Can resilience go digital?
By Dr. Giriraj Amaranath
[...]
Our research partnership is developing solutions that show we can link data collected via satellite with historical records to forecast, reduce and respond to disaster risks. There are five promising solutions that can be scaled up to improve both short-term disaster relief and long-term climate resilience.
1. Providing insurance against crop losses caused by floods
In the state of Bihar, India, two-thirds of the population live under the threat of floods that regularly wipe out farmers’ crops, destroying their livelihoods. In a bid to protect farmers, the Agriculture Insurance Company of India agreed to offer flood insurance pay-outs underpinned by satellite data during the 2017 monsoon season.
[...]
2. Monitoring droughts with satellites for faster disaster relief
[...]
Every eight days, the [South Asia Drought Monitoring System] publishes detailed maps showing drought severity across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The maps depict seven categories, from healthy vegetation to extreme drought, as identified according to a drought severity index based on historical satellite data. Drought relief can then be deployed more effectively. Scaling efforts are underway to bring this solution to Southern Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
[...]
3. Using satellite data to predict droughts
Almost more important than knowing the current drought situation is being able to predict droughts. Building on the monitoring system described above, is a drought early-warning system developed for six districts in India. Also based on satellite data, it accurately estimates water deficits in the soil and indicates future drought risk in exact locations. Local and national authorities can then brief farmer associations and communities on possible mitigation measures, such as sowing drought-tolerant crops and using soil and water conservation methods.
[...]