52-Hyderabad lake environment management ( HELM) software

Abstract

Interventions in Urban Lakes are rapidly becoming increasingly important, and it is essential to examine the technical solutions; the socio-economic considerations and the economic viability and long term sustainability of the measures to be adopted. To carry out all these tasks, a comprehensive knowledge of the hydrological, geological, socioeconomic and historical data in required. This is normally available in fragmented form, and needs to be pieced together painstakingly or at great cost. Also, for sustainability, the data needs to be preserved in a standardized manner for the future. Hyderabad Lake Environment Management Software (HELM) Version 1.04 has been developed in-order to systematically organize all data related to lake and its environment. The first version 1.01 was essentially for storing all lake related technical data critical for planning and taking decisions on various lake improvement options as well as to monitor the performance of different interventions and update the information base for lakes which yet to be taken up for improvement. The new version, 1.04, offers provision for storing all technical data related to individual lakes - both static and dynamic and has sophisticated graphical features and reporting features. The version also incorporates limited GIS capabilities, and complete STP operations monitoring. The system also links with the accounting system to provide Contract management and accounting information. HELM is be a single integrated system that provides all data related to the lakes, their design, STP, Groundwater around the lake, and lake accounts and monitoring of different lake improvement interventions undertaken by HUDA.