

Unlike syringes with needles, the shock syringe doesn’t rely on piercing the skin with a sharp tip. Instead, it uses high-energy pressure waves (shock waves) that can travel faster than the speed of sound to pierce the skin. These waves, when generated, compress the surrounding medium (such as air or liquid) through which they travel. A similar effect happens during a sonic boom; when an aircraft flies faster than the speed of sound, it creates shock waves that push and disturb the air.

The shock syringe, developed earlier in 2021 in Prof. Menezes’ lab, is slightly longer than a regular ballpoint pen. The device has a micro shock tube consisting of three sections: the driver, driven, and drug holder, which work together to create the shockwave-driven microjet for drug delivery. Pressurised nitrogen gas is applied to the shock syringe (driver section of micro shock tube part) filled with liquid drugs to create a microjet of the drug. The microjet travels at a speed nearly twice as fast as a commercial aeroplane at takeoff. This jet stream of liquid drug passes through the nozzle of the syringe before penetrating the skin. The entire process of delivering drugs using a shock syringe is rapid and gentle; most patients wouldn’t feel a thing.

Schematic design of the shock syringe. Photo credit: Hankare et al., 2024

“The shock syringe is designed to deliver the medication rapidly. However, if a regular syringe is inserted too quickly or with excessive force, it can cause unnecessary trauma to the skin or underlying tissues,” remarks Ms. Priyanka Hankare, research scholar and lead author of both studies.

To minimise tissue damage and ensure consistent and precise drug delivery, the pressure in the shock syringe is continuously monitored and “rigorous testing on tissue simulants (such as synthetic skin) helps to calibrate the force and speed of jet insertion, ensuring safety and comfort,” Ms. Hankare points out.

Additionally, the researchers have optimised the nozzle design to have an opening of just 125 μm (roughly the width of a human hair). “This ensures it is fine enough to reduce pain during insertion but strong enough to handle the mechanical forces needed for quick deployment of microjet,” adds Ms. Hankare.

To test how efficiently the shock syringe delivers the medication, the researchers conducted three different tests in which they injected three different types of drugs into the rats. Researchers measured the drug levels in the blood and tissues to monitor drug distribution and absorption in the body using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.

When an anaesthetic (Ketamine-Xylazine) was injected through the skin of the rats for the tests, the shock syringe achieved the same effect as needles. In both cases, the anaesthetic effect started three to five minutes after injection and lasted up to 20-30 minutes. This proves the suitability of the shock syringe for drugs that require slow and sustained release. For viscous drug formulations, such as an antifungal (Terbinafine), the shock syringe outperformed regular needles. The rat skin samples showed that the shock syringe deposited more terbinafine deeper into the skin layers than needle delivery. When insulin was administered to diabetic rats, the researchers observed that the blood sugar levels were lowered effectively and maintained at the lower level for a longer time when using a shock syringe compared to needles.

What’s more, when researchers performed tissue analysis on the rats, it revealed that the shock syringe caused less damage to the rat’s skin than syringes. As shock syringes cause less inflammation, they allow the wound at the injection spot to heal much faster.

The development of a shock syringe promises more than pain-free injections. It could make immunization drives quicker and more efficient for both children and adults. It could prevent the occurrence of bloodborne diseases caused by needle-stick injuries due to mishandling or improper disposal. Furthermore, “Shock syringes are designed to perform multiple drug delivery shots (e.g., over 1000 shots tested), offering reliability and cost-effectiveness over time at the expense of nozzle replacement,” explained Ms. Hankare.

Although the future of shock syringes looks good, “its potential to transform drug delivery in clinical environments will depend on several factors, such as further innovation for human use, regulatory approval, and affordability and accessibility of the device,” concludes Ms. Hankare.

This project has received funding and support from the HDFC ERGO—Online Rummy Innovation Lab, a partnership between HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Ltd. and Online Rummy.

