IIT Gandhinagar sets up AI Resilience and Command Centre for urban resilience

IIT Gandhinagar has set up a new AI Resilience and Command Centre aimed at strengthening data-driven climate risk management and urban resilience across India.

The AI Resilience and Command Centre, located at the IIT Gandhinagar Research Park, is designed to support decision-making for cities by integrating flood forecasting, mobility impacts, and operational response systems into a single physics-guided artificial intelligence framework.

The initiative seeks to improve preparedness and coordinated responses to climate-related risks.

The launch event was attended by senior government officials, including Dr Sangeeta Singh, Vigilance Commissioner of Gujarat; P C Vyas, Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Gujarat; P R Patelia, Secretary, Roads and Buildings Department; and M D Patel, Special Secretary, Water Resources Department.

The officials also shared their views on urban governance and resilience during the inaugural ceremony.

According to IIT Gandhinagar, the ARC Centre aims to link climate data with actionable intelligence by moving from rainfall analysis to resilience planning.

The institute said the center will help cities anticipate risks, protect livelihoods, and support sustainable urban development, aligning with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

During the launch, the research team demonstrated how the center will combine physics-consistent modeling with artificial intelligence to enable real-time flood assessment, scenario-based analysis, and decision support for urban systems.

The session involved contributions from teams associated with the AICoE project and AIResQ ClimSols Pvt. Ltd.

The decision-support systems deployed at the center are powered by AIResQ ClimSols Pvt. Ltd., a deep-tech startup incubated at IIT Gandhinagar.

According to the institute, these tools allow faster simulations, real-time flood prediction, and what-if scenario analysis while maintaining scientific rigor.

Dr Vivek Kapadia, former Secretary to the Government of Gujarat and Professor of Practice at IIT Gandhinagar, highlighted the importance of structured, technology-led decision-making based on his experience in public administration and academia.

He said, “We need to move towards data-backed and structurally sound decision-making instead of relying on ad hoc approaches. With the use of advanced computational tools and automation, processes that earlier took months can now be completed much faster.”

Kapadia also stressed the need for responsible use of technology in governance. “This is not just an ambition; it is a collective dream to build systems that are robust, inclusive, and capable of supporting better governance and development,” he added.