publications
Journal articles, conference proceedings, and theses on geospatial science, urban informality, coastal management, and Earth observation.
2026
- Journal ArticleMulti-temporal satellite mapping of coal mine expansion and forest loss in the Hasdeo Arand Forest, IndiaSai Ganesh Veeravalli, Adil Khan, and Syed Hazeem QadriDiscover Sustainability, 2026
Open-cast coal mining in forested regions presents a persistent sustainability challenge, as cumulative physical disturbance often unfolds incrementally and remains poorly captured by administrative clearance records. This case study presents a mine-scale, time-resolved reconstruction of surface expansion at the Parsa East and Kente Basan (PEKB) open-cast coal mine, located within the ecologically sensitive Hasdeo Arand forest of central India. The objective is to reconstruct the year-by-year growth of a single open-cast mine and quantify associated forest conversion over time. Using multi-temporal satellite imagery (Landsat 8 and PlanetScope) and consistent visual-interpretation, we delineated annual changes in the mine’s surface footprint and estimated forest-to-mine conversion between 2013 and 2025. Results show that the mine footprint expanded from 218 hectares in 2013 to 1,389 hectares by mid-2025. Over the same period, approximately 1,013 hectares of closed-canopy forest were converted, such that 73% of the final footprint overlapped land that was forested at the outset. Expansion occurred in distinct phases, including a period of rapid lateral growth, a temporary slowdown, and renewed acceleration after 2023. By documenting how a legally approved mine physically expands through forested terrain over time, this study demonstrates the value of mine-level, time-resolved satellite reconstruction for revealing cumulative environmental transformation that is obscured in aggregated land-use statistics. Such approaches provide an independent spatial basis for post-clearance monitoring, cumulative impact assessment, and environmental accountability in mining-affected forest landscapes.
@article{veeravalli2026multitemporal, title = {Multi-temporal satellite mapping of coal mine expansion and forest loss in the {Hasdeo Arand Forest}, India}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Khan, Adil and Qadri, Syed Hazeem}, journal = {Discover Sustainability}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {775}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/s43621-026-03526-w}, } - Journal ArticleA mobile GIS framework for in-situ measurement of coastal defence conditions: development and application in Kerala, IndiaSai Ganesh Veeravalli, Mridula G. Murali, Satya Kiran Raju Alluri, and 2 more authorsApplied Geomatics, 2026
Coastal protection structures such as seawalls and groins play a critical role in mitigating coastal erosion and flood risks, yet large-scale, field-based assessments of their condition remain limited due to methodological, logistical, and cost-related constraints. This study presents a mobile GIS framework for the in-situ measurement and classification of coastal defence infrastructure using a web-application developed on Kobo Toolbox, an open-source platform configured to support standardized, georeferenced, and multimedia-enabled data collection in remote or resource-constrained environments. The framework was piloted along Kerala’s 593-kilometre coastline in India, a geomorphologically diverse region characterised by seasonal erosion and high exposure to climate-related hazards. Field deployment during the monsoon season resulted in 1,420 structured survey records of coastal features, supported by over 3,500 handheld GPS observations and approximately 20 gigabytes of photographic documentation collected by trained survey teams. Structures were classified as intact, partially damaged, or totally disintegrated, with condition assessments linked to functional performance metrics such as beach width and sediment deposition patterns. Collected data were centrally managed, validated through expert review, and integrated into GIS environments for spatial analysis and reporting. A qualitative comparison with traditional field surveys, UAV photogrammetry, satellite remote sensing, and citizen-science-based monitoring highlights the framework’s strengths in data consistency, scalability, operation efficiency, and suitability for routine deployment. Designed for use by non-specialist field teams, the proposed framework provides a replicable and cost-effective solution for structured coastal infrastructure monitoring and supports institutional capacity building for long-term shoreline management.
