About the training Our SERVIR-HKH initiative is collaborating with GIZ-Bangladesh to organise this training on geographic information system (GIS) applications to improve understanding of climate services among key government professionals from the Bangladesh Planning Commission. The training will be delivered using a blended learning approach – presentations and guided practical exercises customised for Bangladesh. We will cover a wide range of topics, including the principles of GIS and basic concepts of remote sensing (RS), GIS data use and visualisation, geoprocessing and analytical query, map production, SERVIR-HKH’s services and science applications, and other resources specific to Bangladesh. The training will also cover different topics related to climate services, including climate tools and their applications for climate-informed decision making. Objectives This training will strengthen the capacity of key professionals working in the Bangladesh Planning Commission on the use of Earth observation data, geospatial technology, and climate services for informed decision making. Expected outcomes Upon completion of the training, participants will have a better understanding of RS and GIS concepts, use of climate and geospatial data, and SERVIR-HKH’s services. We also expect participants to be able to transfer the knowledge gained during the training to their users, partners, and peers. Expected participants Thirteen nominated officers from the Bangladesh Planning Commission are expected to join the training. Background Revolutionary advancements in the fields of Earth observation and geospatial technology have created more opportunities in spatial sciences, natural resource management, landscape mapping, strategic planning, and climate-informed decision making. The knowledge and capabilities of staff working at key national and regional institutions delivering climate services and involved in policy planning need to be strengthened to provide information needs for informed responses in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. This training is part of an institutional capacity-building approach to strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of professionals across the HKH region in delivering climate services. Resource persons/facilitators (ICIMOD) Birendra Bajracharya, Chief of Party – SERVIR-HKH Kabir Uddin, GIS/RS Specialist Kiran Shakya, Geospatial Application Development Specialist Mandira Shrestha, Senior Water Resources Specialist Pem Kandel, Chief Policy Adviser Poonam Tripathi, Geospatial Training Analyst Pradeep Dangol, Research Associate Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, Senior Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Specialist Sajana Maharjan, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Analyst Sarthak Shrestha, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Associate Sudip Pradhan, Geospatial Application Development Specialist Sunil Thapa, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Analyst Yona Khaling Rai, Knowledge Park Associate Tentative agenda All timestamps are in NPT. | Saturday, 3 June 2023 - 18:00 onwards Reception dinner Day 1 – Monday, 5 June 2023 Time Topic 09:00–10:00 Opening session (S1) Training overview and introduction of participants (15 min) – Poonam Tripathi, ICIMOD SERVIR-HKH’s efforts to bridge the capacity gap in Bangladesh (10 min) – Birendra Bajracharya, ICIMOD Welcome remarks (5 min) – Pem Kandel, ICIMOD Pre-training assessment (10 min) – Poonam Tripathi, ICIMOD Group photo and tea break (20 min) 10:00–12:30 Morning session (S2) GIS concepts and applications (50 min) – Poonam Tripathi, ICIMOD Hands-on exercises – Poonam Tripathi and Sajana Maharajan, ICIMOD QGIS installation and basic overview Vector/raster data exploration and visualisation in QGIS (Layer properties, projection, symbology, label tool, etc.) 12:30–13:30 Lunch break 13:30–17:00 Afternoon session (S3) Hands-on exercises – session continued Exploring attribute table (Use of field calculator, joining attributes etc.) Exploring geoprocessing tools (Buffer, clip etc.) 15:00–15:15 Tea break Hands-on exercises – session continued 18:00 onwards Reception dinner Day 2 – Tuesday, 6 June 2023 Time Topic 09:00–12:30 Morning session (S4) Reflections of the previous day (30 min) – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD RS concepts and applications (60 min) – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD 10:30–10:45 Tea break Hands-on exercises – Poonam Tripathi and Sunil Thapa, ICIMOD Exploring spatial analysis tools (Clip, merging, topographic analysis, etc.) 12:30–13:30 Lunch break 13:30–17:00 Afternoon session (S5) Hands-on exercises – session continued Use of raster calculator to perform image calculations Satellite data visualisation and interpretation Information extraction, tables, charts, visualisation Results interpretation Accessing geospatial datasets from ICIMOD’s Regional Database System (30 min) – Sudip Pradhan, ICIMOD 15:00–15:15 Tea break Map production in QGIS Day 3 – Wednesday, 7 June 2023 Time Topic 09:00–12:30 Morning session (S6) Reflections of the previous day (30 min) – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD Introduction and demonstration to RLCMS/NLCMS data and applications (60 min) – Kabir Uddin and Sajana Maharjan, ICIMOD 10:30–10:45 Tea break Earth observation for agriculture monitoring and applications (15 min) – Sarthak Shrestha, ICIMOD In-season crop mapping and damage assessment in Bangladesh – Sarthak Shrestha, ICIMOD 12:30–13:30 Lunch break 13:30–17:00 Afternoon session (S7) Introduction to the Flash Flood Prediction Tool – Kiran Shakya, ICIMOD Demonstration of the High-Impact Weather Assessment Tool (HIWAT) – Kiran Shakya, ICIMOD Demonstration of HydroSAR Tool – Sudip Pradhan, ICIMOD 15:00–15:15 Tea break Other Bangladesh relevant resources – geospatial portals – TBD with GIZ Day 4 – Thursday, 8 June 2023 Time Topic 09:00–12:30 Morning session (S8) Reflections of the previous day (30 min) – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD Overview of climate change and its impact on the HKH region and introduction to climate modelling and CORDEX datasets over South Asia – Mandira Shrestha, ICIMOD 10:30–10:45 Tea break Demonstration and hands-on session of the IPCC WGI Interactive Atlas – Mandira Shrestha and Pradeep Dangol, ICIMOD 12:30–13:30 Lunch break 13:30–17:00 Afternoon session (S9) Demonstration and hands-on session of the ClimoCast tool for CMIP6 data viewer – Mandira Shrestha and Pradeep Dangol, ICIMOD 15:00–15:15 Tea break 15:15–17:00 Introduction to CDITool, data extraction for selected models, and indices calculation – Pradeep Dangol and Poonam Tripathi, ICIMOD Day 5 – Friday, 9 June 2023 Time Topic 09:00–13:00 Morning session (S10) Visit to ICIMOD’s Living Mountain Lab in Godavari (fieldtrip) – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD Presentation on the Living Mountain Lab – Yona Khaling Rai, ICIMOD Demonstrating sustainable technologies (field) – Yona Khaling Rai and Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD 11:30–12:15 Closing session (S11) Reflections from participants (20 min) – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD Post-training assessment (10 min) – Poonam Tripathi, ICIMOD Certificate distribution and closing remarks (10 min) – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD 12:00–13:00 Lunch