Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain what motivated you to focus on designing structures for cold desert high altitude conditions?

Julley! I am Sarfraz Nazir from Leh, currently serving as a senior scientist at DIHAR, DRDO Leh since 2013. I joined DRDO in 2007 through campus placement at NIT Srinagar. My specialization involves designing and developing structures and systems for cold desert high altitude arid conditions. This includes addressing challenges such as temperature maintenance and water scarcity through the use of non-conventional energy sources. Ladakh, being a cold arid desert region, experiences ambient temperatures dipping as low as -35°C to -40°C and this affects the shelter temperature. A well-designed and standardized shelter in terms of heat retention, proper orientation, etc., or a thermal supplementation serves the purpose. Fossil fuel-based heating systems are common in Army and local shelters here. These systems emits CO2 and other harmful gases and pose risks, including accidents. Furthermore, issues related to transportation and storage of fossil fuels before winter exacerbate the problem of global warming. This led me to explore solutions based on clean and abundant energy sources.

Q. Can you share a specific technology you have developed that has had a significant impact on addressing temperature maintenance in the cold desert?

Well, the developed systems for temperature maintenance are based on solar thermal technologies for space heating of the existing shelters. One such system has proven effective in maintaining temperatures within the comfortable habitable temperature range during peak winter periods.This system operates by harnessing solar radiation (400w/m 2 to 1300w/m2) to transfer thermal energy to heat transfer fluid, which is then stored in an insulated tank.This stored fluid is used to regulate the building’s temperature according to user-defined settings. This system makes use of both sensible and latent heat for space heating and also incorporates several multi-stage backups for ensuring habitable temperature maintenance during non-sunny days. Also, it requires minimal maintenance and involves a one-time investment with long-term cost-effectiveness, along with simplicity in operation and execution.

Q. How do you approach the challenge of water scarcity in high-altitude environments through your designs?

Ladakh, the largest union territory of India in terms of area, is characterized by a scattered and sparse population. Life in the region, particularly for those residing in remote areas during the winter, is challenging. Essential commodities are transported from Leh and nearby areas. Water is available to the residents of those areas from springs, rivulets, etc., sourced from glaciers during the summer period. However, the availability of water during winter is difficult, and it is made available either by vehicles in some cases or mostly through the use of fossil fuel-based systems to melt snow/ice. A simple system based on solar energy is thought to be a boon and a one-time solution for the residents and deployed army personnel. Ladakh is blessed with high-intensity solar radiation with over nine months of cloud-free days along with 7 hours of average annual sunshine duration. A solar energy-based stand-alone simple, insulated, rugged design with ease of assembly at the location along ease of operation will solve the generation of water at the location itself with ease. A system has been conceptualized and developed keeping in mind the issues of using a type of solar thermal energy concentrator with multiple thermal foils along with the flexibility of altering snow volume. The system was found capable of water generation from snow using solar energy in cold arid high altitude conditions.

Q. How do you balance innovation and practicability when developing new structures for extreme environments?

A very good question, I feel any innovation, in general, should be done keeping in mind the user’s requirements and that innovation should be simple and easily producible at the location itself. When striking a balance between innovation and practicability, especially in extreme environments one should give importance to its requirements, usage, cost, simplicity, acceptance, durability, ruggedness, and availability &; production from local material at the location itself to make life simpler for residents of extreme environments. Monitoring and review of the innovation from the user is most important and necessary updation/modification is required to find whether the objectives were met or not. Maintaining a balance between innovation and practicability is generally tough but thinking of its usability while innovating any structure/system may give you the best chance to succeed.

Q. Can you discuss a particularly memorable research paper you’ve published related to your specialization?

Well, the research paper close to me is about exploring the nearly constant subsoil temperature at a particular depth that remains unaffected by outside ambient temperature and solar radiation. The concept is to utilize the constant temperature at that depth along with the utilization of soil at that identified depth as a sink to store the excess heat gain from solar energy and consequently exchange of thermal energy between building and soil and vice versa during requirements by a simple technology for suitable temperature maintenance. The system is simple, economical, totally based on solar energy, and can be used for heating and cooling a building. As far as memorable one is concerned it is of course my first paper which is about the work related to comparative analysis of different features of existing fresh food cultivation structures including orientation, material used in construction, its thickness, and its effect on heat transfer etc. to estimate the energy losses and finding a solution based on non-conventional technology for maintenance of temperature in the existing structures.

Q. What do you hope the future impact of your work will be on the scientific community and beyond?

I believe any work related to science must tackle societal needs and global issues. One of the prime concerns worldwide is global warming and hence climate change and we are also not untouched by this menace. Ladakh has a very fragile ecosystem and finding an alternative sustainable solution is the need of the hour without affecting/exploitation of other natural resources before it is too late. When speaking about the region’s societal needs, the energy demand for temperature maintenance accounts bulk of the total energy consumption of the region and is on an uptrend, meeting the temperature maintenance through non-conventional energy seems to be a sustainable solution in the long run for the future generations to come. This necessitates the development of area-specific energy-efficient structures and systems based on non-conventional energy. In this direction, several technologies have been developed which paved the way for possibilities of switching towards renewable technologies and this may prove to be a stepping stone or you can say basis towards tackling different related and more complex issues with ease.

Q. How do you feel about receiving awards for your contributions to the field of designing structures for cold desert conditions?

When you dedicate your time and energy to any work and that work is acknowledged by others, not only in terms of awards but in any manner, you are encouraged to think and carry out other tasks also with more enthusiasm. What I actually feel, is whether you got recognition or not it’s not important what really matters is how your work is
going to benefit society in general. Recognition is bound to get, but maybe it will take time. There is no doubt getting recognition for your work makes you feel so good and confident.

Q. In what ways do you think your work can inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to tackle similar challenges in extreme environments?

My work is mainly concerned with the development of renewable energy-based technologies to address some issues associated with cold arid high altitude conditions. Several other challenges in different sectors still need to be addressed with renewable energy for the betterment of the residents of extreme environments in particular. The present developed systems and their analysis with the help of published data and technical details will help in developing the concept for the development of different renewable energy technologies and will encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers to tackle similar challenges of high altitude extreme conditions. There is always scope for improvement in any innovations and further improvements can be carried out as the world needs are continually changing and evolving.

Message to the readers

The future of Ladakh lies in sustainable practices, especially championed by our youth. There is immense potential in innovative solutions. Even small initiatives receive significant support. Let’s prioritize sustainability and responsible innovation to safeguard Ladakh’s future while respecting its rich natural heritage.