Dr. Reshma Vilasan

I am a dedicated and accomplished Urban Planner with a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. My research focused on developing strategies for the conservation and management of wetlands, with a specific case study in Ernakulam District, Kerala, India. Through this work, I gained expertise in assessing spatiotemporal encroachment on wetlands, identifying key drivers of change, and proposing effective conservation strategies.
Before my doctoral studies, I earned my M. Tech in Urban Planning from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, and B. Tech in Civil Engineering from NSS Colege of Engineering, Palakkad. My professional experience at the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, Thiruvananthapuram enriched my perspective on urban planning challenges, particularly in disaster-prone regions. This experience has also equipped me with valuable insights to guide and mentor students in their projects and assignments.
I am passionate about sustainable urban development and aspire to contribute to innovative solutions that address environmental and societal challenges. My academic background, coupled with practical experience, enables me to leverage analytical rigor and strategic thinking in urban planning projects. I am enthusiastic about opportunities to collaborate on impactful initiatives that promote resilient and inclusive cities. Let's connect to explore potential synergies and opportunities for collaboration in the field of urban planning and environmental conservation.

Academic positions & teaching: Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning at Nitte School of Architecture, Planning & Design (since 4 Dec 2023). Teach multiple subjects, run a planning studio (≈10 hrs/week), serve as academic coordinator for the department and proctor for a cohort of students. Actively developing course content and learning outcomes across subjects such as Urban Transformation, Planning Legislation, Quantitative Methods, Land-use & Transportation integration, and Techniques of Planning.

Education: Ph.D. (Architecture, VNIT Nagpur) with a focus on wetland conservation and flood-susceptibility mapping; M.Plan (Urban Planning, VNIT Nagpur); B.E. (Civil Engineering).

Research & publications: Two SCI journal papers and two international conference papers. Doctoral research used remote sensing, GIS, AHP and F-AHP methods for wetland conservation and flood risk analysis.

Professional experience in practice & policy: One year as an Urban Planner at the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), contributing practical knowledge in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation relevant to ecological restoration and planning.

Reviewer & academic service: Peer reviewer for multiple reputable journals (e.g., Journal of Hydrology; Sustainable Water Resources Management; Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment; Water Resources Management; Materials and Structures; Scientific African; Anthropocene Science).

Teaching materials & course development: Extensive experience preparing syllabi, lecture modules, question banks, presentations and studio briefs — topics include water resources, land-use analysis, statistical methods, planning standards, CPTED, and temple-town revitalization projects.

Ph.D. in Architecture (Urban Planning focus), Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur

Research: Strategy for Conservation and Management of Wetlands – A Case Study of Ernakulam District, Kerala, India.

Applied advanced methods: Remote sensing, GIS, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy-AHP for flood susceptibility mapping and ecosystem-based resilience.

Master of Urban Planning, VNIT Nagpur

Specialized in urban and regional planning, with strong grounding in land use, infrastructure, and sustainability.

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering), University of Calicut