Article written by:	Manjeera Gowravaram
Image/ Graphic Credit:	Lead Image generated using Image Creator by MicrosoftDesigner Inline image: Hankare et al., 2024
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A Needle‐Free Shock Syringe for Drug Delivery into Skin

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Thu, 26/12/2024 - 12:00

Online Rummy’s TARA mobile app to help achieve nationwide oral reading fluency

pro — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 11:47:08 +0000

Online Rummy’s TARA mobile app to help achieve nationwide oral reading fluency pro Thu, 28/11/2024 - 17:17

TARA App launches reading assessments in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools across India involving 7 lakh students

Teacher Facilitating the test of a student (Credits: Researchers)

Over the past decade, the focus of educational reform has been gradually shifting from increasing school attendance to improving the quality of education. Despite this, more than half of Class 5 students could not read Class 2 level text as per the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) of 2022. While the NEP 2020 report indicated that at least five crore students in India were yet to attain foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills, the Covid-19 pandemic worsened the situation as 90% of students lost at least one specific language ability, such as describing a picture or reading with understanding.

With reading considered a gateway skill to all other learning, governments across the globe are focused on action to address this aspect of the learning crisis by developing processes for structured teaching methods and training teachers to deliver content. In such a scenario, it is easy to appreciate the potentially crucial role of monitoring learning outcomes and using the data to guide instructional strategies.

Regular assessments play a key role in ensuring that FLN outcomes are measured and improved over time. They can inform course corrections for better learning trajectories of a child. Literacy and language skills are traditionally assessed with a battery of tests on a one-on-one basis employing large numbers of well-trained evaluators. As an example, an essential component of the test and a critical indicator of reading proficiency is oral reading fluency (ORF), which is implemented by listening to a child read aloud from printed text and manually scoring attributes such as accuracy, speed and smoothness.

In a unique effort to transform literacy assessment to be more scalable, objective, and reliable, researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, led by Prof. Preeti

Rao, Department of Electrical Engineering, have teamed up with language experts and teachers to create a mobile app to measure oral reading fluency automatically using speech processing and machine learning technology. From an audio recording of a child reading a level-appropriate passage aloud, the app, called TARA (Teacher’s Assistant for Reading Assessment), extracts rubrics for ORF including the widely employed WCPM (words correct per minute). Expression is another important dimension of fluent reading that is strongly linked to the reader’s understanding of the text. With TARA, phrasing (grouping of words), intonation and stress in speech are also measured to obtain a holistic score that is indicative of the precise stage of reading development. “The system is trained on expert-annotated recordings of children’s reading and currently works for English and Hindi, with its reliability verified to match that of human experts,” shared Prof. Rao.

Sample report card generated by TARA-based evaluation (Credits: Researchers)

Dr. Shailaja Menon, reading pedagogy expert and Lead, Center of Excellence in Early Language and Literacy at Tata Trusts says, “Organisations have long felt the need for a digital tool offering real-time data on learning levels.” TARA addresses this gap with an end-to-end system that facilitates audio recording and provides performance data for each child, as well as for cohorts such as class, school and region, on a dashboard.

The project received funding from the Tata Centre of Technology & Design and Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation Fellowship as well as some traction in the school education community.

TARA has been recently adopted by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan (KVS) for English and Hindi ORF assessment for Grades 3-8 involving over 7 lakh students in 1200 schools across India, making it by far the largest such exercise undertaken in the country. With the baseline test already completed in October this year, valuable data on ORF benchmarks has been generated for six school grades for both the languages.
The association with KVS is especially significant in view of the NIPUN Bharat National Mission where KVS schools are expected to serve as model schools for the attainment of FLN by all students by the end of Grade 3, thus acting as pioneers for competency-based education at primary level and adoption of learning outcome metrics.

The TARA team continues to collaborate with KVS to develop effective remedial instruction for students to help improve their reading capabilities. The effectiveness of the remediation will be apparent in the next assessment phase, resulting in overall benefits to learning from the regular test & practice cycles distributed across the calendar year. Online Rummy welcomes new partnerships and collaborations with the larger goal of facilitating evidence-based solutions for school education.

