Strengthening South–South Learning: PRISM Reports from Mumbai

My adventure from Accra to Mumbai was nothing short of thrilling! The moment I touched down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), I was greeted with warmth by Alex from the Mumbai Living Lab (MLL) team. We wasted no time and headed straight to a local Indian restaurant—my very first experience with Indian cuisine! Alex chose dosa for me, and I’ve been captivated by the incredible flavors of Indian food ever since! Our journey to my apartment in Virar, a bustling suburb of Mumbai, took over two hours, offering me an exhilarating glimpse into the city’s immense vibrancy and complexities.

Officially starting at the MLL office on 3rd July 2025, I was welcomed by an incredible team—Paul, Alex, Kshitija, and Shreya. Shreya introduced me to their impressive working paper titled: "Leveraging Digital Tools for Analysis of Informalities Dynamics in Autorickshaw Systems: A Case Study of Nalasopara, Mumbai." 

The MLL takes a bottom-up approach, engaging directly with the community by interviewing 250 auto drivers. Their toolkit is awe-inspiring, featuring tools like Open Data Kit (ODK), General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), OSM and OSM Tracker, OSMnx, Docker, Python, Jupyter, Google Colab, and Visual Studio Code. As I delve into researching tricycle services in Ghana, these innovative tools and methods resonate perfectly with my objectives, and I am absolutely eager to incorporate them into my study!

During my presentation at the Living Lab, I shared my research on "Utilizing GIS to Evaluate the Spatial Distribution and Operational Characteristics of Tricycle Services in Ghana." Basically, my study aims to analyze the spatial distribution of tricycle services in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA); develop a typology of tricycles based on their operational patterns and recommend improvements for urban transport systems in Ghana.

I’m thrilled to share my recent experiences with the MLL team, who provided me with incredibly thoughtful and constructive feedback! They inspired me to apply the methods they used in their Mumbai case upon my return to Accra. 

One of the highlights was visiting a lake site where a cutting-edge filtration system is being built to treat inflowing water—an amazing example of infrastructure planning that's deeply attuned to environmental needs!  I also had the fantastic opportunity to join the team in Nalasopara East, their study area, where we observed and documented some fascinating aspects, including:

•           Commuter behaviors 

•           Activities around auto stands

•           Movement patterns towards the railway station and other areas

It was my first time using the OSM Tracker to map our route—a simple yet powerful tool that made the experience even more engaging! 

On July 8th, I took the train to visit Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture (KRVIA) in Andheri. Thanks to Paul’s introduction, I met the Principal, Faculty, and some brilliant master’s students. I attended a studio class where students shared their fantastic work on mapping urban heat islands and creating typologies for climate adaptation

In another session, Paul introduced me to Docker, a powerful GIS programming tool. Through the utilization of Docker, I explored various applications, including Apache Tomcat, gds_py, momepy, and osmnx. Even though my laptop couldn’t handle the software due to lower specs, I found the sessions incredibly valuable. With the acquisition of a new laptop, I immersed myself in Docker, and now I can extract district administrative boundaries through coding, map complex road networks specific to various districts or regions and conduct statistical analyses of diverse phenomena. Although these tasks initially appeared challenging, they soon became manageable through persistent practice. I achieved a significant milestone when I was able to proficiently demonstrate these processes to other colleagues, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

I’ve now visited KRVIA four times, and each visit has only deepened my appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches to urban studies! 

Meanwhile, I’ve been diligently working on my literature review as guided by my supervisor, Professor Ernest Agyemang. This visit has infused both conceptual depth and practical perspective into my research process. This experience is enriching my academic journey and expanding my digital skill set! I'm now diving into drone mapping—an entirely new skill for me, as well as programming and spatial analysis tools that I plan to incorporate into my thesis

My time in Mumbai is already reshaping my thoughts on informal transport systems. The methodologies, tools, and stakeholder engagement strategies I’ve encountered here will lay the groundwork for developing a Living Lab model back in Ghana. I’m bursting with excitement to apply these insights to enhance tricycle services and neighborhood accessibility at home! A heartfelt thank you to the Mumbai Living Lab team, VREF, and my amazing supervisor, Prof. Ernest Agyemang, for making this study visit such a memorable and impactful experience!

Building on the exciting experiences during my time in Mumbai, the next phase of my research exchange was a thrilling opportunity to apply the skills I had gained both abroad and back in Ghana. The solid foundation I built in those initial weeks in Mumbai pumped me up with technical knowledge, practical exposure, and an exhilarating dose of confidence to dive deeper into GIS and programming tools. This seamless transition from learning to application allowed me to connect the insights I gained in Mumbai with hands-on research activities when I returned on August 12^th 2025 to Accra, Ghana.