One Week Training Programme on Science & Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction atRRSC-North, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO(July 8-12, 2024)
The Regional Remote Sensing Centre - North (RRSC-North) of the National Remote
Sensing Centre (NRSC), under the auspices of the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with the National Institute of Disaster
Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, organized aone-week training program on "Science & Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction"from July 8 to July 12, 2024. The Training program was an outcome of discussions
held between RRSC-North and NIDM and was conducted at the latter’s request. This
program saw active participation from 56 individuals representing 26 different
organizations and departments, spread across 15 states and Union Territories. The
training aimed to enhance the understanding of disaster risk reduction (DRR)
through the application of advanced scientific and technological methods, and thefeedback received was overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing a keeninterest in future theme-based training programs on DRR.

The inaugural session of the training program was held on July 8, 2024, andcommenced with a welcome address by Dr. Sameer Saran, Deputy General
Manager, RRSC-North, NRSC, ISRO, who emphasized the importance of integrating
science and technology into disaster management practices. Dr. Ajinder Walia,
Associate Professor at NIDM, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the criticalneed for such training in enhancing national disaster preparedness. Dr. S.K.
Srivastav, Chief General Manager, Remote Sensing Centres, NRSC, ISRO, followedwith his remarks, stressing the pivotal role of remote sensing in disaster risk
reduction.
The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director, NRSC,
ISRO and Chief Guest of the inaugural programme through online mode. In hisaddress, he emphasized ISRO’s commitment in leveraging space technology forsocietal benefits, particularly in the domain of disaster management. The session
concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Abhinav Shukla, and a group photo and hightea.
The first day of the training focused on providing a foundational understanding ofdisaster management, with sessions led by experts in the field. Dr. Ajinder Walia
presented the basic conceptual framework of disaster and development, while ShriHari Kumar from Geo-Hazards International discussed non-structural mitigation
measures in disaster risk. The day’s sessions aimed to give participants acomprehensive overview of the conceptual framework of disaster management andexplore how science and technology contribute to understanding and mitigating
disaster risks.
Day 2 delved into the application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) in disaster risk reduction. Dr. Sameer Saran provided a
detailed overview of RS and GIS applications and the utility of same in DRR,
followed by Dr. Kiranmay Sarma from GGSIP University, who discussed the use ofremote sensing and GIS in post-disaster needs assessments and conducted handson exercises on geospatial technologies for DRR. Dr. Neetu from RRSC Northpresented on the use of space technology for climate-resilient agriculture, and Shri
Jayant Singhal from RRSC North discussed remote sensing and GIS for forest firemanagement.
The third day focused on early warning systems and their role in disaster responseand management. Sessions included discussions on open-source climate datasetsfor disaster risk assessment by Shri Anurag Mishra from RRSC-North, spatial flood
early warning systems by Shri Amanpreet Singh from NRSC, ISRO and Overview ofMulti-Hazard Early Warning System & Impact Based Forecast: Progress in IMD byDr. Jenamani from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Col. Sanjay Srivastav

led a session on the Lightning Resilient India Campaign, emphasizing theimportance of lightning resilience and action plans.
Day 4 explored the use of drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), satellite,and mobile applications in disaster response. Victor Saikhom from NESAC, ISRO,
presented on the use of drones and UAVs for disaster response, while
representatives from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) demonstrated
the use of rescue equipment and tools. Shri Pankaj Bodani from SAC, ISRO,
introduced the concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) indisaster risk reduction.

On the last day of the training Dr. Pramod Kumar from IIRS, ISRO, presented onurban flood modeling, while Shri T D Dhariyal from the National Association for theBlind (NAB) discussed disability-inclusive technology in disaster management. ShriVikram Gurjar, Deputy Commandant, Disaster Management Division, MHA,presented on the National Disaster Management Information System (NDMIS)
highlighting their roles in enhancing data-driven decision-making, fund transfer andcoordination among disaster management stakeholders. The day concluded withfeedback from participants and the valedictory session.

The valedictory session was held on July 12, 2024, and began with a welcome
address by Dr. Sameer Saran, DGM, RRSC-North, NRSC, ISRO. Dr. S.K. Srivastav
provided remarks, and participants shared their feedback, emphasizing the value ofthe training program. Certificates were distributed, and the session concluded withan address by the Chief Guest, Shri Rajendra Ratnoo, IAS, Executive Director,NIDM, who commended the efforts of RRSC-North and NIDM in organizing theprogram. NRSC Coordinator delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to allparticipants and resource persons for their contributions to the successful completionof the training program.
In summary, the one-week training program on "Science & Technology for Disaster
Risk Reduction" successfully provided a comprehensive understanding of disasterrisk reduction through scientific and technological methods. The positive feedback
from participants underscores the importance of such training programs in enhancing
national disaster preparedness and resilience.

The collaborative efforts of RRSC-North, NRSC, ISRO, and NIDM in organizing thisprogram have set a strong foundation for future theme-based training programs on
disaster risk reduction, contributing significantly to the national agenda of disastermanagement and mitigation.