Remote sensing for hazard monitoring and modelling in High Mountain Asia

Programmes

Regional

Venue

ICIMOD Headquarters, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal

Date & Time

05 May 2025 to 08 May 2025

Contact

Rajesh Bahadur Thapa , Chi Huyen Truong (Shachi) & Babar Khan

About the Event

This four-day workshop is organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)- Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) in collaboration with the Regional Information Service (RIS) and Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) under ICIMOD’s Regional Action Area. It is designed for early-stage researchers and graduate students working in geosciences and remote sensing, especially those from the High Mountain Asia (HMA) region.

The workshop features lectures, hands-on sessions, and a field visit focusing on synthetic aperture radar (SAR), interferometry, polarimetry, and emerging technologies like Global Navigation Satellite System reflectometry (GNSS-R), deep learning, and signals of opportunity (SOOP).

Franz Meyer, Professor, Alaska Satellite Facility, University of Alaska, Fairbank, USA

Irena Hajnsek, Professor, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland and German Aerospace Center, Germany

Klaus Scipal, Mission Manager of the BIOMASS and SMOS Satellite, European Space Agency

Jakob Steiner, Research Fellow, University of Graz, Austria

Adnan Siddique, Assistant Professor, Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan

Rashmi Shah, Supervisor – Water and Ecosystems Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA

Aleah Sommers, Research Scientist, Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, USA

Saurabh Vijay, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India

Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, Senior Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Specialist, ICIMOD

Chi Huyen Truong (Shachi), Senior Consultant, Himalayan University of Consortium (HUC) Secretariat, ICIMOD

Objective

Strengthen the capacity of early-stage researchers in HMA in applying remote sensing technologies for hazard monitoring and modelling, with focus on glacial ecosystems and hydrological risks.

Expected Outcomes

Strengthen participants ‘technical understanding of SAR-based remote sensing and hazard modelling.
Foster regional collaboration and knowledge sharing among early career scientists.
Identify future research directions in hazard monitoring in HMA region.
Empower participants from underrepresented and marginalised communities.

Participants

Eighteen early career researchers were selected from 525 applications, with preference given to those from HMA regional countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Additional assistance will be provided to participants with different abilities. Participants are expected to bring their own laptop to the workshop.

Costs

The programme is free of charge, but applicants are expected to arrange their own travel, with support from their home universities or other affiliations. Equity-based travel grants (partial/full) will be provided to selected applicants from HMA regional countries.

Background

High Mountain Asia is a region highly vulnerable to natural hazards, especially those linked to cryosphere and hydrological dynamics. Remote sensing tools provide essential data and information insights into these processes. Recognising the need to build local expertise, GRSS, ICIMOD, and HUC are partnering to deliver this workshop under the GRSS Remote sensing Environment, Analysis and Climate Technologies (GRSS REACT) initiative.

The call for registration to the workshop held from 4 to 23 March 2025, received more than 500 applications. From this number, 18 participants were selected to join the workshop.

The event provides equitable learning opportunities and support mechanisms to ensure inclusive participation, particularly for women, caregivers, and those with mobility limitations.

Principal Organisers

GRSS REACT Technical Committee
Regional Information Service, ICIMOD
Himalayan University Consortium (HUC)