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Thu, 28/11/2024 - 12:00

Green roofs can effectively reduce floods in dense urban areas, finds study

pro — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 06:32:06 +0000

Green roofs can effectively reduce floods in dense urban areas, finds study pro Mon, 28/10/2024 - 12:02

Planting small trees on roofs of buildings in dense urban areas can reduce flood volume and runoff

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

In the past decade, floods in big and densely populated cities have become more frequent. They are increasingly causing damage to property and infrastructure, and loss of life. As buildings, pavements and roads made of concrete or tar increase, water-absorbent areas on the ground reduce. After heavy rainfall, water flows rapidly in large volumes and quickly accumulates in low-lying areas. Risks of epidemic breakout and infections after the floods recede are higher due to the dense population over a large area. Any damage to centres of commercial and national importance situated in cities can also potentially affect a larger population.

Floods in cities are very different from rural floods in their nature, causes and effects. They need different analysis and mitigation methods. Cleaning stormwater drains, adding stormwater silos that can act as local storage and avoid runoff, interlinking lakes and installing water pumps to remove accumulated water are some measures that the administration is implementing centrally. However, these methods involve large infrastructure changes and are expensive. Implementing

small-scale distributed measures such as rainwater harvesting, rain gardens and green roofs that help control runoffs closer to their source is more sustainable.

Small-scale and sustainable measures cost less than large infrastructure changes. However, it is important to study their effectiveness and quantify their benefits. In one such effort, Tushar Bose, faculty, CEPT University, Ahmedabad and Prof Pradip Kalbar and Prof Arpita Mondal at the Rummy Game (Online Rummy) evaluated the performance of ‘green roofs’ in reducing floods in dense urban areas. The study was published in the Journal of Environmental Management. The project received funding from the Science and Education Research Board, Govt. of India.

Green roofs are created by planting trees on rooftops of buildings in a shallow layer of soil over a waterproof membrane and a drainage system. Green roofs can keep the building cooler in summer and absorb rainwater. Excess water can help slowly recharge the rainwater harvesting system, avoiding fast runoff. Installing green roofs needs additional expenditure and increases the weight load on the building. It also needs regular maintenance. So, the advantages of implementing green roofs must be carefully evaluated against their cost.

Previous studies assessing the effectiveness of combined strategies such as rain gardens, infiltration trenches and green roofs are available for Western countries. There are very few studies that assess the performance of only green roofs, especially in the Indian context. In India, not all buildings are suitable for green roof installation. For example, slums and some low-cost housing have roofs of metal or concrete sheets and thus are not suitable for green roof installation. “A significant contribution of the study is that it provides a realistic performance assessment in a highly dense urban area and quantifies the overestimation of runoff reduction. These overestimates arise from scenarios that consider all rooftops without evaluating the green roofing potential,” say the authors.

The researchers chose the Odhav area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat to study the effectiveness and performance of green roofs. They divided the total area of 100 hectares into nineteen sub-catchments to create the model. They identified buildings suitable for green roof installation. Buildings with roofs of metal or concrete sheets and industrial buildings are not considered suitable. They considered land use, local rainfall patterns, the terrain and natural pathways of the water drainage of each area to calculate the runoff and flood volume in the sub-catchments. They created a computer model that mimicked how water flowed in the area. Using this model, they calculated the runoff and flood volume assuming different scenarios of heavy rainfall events and various percentage values of green roof implementation.

The data that the researchers used included the model of the terrain of the area, soil type, stormwater network layout, and whether the land is unused or used for buildings, gardens or other purposes, obtained from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and in-person surveys; and rainfall data from IMD.

The Online Rummy team considered scenarios where green roofs were installed in 25%, 50% and 75% of the suitable buildings. They calculated the flood volume reduction for a total of 36 scenarios, where they considered three green roof application rates (25%, 50% and 75%), four extreme rainfall event frequencies (extreme rainfall events once in 2, 5, 10 and 25 years), and three scenarios of extreme rainfall event duration (2, 3 and 4 hours). They also explored the minimum application rate needed for each of the 12 scenarios created by varying the extreme event frequency and duration. The researchers also calculated the uncertainties in the model predictions.

The study finds that using green roofs can reduce the flood volume by about 10-60% depending on the percentage of green roof application for higher than usual rainfall of one in two year frequency. However, the reduction is not linearly proportional to the application rate because flood volume also depends on the drainage network capacity, especially at high volumes of rainfall. The researchers observed that when less than 25% of buildings have green roofs, the flood volume and runoff reductions can be as low as 5%. When the green roofing is more, there is a collective effect over the whole area and flood volume is reduced. The study also quantifies the uncertainty in the prediction of flood volume reduction and finds that the rainfall intensity contributes maximum to the uncertainty of runoff reduction.

