The 16th AOGEO SymposiumCountry Report : Nepal
Prakash Joshi
Director General
Survey Department,
Government of Nepal

Contents
1.

Nepal: Country Context

2.

Survey Department: National Mapping Agency

3.

Initiation of Earth Observation

4.

Disaster in Nepal

5.

Data Sharing Mechanism and Early Warnings

6.

GEO Post 2025 Strategy: Earth IntelligenceNepal
1. GEO member since 2005
2. Landlocked Himalayan Country in South
Asia
3. Federal Democratic Republic Country
4. 7 province and 753 local units
5. Population: 29 million 164 thousand 578(CBS, 2021)
6. Multi-lingual,culturemulti-ethnic,

anddiverse

7. Uneven geographical terrain (ranging from60 m in the south to 8848.86 m in the northfrom MSL ) with
Five physiographic
divisionsNepal : The country of Adventures
1. Total Population: 29,164,578
2. Annual Population Growth Rate: 0.92%
3. Sex Ratio: 95.59 male per 100 female

1. Population density: 198 per km2
2. Total Household: 6,666,937
3. Average household size: 4.37 person per household

The Country of Mt. Everest

1. Birth Place of Lord
Buddha (Lumbini )Lumbini

From webNepal : Some LandmarksSource: National Statistics OfficeSurvey Department: National Mapping Agency
1. National Mapping Organization➢ Responsible for Earth Observation➢ Standardization of Surveying and Mapping➢ Authorization of Specification for Maps and Data Prepared by Various Agencies➢ Regulating of Surveying and Mapping Activities from other Agencies➢ Works as a Secretariat of Surveying and Mapping Committee➢ Issuing License for Private Surveyor
2. Precise Geodetic Observations and National Cadastral Surveying Organization
3. Organization responsible for technical works relating International Boundaries
4. Nodal Agency for the National Spatial Data InfrastructureInitiation in Earth Observation
1. Survey Department , for Topographic mapping in 1990 ‘s, land use planning since 2000, LiDAR
and Drone Surveying
2. Department of Mines and Geology for mapping mines throughout the country
3. Forest Research Training Center, for Land Cover Mapping
4. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, for soil science Research, for Irrigation
planning to increase the agricultural productivity, and for rice crop mapping for evidence based
decision making
5. Non-Government Organizations: ICIMOD, UN Agencies, USAID………………

Topographical Base Map Update Using Satellite Images
Topographical MapLayers
1. AdministrativeBoundary
2. Land Cover
3. Transportation
4. Hydrography
5. Elevation
6. Settlement
7. Utilities
8. Designated Area
9. BuildingLocal Level Land Use Maps Using Satellite Images
1.

Present Land Use Maps

2.

Land System Maps

3.

Soil Maps

4.

Land Capability Maps

5.

Risk Layers Maps

6.

Land Use Zone Maps

7.

Cadastral Superimpose on Land
Use Zone Maps

LIDAR Survey
DSM

3D Point Cloud

DTM

Orthomosaic

Scientific Activity : EO for Everest Height Measurement

Regional Land Cover Monitoring through Satellite images

1. Annual land cover mappingin Hindu Kush Himalaya
region2. Change analysis services
3. Supports Information based
decision-makingICIMOD

Disaster in Nepal: Need of EW

Level of impact from Climate induced
disaster over last 25 years

Source: National Statistics OfficeTemperature Trend of Nepal• Increasing trend of temperature• Climate change is probable reason

Source: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology

Disaster Risk Reduction Initiations: Towards EW
1.

Nepal has made significant progress in policy regarding disaster risk reduction, setting up institutional
structures and guidelines at national, sub-national, and local levels.

2.

The government has a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategic Action Plan (2018–2030)
which prioritizes multi-hazard risk assessment and mapping at different governance levels.

3.

Early Warning Systems have proven effective on the 2014 flooding, in the Karnali River, in the 2017
flooding in the Ratu River, and in the 2021 Melamchi floods.

4.

Local radio and upstream-downstream informal communication were used for messaging.

5.

The World Food Programme and the Government of Nepal are implementing a forecast-based financing
project to bridge the gap between early warnings and anticipatory actions for floods in the 14 mostdisaster-prone districts of the Terai region.

Early Warning Initiations in Nepal
1. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA): Main pillar for EW4ALL:
Disaster Risk Reduction Portal: http://www.drrportal.gov.np/
2. Early Warnings for All - and WITH All - initiative in Nepal
3. The Government of Nepal is at the final stage of finalizing its Multi-Hazard Early Warning System(MHEWS) framework, which acts as the coordination mechanism for EW4All in Nepal.
4. Adopting a "whole-of-society" approach that involves all stakeholders, including civil society, academia
and the private sector , support from regional organizations and international development partners.
5. National Emergency Operating Centre, District Emergency Operating Centre, Local Emergency OperatingCentre
6. Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM): Provides weather and climate services with flood
advisories and information on rainfall estimates, weather forecasts, and updates on the situation ofsignificant rivers through flood bulletins and SMS alerts to targeted recipients,

Flood Monitoring: Example of Early Warning by DHM• Flood early warning portal• Showsdangerlevelandwarning level of river discharge

Department ofHydrology and Meteorology

Stakeholders in DRR towards Early Warning
COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION…………..

National
Statistics
OfficeICIMODInternational
Organizations…………..

Department ofHydrology andMeteorology

SurveyDepartment

National
Planning
Commission

Ministryof Home
Affairs

Department ofHydrology andMeteorology

Department ofWater Induced
DisasterPrevention

Department ofMines andGeology………..
National
Disaster Risk
Reduction &Management
Authority…………..
National
Society for
EarthquakeTechnology

Geoportal: Platform for Data Sharing to support EW

Earth Intelligence: Collaboration for Decision Making• Earth Observation• Social information• Local observation• Indigenous knowledge

Modelling

Model output• Build Capacity• Information based decision• Empower society• Environmental
issues• Societal needs• Economicchallenge

Address
Ultimately support inSustainable Development

Challenges▪ Variation in data standards creating incompatibility for data processing▪ Rapid action in data capturing and information sharing▪ Reluctancy in data sharing▪ Lacking data sharing policy or SDI policy▪ Capacity enhancement for using the available data and information▪ Awareness in availability of information its use▪ Empower society▪ National and international cooperation mechanism