Consultation workshop/training on landslide and flood mapping and forecasting system for Nepal

Date 7 Aug 2023 to 10 Aug 2023
Venue ICIMOD headquarters, Kathmandu, Nepal
Contact Persons servirhkh@icimod.org
Type Training, Workshop
Programmes SERVIR-HKH

About the meeting

Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDDRMA) and ICIMOD have begun collaborating on multi-hazard risk assessments in the country. As a part of the joint efforts, this workshop will provide a platform to introduce, discuss, and gather feedback on landslide and flood mapping and forecasting tools and their current and future capabilities, and provide training to relevant stakeholders in Nepal. The workshop will help foster collaboration among stakeholders to address the evolving needs in disaster management in the country.

The workshop is also aimed at providing technical support to the task force on Multi Hazard Risk Assessment and Multi Hazard Early Warning System in Nepal.

These tools are being developed under ICIMOD’s SERVIR-HKH (an initiative jointly undertaken by USAID and NASA), and with support from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Alaska Satellite Faculty, University of Alaska.

Objectives

  • Familiarise participants with the capabilities and effectiveness of available landslide risk mapping and forecasting tools for the Karnali River Basin.
  • Share planned activities and methodology for the development of HydroSAR daily water extent forecasting. This innovative approach aims to provide reliable predictions of water levels on a daily basis.
  • Seek feedback from participants regarding the performance of the forecasting models and gather suggestions for possible upgrades. This feedback will help refine the models to meet the specific needs of stakeholders.
  • Bring together relevant stakeholders who are actively involved in landslide and flood disaster management, providing a platform for them to share their experiences, challenges, and current requirements.

Background

Weather-related hazards, such as floods and landslides, have a significant impact on the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region due to their high frequency, substantial financial costs, and adverse effects on the population and socioeconomic activities. During severe weather events, Earth observation data play a critical role in gathering information about past and current incidents, as well as the extent of landslides, unstable slopes, and surface inundation. This valuable information, along with weather forecast data, can be used to predict and prepare for future hazards. Additionally, integrating this data with other social and infrastructure information enables effective disaster response efforts and informed decision-making processes.

In Nepal, landslides and floods are major natural hazards that result in the loss of lives, property damage, and significant infrastructure destruction each year. To enhance understanding and forecasting systems for these hazards, ICIMOD has been collaborating with NASA-GSFC to develop a landslide mapping and forecasting system for the Karnali River Basin, Nepal, and with the University of Alaska on developing daily flood water extent forecasting and ground slope motion analysis using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data. With support and guidance from the NDRRMA, this joint activity has been commencing under ICIMOD’s SERVIR-HKH programme.

Tentative agenda

7–10 August 2023 | Kailash Hall, ICIMOD, Kathmandu Nepal All time stamps are in Nepal Standard Time (NPT).

  • DAY 1 – MONDAY, 7 AUGUST 2023

    Time

    Programme

    Speaker/resource persons

    09:30–10:00

    Registration and tea/coffee

    Rajesh Shrestha, ICIMOD

    Session 1: Opening session

    10:00–10:30

    Welcome remarks by DG/DDG, ICIMOD

    Welcome remarks by Chief Executive, NDRRMA

    Introduction of participants

    Moderated by NDRRMA (TBC)

    10:30–10:35

    Introduction to SERVIR and objectives of the meeting  (Birendra Bajracharya, Chief of Party, SERVIR-HKH, ICIMOD)

    10:35–10:40

    Introduction to landslide work in the Karnali Basin (NASA-GSFC)

    10:40–10:45

    Introduction to AST HydroSAR-NG (ASF, UAF ALASKA)

    10:45–11:00

    Group photograph and tea break

    Session 2: HydroSAR daily water extent forecasting

    11:00–12:00

    Background and status of HydroSAR-NG water mapping

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    12:00–12:30

    Next steps in water mapping: Concepts towards daily flood extent information

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    12:30–13:30

    Lunch break

    13:30–14:30

    Exercise 1: Prototype of daily flood inundation for the HKH using FIER

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    14:30–15:00

    Product definition, timeline, future work

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    15:00–15:15

    Tea break

    15:15–16:30

    Discussion and feedback on

    • Use of data
    • Hone requirements
    • Feedback on initial plans
    • Identify potential partners for co-development

    ASF, UAF ALASKA & ICIMOD

    16:30–17:00

    Wrap-up for HydroSAR-NG flood water mapping

    ASF, UAF ALASKA & ICIMOD

  • DAY 2 – TUESDAY, 8 AUGUST 2023

    Time

    Programme

    Speaker/resource persons

    Session 3: HydroSAR-NG slope motion detection

    09:30–10:00

    Introduction of HydroSAR-NG slope motion detection project

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    10:00–10:30

    Introduction of SAR /InSAR and slope motion detection in Nepal (future products, capabilities, and limitations)

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    10:30–10:45

    Tea break

    10:45–11:30

    Introduction of SAR /InSAR and slope motion detection in Nepal (future products, capabilities, and limitations)

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    11:30–12:30

    Short exercise and discussions

    ASF, UAF ALASKA

    12:30–13:30

    Lunch break

    Session 4: Training on landslide mapping

    13:30–14:00

    Introduction of SALAD and SALAD-CD

    NASA-GSFC

    14:00–15:00

    Exercise 2: Landslide mapping using SALAD in Google Colab

    NASA-GSFC, ICIMOD

    15:00–15:15

    Tea break

    15:15–16:00

    Exercise 3: Landslide mapping using SALAD-CD in Google Colab

    NASA-GSFC, ICIMOD

    16:00–17:00

    Discussion and feedback

    ICIMOD, NASA-GSFC

  • DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2023

    Time

    Programme

    Speaker/resource persons

    Session 4: Training on landslide forecasting system for the Karnali Basin (LHASA 2.0)

    09:30–10:00

    Introduction on LHASA 2.0

    NASA-GSFC

    10:00–10:30

    System setup for the exercise

    NASA-GSFC, ICIMOD

    10:30–10: 45

    Tea break

    10:45–11:30

    Introduction on LHASA-Karnali model

    NASA-GSFC

    11:30–12:30

    Exercise 4: Walkthrough of LHASA-Karnali model

    NASA-GSFC, ICIMOD

    12:30–13: 30

    Lunch break

    13:30–15:00

    Continue Exercise 4 and demonstration of landslide forecast visualisation and HIWAT

    NASA-GSFC, ICIMOD

    15:00–15:15

    Tea break

    15:15–17:00

    Discussion on LHASA-Karnali model and feedback

    NASA-GSFC, ICIMOD

  • DAY 4 – THURSDAY, 10 AUGUST 2023

    Time

    Programme

    Speaker/resource persons

    Session 4: Stakeholder consultation and feedback

    09:30–12:00

    Reflections

    Recap of the training workshop – lessons and alignments from the participants

    Discussion on further plan and needs, and overall feedback for improvement

    Moderator:

    NDRRMA/ICIMOD  

    10:30–10:45

    Tea break

    12:00–12:30

    Wrap up and closing

     

    12:30–13:30

    Lunch break