RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY
ASSIGNMENT-1
(by Ar Sukriti Gopalakrishnan)
RESEARCH PAPER-1

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF SOCIO-CULTURAL AND

CLIMATIC ASPECTS IN A TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY:
A CASE STUDY OF PILLAYARPALAYAM WEAVER’S
CLUSTER, KANCHIPURAM
Authors: J Vijayalaxmi & K C Kalam Arathy
ABSTRACT
• It states that the aim of the study is to assess and
evaluate the spatial and climate response features of
the vernacular weavers’ settlement in
Pillayarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
• Methodology used is primary documentation and
unstructured interviews to understand the
architectural and anthropological development of
the area.
• The area of study was divided into 3 levels: dwelling,
cluster and street.
• Detailed study of analysis of building materials,
construction techniques, climate response features
and spatial analysis with respect to the weaving
activities was conducted.
• Traditional houses were residence cum workplace for
the weavers. Many traditional buildings have been
replaced by concrete structures, hence, guidelines
have been proposed to preserve the culture,
lifestyle, social factors and vernacular heritage of this
unique craft industry.
METHODOLOGY STUDY AREA
• Primary documentation • Location and climate of area of study (with required
maps)
• Unstructured interviews
• Heritage zones within kanchipuram (with map showing
INTRODUCTION heritage zones)
• History and culture of Kanchipuram
• Accentuates importance of vernacular heritage
• Zones within the survey area (land use map within the
• Reasons for decline of handloom heritage
heritage zones)
• Cultural fabric of Kanchipuram
METHODS & MATERIALS
• Need for conservation of vernacular heritage
• Secondary data collected from govt. schemes
• Policies and guidelines in different parts of the world
• Primary surveys along with unstructured interviews
with respect to preservation of vernacular heritage
• information was collected regarding the processes
• Topics covered in the research paper at hand
involved in the craft of weaving, the infrastructure
facilities required, their supporting organization, the
socio-economic structure and the use of advanced
technologies
• analysis of building typologies was conducted to identify
the climatic features, building materials and construction
techniques in these residences (drawings prepared)
PILLAYARPALAYAM WEAVERS’ ZONE
Settlement pattern: Activity
• weavers zone follows a grid pattern, with the majority • An initial investigation evaluated the daily activities
of land use being residential (land use map) (supported by a pie chart of daily activities)
• built fabric is dense and lacks open spaces (supporting Socio-economic structure
pictures) • Few weavers work with masters or private firms; most
• Health problems as a result of the dyeing process favor cooperatives for various reasons
• Layout of the residences reflect Agraharam style • Most young individuals avoid pursuing this craft due to
better urban prospects
Cultural fibre:
• While most residences accommodate 5-6 occupants, a
• defined by four layers— temples, tanks, streets and
households minority consist of joint family arrangements within
the cluster
• Cluster thrives with temples shaping lifestyle, tradition
Spatial analysis of workspaces:
• The community reveres sacred waterbodies like ponds, • Weaving involves dyeing, warping, sizing, wefting, and
temple tanks weaving stages (activity charts)
Street character: • Activities carried out at home, necessitating ample
• Weavers' zone streets' distinct identity comes from space within residences to accommodate looms and
morning-sized activities (reference images of activities related equipment are shown in tabular form
on both sides of the street)
VERNACULAR WEAVERS’ RESIDENCES DISCUSSION
• Continual changes and adaptations in communities
Dwelling typologies: require surveying to comprehend their evolution, but this
• In Madhanampalaya street, three types of weavers' survey exceeds the paper's scope
residences were classified based on family setups Workspaces:
• The primary survey showed that while most weavers
Spatial planning in residences:
prefer home-based work, poor conditions there force
• 3 categories: -Traditional single-family dwelling of 73 m2
them into factories
- Single-family dwelling Modes of production:
• Traditional methods endure; natural dyes replaced, few
- Joint family dwelling
adopt computers for designs, retaining tradition
• Plans and sections were prepared as per anthropometric Cultural aspects:
details to prepare the spatial analysis • Community values foster closeness through traditional
Materials and construction technique street layouts, social spaces
for vernacular houses: • Temples, festivals pivotal; street sizing causes congestion
• Weavers use locally available materials for constructing due to narrow streets, parking issues
their traditional vernacular houses Social aspects:
Climate response features: • Youth reject profession due to low pay, urban jobs.
• Settlement planning and house architecture adhere to Middlemen threaten
climate-conscious principles like orientation, ventilation, Neighborhood:
and suitable materials • Cluster transforms with new structures, denser urban
spaces, taller buildings
CONCLUSION

• The paper emphasizes conserving intangible values like culture, lifestyles, and production
methods alongside vernacular built heritage
• The study's approach involves supervision, resource allocation, adaptation to natural and cultural
landscapes, climate considerations, and landscape-level analysis
• Proposals should involve local discussions, inspiring preservation of heritage
RESEARCH STRATEGY

