Description:

Just as a road map is essential for reaching a destination, a well-defined ‘road map’ is crucial for guiding us toward a sustainable future. This need is even more critical given the rapid expansion of human activities, particularly in developing countries like India. Traditionally, land use and human activities were shaped by long-term observations and an in-depth understanding of the land, terrain, and environment. However, in today’s era of rapid and often unregulated growth in infrastructure and urbanisation, local history and traditional knowledge are frequently overlooked. Decisions about land use are now primarily driven by availability and cost, often disregarding the broader ecological and spatial interconnections of a site within the larger landscape. This fragmented approach has led to numerous environmental challenges. This talk will explore how historical maps and satellite imagery can offer valuable insights into past landscapes, enabling more informed and sustainable planning decisions for the future.

Speaker Bio:

Ekta Gupta is a Juan De la Cierva Fellow at the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC) in Spain. Previously she was an Early Career Fellow at IIT
Gandhinagar. She got her doctoral degree from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. She has got her BA (Hons.) degree from Kirorimal College, MA (Geography) from the Savitribai Phule University, Pune and M Tech (GIS) from NIIT University, Neemrana. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates insights from cartography, archaeology, geomorphology, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to understand cultural and physical landscapes. Specialised in GIS and Remote Sensing (RS) based archaeology and geoarchaeology, she has been exploring hidden archaeological sites, ancient hydrological systems, and palaeolandscapes through a blend of techniques. She has received a few prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Juan De la Cierva Fellowship at ICAC, the Early Career Fellowship at IIT Gandhinagar in 2021 and the Nehru Trust UK Visiting fellowship. Beyond her research, she actively engaged in imparting training to students, research scholars, and professionals, and outreach programs.