@article{veeravalli2026mobile, title = {A mobile {GIS} framework for in-situ measurement of coastal defence conditions: development and application in {Kerala}, India}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Murali, Mridula G. and Alluri, Satya Kiran Raju and Ramanathan, V. and Murthy, M. V. Ramana}, journal = {Applied Geomatics}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {93}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/s12518-026-00744-9}, }
2025
- PreprintThe Hidden Burden of Morphological Deprivation in Small and Medium CitiesSai Ganesh Veeravalli, Alejandro Blei, John Friesen, and 7 more authors2025
In growing cities, deprived neighborhoods house large numbers of residents, yet their extent and distribution remain poorly quantified, complicating implementation of SDG 11.1. 1. We present the first global, neighborhood-scale spatial estimates of morphological deprivation, covering 5,132 cities in 103 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) home to 3.2 billion people. Neighborhood units and built-environment indicators from the City Segments v1 dataset were combined with segment-level labels from the eight-city IDEABench benchmark to train a supervised model, which was then applied to classify each segment as morphologically deprived or non-deprived. The mapped cities contained 1.96 billion residents, of whom 349 million (17.8%) lived in deprived segments, with the highest regional shares in Africa and substantial burdens in Asia and LAC. Morphologically deprived populations spanned the urban hierarchy, with about one-third living in small and medium cities, revealing important gaps in current deprivation monitoring.
@article{veeravalli2025hidden, title = {The Hidden Burden of Morphological Deprivation in Small and Medium Cities}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Blei, Alejandro and Friesen, John and Tareke, Bedru and Kuffer, Monika and Persello, Claudio and Maretto, Raian and Abascal, Angela and Georganos, Stefanos and Thomson, Dana R}, year = {2025}, doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-8189204/v1}, projects = {deprimap}, data = {https://zenodo.org/records/18788260}, dashboard = {https://saiga143.github.io/csmd-viewer} } - Journal ArticleSatellite monitoring for post-clearance accountability: lessons from Rushikonda hillSai Ganesh VeeravalliDiscover Cities, 2025
Post-approval monitoring of urban development projects remains one of the weakest links in environmental governance, particularly in fast-urbanizing contexts where institutional oversight is limited. This study examines the redevelopment of Rushikonda Hill, an ecologically sensitive coastal site in Andhra Pradesh, India, to quantify land alteration and evaluate governance implications. High-resolution Planet Scope imagery and historical Google Earth Pro basemaps from 2021 to 2023 were analysed through visual interpretation and manual digitization. The approved project footprint was 9.88 acres, yet satellite analysis indicated that by late 2023 approximately 19.1 acres had been visibly altered; nearly double the sanctioned extent. Alteration progressed in distinct phases: initial vegetation clearance, slope terracing and excavation, large-scale levelling, and visible building foundation work. Artificial green mats were later placed on exposed slopes, creating an appearance of regrowth without evidence of ecological restoration. These findings point to structural gaps in India’s post-clearance compliance system: limited independent audits, reliance on self-reporting, and conflicts of interest in state-led projects. Based on the Rushikonda case and comparable examples, three policy pathways are proposed: integrating satellite audits into compliance, legally recognizing remote sensing as admissible evidence, and expanding public-access monitoring platforms. The approach demonstrated here offers a transferable framework for using satellite imagery to detect regulatory non-compliance, strengthening environmental accountability in similar governance settings worldwide.
@article{veeravalli2025satellite, title = {Satellite monitoring for post-clearance accountability: lessons from Rushikonda hill}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh}, journal = {Discover Cities}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {91}, year = {2025}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/s44327-025-00130-x}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44327-025-00130-x}, } - Journal ArticleIntegrating coastal protection structures into vulnerability assessments: A case study from Kerala, IndiaSai Ganesh Veeravalli, Mridula G Murali, S Subburaj, and 3 more authorsOcean & Coastal Management, 2025
Coastal areas worldwide are increasingly vulnerable to natural and human interventions, necessitating systematic vulnerability assessments for effective risk management. However, conventional assessments often overlook the role of coastal protection structures, assuming uniform effectiveness or ignoring their presence. This omission can misrepresent coastal risk, particularly in regions where structural defences like seawalls and groins are the primary means of protection. This study presents Coastal Vulnerability Score (CVS) framework that integrates coastal structure status as a foundational component of vulnerability assessments. The methodology classifies coastal stretches into open coast (OC), partial damage (PD), and total damage (TD), based on the structural integrity of defences. Vulnerability is then assessed using four key parameters: wave energy, sediment characteristics, geomorphology, and population density – calculated through a weighted approach to reflect exposure levels. Applying this framework to Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India, the results identify Petta (CVS: 2.63) and Muttattara (CVS: 2.52) as the most vulnerable villages due to eroding coastlines, high wave energy, failed defences, and dense population. In contrast, Cherunniyur (CVS: 1.47), Varkala (CVS: 1.56), and Idava (CVS: 1.58) exhibit low vulnerability due to intact structures and natural defences such as cliffs and accreting beaches. The CVS framework provides a data-driven approach for prioritizing interventions. High-risk villages require immediate structural reinforcements, while lower-risk areas can benefit from soft protection measures like beach nourishment. Integrating this approach into coastal governance frameworks can enhance risk-based prioritization and proactive maintenance ensuring sustainable resilience strategies. The methodology is scalable and adaptable, offering a practical tool for evidence-based coastal management.
