Grassroots was founded to create an interdisciplinary environmental planning and design firm that places responsibility, integrity and balance of human, natural and cultural resources at the forefront of project development and resource management Our research strategy is driven by a central concern with issues of sustainable urban, regional and environmental development. We see the basic principles of sustainable development as an over-arching set of concepts and imperatives that can guide development processes.

For economic development to be successful and viable in the long term, it has to encompass social development and environmental conservation .We believe in the fact that all the environmental components like the water bodies, soil, flora and the fauna of a region are all very intrinsically interconnected and hence any of these components cannot be looked at or studied in isolation. We therefore, work very closely with experts in this field to collate and assimilate the data available either primary or secondary. Environmental considerations are integral factors in economic decision-making. We believe that demonstrating environmental sensitivity in core business strategies and activities serves as a foundation for achieving sustainable growth and lasting competitiveness.

Environmental systems are composed of complex inter-relationships of linked individual components and subsystems. The works of Ian Mcharg, Lars Nyberg, William Honachefsky, Lyle and Roy Winter continue to demonstrate that there is considerable wisdom in planning around the ecological constraints of the land. The methodology used for the assimilation and analysis of the baseline environmental status is extremely critical, to ensure incorporation of environmental concerns in design, planning, construction and implementation.

Developing predictive tools to evaluate the impact of the land uses in relation to the natural resources of the region is a prime concern. ‘Physiographic determinism’ is employed as a tool to evaluate the extent of the negative impact on the environment, by superimposing the various physiographic features on the land use plans and simultaneously extracting and delayering to establish the intrinsic suitability of land. This facilitates discrimination between alternative plans and their assessment with respect to conservation aims, sustainability and effectiveness.

Analytical mapping of the region helps to develop comprehensive environmental strategies, both long term and short term. Environmental mapping and assessment is carried out at both macro level as well as micro level studies with respect to ecology, hydrology, landuse and activity pattern, socio cultural studies, chronological development, economic analysis.

Design interventions seek an integrated approach tying up aspects of conservation, infrastructure with social and ecological values; to provide pragmatic solutions that are economically feasible.