Research Interests
Indigenous design and planning; Indigenous worldviews, epistemologies, knowledge and memory; environmental planning and management; sustainable development; green-blue infrastructure;, Environmental impact assessment; carbon credits and community-based carbon management; rural and model village development; vernacular architecture;, Community and economic development; gender-responsive planning; urban governance, resilience and mobility; GIS, climate adaptation and disaster risk resilience.
BioSketch
Research
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
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 ,
Honors And Awards
Students
Miscellaneous
International and National Conferences
1. Parul Suraia, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Tanaya Sarmah. (2026). Convolutional Neural Network Framework for Identifying Spatial Barriers to Healthcare in Latehar District, Jharkhand, India. UoP-AIMT Spring International Conference 2025, organised by IIT Roorkee and University of Patanjali.
2. Avinash Kaur, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Ajay Ahirwar, Sameer Ali, Rajib Shaw. (2026). Spatial Data Evaluation and Flood Risk Assessment in Coastal Areas for Urban Planning [Poster Presentation]. 4th Roorkee Water Conclave (RWC 2026), IIT Roorkee & NIH, Roorkee, India.
3. Parul Suraia, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Tanaya Sarmah. (2025). Assessing Spatial Accessibility & Health Outcomes among Tribal Districts of India – A GIS and LISA Analysis. ISG ISRS National Symposium 2025 on Geomatics and Space Innovations towards Atmanirbhar Bharat: Insights and Frontiers, IIT Kharagpur Research Park, Kolkata, India.
4. Ambika Prasad Gupta, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2026). Identifying the Human and Nature Relational Factors of the Indigenous Built and Natural Environment for Sustainable Community-based Planning. Sustainable Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPACE 2026), NIT Kurukshetra. 23–25 January 2026.
5. Ujjal Halder, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Saptarshi Kolay. (2026). Integrating Visual Perception into Data-Informed Urban Public Space Design: A Conceptual Framework. Sustainable Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPACE 2026), NIT Kurukshetra. 23–25 January 2026.
6. Ujjal Halder, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Saptarshi Kolay. (2026). Understanding Youth Perception of Urban Public Space Typologies: Implications for Youth-Centric Urban Design in Indian Cities. 9th International Conference of Contemporary Affairs in Architecture and Urbanism (ICCAUA 2026), Istanbul, Türkiye.
7. Ujjal Halder, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Saptarshi Kolay. (2026). Urban Public Spaces as Informal Learning Environments: Youth Engagement and Social Dynamics in Cities. International Conference on Urban Studies & Smart Materials 2026, Prague, Czech Republic.
8. Ujjal Halder, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Saptarshi Kolay. (2026). Urban Public Spaces as Ecological Learning Commons: Environmental Literacy, Youth Engagement, and Sustainable Social Dynamics in Indian Cities. International Conference on Vision 2047: Prosperous and Great Bharat 2.0, IIT Roorkee. 24–26 April 2026.
9. Ujjal Halder, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Saptarshi Kolay. (2025). Exploring Youth Preferences in Urban Public Spaces: Environmental, Social, and Cultural Perspectives in Indian Cities. International Conference on Art, Architecture and Urban Studies (ICAAUS 2025), New Delhi, India.
10. Ujjal Halder, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Saptarshi Kolay. (2024). Exploring Youth Preferences in Urban Public Spaces: A Review of Environmental, Social, and Cultural Dimensions. International Conference on Sustainability, Waste Management, and Environment (ICSWME 2024), Dubai, UAE.
11. Avinash Kaur, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Ajay Ahirwar, Sameer Ali, Rajib Shaw. (2025). Coastal Flood Risk Assessment for Urban Planning in the Downstream of the Mahanadi River Using HEC-RAS [Extended Abstract]. HYDRO-2025: 30th International Conference on Hydraulic Engineering, NIT Rourkela, Odisha, India.
12. Ankush, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Saptarshi Kolay. (2026). Reimagining Bharat through Indigenous Spatial Intelligence: Co-Designing Tribal Habitats for a Self-Reliant Future. International Conference on Vision 2047: Prosperous and Great Bharat 2.0, IIT Roorkee. 24–26 April 2026.
13. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Sonajharia Minz, Malavika K., Manisha Murmu, Reshma Murmu, Parul Suraia, Ankush Bharti. (2026). Memory–Environment Dialogue: Tribal Epistemologies for an Environment-Friendly Bharat. International Conference on Vision 2047: Prosperous and Great Bharat 2.0, IIT Roorkee. 24–26 April 2026.
14. Bushra Alarbeed, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2025). Disappearing Vernacular Architecture in Sweida, Southern Syria: The Role of Heritage Management Policies. Roorkee Urban Symposium.
15. Bushra Alarbeed, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2025). Sustainability in Stone: Lessons from Sweida, Southern Syria. Second International Conference on Heritage, Innovation, and Transformation, Nepal.
16. Parul Suraia, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Ambika Prasad Gupta. (2024). Investigating Spatial Disparities of Tribals in Accessing Health-Related Interventions in Uttarakhand, India. National Conference: Planning and Architecture for Hill Region PAHR- 2024.
17. Ankush, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2024). A Cultural and Architectural Exploration of PVTG ASUR’s Settlements in Chota Nagpur Plateau. National Conference: Planning and Architecture for Hill Region PAHR-2024.
18. Parul Suraia, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2024). Investigating the Role of Socioeconomic Determinants in Health: The case of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in Chota Nagpur Plateau (India). The 7th Global Public Health Conference 2024 “Empowering Communities: Uniting for Global Health Equity”, Bangkok, Thailand.
19. Ambika Prasad Gupta, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2024). Mapping and Measuring Indigenous Food Security Status of Jharkhand, India: A Block-Level Analysis. SMUS - RC33 Regional Conference Asia: Thailand.
20. Anjali Pathak, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Smriti Mishra. (2024). Participatory Poverty Assessment: a tool to understand urban poor livelihood vulnerabilities. SMUS - RC33 Regional Conference Asia: Thailand.
21. Anjali Pathak, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Smriti Mishra. (2024). A Theoretical Review of the Sustainable Livelihood Framework. Annual Research on Cities Summit 8.0 XIM University.
22. Anjali Pathak, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Smriti Mishra. (2025). Beyond static measure: A Multidimensional Framework for assessing Livelihood Vulnerability in Urban Slums. International Conference on Urban Resilience and Sustainable Architecture, NIT Patna.
23. Ambika Prasad Gupta, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2023). Tribal Food Security Index: An Assessment of the Human Nature relationship of Tribal groups in Jharkhand. 3rd International Conference on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development 2023, AIT, Thailand.
24. Anjali Pathak, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Smriti Mishra. (2023). Understanding Urban Livelihood Vulnerability: What Role Livelihood Capital Plays?. International Land Use Symposium 2023, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India.
25. Anjali Pathak, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Smriti Mishra. (2023). Understanding Livelihood Assets: Opportunities or Constraints in Accessing Livelihood for Urban Poor?. FOSS4G Asia-2023, Seoul, South Korea.
26. Snehal Gaikwad, Harshit Sosan-Lakra. (2023). Zero Responsibility - Net-Zero Approach for the Building Sector. 8th International Network of Tropical Architecture (iNTA) - Climate Justice and Resilience: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue, Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Mumbai.
27. Harshit Sosan Lakra and Pushplata. (2018). Man-nature relationship measurement scale and index for indigenous communities in the Indian urban context. Oral presentation at Urban Transitions 2018 in Sitges, Barcelona Spain (Elsevier) from 25-27 November 2018..
28. Harshit Sosan Lakra and Pushplata. (2018). Cultural place dynamics and the indigenous narration in the urban context: case of Ranchi. Oral presentation at the Neo-National Conference on Habitable Environments (NICHE IPM 2018) at Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, from 16-17 November.
29. Harpal Singh and Lakra H.S.. (2017). Making it Happen, Review of Solid Waste Management Best Practices. Sustainable Built Environment Conference (3-5 Feb 2017); Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India.
30. Harshit Sosan Lakra and Pushplata. (2016). Culture-Based Planning and Creative Economy Framework for Indigenous Community Development. 4th World Planning School Congress: Global Crisis, Planning, and Challenges to Spatial Justice in the North and in the South, at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (3-8 July 2016).