@article{veeravalli2025integrating, title = {Integrating coastal protection structures into vulnerability assessments: A case study from Kerala, India}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Murali, Mridula G and Subburaj, S and Alluri, Satya Kiran Raju and Ramanathan, V and Murthy, MV Ramana}, journal = {Ocean \& Coastal Management}, volume = {266}, pages = {107670}, year = {2025}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107670}, } - Journal ArticleStatewide field assessment of coastal protection structures in Kerala, India: structural and functional insightsMridula G Murali, Sai Ganesh Veeravalli, Satya Kiran Raju Alluri, and 2 more authorsJournal of Coastal Conservation, 2025
Coastal regions across South Asia face growing pressure from ageing hard infrastructure and intensifying erosion, yet coast-wide data on the condition and performance of protective structures remain scarce. This study addresses this gap by assessing the structural status and functional performance of seawalls and groins along the 593-km coastline of Kerala, India. The goal is to provide a foundation for conservation-oriented coastal planning and risk-informed maintenance strategies. A statewide field-survey was conducted using a custom web-based geospatial tool. Visual and spatial condition data were collected for 330.8 km of seawalls and 459 groins across all nine coastal districts of Kerala, India. Structures were categorized based on their physical integrity and associated beach condition to assess both protective effectiveness and sediment retention function. Only 28% of seawalls and 51% of groins were found to be structurally intact, with 81 km of seawalls fully disintegrated. Alappuzha, Kozhikode, and parts of Thrissur show the highest failure rates. Functional gaps were evident in zones with partial or total structural collapse, particularly along high-energy sediment transport corridors. Three management-relevant coastal zones were identified: urban critical-asset stretches, dynamic sediment-transport sectors, and fragmented rural coasts. The results provide an empirical baseline for targeting conservation interventions and infrastructure upgrades. The findings are already informing shoreline management plan (SMP) in Kerala and offer a scalable approach for other monsoon-affected regions. This study contributes to operationalizing coastal conservation and infrastructure monitoring in data-limited settings.
@article{murali2025statewide, title = {Statewide field assessment of coastal protection structures in Kerala, India: structural and functional insights}, author = {Murali, Mridula G and Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Alluri, Satya Kiran Raju and V, Ramanathan and MV, Ramana Murthy}, journal = {Journal of Coastal Conservation}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {39}, year = {2025}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/s11852-025-01124-y}, url = {https://rdcu.be/eAuQ7}, } - Conf. ProceedingsTowards a Spatial Measure of SDG 11.1.1: Open Data for Urban Deprivation MappingSai Ganesh Veeravalli, Florencio Campomanes, Sebastian Hafner, and 8 more authorsIn 2025 Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event (JURSE), 2025
Urban deprivation mapping is critical for addressing inequalities and achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.1.1, which focuses on ensuring access to adequate housing and services in urban areas. This study introduces a geospatial framework to operationalize previously conceptualized urban Domains of Deprivation related to unplanned urbanization, limited infrastructure, and limited services within city segments at the city-scale. Leveraging open, global datasets, including Google’s V3 building footprints and 2.5D building heights, the model assigns deprivation scores (ranging from 0 to 6) based on binary thresholds derived from median values. Validation against reference slum boundaries provided by the IDEAMAPS network achieved an F1- score of 0.45 for high-deprivation areas. The results highlight the spatial distribution of deprivation across Nairobi and demonstrate the reliability of dense building indicators for identifying informal settlements. The framework demonstrates computational efficiency, enabling citywide analysis using accessible resources, and highlights its potential to inform urban planning and targeted interventions through scalable geospatial methodologies aligned with SDG 11.1.1.
