Chithra K

@nitc.ac.in

Associate Professor, Department of Architecture & Planning
National Institute of Technology Calicut



              

https://researchid.co/chithrak

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Architecture, Urban Studies, Multidisciplinary

21

Scopus Publications

408

Scholar Citations

10

Scholar h-index

10

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • A GIS-Based Decision Support System to Study the Impact of Land Use Policies on Water-Related Ecosystem Services—A Case Study of Kozhikode, Kerala
    Nishan Nazer, Bimal Puthuvayi, and Chithra Kurukkanari
    Wiley
    ABSTRACTThis study tries to review the land use policies from the perspective of their impact on the ecosystem and identify significant negative LULC changes and their spatial distribution. The study proposes a decision support system to evaluate land‐use policies based on the coupling coordination degree (CCD) of LULC and water‐related ecosystem service (WES) changes. By studying the nature of the interaction, changes in the intensity and significance of land use and land cover (LULC) changes with negative WES changes, the implications of the government LULC policies and schemes are assessed. Unlike general LULC‐WES studies that focus on the influence of the LULC on WES in a cross‐section of time, this study focuses on the changes in the WES due to changes in LULC over the longitudinal section of time at pixel‐level resolution. For illustration, one of the fastest urbanizing districts in Kerala, Kozhikode, was selected. From 2003 to 2013, LULC‐driven WES changes were highest in municipal areas and the western coast, shifting to midlands and urban centers in 2013–2022. Critical land use changes included the conversion of plantations and farms to built‐up areas (2003‐2013), and plantations to farms and barren lands (2013–2022). The 2018 Kerala Forest Policy effectively reduced forest conversion, while several agricultural and conservation policies proved ineffective. Key ecological concerns include farm‐to‐urban conversion and plantation abandonment in urbanizing areas. The study emphasizes the need for targeted, ecologically informed agricultural policies to address these issues and improve WES management. The spatial mapping of LULC changes hotspots that are detrimental to WES and assists urban decision‐makers in the formulation of decentralized, participatory, and spatially targeted land use controls.

  • Traditional architectural knowledge systems and the sustainable development goals


  • Modeling flood susceptibility on the onset of the Kerala floods of 2018
    K. Chithra, B. V. Binoy, and P. Bimal
    Springer Science and Business Media LLC

  • A methodological framework integrating land use land cover and ecosystem services for optimal urban land management
    N Nazer, C Kurukkanari, and B Puthuvayi
    IOP Publishing
    Abstract Urban planning is a crucial element in the sustainable development of cities, with increasing recognition of the critical role of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are essential for urban well-being, and their effectiveness is closely linked to the spatial organization of land use. This study investigated the intricate relationship between land use and land cover (LULC) and ecosystem services (ES). To achieve optimal land use management, we propose a methodology that utilizes coupling coordination degree (CCD) and system dynamics (SD) modeling. This study acknowledges the impact of LULC on ecosystem services and suggests that controlling LULC can be an effective tool in managing and enhancing these services. The degree of coupling coordination serves as a valuable metric for examining the intricate nature of the interactions between LULC and ecosystem services. By quantifying the degree of coordination between these two systems, we get insights into the modeling of the dynamics of the LULC and ES systems. The control factors influencing these interactions can be identified using factors, interactions, risks, and ecological detectors in the geographic detector analysis process. System dynamic modeling enhances our ability to capture and understand the complex relationships within an urban ecosystem. By creating a dynamic model, we can better control and predict the factors that influence LULC and ecosystem services. This study contributes to the development of a methodological framework for urban planners, policymakers, and researchers to optimize land-use management and promote sustainable and resilient cities. The proposed methodology establishes a foundation for future research and applications in urban planning and ecosystem management.

  • A comprehensive literature review and bibliometric analysis on shape grammar theory and applications in architecture
    Linas Fathima A and Chithra K
    SAGE Publications
    Shape Grammar is a systematic tool used in the logical argumentive method in research for interpreting spatial design and activities. Shape grammar applies a group of shape rules in stages to create a set or a language of design. Researchers worldwide have used this method in various fields including architecture, arts, graphical design, and pattern recognition. Even in the case of architecture, researchers worldwide have implemented the shape grammar method to analyze patterns in various architectural fields. This study analyzed publication trends in the shape grammar domain using “Bibliometrix”, an open-source tool that uses the R package. Research papers from the Web of Science and Scopus (WoS) database were identified and assessed in terms of annual publication trends, contributions of various authors, countries, citation counts of authors, universities, popular keywords, journal trends, etc. A comprehensive literature review of all relevant research papers available in the WoS and Scopus academic databases on shape grammar and its application in architecture was also conducted as part of this study. The research paper concludes with the possible research opportunities in the domain of shape grammar.