31. Mahfuzuar Rahman Barbhuiya and Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2016). Red Light Area, Ward number 14, Silchar, Assam, India: A Review and Solution. 4th World Planning School Congress, Global Crisis, Planning and Challenges to Spatial Justice in the North and in the South, at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. (3-8 July 2016).
32. Harshit Sosan Lakra and Pushplata. (2016). Culture-Based Planning and Creative Economy Framework for Indigenous Community Development. Oral presentation at the IV World Planning School Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-8 July 2016.
33. Mahfuzuar Rahman Barbhuiya and Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2016). Prospects of Religious Partnership for Conserving the Himalayan Region: A Case of the Uttarakhand Himalayan Region. 9th Global Studies Conference, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States of America. (Jun 30 - Jul 01 2016).
34. Harshit Sosan Lakra and Pushplata. (2015). Beholders of Stories: Contemplating Traditional Cities. Oral presentation at Eight Global Studies Conference, Imperial College London, United Kingdom from 20-21 July 2015..
35. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2012). Vernacular Architecture Education: Defining, Professional Scope and Creating Inclination. Accepted: ISVS-6 International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements-2012, Contemporary Vernaculars: Places, Processes, and Manifestations, April 19-21, 2012, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus.
36. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2011). Higher Education Institutions, Local Labour and Regional Economic Competitiveness. Tribal and Development National Workshop by Rashtriya Manav Sanghrahliya and Sidhu Kanu University, Hazaribagh, 15th -16 November 2011.
37. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2010). Environment, Development and Tribal Community. Environment lecture series, Tarang Uday, Theological Centre, Kanke on Sept 07 2010. ( oral presentation ).
38. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Ajit Roshan Tete, Ritu Agarwal, Smriti Mishra, Shashikant Pandey. (2010). Developing a Model for Empowering Domestic Labourers in Jharkhand. 58th National Town Country Planners Congress on Inclusive Planning for Empowering Urban Poor, Nagpur.
39. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Ajit Roshan Tete, Rashmi Ekka. (2009). State and NGO relationship in Jharkhand. Eighth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, organised by United Nation Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) from 18 - 29 May 2009 at United Nations Headquarters, New York..
40. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2008). State of Higher Education Institution: Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Katrina Fund. Cornell Urban Scholar Program, Jul 300 2008, Cornell University Extension Centre, New York. (oral presentation).
41. Mishra, S., Ritu Agrawal, Lakra Harshit, Richa Sharma. (2007). Performance Measurement of NGO’s and ULBs’ Initiatives in Urban Environment Management: Case Study of Slums of Ranchi. 9th International Congress of Asian Planning Schools Association (APSA 2007), August 27th -29th, 2007, Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Accepted for oral presentation].
42. Harshit Sosan Lakra Mishra Smriti, Agarwal Ritu. (2007). Socio-Physical Environmental Assessment of Slums: A Remote Sensing and GIS Application Case Study of Slums, Ranchi, Jharkhand. 6th Annual International Conference and Exhibition on GIS Technology and Applications Map Asia 2007 14-16 August, 2007 Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
43. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2007). (Participation) East Zone Planning Conference of the Institute of Town Planners, India at BIT Mesra, Ranchi, Aug 04 04 2007.
44. Mishra, S., Ritu Agrawal, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2007). Performance Measurement of NGO’s and ULBs’ Initiatives in Urban Environment Management: Case Study of Slums of Ranchi. ANZEE Conference entitled “Re-inventing Sustainability: A Climate for Change,” July 3rd- 6th, 2007, Queensland, Australia. [Accepted for oral presentation].
45. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Smriti Mishra, Ritu Agrawal. (2007). Women Empowerment Indicators- Critical Appraisal for the State of Jharkhand. ANZEE Conference entitled “Re-inventing Sustainability: A Climate for Change,” July 3rd- 6th, 2007, Queensland, Australia. [Accepted for oral presentation].
46. Agrawal, R., Smriti Mishra, Harshit Sosan Lakra, and B. Arch-2006 Batch students. (2007). Physical Planning for Achieving Sustainable Development: Students' Perspectives and Approaches for the Ranchi Beautification Project. ANZEE Conference entitled “Re-inventing Sustainability: A Climate for Change,” July 3rd- 6th, 2007, Queensland, Australia. [Accepted for oral presentation].
47. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2007). (Participation). One-day workshop on “Model Building Byelaws for Safety Against Natural HMar 12” on Mar 12, 2007, organised by Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Department of Urban Development, Government of Jharkhand.
48. Mishra, S., Harshit Sosan Lakra, Ritu Agrawal. (2006). Urban Environmental Management, Performance Measurement of NGO’s and ULBs’ initiatives, Case study of Slums of Jharkhand. In the 9th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics on Ecological Sustainability and Human Well-Being, December 15th -18th, 2006, New Delhi, India. [Poster presentation].
49. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Mishra Smriti, Agarwal Ritu. (2006). Women Empowerment Indicators: Critical Appraisal for the State of Jharkhand. In the 9th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics on Ecological Sustainability and Human Well-Being, December 15th -18th, 2006, New Delhi, India. [Poster presentation].
50. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2006). (Participation). International Conference on ‘Advisory Services in Environmental Management' organised by the Urban Development Department of JhJul 19d on Jul 19 2006, at Capitol Hill, Ranchi.
51. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2006). (Participation). Stakeholder Workshop on the City Development Plan of Ranchi, organised by Meinhardt Singapore Pvt. Ltd. and Ranchi Municipal Corporation, Ranchi, during 26-27 June 2006.
52. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2006). (Participation). International Conference on ‘The Role of Socio-Economic & Spatial Planning in NationaApr 15pment' 14, 15 April 2006, New Delhi, India, organised by FBE, Faculty of Built Environment, University of New South Wales, School of Architecture & Planning, Delhi, HUDCO, Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, CEPT, Ahmedabad, Australian Habitat Studies.
53. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Mishra Smriti, Agarwal Ritu (2006). Indicator Identification for Energy-Efficient Urban Growth. All India Seminar in Architectural Engineering, ’ The Co-ordination of Various Engineering Wings in Architectural Planning for Building Construction’, 8-9 March 2006, organised by the Institute of Engineers (India ) in association with the Department of Architecture, BIT Mesra, Ranchi. [Oral presentation].
54. Choudhary Suniti, Harshit Sosan Lakra, Mishra Smriti, Agarwal Ritu. (2006). Bamboo: Natural Resource Utilisation and Conservation. National Conference on Recent Advances in Environmental Biotechnology for Biodiversity Management, February 11-12, 2006, organised by Interdisciplinary Forum, Ranchi College in Collaboration with CVS [Oral presentation].
55. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Mishra Smriti, Agarwal Ritu. (2006). Green Buildings: An Approach Towards Sustainable Development. Workshop on Modern Buildings and Sustainable Building Practices in Jharkhand, organised by the Building Construction Department, Government of Jharkhand, 9-10 January, 2006. [Oral presentation].
56. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2005). National Resources Management in Jamunia Watershed. National Seminar on GIS and Geo-informatics, conducted by the Society of Remote Sensing and hosted by the Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi. [Oral presentation].
57. Harshit Sosan Lakra, Kullu Nishi Jaya, Zehra Perveen. (2005). *Rural Employment: Perspective and Achievement Critical Appraisal of Jharkhand State*. Paper presented at the 25th ISRS Annual Convention and National Symposium, “Emergence of Geoinformatics for Development: Trends & Opportunities,” from December 6-9, 2005, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
58. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2005). ‘Sports Architecture '. National Sept 05 on Physical Education, Sept 05, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi. [Oral presentation].
59. Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2005). (Participation). International Conference on Art and Architecture of Eastern India, from 8th -11 Feb, 2005, organised by the Department of Architecture, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, in collaboration with the International Centre for the Study of Bengal Art, Dhaka, and the National Archives, Dhaka.
60. Ahmed Seemi, Harshit Sosan Lakra. (2003). Ecological Aspects of Appropriate Techniques in Building Construction for Different Geographical Regions. 19th National Convention of Architectural Engineers on ‘Planning for Sustainable Built Environment’ 1-2 Nov 2003, MANIT, Bhopal.