• The research strategy employed in this paper appears to be a combination of qualitative and descriptive research
methods along with spatial analysis and primary data collection techniques
• Secondary Data Analysis: Relied on secondary sources, particularly the HRIDAY scheme
• Conducted primary surveys and unstructured interviews to delve into socio-cultural values, traditions, challenges
within the weavers' cluster, and obtain insights from occupants of traditional weavers' residences in
Madhanampalaya street.
• Engaged in spatial analysis to comprehend how weaving activities were incorporated within the physical settings of
streets, dwellings, and the overall cluster, likely involving spatial mapping or assessment.
• Identified typologies of traditional weavers' residences based on family setups and conducted detailed
documentation and analysis of these typologies to understand climatic features, construction materials, and
techniques used
• DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: knowledge derived from direct observation and practical experience (of
the physical senses) and case study of existing schemes
RESEARCH PAPER-2

A STUDY OF MULBERRY SILK IN ANANTAPUR

DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Authors: R Seema
ABSTRACT
• Sericulture in Andhra Pradesh spans 50 years.
• Predominantly practiced in drought-prone regions.
• Vital for rural economy, accepted as sustainable
practice.
• Anantapur faces declining mulberry cultivation due
to groundwater reliance.
• Recent technology enhances sericulture's
sustainability and economic viability, preventing rural
migration
METHODOLOGY IMPORTANCE OF SERICULTURE
• Introduction followed by theoretical literature review. • Sericulture is a vital cash crop in developing nations.

• Importance, methodology, and objectives examined • Major silk producers: China, India, Japan, Brazil, others.
next. • Silk holds cultural significance in India, employing
• Data analysis, results presented; paper concludes in millions.
final section • Iqbal (1991) found mulberry silk's net income surpasses
paddy, wheat, and jute in India.
INTRODUCTION
• China and India jointly contribute a third of global silk
• Sericulture in Andhra Pradesh began 50 years ago. production.
• Predominantly practiced in drought-prone regions. • Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh lead silk production in
• Plays a crucial role in the state's rural economy. India.

• Chittoor and Anantapur are major silk-producing • Anantapur District chosen for study due to extensive
districts. mulberry cultivation exceeding 77,000 acres.

• Anantapur heavily depends on groundwater for • Study sources data from district statistical and
irrigation, cultivating diverse crops including mulberry sericulture department records for analysis
in 63 Mandals
ANALYSIS SERICULTURE IN ANANTAPUR DISTRICT
• India produces all four commercial silks: Mulberry, • Anantapur heavily practices sericulture due to drought
Tasar, Eri, and Muga. resilience and minimal water needs.

• Mulberry dominates India's raw silk production, • Sericulture covers 35.5% of the state's land, involving
accounting for 71.8%. 21,000 farmers across 20,977.25 acres.

• Indian sericulture, tracing back 2000 years, saw • Sericulture in Anantapur offers employment, prevents
significant growth, reaching 18,755 MT of raw silk in migration, involves significant female participation, and
2012–2013 (data shred in tabular form) contributes to foreign exchange through silk exports.

SERICULTURE IN ANDHRA PRADESH CONCLUSION

• Major silk-producing states see declining mulberry
• Andhra Pradesh ranks second in mulberry cocoon
production, providing employment to 36,290 cultivation; technology advances make sericulture
individuals. sustainable, cost-effective.
• Sericulture sustains rural jobs, curbs migration, assures
• Anantapur is a significant silk-producing area in
Rayalaseema, focusing on mulberry cultivation. profitable livelihoods for rural populations.
• Increased demand for superior silk domestically, aided
• Sericulture, spanning 41,591.60 hectares involving
numerous farmers, plays a vital role in Andhra by government support, benefits groundnut farmers'
Pradesh's economy, targeted for expansion by the shift to sericulture.
government.
RESEARCH STRATEGY

• Descriptive strategy depicts current trends and scenarios in sericulture.

• Analytical approach assesses the impact of factors on mulberry cultivation and sericulture
economics.
• Evaluation includes details on technological advancements and government support.
• Explores implications and benefits for rural populations and farmers.
• Overall, combines descriptive, analytical, and evaluative strategies in the research paper.
• DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: knowledge derived from existing studies
RESEARCH PAPER-3

KNOWLEDGE GUIDED INTEGRATED GEO-

HYDROLOGICAL, GEO-MATHEMATICAL AND GIS BASED
GROUNDWATER DRAFT ESTIMATION MODELLING IN
BUDHAN POCHAMPALLI WATERSHED, NALGONDA
DISTRICT, TELANGANA STATE, INDIA
Authors: Rajarshi Saha , G. Praveen Kumar , Manindar Pandiri, Iswar Chandra Das,
P.N. Rao, KSN Reddy and Vinod Kumar K
ABSTRACT
• Groundwater scarcity in granitic terrains is a pressing
issue.
• Water balancing studies emphasize recharge and
draft concerns.
• Micro-level studies used geohydrological data for
draft estimation.
• Validation showed estimated drafts within
acceptable ranges.
• Results offer guidance for sustainable groundwater
management.
METHODOLOGY
• The methodology used in this research paper involves a multi-faceted approach combining Geographic Information
Systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), geohydrology, and conventional field surveys. It integrates various data sources
and methods to estimate groundwater draft, recharge, and availability

