Regional Planning Framework for Addressing Flood Vulnerability of a Metropolitan Region: The Case of Malappuram, Kerala, India

Flood susceptibility is becoming increasingly important among the various natural disasters in terms of environmental, economic, and social consequences. The eco-regional planning approach, which incorporates the ecological boundary as a layer in the spatial planning process of settlements, is one of the most innovative concepts in recent research to address these problems. Hence, this research interrogated flood susceptibility mapping tools using an appropriate model for better settlement planning and management. A frequency ratio model was applied to a case region, Malappuram (in  the State of Kerala, India), one of the world’s fastest urbanizing metropolitan regions, using a three-tier assessment framework. A frequency ratio database for flood susceptibility mapping was created by combining historic flood locations with independent factors. The study region was divided into five flood-risk zones based on the computed flood susceptibility index, which varied from 0 to 18.38, i.e., very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The results showed that the high and very high susceptibility classes accounted for 8.82% and 17.17% of the land, respectively. This paper highlights the requirement for a multi-level assessment of an ecologically oriented regional planning regime in India and estimates the success rate of flood prediction at 79.33%. The proposed regional planning framework is therefore essential for local government planners, researchers, and administrators when creating flood mitigation measures, and has the potential to become a substantial and essential instrument

Regional Planning Framework for Addressing Flood Vulnerability of a Metropolitan Region: The Case of Malappuram, Kerala, India

Flood susceptibility is becoming increasingly important among the various natural disasters in terms of environmental, economic, and social consequences. The eco-regional planning approach, which incorporates the ecological boundary as a layer in the spatial planning process of settlements, is one of the most innovative concepts in recent research to address these problems. Hence, this research interrogated flood susceptibility mapping tools using an appropriate model for better settlement planning and management. A frequency ratio model was applied to a case region, Malappuram (in  the State of Kerala, India), one of the world’s fastest urbanizing metropolitan regions, using a three-tier assessment framework. A frequency ratio database for flood susceptibility mapping was created by combining historic flood locations with independent factors. The study region was divided into five flood-risk zones based on the computed flood susceptibility index, which varied from 0 to 18.38, i.e., very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The results showed that the high and very high susceptibility classes accounted for 8.82% and 17.17% of the land, respectively. This paper highlights the requirement for a multi-level assessment of an ecologically oriented regional planning regime in India and estimates the success rate of flood prediction at 79.33%. The proposed regional planning framework is therefore essential for local government planners, researchers, and administrators when creating flood mitigation measures, and has the potential to become a substantial and essential instrument

Assessment of Land Surface Temperature Variations and Implications of Land Use/Land Cover Changes: A Case of Malappuram Urban Agglomeration Region, Kerala, India

Urbanization is taking place faster, and urban air temperatures are gradually rising in all cities across the world. Uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization leads to constant environmental threats and can alter local and regional climates. According to the survey published by Economist Intelligence Unit, in India, Kerala's Malappuram district ranks first among the fastest-growing urban areas globally, with a 44.05% growth rate. Hence, the present study aims to identify the hotspot regions of extreme heat within the Malappuram urban agglomeration region and suggest strategies for its improvement. The split-window algorithm retrieved land surface temperature (LST) for 1991, 1998, 2014, and 2020 using Landsat 5 ETM and Landsat 8 satellite imageries. A rising trend in LST has been detected in the last 30 years, and the mean value has increased by 1.70°C within the region. Among the selected hotspots, an LST increase of 1.84°C was observed for those areas with the highest increase in urban density with decreased vegetation. The increasing impact of urbanization and the subsequent change in land use patterns at the cost of greenery have caused a substantial effect on the local climate. Accordingly, planning and policy directions are proposed for the local government that can help provide awareness to the people through the effective implementation of mitigation measures

Destination competitiveness of a tourist region: A case of Kerala, India

The concept of tourism destination competitiveness (TDC) is very complex, and so is developing a model for different destination contexts. The study aims to identify variables to measure the overall TDC of destination brand Kerala (India). A quantitative research design is followed based on a self-administered questionnaire survey strategy. A comprehensive study of various indices and published literature on TDC is conducted to arrive at a detailed list of variables for measuring competitiveness. Through content analysis and screening based on expert opinion surveys and interviews, variables are tailored to the natural and cultural destination region, Kerala. The perceptions of expert supply stakeholder groups regarding the relevance of variables are recorded. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is conducted to find underlying factors. The result is used to build a multiple linear regression model. Though the destination is celebrated for its \u27Inherited and created resources\u27, the study identifies that \u27Destination safety and quality\u27 has the highest impact on the TDC of Kerala. \u27Absence of general strike\u27, \u27Methods of work/technique\u27, and \u27Navigation within the destination\u27 are new significant variables that distinctly pertain to Kerala. The research is expected to help the destination management team evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the destination, assess TDC, and develop policies and guidelines to improve competitiveness

Destination competitiveness of a tourist region: A case of Kerala, India

The concept of tourism destination competitiveness (TDC) is very complex, and so is developing a model for different destination contexts. The study aims to identify variables to measure the overall TDC of destination brand Kerala (India). A quantitative research design is followed based on a self-administered questionnaire survey strategy. A comprehensive study of various indices and published literature on TDC is conducted to arrive at a detailed list of variables for measuring competitiveness. Through content analysis and screening based on expert opinion surveys and interviews, variables are tailored to the natural and cultural destination region, Kerala. The perceptions of expert supply stakeholder groups regarding the relevance of variables are recorded. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is conducted to find underlying factors. The result is used to build a multiple linear regression model. Though the destination is celebrated for its \u27Inherited and created resources\u27, the study identifies that \u27Destination safety and quality\u27 has the highest impact on the TDC of Kerala. \u27Absence of general strike\u27, \u27Methods of work/technique\u27, and \u27Navigation within the destination\u27 are new significant variables that distinctly pertain to Kerala. The research is expected to help the destination management team evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the destination, assess TDC, and develop policies and guidelines to improve competitiveness