Harshit Sosan Lakra

Research Interests

Economic and Community Development (Neighborhood planning, Infrastructure development and management, International studies in planning, Culture and creative economy studies, Gender studies, Rehabilitation)., Environmental Planning and Management (Environmental psychology, Perception Modeling, Sustainable Development, Green and blue infrastructure, EIA), Indigenous Planning and Rural Development (Model Village Development, Vernacular Architecture), Urban Studies (Planning Legislation and Governance, Urban Resilience, Urban Mobility, Big Data and GIS)

BioSketch

Educational Details

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States Of America

2009

Master in Urban and Regional Planning, Economic and Community Development and International Studies in Planning

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

2019

PhD, Architecture and Planning

Centre for Environmental and Planning , Ahmedabad

2001

Post Graduate Diploma , Environmental Planning

Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal

1999

B.Arch , Architecture

Research

Projects

TOPIC	START DATE	FIELD	DESCRIPTION	FINANCIAL OUTLAY	FUNDING AGENCY	OTHER OFFICERS
Capacity Building, Knowledge co-creation, experience sharing and community outreach for the Hindu Kush Himalaya	11 Jan 2025	Open-geospatial technologies and community-led mapping		12,50,0OO INR	ICIMOD, Lalitpur, Nepal, India
Adaptation of Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems and Fintech Solutions for Comprehensive Tribal Development	01 Jul 2024	Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems		3,35,00,000 INR	IIT Bhilai Innovation and Technology Foundation, India
GoAL for climate change and disaster risk resilience among India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Japan	03 Jul 2023	Gender-orientated adaptive transformation cross-learning		79,987 USD	Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, India
Benchmark Survey and Developing Tribal Development Index	01 Jul 2021	Tribal Development		14.80 Lacs INR	Dr. Ram Dayal Munda Tribal Welfare Research Institute, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Jharkhand, India
Trip Chaining Among Working Mothers, Faculty of Built Environment	01 Jul 2022	Architecture and Planning		5000 RM	SATU- University of Malaysia and Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee, India
Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and Students engagement	14 Nov 2022	Indigenous Local Knowledge System		90,000 INR	Dean of Students’ Welfare, IIT Roorkee, India
Low Carbon Net Zero Bamboo Structure in collaboration with BRAC University and British Council	01 Jul 2020	Sustainable Architecture		5.45 Lacs INR	South Asia Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes (SAADRI) and CoEDMM IIT Roorkee, India
Co-building project to prototype Junag PVTG dwelling unit in Keonjhar, Odisha	01 Jul 2022	Indigenous Local Knowledge System		14.40 Lacs INR	Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee in Collaboration with WOSCA and District Administration, Keonjhar Odisha, India
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment on Tribal Groups of Jharkhand, Collaborative Community Outreach Work	01 Jul 2022	Jharkhand		8.97 Lacs INR	Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee, Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka, and Adivasi Development Network Jharkhand, India
Intangible Cultural Heritage for Hill Region	03 Jul 2023	Cultural Heritage		Rs 3 lacs INR	Ministry of Culture, Government of India, India
Detailed Hydraulic and Hydrologic Study of Storm Water Drainage Network for Controlling the Waterlogging	02 Jan 2023	Township Developed at Sector 108, Gurugram, Haryana		Rs 37.85 lacs INR	Experion Developers Pvt Ltd, India
Model Village Development for Juang Tribe of Odisha through Public and Private Partnership	01 Jul 2014	Rural Planning		Rs. 22 Lacs INR	HUDCO/HSMI, India
Case Studies of Ethnic Settlements of Jharkhand for Culture-Based Planning	01 May 2013	Rural Planning		Rs 7.5 Lacs INR	Faculty Initiation Grant, IIT Roorkee, India
National Mission Project on Education through ICT	01 Jul 2009	Vernacular Architecture		Rs 8 Lacs INR	MHRD, Government of India, India
Urban Environmental Management, Performance Measurement of NGO’s and ULB’s initiatives, Case study of Slums of Ranchi	03 Jul 2006	Environmental Planning		5000.00 INR/Month	Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Bush Clinton Katrina Fund	01 May 2008	Urban Scholar		5000 USD	Cornell Urban Scholars Program, Cornell University, United States Of America

Publications

Microscale coastal flood risk assessmentmethods amid climate change

2026

Kaur, A., Lakra, H. S., Shaw, R., & Ali, S. Ahirwar, A. | Springer Nature

Journal: Marine Development Pages: 1-22 , Volumes: 4:13 ,

Al-Madafah in Sweida, Southern Syria: An Exploration of Architectural Heritage and Socio-Cultural Significance

2025

Alarbeed, B. Y., Lakra, H. S., Aryal, K. R., & Chettri, N | MDPI

Journal: Heritage Volumes: 8(11) ,

Pathways to enhanced microscale coastal flood risk assessment amid changing climate

