New Delhi, August 10
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) commemorated the Maiden National Space Day 2024 with a one-day national workshop focused on Space Technology in Disaster Management.
The event was organised on August 9 in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
This event marked a significant milestone in integrating space technology with disaster management strategies.
The workshop was inaugurated Vivek Shrivastava, IPS, (DG FS, CD & HG); Shri Rajendra Ratnoo, IAS, ED, NIDM; Dr. K H V Durga Rao, Group Director, DMS (NRSC); Shri Chandrashekhar S., IAS (Deputy Director, LBSNAA) and Prof. Surya Parkash (Head, GMR & CRBN Division, NIDM).
In his opening remarks, Vivek Shrivastava highlighted the critical role of risk reduction in disaster management, citing the success of efforts such as achieving zero casualties during Cyclone Biparjoy.
Rajendra Ratnoo emphasized the importance of learning from past disasters and conducting post-disaster studies to guide future preparedness.
The workshop attracted over 300+ participants who engaged in discussions on the role of space technology in enhancing disaster response and resilience. Technical sessions covered various aspects of disaster management, focusing on the use of GIS, AI, and machine learning in risk assessment and crop insurance.
In addition to that, notable presentations included insights from Jivisha Joshi Gangopadhyay, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT; Srilaxami, ED-DSD NRSC-ISRO; Rajesh Kumar, DC, IT & Comm., NDRF.
The panels underscored the importance of collaboration between government and private sectors to advance technological innovations in disaster resilience.
A key session on Space Technology in Geo Hydro-Meteorological Disasters was chaired by Prof. Surya Parkash and featured insights from experts like Dr. Saji Mohandas, Scientist NCMRWF, Akshay K. Mishra, Director GSI, and Ananda K. Das,Sci-F IMD. In the panel discussions on "Innovation in Space Technology & Disaster Response," chaired by Deepak Awari, Vice President of AGI, the latest advancements in SAR technology were explored, along with the need for enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors. Another panel discussion, chaired by Safi Ahsan Rizvi, IPS (Advisor, NDMA) emphasized the need for better data collection and the integration of AI/ML tools to improve crop yield predictions and insurance assessments.
The event concluded with a valedictory session and insightful address by Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain, Member, NDMA who urged the disciplined use of space technology in disaster management. The session was concluded by Surendra Thakur with a vote of thanks in the gracious presence of, marking the end of an insightful and educational workshop.