The findings of the study can help policymakers make informed decisions about city-specific green roof implementation.

Article written by:	Arati Halbe
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Choosing wall materials for cooler homes using computational methods

pro — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 05:16:56 +0000

Choosing wall materials for cooler homes using computational methods pro Mon, 28/10/2024 - 10:46

Eco-efficient wall materials, such as aerated autoclaved concrete blocks, enhance indoor comfort by significantly reducing temperatures in naturally ventilated houses.

Image: Sanjaynagar Slum Redevelopment Project, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra Credit: Community Design Agency

With rapid urbanisation and a growing population, India faces a pressing need for affordable and sustainable housing. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) by the Govt. of India aims to address the country’s housing shortage by providing millions of low-income homes to urban migrants and the poor. The Govt. of India has also set up the Global Housing Technology Challenge to provide innovative solutions to large-scale housing issues. One of the key issues of mass-housing in a country like India would be maintaining comfortable temperatures or thermal comfort indoors.

Researchers from the Rummy Game (Online Rummy) and Community Design Agency, Mumbai have developed a new method that can help choose wall materials that maintain comfortable indoor temperatures in naturally ventilated homes. They used a numerical and simulation-based technique called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to explore the relationship between wall materials, variations in airflow, and thermal comfort. The researchers chose local and eco-efficient options such as burnt clay bricks and AAC blocks that reduce environmental emissions and transportation costs. Their findings can improve living conditions and occupant well-being even for low-income housing in India. The study was published in the journal Energy and Buildings.

Thermal comfort directly impacts the health, well-being, and productivity of individuals. India’s tropical climate, with its extreme heat and humidity, makes living conditions tougher without proper airflow. The effects of global climate change, such as severe heat waves and urban heat island phenomenon, further exacerbate these conditions. “Construction materials play a major role in defining the quality and livability of the building, and it is important to make sure that mass housing projects adopt the right materials that provide comfortable living at a reasonable cost,” says Prof. Albert Thomas of Online Rummy, who led the study.

Building envelopes, which include roofs, walls, floors, windows, doors, and foundations, act as barriers between the indoors and outdoors and significantly affect heat transfer. Wall materials, which typically account for over 40% of building envelopes, are crucial in determining indoor temperatures by absorbing, storing, and emitting heat.

“This study is particularly relevant since low-income housing in India is still predominantly naturally ventilated spaces with little to no access to HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, unlike the Western world. Through this study, we have attempted to use a real-life case study and modelled the same to understand the impact of material selection on thermal comfort in indoor spaces,” remarks Dr. Vandana Padmanabhan, an author of the study and Materials and Technology Lead at Community Design Agency.

The study proposed a framework that simulated indoor temperatures by considering different wall materials and analysed the airflow patterns within naturally ventilated housing units using CFD modelling techniques. While concrete bricks might be the most economically viable, they do not provide the best thermal insulation and are environmentally hazardous. The researchers chose aerated autoclaved concrete blocks (AAC), compressed stabilised earth blocks, burnt clay bricks, and compressed fly ash blocks for the simulation. Airflow patterns included conditions such as “all windows open and doors closed” and “all doors and windows closed” and similar building operating conditions. Using CFD modelling, the study mapped the temperature distribution and airflow within the housing units in these scenarios.

The researchers found that AAC blocks outperformed other locally available materials, such as compressed stabilised earth blocks and compressed fly ash blocks, in insulating the indoors. They could maintain cooler temperatures owing to their low thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity, which reduces heat transfer. The selection of wall materials depends on factors such as local availability, construction methods, and structural needs. “AAC blocks have lower compressive strength than some of the other wall materials. Solutions to this include reinforcing AAC with additional structural supports or combining it with other materials to maintain structural integrity while benefiting from its thermal insulation properties,” explains Tripti Singh Rajput, the lead author of the study and a PhD student at Online Rummy.