@inproceedings{veeravalli2025towards, title = {Towards a Spatial Measure of {SDG} 11.1.1: Open Data for Urban Deprivation Mapping}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Campomanes, Florencio and Hafner, Sebastian and Georganos, Stefanos and Kuffer, Monika and Friesen, John and Thomson, Dana R and Ndugwa, Robert and Mwaniki, Dennis and Abascal, Angela and others}, booktitle = {2025 Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event (JURSE)}, pages = {1--4}, year = {2025}, organization = {IEEE}, doi = {10.1109/JURSE60372.2025.11076033}, url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11076033}, projects = {deprimap} } - Conf. ProceedingsUnderstanding Informal Settlement Transformation through Google’s 2.5D Dataset and Street View based ValidationSai Ganesh Veeravalli, Jan Haas, John Friesen, and 1 more authorIn The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2025
Monitoring change in informal settlements remains a critical challenge, particularly in data-scarce contexts across the Global South. While satellite remote sensing provides strong temporal coverage, conventional approaches for mapping the built environment often rely on very high-resolution imagery or LiDAR, which lack consistent temporal availability and are costly to scale especially for capturing vertical growth. This study leverages Google’s Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal Dataset (2016-2023), which offers annual estimates of building presence, count, and height, to detect structural change in Nairobi, Kenya. By analysing differences in building count and average height across 100-meter grid cells, we developed a rule-based framework to identify four key transformation types: vertical densification, horizontal densification, combined densification (increase in both count and height), and decline. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use this dataset to assess vertical change within informal settlements. Validation was conducted through a two-source approach using historical satellite imagery (Google Earth Pro) and archival street-level imagery (Google Street View). A total of 154 grid cells across 13 slum areas were manually assessed, yielding an overall accuracy of 96.75%. Horizontal and combined densification showed perfect agreement, while vertical densification and decline categories had over 80% accuracy. Spatial analysis across slums, adjacent buffer areas, and the broader city revealed horizontal densification as the dominant trend within informal settlements, while vertical and combined growth were more prominent in surrounding zones. These results demonstrate the potential of Google’s 2.5D dataset for scalable, interpretable urban monitoring in rapidly changing environments.
@inproceedings{veeravalli2025understanding, title = {Understanding Informal Settlement Transformation through {Google's} 2.5D Dataset and Street View based Validation}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Haas, Jan and Friesen, John and Georganos, Stefanos}, booktitle = {The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences}, volume = {48}, pages = {245--251}, year = {2025}, doi = {10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-M-7-2025-245-2025}, url = {https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-M-7-2025/245/2025/}, projects = {deprimap, dyneo4slums}, }
2024
- Conf. ProceedingsAn integrated GIS methodology for identifying high-risk areas due to damaged coastal protection structures: a case study of Kollam district in Kerala, IndiaSai Ganesh Veeravalli, V Noujas, V Ramanathan, and 2 more authorsIn Eighth Geoinformation Science Symposium 2023: Geoinformation Science for Sustainable Planet, 2024
@inproceedings{veeravalli2024integrated, title = {An integrated {GIS} methodology for identifying high-risk areas due to damaged coastal protection structures: a case study of Kollam district in Kerala, India}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Noujas, V and Ramanathan, V and Murthy, MVR and others}, booktitle = {Eighth Geoinformation Science Symposium 2023: Geoinformation Science for Sustainable Planet}, volume = {12977}, pages = {371--379}, year = {2024}, organization = {SPIE}, doi = {10.1117/12.3009595}, } - Conf. ProceedingsAssessing the impact of vegetation and its spatial configuration on land surface temperature in selected Indian citiesSai Ganesh VeeravalliIn Eighth Geoinformation Science Symposium 2023: Geoinformation Science for Sustainable Planet, 2024
@inproceedings{veeravalli2024assessing, title = {Assessing the impact of vegetation and its spatial configuration on land surface temperature in selected Indian cities}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh}, booktitle = {Eighth Geoinformation Science Symposium 2023: Geoinformation Science for Sustainable Planet}, volume = {12977}, pages = {560--572}, year = {2024}, organization = {SPIE}, doi = {10.1117/12.3009564}, } - Conf. ProceedingsRemote sensing-based assessment of Varkala cliff retreat in Kerala, IndiaKN Reshma, Jeffy Soly John, Sai Ganesh Veeravalli, and 4 more authorsIn Eighth Geoinformation Science Symposium 2023: Geoinformation Science for Sustainable Planet, 2024