INTRODUCTION STUDY AREA

• Groundwater Depletion: India's groundwater faces • Budhan Pochampalli Watershed: Covers 319 km2 in
varied distribution due to geological factors and Telangana's Nalgonda district (supported by GIS map
monsoonal patterns. of the watershed area)
• Impact of Overuse: Excessive extraction causes a 6- • Climate and Geography: Hot, dry climate with Mushi
25m decline, affecting agriculture and inducing land river's perennial flow.
subsidence.
• Population and Water Source: 55 villages, 0.103
• Draft and Usage Trends: Groundwater extraction million people, significant groundwater-based
surpasses recharge; irrigation accounts for 92% usage. irrigation
• National Water Policy: Advocates limiting extraction
to recharge zones for sustainable management.
• Technological Solutions: Employing GIS, remote
sensing, and field surveys for a comprehensive water
management approach.
SITE CHARACTERISTICS CONDITIONING OF PARAMETERS
• Geological Composition: Granitic rocks, basic dykes; • Conditioning parameters are crucial for estimating draft
shallow to deep weathering depths, mainly granites and recharge in a watershed based on its hydro-
and granodiorites. geological conditions.
• Hydrogeological Features: Fractures at 50m depth, • Customized input maps were used to condition
aquifers in weathered granitic complex; lineament parameters for deriving desired outputs in this study
patterns, trend analysis.
• factors used for conditioning parameters to derive the
• Geomorphology & Drainage: Various landforms - desired outputs in this study are mentioned in tabular
denudational hills, pedi plains; dendritic drainage, form3
NW-SE trending streams.
• Land Use & Topography: Agriculture dominant - WATER USAGE FACTOR
Kharif, seasonal crops; 72% suitable for agriculture;
• Water usage factors in the watershed determined using
slope-based divisions.
field data and satellite-derived DEM.
• Soil Types & Distribution: Sandy loam, clay, loamy
• Demarcation based on distances from rivers and canals
soils; clay in central area, loamy in other parts for
cropping reveals surface vs. groundwater usage.
• Varied zones show percentages: 20% groundwater, 80%
• recognized geomorphological units are mentioned in
tabular form surface water to 80% groundwater, 20% surface water
METHODOLOGY
• Methodologies:
• Used GIS, remote sensing, and field surveys for groundwater estimation.
• Integrated data sources for complex draft delineation.

• Integrated Approach:
• Combined remote sensing, geohydrology, geomorphology, and GIS
techniques.
• Converted results into a knowledge-guided model for accuracy.

• Estimation Techniques:
• Employed hydrogeological surveys and unit draft methods for
validation.
• Considered various factors for precise computation.

• Parameters for Assessment:

• Factors in crop needs, slope, land use, rainfall, and water usage.
• Calculated irrigation draft alongside common water usage metrics.

• Spatial and Temporal Analysis:

• Facilitated large-scale spatial integration for regional assessments.
• Allowed flexible periodic evaluations based on data availability..
RESULT VALIDATION
Groundwater required for cultivation: • Validation is like debugging or proofing- it is intended
to ensure that the model does what it is intended to
• Groundwater for cultivation estimated using crop area do and the result is similar to nearer depending upon
and water needs. the accuracy.
• Paddy constitutes 81-91% of cultivated land, • Validation of the complex model includes bore-well
supporting two seasonal crops. unit draft estimations for accuracy.
• Majority of watershed sustains paddy cultivation and • Geo-hydrological variations and geomorphology
multiple crops. significantly affect groundwater estimation.
Rain Water retained for recharge and Agriculture: • Bore well unit draft method validates model accuracy
• Rainfall crucial for both cultivation and groundwater via field-based observations (supported by GIS map of
recharge in the watershed. bore-well unit draft)

• Calculations based on rainwater retention for

recharge and agricultural needs.
• Total groundwater draft computed accounting for
domestic, recharge, and usage estimations.
CONCLUSION
• Model validation involved field measurements and comparison with conventionally used methods.
• Knowledge guided modeling aligned closely with field observations for accurate groundwater draft.
• Validated results offered a reliable foundation for sustainable groundwater management plans.
• Despite limitations, the model aided efficient water resource management, particularly in data-scarce regions.
• Interdisciplinary data analysis helped decisions for sustainable groundwater use and management.
RESEARCH STRATEGY
• Multidisciplinary Integration: Utilized GIS, remote sensing, hydrogeological surveys, and geomorphology.
• Knowledge-Guided Model: Developed a comprehensive geo-mathematical model for accurate estimations.
• Validation Techniques: Implementation of hydrogeological surveys and unit draft methods for accuracy checks.
• Parameter Integration: Considered crop needs, land use, rainfall, and water usage for precise calculations.
• Spatial and Temporal Flexibility: Allowed large-scale spatial integration and periodic assessments based on data
availability.
• DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: knowledge derived from existing studies
• MODELLING: preparation of GIS maps and tables
• EVALUATION & DIAGNOSIS: mathematical calculation of groundwater usage and agriculture usage and
comparing with the unit draft method