To encourage universal adoption of AAC blocks, enabling mass production and wider availability can help. Prof. Thomas shares that “given the number of buildings to be built in India in the next few decades, if a policy change can be brought out for a wider adoption of materials such as AAC blocks for government-driven low-income housing and mass housing

projects, it will result in mass production and hence, lead to the reduction of the overall cost”.

The study also highlighted the differences in global and Indian building standards and guidelines. Compressed stabilised earth blocks and compressed fly ash blocks did not meet the recommended values for thermal performance as per building design guidelines for acceptable thermal conditions, such as the EcoNiwas Samhita and ASHRAE 55. However, according to India-specific standards suggested by the Indian Model for Adaptive Comfort in - Naturally Ventilated (IMAC-NV) and Residential (IMAC-R) models, the indoor temperatures of all the tested wall materials were found to be within the comfortable range under different operating scenarios.

The thermal comfort metric used in the study was based on a solution that assumes that the different parameters, like temperature and airflow, are stable. Upgrading to a solution that considers varying states of different parameters and includes more dynamic and precise personal and environmental parameters of thermal comfort could further strengthen the framework's robustness.

Talking about the future of the research, Prof. Thomas says, “More research can be done on generalising the results across different building types and climatic conditions, which will help in easy decision-making and policy formulation across different building types and scenarios.”

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Treated refinery wastewater flowing through sand, cleans itself further with pollutant-eating bacteria, finds study

pro — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:15:30 +0000

Treated refinery wastewater flowing through sand, cleans itself further with pollutant-eating bacteria, finds study pro Tue, 10/09/2024 - 14:45

Refinery wastewater flowing through sand produced biofilms of pollutant-eating bacteria which inturn removed the harmful compounds from the water

Representative image from Rawpexel

Refineries, which transform crude oil into useful products like gasoline and diesel, generate large amounts of wastewater. This water, which has been used for activities like steam generation and heat transfer, often contains harmful organic and inorganic pollutants, including nitrogen-containing compounds. The wastewater then undergoes several steps of treatment to remove most of these contaminants before it can be safely discharged into the environment. Scientists have been exploring alternative additional treatment steps that are both environmentally safe and economically viable.

A recent study by researchers at the Rummy Game (Online Rummy) on biofilters, which are water filters that use microorganisms, like bacteria, to remove pollutants, has led to an interesting observation- partially treated wastewater from refineries already carry bacteria that can remove the organic contaminants from the wastewater. The researchers only had to provide a substratum- in this case, a column of pure quartz sand - onto which the bacteria could cling to get to work.

For their study, the researchers investigated the properties of sand as a biofilter. “Sand was chosen since it is commonly used in deep bed filters used for water and wastewater treatment,” remarks Prof. Suparna Mukherji, from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Online Rummy, who led this study.

The researchers designed a biofilter made of an acrylic cylinder measuring 45 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter. They filled it with pure quartz sand to a depth of 15 cm. The filtration process begins by allowing secondary treated refinery wastewater, which has undergone the removal of toxic chemicals, to flow through the biofilter at a controlled rate of 1 to 10 mL per minute. The wastewater flowing through the sand leads to the formation of a biofilm, made of several different types of bacteria enmeshed in extracellular polymeric substances secreted by the bacteria, on the grains of sand.

Schematic of sand biofiltration, photo of Sand biofilters made of acrylic, and microscopic images of the sand with and without the biofilm. (Credits: Authors of the study)

“As the water flows through the sand bed, bacteria present in the water/wastewater get adsorbed onto the sand. Subsequently, the attached bacteria replicate and secrete extracellular polymeric substances to form a biofilm on the surface of the sand grains. Bacteria grow using dissolved oxygen, organic carbon, and other nutrients from the water flowing through the sand bed,” explains Prof. Mukherji. This biofilm in turn eats away at the organic contaminants in the water. Degradation of organic compounds containing nitrogen releases inorganic nitrogen in the form of ammonium, which is further converted to nitrate. Although some removal of nitrate may have occurred, build-up of nitrate was observed after biofiltration.

