By Geoinformatics Center (GIC)
19 August 2025- The Geoinformatics Center (GIC) of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) jointly organised two training programs in Jakarta, Indonesia and Kathmandu, Nepal in collaboration with National Research and Innovation Agency / Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) respectively. These trainings were a part of Sentinel Asia project, a partnership between GIC and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA).
Mr. Syams Nashrrullah, Senior Research Specialist, and Mr. Thanaphol, Research Associate represented GIC for both workshops, serving as lead trainers and facilitators alongside experts from JAXA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The trainings focused on building national capacity in the use of disaster mapping tools and platforms for hazards such as earthquake, volcanic eruptions, glacial lake outburst and floods.
Training in Indonesia
The training in Indonesia, titled “SAR Data Analysis for Disaster Mapping and Damage Assessment”, was held from 16-18 June 2025. It aimed to strengthen national capacity in disaster response by equipping participants with knowledge and practical skills to use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data for disaster mapping and damage assessment.
Mr. Nashrrullah delivered lectures on “SAR applications for Flood Mapping” and facilitated practical exercises on using platforms such as SNAP and QGIS. Meanwhile, Mr. Boodchuang presented “Remote Sensing Applications for Damage Assessment”, highlighting the use of SAR data for detecting impacts from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, followed by practical sessions based on real disaster case studies.
Training in Nepal
The “Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Mapping using Earth Observation Satellite Data” training was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 29-31 July 2025. The training aimed to support Nepal’s disaster risk reduction efforts by strengthening technical capacity in the use of earth observation satellite data for GLOF mapping and monitoring. The sessions emphasized the importance of timely monitoring and damage assessment, particularly in the face of increasing climate-induced risks in the Himalayan region.
Mr. Nashrrullah delivered a lecture on “Remote Sensing (optical and SAR data)” and guided participants through satellite data search, download, and basic handling using open-source software. He further facilitated multiple practical sessions on glacial lake identification and mapping using satellite imagery and GIS tools. Mr. Boodchuang led two hands-on sessions: “Flood mapping using ALOS-2 SAR data” and “GLOF damage mapping using coherence analysis of Sentinel-1 data”.
The workshops successfully trained over 40 participants from various organisations across the two countries. Attendees included representatives from the hydrology department, national and international space agencies, academic institutions, and government bodies working in satellite mapping, disaster mapping, and glacier mapping.
Read more about the trainings in below links:
