Mr. Ali Haider, a CREST PhD student in Civil Engineering at CCNY, is building AI-based machine learning models to anticipate and forecast urban flooding situations in Mumbai, India. From mid-December 2024 to mid-January 2025, Ali traveled to India to collect important meteorological and flooding data, establish collaborations, and better understand local challenges. Mr. Haider said, “This field visit was an invaluable experience filled with interesting talks, possibilities to collaborate, and the chance to directly engage with specialists in the subject.
Mumbai, frequently referred to as India’s financial center, has long fascinated Mr. Haider. He said, “It is a vibrant, diversified, and highly complicated city, making it an ideal case study for urban flood risk modeling. With its unique combination of coastal terrain, high human density and infrastructure challenges, Mumbai experiences significant flooding during the monsoon season, presenting an urgent need for effective predictive tools.” During the first week of his visit in Delhi, Ali met with scientists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). He said, “We had a productive conversation regarding the availability of IMD weather station data for Mumbai, how international institutions may obtain it, and prospective avenues of collaboration.” Mr. Haider also visited the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM), a key partner of the CREST Institute. There, he spent the day discussing forthcoming collaboration efforts and how IISSM may help him obtain the data that is needed for research. The Executive Chairman of IISSM, Dr. Ravindra Kishore Sinha, was very helpful, even connecting Mr. Haider with authorities from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai. Mr. Haider also connected with CUNY CREST HIRES Director, Dr. Shakila Merchant, who was on a trip to India at the time and gained valuable insights on how to make this field trip fruitful.
Mr. Ali Haider at IISSM in Delhi
The next three weeks were spent primarily in Maharashtra, with a focus on Mumbai and Pune. In Mumbai, Mr Haider had a series of meetings with the Director of the Disaster Management Unit at BMC. He said, “My primary request was for rainfall data from BMC’s raingauge stations and maps of critical flood zones across the city. After several rounds of discussions and follow-ups, the BMC shared their rainfall data. While the flood zone data is still pending, I am optimistic about receiving it soon.”
One of the most rewarding experiences in Mumbai for Mr. Haider was being able to attend a three-day workshop and symposium titled Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Water Management at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) from January 3–5, 2025. This opportunity was made possible by Dr. Arpita Mondal of IIT Mumbai, a collaborator on Mr. Haider’s research project. He said, “The event offered me a chance to learn about cutting-edge research on water management and flooding while connecting with faculty, scientists, and students from various IITs and other leading institutions in India.”
Mr. Haider also traveled to Pune to visit the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and IMD Pune. During his time there, Mr. Haider presented his ongoing research and held discussions with scientists at both institutions. IITM Pune is currently working on sharing rainfall data for Mumbai, and Mr. Haider is hopeful that the IMD data will be made available soon through his collaboration with IIT Mumbai.
During the trip, Mr. Haider also took time out to connect with his roots and culture in India. He visited the Gateway of India, National Gallery of Modern Art, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Colaba Causeway, and Marine Drive in Mumbai. He said, “The energy of the city was palpable, and I couldn’t help but immerse myself in its charm. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the incredible variety of Indian food during my visit, from rich street foods to home-cooked meals shared with colleagues and friends.”
Mr. Ali Haider at Gateway of India
This research field visit was a milestone in Mr. Haider’s Ph.D. journey. It opened doors for collaborations with BMC Mumbai, IITM Pune, and IMD Pune, while significantly advancing his research goals. He added, “The experience not only reinforced my commitment to addressing urban flooding challenges in Mumbai but also deepened my appreciation for the connections and knowledge that can only be gained through on-ground engagement.”