The team analysed the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), and Assimilable Organic Carbon (AOC), which are measures of the various organic compounds in the water. Analysis of COD and TOC allows researchers to estimate the concentration of organic contaminants in the water. Remarkably, they observed a significant reduction in COD, TOC, and AOC after just two recirculations of the wastewater through the biofilter.

The team also used a technique called GCxGC TOF MS, which stands for Gas chromatography Time of Flight Mass spectrometry, to detect and quantify specific organic compounds in the water. “Recirculating the wastewater up to 12 times resulted in maximum reduction in COD and TOC of 62% and 55%, (by more than half) respectively. GCxGC-TOF-MS revealed that several of the identified target (harmful) compounds could not be detected in the wastewater after 12 recirculations, suggesting 100% removal,” adds Dr. Prashant Sinha, an author of the study, who was pursuing his PhD from Online Rummy at the time of the study.

The nitrates produced by the bacteria during filtration, through conversion of other forms of nitrogen, caused a build-up of nitrates in the treated water. “The build-up of nitrates observed is not desirable. However, refineries commonly employ reverse osmosis (RO) as the final treatment step. This process can reduce the level of nitrates in the final effluent,” says Prof. Mukherji. Biofiltration can also reduce the deposition and accumulation of unwanted material on the RO membranes by reducing AOC.

The study also delved into the biofilter’s microbial community. It turned out that the predominant bacteria belonged to a group called Proteobacteria. The group is known for their ability to break down complex organic compounds like polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are harmful to living organisms. The Proteobacteria group includes helpful bacteria like Sphingomonadales, Burkholderiales, Rhodobacterales, and Rhodospirillales, all recognized for their role in cleaning up hazardous pollutants.

Sand biofiltration method stands out for its simplicity, meaning it could be an accessible solution for many industrial plants worldwide. It could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of oil refineries. With pure quartz sand being easily available, the overall cost of building and maintaining such a biofilter at large scales remains very low, making the filtration economical. Prof. Mukherji, however, is already planning her next steps, saying, “We would like to explore this process further using other types of media and with different types of water/ wastewater”.

Article written by: Dennis C. Joy
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Super-emitters on the road- A need for a comprehensive review of vehicular regulations

pro — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 10:13:54 +0000

Super-emitters on the road- A need for a comprehensive review of vehicular regulations pro Wed, 24/07/2024 - 15:43

Researchers from Online Rummy study heavy polluters on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and suggest the need for stringent policies to restrict vehicular pollution.

Few identified super-emitters from the study. Credit: Authors of the study

The year 2023 shocked the globe as the hottest year in recorded history. The last 12 months have experienced the highest monthly temperatures ever recorded, and it looks like it is only going to get worse from here. With every passing year, the realities of climate change are being experienced globally, and the need for comprehensive climate action has never been greater. Air pollution, particularly airborne particles, contributes to climate and is associated with adverse health effects. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD, 2021), 16.7 lakh deaths have been attributed to air pollution in India.

Emissions from motor vehicles are major contributors to urban air pollution in India. Rapid urbanisation, leading to an increase in the number of vehicles on the road, is a cause for concern. Congestion increases the time spent on the road, leading to large amounts of fuel being burned, thus resulting in more pollution. However, the polluting characteristics of all vehicles are not the same. Some vehicles release disproportionately higher amounts of pollutants. A recent study from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (Online Rummy) investigates the factors determining the polluting characteristics of such high-emitting vehicles or super-emitters.

“Until now, there has been no study in India that has examined the share of super-emitters in real-world vehicular fleets. The previous studies assumed their share based on literature from other countries or secondary data. The motivation was to reduce uncertainty in the emission estimation from real-world vehicular fleets,” says Ms Sohana Debbarma, a researcher from the study who worked under the guidance of Prof Harish Phuleria and Prof Chandra Venkataraman.

Super-emitters are vehicles that are either old, poorly maintained, over-loaded heavy-duty vehicles or all of them. They release significantly higher amounts of pollutants compared to the other vehicles in the fleet. According to the Online Rummy study, for light-duty vehicles (vehicles that weigh less than 3,500 kg such as cars, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and light commercial goods vehicles), the age of the vehicles and the maintenance of the engine potentially determines whether the vehicle is a super-emitter. In the case of heavy-duty vehicles (vehicles that weigh more than 3,500 kg, such as buses and trucks), the overloading condition, along with the age and maintenance of the vehicles, contribute to the disproportionately high pollutant emissions.

