ISRO working on disaster management plan

A comprehensive database on the national disaster management support system, being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will be in place within a year across India.

Chairman of ISRO G Madhavan Nair said this during the 5th Asia-Pacific remote sensing meet at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) under the aegis of the International Society for Optical Engineering (ISOE), US, in Dona Paula.

Stressing the need to understand various natural phenomena, Nair said that the immediate challenge before the scientific fraternity was dissemination of data collected from satellites to facilitate quicker relief and rehabilitation.

The disaster management plan would address the assessment of disasters, information needs for managing disasters, data collection systems (space- and ground-based), modeling requirements, database design, incorporation of geographic information systems, product design, and other elements.

He observed that the policies should be evolved by the nations possessing space technology to share remotely sensed data among themselves.

"The respective nations should share the remotely sensed satellite data on earth observations and further analyse and utilise it on real time basis for mutual benefit, with an integrated approach," the ISRO chief appealed.

Nair urged scientists to develop high-resolution sensors/ detectors for placement on earth, ocean and skies to collect information for monitoring depletion of rare gases like ozone and nitrous oxide.

"The scientists should upgrade technologies through analytical models for earth monitoring so that data on droughts, cyclones and other disasters like the recent tsunami could be obtained on real time basis," he added.

The scientists from various countries""India, United States, Japan, Russia, Australia, France, China, United Kingdom, Germany and Sri Lanka""were present on the occasion, which also included Upendra Singh from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The scope of the symposium included global environmental change and its human dimensions, disaster prediction, tracking and mitigation, enabling present and future remote sensing technologies and natural resources management and sustainability, Upendra Singh stated.

The symposium is sponsored by the ISRO, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Japan, NASA, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan, National Polar-Orbiting Operation, Environmental Satellite System Integrated Programme Office and the Science Technology Corporation, US.