  • Emotiv Cities: Understanding Human Perception of Urban Spaces—A Case from South India
    Lakshmi Manohar and Chithra Kurukkanari
    Springer Nature Switzerland


  • The role of energy management in transition towards green cities: a review
    Arathy Sudarsan and K. Chithra
    Springer Science and Business Media LLC


  • A state-of-the-art review on readiness assessment tools in the adoption of renewable energy
    Arathy Sudarsan, Chithra Kurukkanari, and Deepthi Bendi
    Springer Science and Business Media LLC

  • Traditional Building Knowledge Systems - A Path to Sustainability
    S B Athira, P K Amritha, and K Chithra
    IOP Publishing
    Abstract In architecture and planning domain, sustainability has been considered as a core strategy for over three decades now. The modern era of globalisation, led to homogenisation in architecture, thus widening the gap between modern and Traditional Building Knowledge systems (TBKS) worldwide. This gap is widening at an alarming speed and alienating the architectural concepts from the context and its people, by ignoring the sustainability aspects. The TBKS has evolved in line with the environmental, cultural, technological, economic, and historical context within which it exists. The current study provides an overview of the concepts involved in sustainability and TBKS and how TBKS is addressed in the international forums and UN reports, and ancient treatises that formed the basis of TBKS in the Indian context. The four pillars of sustainability i.e., environmental, social, economic, and cultural dimensions were considered as the parameters to measure how far the sustainability has been achieved in the built environment. From the extensive review of literature, a set of design indicators was identified for the TBKS. Further, its applicability was also analysed based on the case examples. The current study reveals that such indicators, mentioned in the TBKS, are context-specific in nature. Hence, it helps in achieving sustainability at the building level. The paper concludes by identifying the co-relation between TBKS and sustainability and calls for more studies upon using the Traditional Building Knowledge Systems as a potential tool to achieve sustainability.


  • Role of culture in sustainable development and sustainable built environment: a review
    Nina Lazar and K. Chithra
    Springer Science and Business Media LLC

  • Spatial Mapping of the Flood-Affected Regions of Northern Kerala: A Case Study of 2018 Kerala Floods
    K. Chithra, B. V. Binoy, and P. Bimal
    Springer Science and Business Media LLC





  • Investigation of key criteria influencing the sustainability of residential buildings in tropical climate
    Nina Lazar and K Chithra
    IOP Publishing
    Abstract Introduction: The need for sustainable cities and societies is well established and it is recognized as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable buildings are the key elements in the fabric of sustainable cities. The efforts made in the building sector to accomplish the SDGs is widely accepted in the form of building rating systems and assessment systems, primarily focussing the environmental dimension, but the social and economic dimensions have gained less attention. In this context, developing countries are accustomed to many studies incorporating the three dimensions of sustainability. However, region-specific assessment systems and studies hardly exist especially in a country like India with diverse climatic conditions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the key criteria influencing the environmental, social and economic sustainability with specific focus to residential buildings in the tropical climatic region of India. Methods: A comprehensive review of the existing Green Building Rating Systems (GBRS) and published literature was performed to establish the initial pool of criteria. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted among experts from various domains to record the importance of each criterion towards sustainability of residential buildings in the tropical climate. The data collected through the questionnaire survey was analyzed and the degree of importance of each criterion was derived using Fuzzy TOPSIS. Further, Pareto analysis was used to arrive at the key criteria. Results: This study has evaluated the importance of each criterion towards sustainability and has proposed a comprehensive framework for assessing the sustainability of residential buildings in tropical climate incorporating the three dimensions of sustainability. The proposed framework would help the state and national governments to streamline the activities in the building sector towards achieving sustainability. Conclusions: The study concludes that a combination of Fuzzy TOPSIS and Pareto analysis is an effective method to define key criteria influencing sustainability. The findings of this study can be helpful to practitioners, researchers and academicians to achieve building sustainability in the tropical climate.