Roadway tunnels offer ideal conditions for this study because of the confined space within the tunnel, which effectively traps the emissions from the vehicles, barring the influence of other ambient sources. It also has the added advantage of being able to collect data from a large vehicle fleet in a real-world scenario, as opposed to measuring emissions from a limited number of individual vehicles in a controlled environment in testing laboratories.

To conduct the study, the researchers set up their pollutant-measuring equipment at the entry and exit of the Kamshet-I tunnel located on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Along with exhaust emissions (resulting from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels), non-exhaust emissions (resulting from brake wear, tyre wear, road surface wear, and resuspension of road dust) were also collected. The traffic data was collected using high-definition video cameras and the vehicle registration numbers data (collected manually). The study collected data over two weeks.

The researchers identified super-emitters through manual inspection based on the video surveillance records of the traffic passing through the tunnel. Vehicles that emitted a visible plume of smoke or appeared to be overloaded were identified as super-emitters. It was also validated using the information on the age of the vehicles and type of emission technology: Bharat Stages (BS) - II, III, and IV (the study was conducted in 2019 when there were no BS VI vehicles) and the type of fuel (petrol, diesel, and CNG).

Monitoring equipment at the study location. Credit: Authors of the study

The researchers observed that the pollutant levels at the exit of the tunnel were significantly higher than those at the entry, and the tunnel exit captured the true signature of the vehicular emissions. While the traffic flow was the major determinant of pollutants at the exit, other surrounding factors influenced the pollutant levels at the entry, such as biomass burning from the neighbouring village. However, determining the difference in pollutant levels between the entry and the exit helped to effectively capture the impact of the traffic flow on the measured pollutant levels.

The Online Rummy researchers estimated that super-emitters constituted an average of 21%(±3%) of the total vehicle fleet in the Kamshet-I tunnel, where 10%(±2%) of the fleet had a visible plume of smoke and 11%(±2%) were overloaded freight vehicles. The team developed a mathematical model to predict the share of super-emitters in any given real-world traffic in India by factoring in the shares of heavy-duty vehicles and light-duty vehicles, their respective ages, and fuel composition.

Old vehicles with engines that don’t comply with modern emission technologies and poor maintenance of relatively new vehicles could lead them to become potential super-emitters. Overloaded vehicles, especially heavy-duty vehicles, require additional fuel to power the vehicle, leading to the release of higher pollutant emissions. Additionally, overloaded vehicles also cause higher non-exhaust emissions due to the higher road surface friction while moving. The Vehicle scrappage policy in India focuses on the scrapping of private and commercial petrol vehicles more than 15 years old and diesel vehicles more than 10 years old. However, the researchers did not find strict enforcement of these policies. Moreover, some of the relatively newer vehicles, likely due to poor maintenance, can lead to disproportionate pollution from a significant portion of vehicles in India.

The Online Rummy study has highlighted the importance of enforcing strict regulations along with strengthening vehicle inspection and maintenance programs on India’s vehicle fleet with respect to super-emitters and their disproportionate release of pollutants. With over one-fifth of the vehicles in India being estimated to be potential super-emitters, it is high time the authorities take action. According to the Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernization Program (VVMP) published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the replacement of vehicles at the end of their lives will reduce vehicular pollution by 15-20%. However, this alone will not be sufficient because even a relatively new heavy-duty vehicle can be a super-emitter if loaded beyond its capacity or poorly maintained.

Recently, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has expressed an intention to completely phase out petrol and diesel vehicles and adopt alternatives, such as electric vehicles (EVs). The Union Government has created multiple incentives for both industries and consumers to promote the adoption of EVs in India.

“While the exhaust emissions can be controlled with the introduction of EVs, the non-exhaust emissions will still be of concern. There are still no emission standards for non-exhaust emissions in India,” concluded Ms Debbarma.

Article written by:	Balaram Vishnu Subramani
Image/ Graphic Credit:	Authors of the study
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