By Geoinformatics Center
17 May 2025 – In an effort to strengthen the capacities of government officials responsible for disaster risk management, the Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT/ESCAP) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) through its UN-SPIDER programme, in collaboration with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan, organized a two-day training program from 15 to 16 May 2025 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The training was conducted with the support of the Geoinformatics Center (GIC) of the Asian Institute of Technology and the Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente. The program focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge and practical skills in multi-hazard risk assessment and the use of space-based information for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and response. The training was organized into two extended days and was attended by approximately 15 participants from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The training aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of disaster risk assessment by introducing key concepts, including hazard analysis, identifying and mapping vulnerable areas, and assessing overall risk. It offered skills in using GIS tools to create databases of at-risk elements and to access and work with spatial data. Participants also learned how to develop accurate hazard maps, produce risk maps to support decision-making, and understand how different risk reduction strategies can influence risk levels. Additionally, the training emphasized the importance of considering future changes, such as climate impacts and urban development in risk assessments.
On the first day, participants were introduced to satellite remote sensing and recent developments in space technologies for multi-hazard risk assessment. The session was led by Ms. Suju Li from the National Disaster Reduction Centre of China (NDRCC). This was followed by a lecture from Professor Cees van Westen, who explained the basic concepts of risk assessment, providing examples of how remote sensing and GIS are used to assess hazards, elements at risk, and vulnerability, particularly in the Central Asian context.
In the afternoon, Ms. Salsabila Ramadhani Prasetya from GIC introduced the RiskChanges platform and its main features. She presented case examples, including the Tajikistan Risk Profile Dashboard, to show how the tool can be applied. Participants then took part in a hands-on session where they practised uploading hazard, exposure, and administrative boundary data into the platform. They also learned how to incorporate risk reduction alternatives and consider future scenarios to assess their potential influence on risk outcomes.
Day two began with a lecture by Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika, Director, GIC on using ICT for disaster response, including emergency mapping through Sentinel Asia and the International Charter “Space and Major Disasters.” The rest of the day focused on practical exercises with RiskChanges. Participants explored publicly available data sources, learned how to pre-process datasets, and practised conducting exposure analysis, entering vulnerability data, and performing loss assessments. The day concluded with a lecture on using ICT for disaster recovery, emphasising the “build back better” approach.
Participants gained a clear understanding of the key concepts and processes involved in disaster risk assessment, including hazard assessment, elements-at-risk mapping, vulnerability assessment, and overall risk assessment. They gained hands-on experience in utilising geospatial data for risk assessment using the RiskChanges platform. Publicly available data was also introduced, helping complement the data sets. Participants showed interest in utilising RiskChanges further through a Kyrgyzstan case study.