2025

Kaur, A., Lakra, H. S., Shaw, R., & Ali, S | Springer Nature

Journal: Natural Hazards Pages: 17201–17251 , Volumes: 121 (15) ,

Living heritage: Transformations and adaptations of vernacular houses to contemporary needs in Sweida, Southern Syria

2025

Alarbeed, B. Y., & Lakra, H. S | the International Society for the Study of Vernacular Settlements

Journal: ISVS e-Journal Volumes: 12 ,

Examining the Impact of Forest Policies on Sacred Groves in India: A Historical Review

2025

Rawat G., Lakra H. S | Sage

Journal: History and Sociology of South Asia Journal

Urban Flood Resilience: A comprehensive review of assessment methods, tools, and techniques to manage disaster

2023

Prashar, N., Lakra, H.S., Shaw, and R Kaur | Elsevier

Journal: Progress in Disaster Science

Identifying the cause and impact of slum encroachment along the Asan River, Dehradun

2023

Gupta, A. P., Lakra, H. S., & Gupta, S | Elsevier

Journal: Science Talks

Studying public spaces–a Systematic literature review

2023

Parashar, A., Lakra, H.S., | Taylor and Francis

Journal: Journal of Urbanism

Vernacular Construction Techniques of the Kangra Region of Himachal Pradesh, India

2023

Raman K. Lakra, H. S. | International Society for the Study of Vernacular Settlements

Journal: ISVS e-journal

Urban flood resilience: mapping knowledge, trends, and structure through bibliometric analysis.

2023

Prashar, N., Lakra, H.S., Kaur, H. and Shaw, R., | Springer

Journal: Environment, Development and Sustainability

Framework for geospatial flood exposure mapping of schools in the Himalayan region for climate change adaptation and resilient school design.

2022

Mathuria, S., Lakra, H.S., Goswami, A., Shaw, R. and Parihar, A., | Elsevier

Journal: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

Saudi Vision for a Happy City: Analyzing architecture students’ perspective for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2021

Parashar, A. and Lakra, H.S., | Ekistics and The New Habitat

Journal: Ekistics and The New Habitat

Smart Strategies of Transportation Development for Greenfield Cities

2016

Kiran P.S.S and Harshit Sosan Lakra | Spandrel

Journal: Journal of School of Planning and Architecture Bhopal, Making Cities Smart and Competitive

Indigenous Habitat

2010

Lakra, H. S., Tete ,A. R | Council of Architecture

Journal: Housing

Fact Sheet Human Development Index

2008

Lakra, H. S., Pandey, S. K. Agrawal, R., Mishra, S | Abacus

Journal: Abacus Pages: 6 , Volumes: 3 ,

Culture & Planning of Cities: A Review of Approaches

2017

Lakra, H. S., & Pushplata | SPACE

Journal: SPA Journal of Planning and Architecture

Fact Sheet Slums a Step Above Homelessness

2007

Lakra, H. S., Mishra, S., Agrawal, R.. | Abacus

Journal: Abacus Pages: 23 , Volumes: 2 ,

Project news for NBJK, The Success Story of Clean Jharkhand Project

2007

Lakra, H. S., Mishra, S., Agrawal, R.. | Abacus

Journal: Abacus Pages: 67 , Volumes: 2 ,

General Agreement on Tariff and Trade

2003

Lakra, H. S., | Council of Architecture

Journal: News column

GIS-Based Application for Sales and Marketing

2003

Gharat, K. Lakra, H. S., | ISG

Journal: ISG Newsletter Volumes: 9 ,

Collaborations

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jnu, delhi, India

Honors And Awards

Honors

UNITED STATES-INDIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States Of America

2025

2024-2025 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, India

2020

Mentor of Best DIC Summer Intern 2020 (Anupriya Aggarwal, School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

Cornell, City and Regional Planning, Cornell University, New York, United States Of America

2009

Graduate Research Travel Award

Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) ICIMOD, Bangkok, Thailand

2023

Himalayan University Consortium Fellow

FORD Foundation, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States Of America

2009

Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program (IFP) Fellow

Cornell University , Graduate School, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States Of America

2009

Graduate Research Travel Award

Cornell University, New York, New York, United States Of America

2008

Cornell Urban Scholarship Program

Department of Tribal Welfare

2010

Nominated for Tribal Achiever Award in Education Section

MemberShips

American Planning Association

17 Aug 2007 - Present

Member

Council of Architects

01 Mar 2003 - Present

Member

Indian Society of Geomatics(ISG)

01 Dec 2004 - Present

Member

Indian Society of Technical Education(ISTE)

01 Dec 2004 - Present

Member

Institute of Town Planners, India(ITPI)

