A team of scientists from the Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)  Ahmedabad, led by group directors Dr. Mehul Pandya and Dr. Shashikant Sharan, met with the Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve on September 11.

The primary agenda of the meeting was to provide an update on the development of a Ladakh-specific geoportal, which is poised to be a game-changer for the administration. It was informed that this advanced geoportal will play a pivotal role in shaping policy and administrative decisions related to various critical areas, including vegetation monitoring, rural and agricultural land use, renewable energy initiatives, air quality management, and snow and glacier monitoring.

The team added that one of the most striking features of this geoportal is the incorporation of the powerful geo-processing tool known as VEDAS. This tool will equip the administration with interactive web-based multi-criteria support tools, facilitating informed decision-making processes.

Furthermore, they informed that the geoportal will serve a vital role in disaster management by offering the capability to forecast glacial lake bursts. It will also include a solar power calculator and maps highlighting desertification and land degradation specific to Ladakh.

It is worth noting that all these features are currently at the proof-of-concept level, indicating the cutting-edge nature of this project.
SAC requested the district administration for field observations and data monitoring centers, aiming to combine on-the-ground data with remote sensing findings to enhance data accuracy.

Deputy Commissioner Leh assured all possible support to the ISRO team in their future endeavors within the district.