@inproceedings{reshma2024remote, title = {Remote sensing-based assessment of Varkala cliff retreat in Kerala, India}, author = {Reshma, KN and John, Jeffy Soly and Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Mridula, GM and Alluri, Satya Kiran Raju and Ramanathan, V and Murthy, Ramana}, booktitle = {Eighth Geoinformation Science Symposium 2023: Geoinformation Science for Sustainable Planet}, volume = {12977}, pages = {542--549}, year = {2024}, organization = {SPIE}, doi = {10.1117/12.3009585}, }
2023
- Preprint
- Conf. ProceedingsUAV based topographic survey of inaccessible remote terrainsSai Ganesh Veeravalli, Senthil Balaganesh, Dhanalakshmi Silamban, and 3 more authorsIn 2023 IEEE India Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (InGARSS), 2023
@inproceedings{veeravalli2023uav, title = {UAV based topographic survey of inaccessible remote terrains}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Balaganesh, Senthil and Silamban, Dhanalakshmi and Alluri, Satya Kiran Raju and Ramanathan, V and Panda, Uma Sankar}, booktitle = {2023 IEEE India Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (InGARSS)}, pages = {1--4}, year = {2023}, organization = {IEEE}, doi = {10.1109/InGARSS59135.2023.10490411}, url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10490411}, }
2022
- Journal ArticleFactors influencing flood damage mitigation among micro and small businesses in Kampala, UgandaSai Ganesh Veeravalli, S Chereni, RV Sliuzas, and 2 more authorsInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2022
With the trends of increasing flood risk due to climate change and rapid urbanisation in many parts of the world, property level mitigation efforts have become more relevant in flood risk management. However, the flood mitigation behaviour of business owners is an understudied aspect of risk reduction. This article employs the Protection Motivation Theory framework to identify critical factors that determine the flood damage mitigation behaviour of micro, small and medium enterprises in three neighbourhoods of Kampala, Uganda. We conducted a sample survey of micro to medium-sized business owners in two informal areas and one formal area in Kampala. Our analysis established that businesses of all sizes adopted structural measures and that micro-enterprises (0–4 employees) were more likely to implement non-structural measures than small businesses. Financial losses, risk aversion, and perceptions of flood likelihood all showed positive relationships with flood damage mitigation actions. Many businesses indicated that relocation is an inefficient and costly measure, though one that is easily self-implementable. Information-seeking behaviour and receiving flood-related information stimulated businesses to mitigate, though few businesses have regular access to helpful information regarding flood mitigation measures, especially concerning non-structural measures. These insights provide a basis for crafting business resilience-building policy and strategies considering increasing climate change-induced flash-flood risk in Kampala and other similar contexts.
@article{veeravalli2022factors, title = {Factors influencing flood damage mitigation among micro and small businesses in Kampala, Uganda}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh and Chereni, S and Sliuzas, RV and Flacke, J and Maarseveen, Mv}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {82}, pages = {103315}, year = {2022}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103315}, }
2021
- Jounral ArticleVSPCA Sea Turtle Conservation ProgramPriya Tallam, Pradeep Kumar Nath, Athithya S Loganathan, and 2 more authorsBiophilic Cities Journal, 2021
@article{tallam2021vspca, title = {VSPCA Sea Turtle Conservation Program}, author = {Tallam, Priya and Nath, Pradeep Kumar and Loganathan, Athithya S and Tallam, Krti and Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh}, journal = {Biophilic Cities Journal}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, year = {2021}, url = {https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bbd32d6e66669016a6af7e2/t/60809c3d6d3c1f6f62916fdd/1619041349654/VSPCA+Sea+Turtle+Program_Tallam+et+al.pdf}, }
2020
- MSc ThesisAn Analysis of Small Business’ Flood Mitigation Behavior in Kampala, UgandaSai Ganesh VeeravalliFaculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, 2020
@phdthesis{veeravalli2020analysis, title = {An Analysis of Small Business' Flood Mitigation Behavior in Kampala, Uganda}, author = {Veeravalli, Sai Ganesh}, year = {2020}, school = {Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente}, url = {https://essay.utwente.nl/fileshare/file/85239/veeravalli.pdf}, }