  • Land use generator based solid waste estimation for sustainable residential built environment in small/medium scale urban areas
    P. P. Anilkumar and Ar. K. Chithra
    Indian Society for Education and Environment
    Background: The paper is based on a study aimed at arriving a more rational method to estimate quantity of solid waste generated type-wise, replacing the per capita based system practiced at present. Methods: It tries to understand how ‘residential land use and associated activities’ based specific key generator parameters of solid waste in a small/medium scale urban area influence quantity of waste generated. Criticality of residential landuse and related generators are identified through a Delphi/AHP based expert survey. Their relationship to waste generation is established using a field survey conducted in 2 select wards of three cities in South India. A statistically relevant sample size of 150 households/ward was surveyed. Results: The results show that when solid waste estimation based on land use parameters is attempted for residential land use not only factors like household size, income and food habits matter but also factors like housing typology, educational back ground, household size, existing systems in place for waste management etc have a decisive role to play in waste generation. Results of the Delphi/AHP process showing landuse criticality and weightage of the relevant parameters of residential landuse are first presented. Then, the paper discusses the field survey findings linking the stated parameters to the type and quantities of waste produced in the surveyed cities. In conclusion, the paper briefly outlines a system that can be developed to estimate solid waste generation at a suitable level (like ward) incorporating the parameters listed. Application: At the application level, such a system will have superior quantitative and qualitative precision of waste estimation and thus can help better in waste management, capacity building and mitigation measures as the case may be.

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Cultural Influences on the Architecture of Courtyard Houses: Insights from Courtyard Houses in Kerala, India.
    A Linas Fathima, K Chithra
     2024

  • Decoding Namboothiri illams of Kerala: A shape grammar approach
    AL Fathima, K Chithra
    ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING B-URBAN ANALYTICS AND CITY SCIENCE 2024

  • Exploring Vernacular Architecture: Unravelling Characteristics and Typologies Through Expert Survey
    FA Linas, K Chithra
    SCIRES-IT-SCIentific RESearch and Information Technology 14 (1), 97-110 2024

  • The role of energy management in transition towards green cities: a review
    A Sudarsan, K Chithra
    Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-23 2024

  • Modeling flood susceptibility on the onset of the Kerala floods of 2018
    K Chithra, BV Binoy, P Bimal
    Environmental Earth Sciences 83 (4), 123 2024

  • Framework for the application of ecosystem services based urban ecological carrying capacity assessment in the urban decision-making process
    N Nazer, K Chithra, P Bimal
    Environmental Challenges 13, 100745 2023

  • An Appraisal of Kerala’s ‘Silverline Rail’Proposal: A Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment
    A Sudarsan, K Chithra, D Bendi
    International Geographical Union Thematic Conference, 22-35 2022

  • Green Building Rating Systems from the prospect of sustainability dimensions through the building lifecycle
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29 (34), 51054-51064 2022

  • Role of culture in sustainable development and sustainable built environment: A review
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Environment, Development and Sustainability 24 (5), 5991-6031 2022

  • Spatial mapping of the flood-affected regions of Northern Kerala: a case study of 2018 Kerala floods
    K Chithra, BV Binoy, P Bimal
    Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing 50 (4), 677-688 2022

  • Benchmarking critical criteria for assessing sustainability of residential buildings in tropical climate
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Journal of Building Engineering 45, 103467 2022

  • Prioritization of sustainability dimensions and categories for residential buildings of tropical climate: A multi-criteria decision-making approach
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Journal of Building Engineering 39, 102262 2021

  • Comprehensive bibliometric mapping of publication trends in the development of Building Sustainability Assessment Systems
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Environment, Development and Sustainability 23, 4899-4923 2021

  • Evaluation of sustainability criteria for residential buildings of tropical climate: The stakeholder perspective
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Energy and Buildings 232, 110654 2021

  • Decentralised solid waste management for Kozhikode corporation-A sustainable approach.
    K Chithra, S Yoonus
    Environ. Waste Manag. Recycl 4 (1), 1-4 2021

  • Investigation of key criteria influencing the sustainability of residential buildings in tropical climate
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 588 (2), 022016 2020

  • A comprehensive literature review on development of Building Sustainability Assessment Systems
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Journal of Building Engineering 32, 101450 2020

