Title

GeoAI based Vulnerability Indices and Smart Decision-Making Solutions (DMS) for Climate Resilience, Adaptation and Mitigation in high altitude Western Himalayas

Abstract

Geospatial and AI based Vulnerability Indices and Smart Decision-Making Solutions (DMS) for Climate Resilience, Adaptation and Mitigation in High Altitude Western Himalayas

The high-altitude regions of Western Himalayas are extremely vulnerable to the changes in observed current climatic variability which adds to the unique importance of this region for it feeds the two major river systems of the Indian subcontinent. Since this region is drier compared to the eastern part of Himalayas, slight increase in temperature and subsequent changes in other climatic parameters will have profound impact on the snowfall, biodiversity, soil systems, geology, hydrology etc. It is therefore important to realise the impact of climate change on high altitude areas by assessing these impacts at ecoregion level. An attempt to link the changes in geomorphology, hydrology, glacial and snow cover, species diversity and richness, socio-economic conditions through spatial analytics and generate vulnerability indices delivering integrated decision-making solutions for the eco- region is first of its kind. Geospatial and AI technology powered sustainable DMS for developing resilience, adaptation, and mitigation of the possible impacts of climate variability in high altitude western Himalayan region. With ambitious schemes such as NMSHE program by DST and NMHS by MoEFCC, the Government of India is focusing on Himalayan region. It is therefore opportune time now to collate and bring together all the above efforts to develop a comprehensive and scientific understanding of the overall environmental-climatic system of the area with an end-to-end workflow-based approach for this eco-region. This project is unique bringing together researchers from multiple domains and expertise from Environment and Climate, Geospatial, Computer Science, Disaster Management and Geology, Information Technology and Social Sciences. The project is also one of its kind bringing together academia, research institutes, industry, community organisation and users together as Investigators and Collaborators of the project. With 80% Women in the Team this proposal also pushes for inclusiveness and diversity.

Key Words

Vulnerability Indices, Smart DMS, High-altitude Western Himalayas, Geospatial Information and Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning

Objective

• Geospatial Modelling and Analytics at multiple scales for establishing habitat species relationship for understanding the impact of climate change on ecologically vulnerable communities, identifying rare and endemic species that will be highly affected by change in climate, Evaluating the impact of climate variability on population dynamics of selected ecologically sensitive or/and endemic plant species. Hazard Zonation for Land Slide, Earthquake, Geological Stability analysis Flood risk, Flood frequency, Flood forecast, Snow and Glacial melt analysis, Avalanche risk frequency. Multi-temporal analytics for rainfall, temp, humidity and pressure, Climate models. Nutrient Analytics, Soil moisture and temperature profile and analytics. Socio-economic analysis, Livelihood Analysis
• Vulnerability Indices development for Ecosystem Vulnerability, Biodiversity Vulnerability, Geological (Landslide, earthquake, snow and glacial melt, avalanches) Vulnerability, Hydrological (Flood and Water Security) Vulnerability, Soil Vulnerability, Livelihood Vulnerability
• Develop Smart Decision-Making Solutions for Sustainable Infrastructure Development and its long-term stability, Biodiversity Harvesting & Conservation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation, Livelihood Resilience to Climate Variability, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Climate Predictions and Future Simulation Scenarios for decision making, Predictive Agriculture Systems, Predictive Developmental Scenarios stakeholders of the region.