Dhanbad: The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad (IIT-ISM) has unveiled a groundbreaking new course designed to equip students with advanced skills in emerging technological fields, particularly in geospatial technology, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. This innovative initiative is bolstered by the expertise of globally recognized academician and researcher, Professor Biswajeet Pradhan, who will provide invaluable insights to the program.
The course is structured to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications, focusing on crucial areas such as 3D flood modeling, dam break analysis, subsidence mapping, disaster-prone area identification, terrain analysis, and watershed delineation. As industries increasingly rely on these advanced technologies for decision-making and problem-solving, IIT-ISM aims to prepare students with future-ready capabilities, bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Professor SR Samadder, Associate Dean (R&D) and Local Coordinator, highlighted the significance of geospatial intelligence in disaster mitigation and decision-making. He emphasized the course’s role in advancing the understanding of these critical technologies.
Professor Pradhan, a distinguished scholar known for his pioneering work in geoinformatics and remote sensing, will be instrumental in shaping the curriculum and mentoring students. With his vast experience in research and global collaborations, Professor Pradhan’s involvement will provide students with unique perspectives on cutting-edge advancements in the field.
Speaking to the participants, Professor Pradhan discussed the importance of geospatial technologies in today’s rapidly changing climate. He explained, “Geospatial technologies are fundamentally about data collection, but the key is to ensure that the data collected is intelligent and meaningful for predictive analysis, particularly in mitigating natural disasters.” Professor Pradhan, with expertise in hazard risk assessment and explainable AI, stressed the need to integrate spatial modeling with machine learning techniques to improve disaster preparedness and resource management.
Professor Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director of IIT-ISM, underscored the importance of geospatial intelligence in natural resource exploration and sustainable management. He also emphasized IIT-ISM’s leading role in geospatial engineering, pointing out the institute’s contributions to the field.
The course, coordinated by Professor Srinivas Pasupuleti, Head of the Civil Engineering Department, spans 40 sessions over 10 days, combining classroom lectures with laboratory training. Participants include engineers, faculty members, professionals, research scholars, and students from across India.
Professor VGK Villuri, Co-Coordinator of the course, extended a vote of thanks to Professor Pradhan, recognizing his impressive achievements, including being named a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics for five consecutive years (2016-2020). With over 880 journal publications, 76,000 citations, and an h-index of 137, Professor Pradhan is regarded as a leading authority in integrating spatial modeling with AI to predict extreme hydrometeorological events such as landslides, floods, forest fires, and droughts.
This course is expected to provide participants with valuable insights into geospatial intelligence applications, preparing them to tackle contemporary challenges in resource management and disaster preparedness.
