Remote Sensing and GIS

Technology is starting to fill in the blanks in the scientific record for the Hindu Kush Himalayas, whose size and remoteness has served in the past as a major obstacle to data collection. 

Remote sensing technologies are providing new data sets and spatially referenced information to help scientists, development planners and policymakers make informed decisions. From forecasts about crop yields, impending droughts and natural disasters to observations of forest growth patterns and the dynamics of snow and water, the range of topics that benefit from being analysed and modelled visually is vast.  

ICIMOD is internationally regarded as a regional resource centre for geo-information and earth observation applications with a mountain focus. Over the past two decades, we have developed and shared remote sensing and geographic information systems to assist decision-making at many levels. Within our own areas of focus, such as trans-boundary landscape conservation and river basin management, geospatial science is used to expand knowledge of scientific and socio-ecological challenges and ensure that programmes are informed by the latest and most extensive data.

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Stories

Potentially Dangerous Glacial Lakes of Nepal

This map story lists glacial lakes of Nepal that have been categorized as potentially dangerous based publication - "Glacial Lakes and Glacial Lake Outbrust Flood in Nepal", published by ICIMOD in 2011.

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Imja lake - Fastest growing glacial lake of the HKH

This story map allows users to visualize the changes of Imja Glacial lake using a time-slider tool from 1992 to 2009 as well as it provides the basic information,charts and statistics about Imja Lake.

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Datasets

Glacier Area Change in Nepal 1980 - 2010

Digital polygon data of Glaciers of Nepal in 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010. This dataset is created using Landsat MSS,TM and ETM+ imageries of four respective decades. The glacier outlines were derived semi-automatically using object-based image classification (OBIC ) method separately for clean ice and debris cover and further editing and validation was done carefully by draping over the high resolution images from Google Earth. Moreover, the glacier outlines for 2000, 1990 and 1980 were derived manually modifying the glacier outlines of 2010 by overlaying separately the images of respective decades.


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Glacier Area Change in Bhutan 1980 - 2010

Digital polygon data of Glaciers of Bhutan in 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010. This dataset is created using Landsat MSS, TM and ETM+ imageries of respective years. The glacier outlines was derived semi-automatically using object-based image classification (OBIC ) method separately for clean ice and debris cover and further editing and validation was done carefully by draping over the high resolution images from Google Earth.


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Status of Glaciers in Indus Basin

Digital polygon data of Status of Glaciers in Indus Basin during 2005 ± 3 (2002-2008) years. This dataset is created using Landsat ETM+ imageries of respective years. The glacier outlines was derived semi-automatically using object-based image classification (OBIC ) method separately for clean ice and debris cover and further editing and validation was done carefully by draping over the high resolution images from Google Earth. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Status of Glaciers in Ganges Basin

Digital polygon data of Status of Glaciers in Ganges Basin during 2005 ± 3 (2002-2008) years. This dataset is created using Landsat ETM+ imageries of respective years. The glacier outlines was derived semi-automatically using object-based image classification (OBIC ) method separately for clean ice and debris cover and further editing and validation was done carefully by draping over the high resolution images from Google Earth. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Status of Glaciers in Irrawaddy Basin

Digital polygon data of Status of Glaciers in Irrawaddy Basin during 2005 ± 3 (2002-2008) years. This dataset is created using Landsat ETM+ imageries of respective years. The glacier outlines was derived semi-automatically using object-based image classification (OBIC ) method separately for clean ice and debris cover and further editing and validation was done carefully by draping over the high resolution images from Google Earth. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Status of Glaciers in Kokcha Basin

Digital polygon data of Status of Glaciers in Kokcha Basin during 2005 ± 3 (2002-2008) years. This dataset is created using Landsat ETM+ imageries of respective years. The glacier outlines was derived semi-automatically using object-based image classification (OBIC ) method separately for clean ice and debris cover and further editing and validation was done carefully by draping over the high resolution images from Google Earth. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Status of Glaciers in Surkhab Basin

Digital polygon data of Status of Glaciers in Surkhab Basin during 2005 ± 3 (2002-2008) years. This dataset is created using Landsat ETM+ imageries of respective years. The glacier outlines was derived semi-automatically using object-based image classification (OBIC ) method separately for clean ice and debris cover and further editing and validation was done carefully by draping over the high resolution images from Google Earth. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Status of Glaciers in Yamuna Basin

The comprehensive baseline information on the glaciers of the HKH region was generated semi-automatically using more than 200 Landsat 7 ETM+ images of 2005 ± 3 years with minimum cloud and snow coverage. The glacier outlines were derived by using object-based image classification method separately for clean-ice and debris-covered glaciers with some manual intervention. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Status of Glaciers in Upper Ganga Basin

The comprehensive baseline information on the glaciers of the HKH region was generated semi-automatically using more than 200 Landsat 7 ETM+ images of 2005 ± 3 years with minimum cloud and snow coverage. The glacier outlines were derived by using object-based image classification method separately for clean-ice and debris-covered glaciers with some manual intervention. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Status of Glaciers in Karnali Basin

The comprehensive baseline information on the glaciers of the HKH region was generated semi-automatically using more than 200 Landsat 7 ETM+ images of 2005 ± 3 years with minimum cloud and snow coverage. The glacier outlines were derived by using object-based image classification method separately for clean-ice and debris-covered glaciers with some manual intervention. The attribute data were assigned to each glacier using 90m resolution SRTM DEM.


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Science applications

Resource Accounting Tool

The application carries out all the analyses or geo-processings in Google Earth Engine, the Google’s cloud based platform, except for species occurrence data which are obtained directly from Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

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Glacier Dynamics in Afghanistan

The application showcases changes in the glaciers in Afghanistan from 1990 to 2015. The interactive glacier maps were prepared for 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2015 using a uniform data set and methodology, which provide a scientific basis for understanding the changes taking place in the glacial environment in the Himalayas of Afghanistan.

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Relevant Publications

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Knowledge Hubs, Portals, and Initiatives

Meet our Experts

Mir Abdul Matin

Theme Leader, Geospatial Solutions

Birendra Bajracharya

Programme Coordinator - SERVIR

Sudip Pradhan

Programme Coordinator, Regional Database System

Faisal Mueen Qamar

Remote Sensing Specialist

Finu Shrestha

Research Associate, GIS