01 Dec 2004 - Present

Member

International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE)

01 Dec 2004 - Present

Member

International Planning Student Organization (IPSO )

01 Dec 2004 - Present

Member

Organization of Cornell Planners (OCP)

17 Aug 2007 - 01 Aug 2009

Member

Women’s Planning Forum (WPF) Cornell University

17 Aug 2007 - 01 Aug 2009

Member

Minority Organization Architecture, Art and Planning (MOAAP), Cornell University

17 Aug 2007 - 01 Aug 2009

Member

Cornell International Christian Fellowship (CICF)

17 Aug 2007 - 01 Aug 2009

Member and President

SPARK, NGO, Jharkhand

01 Jan 2004 - 01 Nov 2012

Member

Adivasi Development Network (ADN) USA and Jharkhand

01 Apr 2009 - Present

Secretary

International Fellowship Programme, Ford Foundation

01 Apr 2006 - Present

Member

Jharkhand Water Forum

01 Jan 2010 - 01 Nov 2012

Member

Students

SuperVisions

Transformation of Census Towns in Uttarakhand: Policies and Prospects

24 Jul 2014 - Present

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Dinesh Singh

Determinants of Urban Local Bodies Cash Holding: Empirical Results From India, U.S.A. and Canada, India

08 Jul 2016 - 18 Nov 2024

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Sobhith Mathew Jose

Investigating Factors Influencing Women's Engagement with Public Spaces in Urban Context of Bhopal, India

14 Jul 2019 - 03 Jan 2024

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Arshi Parashar

Prototype and Design Guidelines for Flood Resilient School Design, India

12 Jul 2019 - 12 Mar 2025

Other Supervisors: Dr. Ajanta Goswami, Scholar: Shalu Mathuria

Framework for Community Flood Resilience Assessment, India

01 Jan 2020 - 06 Jan 2025

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Naveen Prashar

Colonial Invasion, Environmental Degradation, and the Rise of Grassroots Environmental Movements in India and Kenya: A Literary Analysis, India

16 Jul 2018 - 28 Jan 2025

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Garima Rawat

Human and Nature Relationship Framework to assess the Indigenous Communities and Thier Built Environment: A Case of Jharkhand, India, India

17 Aug 2020 - Present

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Ambika Prasad Gupta

Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Urban Public Spaces in a city of Warm Humid Climate: A Comparitive Study, India

16 Aug 2020 - Present

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Ujjal Halder

A Framework for Indexing Urban Livelihood Vulnerability of the Poor through Livelihood Capital, India

01 Jan 2021 - Present

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Anjali Pathak

Integrated watershed and Landuse Management

01 Jan 2021 - Present

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Venkata Ramana

Exploring the Transformation of Vernacular Houses in Sweida, southern Syria: Intersections of Modernisation, Preservation and Governance, Syria

01 Jul 2021 - 02 Apr 2026

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Bushra Alarbeed

Framework for Land Use Landcover Change prediction using Geospatial tools and Machine Learning for Coastal Urban Regions of Karnataka, India

01 Aug 2021 - Present

Other Supervisors: Prof. Ajay Katuri, Scholar: Naufal Ahmed MH

Health Planning Framework for Sustainable Development of PVTGs, India

14 Aug 2021 - Present

Other Supervisors: Prof. Tanaya Sharama, Scholar: Parul Suraia

Resilience of Built Environment, India

14 Aug 2021 - Present

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Snehal Gaikwad

Developing an Inclusive Framework for Dwellings of PVTGs in Alignment with Socio-economic and Cultural Needs, India

01 Aug 2021 - Present

Other Supervisors: Prof. Saptarishi Kolay, Scholar: Ankush

Study of Coastal Flood Risk due to Extreme Sea Level Rise under Future Climate Conditions, India

14 Aug 2021 - Present

Other Supervisors: Prof. Rajib Shaw, Prof. Sameer Ali, Scholar: Avinash Kaur

Evaluation Urban Green Public Space Performance in a Highly Urbanized Environment: Toward A Regenerative Placemaking and Sustainable Green Space in the Philippines, Philippines

04 Jul 2022 - Present

Other Supervisors: Prof. Vilas Nitivattananon, Prof. Malay Paramanik, Prof. Takuji W. Tsusaka, Scholar: Vida Fe K. Lagumbay

Miscellaneous

Visits

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2016-07-01

World Planning Schools Congress

Sitges, Spain

2018-11-05

Urban Transition 2018

Administrative Positions

MURP Coordinator

02 Dec 2019 - Present

Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee

Chief Warden, Sarojini Bhawan

01 Jul 2022 - 31 Mar 2025

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India

Advisory Commitee Member For International Relations Office

06 Mar 2024 - Present

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand

Department Coordination Committee for International Relations Office

06 Mar 2024 - Present

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India