Report

Verdure: Campus Greenscape Project

A data-driven ecological report released by OASIS on 1st February 2025, VERDURE maps the transformation of IISER Berhampur’s campus greenscape from 2018 to 2025, highlighting key environmental changes through satellite imagery and community insights.

conducted at IISER Berhampur on 1st of February, 2025

strong>Methodology and Tools of Investigation

span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;">The report employed satellite imagery analysis from the years 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2025, processed using supervised classification in RGIS (Remote Geographic Information System). This geospatial approach enabled a high-resolution temporal comparison of vegetation cover and land-use changes. The study began by identifying substantial deforestation and loss of native flora due to rapid infrastructure development. However, subsequent datasets reflected a commendable recovery—evident in the proliferation of planted areas, natural regrowth, and stabilization of green zones. Visual documentation from Google Maps, alongside campus-based geotagged photographs, allowed for an accessible and data-rich portrayal of environmental change.

strong>Community-Led Restoration and Sustainable Futures

span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;">An integral highlight of the report is the role of the campus community in mitigating ecological degradation. Strategic interventions—including afforestation drives, preservation of natural patches, and nurturing of local biodiversity—emerged as grassroots efforts by students, faculty, and staff. These efforts are further supported by anecdotal narratives from long-term campus residents, who describe the return of native birds, insects, and understory vegetation, lending qualitative depth to the satellite findings.

span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;">VERDURE stands as both a documentation of ecological resilience and a call to action. It contributes to the growing body of citizen science literature and exemplifies how data-driven storytelling can inform policy and promote environmental stewardship within academic spaces. The IISER Berhampur experience may serve as a model for similarly positioned institutions seeking to balance infrastructure growth with ecological integrity. The report continues to inspire future work aimed at fostering greener, more biodiverse campuses.