  • Green building rating systems and energy efficiency of a building from the building lifecycle perspective
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Green Buildings and Sustainable Engineering: Proceedings of GBSE 2019, 173-190 2020

  • Green building rating systems from the perspective of the three pillars of sustainability using point allocation method
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Green Buildings and Sustainable Engineering: Proceedings of GBSE 2018, 151-165 2018

  • of Sustainability Using Point Allocation
    N Lazard, K Chithra
    Green Buildings and Sustainable Engineering: Proceedings of GBSE 2018, 151 2018

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • A comprehensive literature review on development of Building Sustainability Assessment Systems
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Journal of Building Engineering 32, 101450 2020
    Citations: 109

  • Comprehensive bibliometric mapping of publication trends in the development of Building Sustainability Assessment Systems
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Environment, Development and Sustainability 23, 4899-4923 2021
    Citations: 65

  • Role of culture in sustainable development and sustainable built environment: A review
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Environment, Development and Sustainability 24 (5), 5991-6031 2022
    Citations: 55

  • Evaluation of sustainability criteria for residential buildings of tropical climate: The stakeholder perspective
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Energy and Buildings 232, 110654 2021
    Citations: 31

  • Benchmarking critical criteria for assessing sustainability of residential buildings in tropical climate
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Journal of Building Engineering 45, 103467 2022
    Citations: 25

  • Prioritization of sustainability dimensions and categories for residential buildings of tropical climate: A multi-criteria decision-making approach
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Journal of Building Engineering 39, 102262 2021
    Citations: 22

  • Municipal solid waste management, a major impacted sector of urban environment due to residential land use activities-study of Kozhikode City
    K Chithra, PP Anilkumar, MA Naseer
    Procedia Environmental Sciences 35, 110-118 2016
    Citations: 19

  • Land use based modelling of solid waste generation for sustainable residential development in small/medium scale urban areas
    PP Anilkumar, K Chithra
    Procedia Environmental Sciences 35, 229-237 2016
    Citations: 19

  • Green building rating systems from the perspective of the three pillars of sustainability using point allocation method
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Green Buildings and Sustainable Engineering: Proceedings of GBSE 2018, 151-165 2018
    Citations: 16

  • Green Building Rating Systems from the prospect of sustainability dimensions through the building lifecycle
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29 (34), 51054-51064 2022
    Citations: 11

  • Spatial mapping of the flood-affected regions of Northern Kerala: a case study of 2018 Kerala floods
    K Chithra, BV Binoy, P Bimal
    Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing 50 (4), 677-688 2022
    Citations: 6

  • Land use generator based solid waste estimation for sustainable residential built environment in small/medium scale urban areas
    PP Anilkumar, K Chithra
    Indian Journal of Science and Technology 9 (6), 1-7 2016
    Citations: 6

  • Quantification of residential land use characteristics from an impact generation potential perspective
    K Chithra, PP Anilkumar, MA Naseer
    Indian Journal of Science and Technology 8 (28), 1-7 2015
    Citations: 6

  • Modeling flood susceptibility on the onset of the Kerala floods of 2018
    K Chithra, BV Binoy, P Bimal
    Environmental Earth Sciences 83 (4), 123 2024
    Citations: 4

  • Framework for the application of ecosystem services based urban ecological carrying capacity assessment in the urban decision-making process
    N Nazer, K Chithra, P Bimal
    Environmental Challenges 13, 100745 2023
    Citations: 4

  • An Assessment of LEED based green building certification system from the energy efficient building perspective
    K Chithra, PP Anilkumar
    International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering 3 (3 2013
    Citations: 3

  • Decentralised solid waste management for Kozhikode corporation-A sustainable approach.
    K Chithra, S Yoonus
    Environ. Waste Manag. Recycl 4 (1), 1-4 2021
    Citations: 2

  • Exploring Vernacular Architecture: Unravelling Characteristics and Typologies Through Expert Survey
    FA Linas, K Chithra
    SCIRES-IT-SCIentific RESearch and Information Technology 14 (1), 97-110 2024
    Citations: 1

  • The role of energy management in transition towards green cities: a review
    A Sudarsan, K Chithra
    Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-23 2024
    Citations: 1

  • Investigation of key criteria influencing the sustainability of residential buildings in tropical climate
    N Lazar, K Chithra
    IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 588 (2), 022016 2020
    Citations: 1