Bhushan Raj Shrestha, PhD, Nepal Research and Education Network

Challenges in implementing ICT to address Challenges in implementing ICT to address

Climate Change in developing economies with Climate Change in developing economies with

an experience of implementing sensors and an experience of implementing sensors and

wireless technologies in monitoring Glacier wireless technologies in monitoring Glacier

Lakes in HimalayaLakes in Himalaya

Bhushan Raj Shrestha, PhD, Nepal Research and Education Network

ITU Telecom World 2009, Geneva, 5-9 October, 2009

Experience of implementing sensors and wireless Experience of implementing sensors and wireless

technologies in monitoring Glacier Lakes in Himalaya is technologies in monitoring Glacier Lakes in Himalaya is

the experience gained through the project developed for the experience gained through the project developed for

monitoring Imja Glacier Lake in high Himalayas of Nepal.monitoring Imja Glacier Lake in high Himalayas of Nepal.

This a collaborative project of NARC/NARO Japan, Keio This a collaborative project of NARC/NARO Japan, Keio

University Japan, Nepal Research and Education Network University Japan, Nepal Research and Education Network

(NREN) Nepal, ICIMOD, DNPW Nepal and APAN-Japan.(NREN) Nepal, ICIMOD, DNPW Nepal and APAN-Japan.

This system is still in operation and can be accessed This system is still in operation and can be accessed

through through http://fsds.dc.affrc.go.jp/data4/Himalayan/. .

TThe effect of climate change in the form he effect of climate change in the form

of increase in temperature, change in of increase in temperature, change in

monsoon cycle, heavy rainfall, floods and monsoon cycle, heavy rainfall, floods and

droughts have adverse effect in the limited droughts have adverse effect in the limited

livelihood options of the majority of people livelihood options of the majority of people

in developing nations.in developing nations.

Vulnerable communities need strategies to Vulnerable communities need strategies to

cope and adapt with the changing cope and adapt with the changing

environment.environment.

ICT enables top-level decision makers to ICT enables top-level decision makers to

identify the vulnerable communities and identify the vulnerable communities and

develop national strategies for adaptation.develop national strategies for adaptation.

ICT enables community to develop strategies ICT enables community to develop strategies

to cope and adapt the changing environment.to cope and adapt the changing environment.

Glaciers are most

sensitive to global

temperature condition.

Most glaciers in Nepal

are undergoing rapid

deglaciation: rate of

glacial retreat ranges

from several meters to

20m/year. Source: Melting Himalayas

Regular monitoring of Regular monitoring of

glaciers and their glaciers and their

associates not only associates not only

help in preventing help in preventing

potential disaster from potential disaster from

GLOF, it also helps in GLOF, it also helps in

monitoring the trend of monitoring the trend of

global warming.global warming.

ObjectiveObjective

Real time monitoring of Imja Real time monitoring of Imja

glacial lake as a pilot project glacial lake as a pilot project http://fsds.dc.affrc.go.jp/data4/Himalayan/. .

Establish early warning Establish early warning

system to save villages from system to save villages from

GLOF in down stream.GLOF in down stream.

Establishing network Establishing network

infrastructure for researchers infrastructure for researchers

working in climate change working in climate change

worldwide.worldwide.

Island (Imja) Peak

Imja Glacier

Imja Lake

Mt. Everest

Imja Glacial lake is a large lake on moraine with narrow outlet located at 5100 + m altitude. It is formed by melted glaciers. Water level is rising, high risk of Glacial Lake Out-Burst and several villages downstream are on risk.

Imja Now and Then

May, 2008

Technology DeployedTechnology Deployed

Field Server : A sensor developed by Field Server : A sensor developed by National Agriculture Research National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), JapanCenter (NARC), Japan

Wi-FiWi-Fi

Internet through VSATInternet through VSAT

Web Server (Measurement & Web Server (Measurement & Device Control)Device Control)

Sensors (up to 24 channel)Sensors (up to 24 channel)

(Air temp., humidity, Solar (Air temp., humidity, Solar radiation, COradiation, CO22, Water level in Imja)

IP Camera for picture and video IP Camera for picture and video

Solar CellSolar Cell

FIELD SERVER

Wireless Network from Imja Lake to Wireless Network from Imja Lake to Namche Bazar – 4 days walkNamche Bazar – 4 days walk

Pangboche

Dingboche

Namche bazaar

Chhukung Ri

Kalapathar

Quangde

Tengboche

Loboche (Pyramid)

Phortse

Everest base camp

Imja lake

Khumbu Glacier

•Everest

25 Km

Lesson Lesson LearntLearnt

Countries situated in Himalayan region are highly Countries situated in Himalayan region are highly

vulnerable to climate changevulnerable to climate change

ICT is an appropriate technology to address Climate ICT is an appropriate technology to address Climate

ChangeChange

The skill of available human resources within the The skill of available human resources within the

developing nation are sufficient for establishing such developing nation are sufficient for establishing such

systemsystem

New development in wireless and sensor technologies, New development in wireless and sensor technologies, availability of broadband Internet connectivity are great availability of broadband Internet connectivity are great opportunities foropportunities for

developing efficient monitoring and early warning developing efficient monitoring and early warning systemssystems

creating knowledgebase for coping and adapting the creating knowledgebase for coping and adapting the changes due to climate changechanges due to climate change

national and international researchers outside the national and international researchers outside the region to study on glaciers and its associates due to region to study on glaciers and its associates due to climate change in real timeclimate change in real time

local people or decision makers in developing nations local people or decision makers in developing nations to get real time advisory from experts and others for to get real time advisory from experts and others for immediate action to be taken on disaster or any other immediate action to be taken on disaster or any other natural eventsnatural events

Lesson Learnt, Contd………..

Challenges in implementing ICT for Challenges in implementing ICT for climate change in developing nationsclimate change in developing nations

Network Infrastructure – large pats of rural areas Network Infrastructure – large pats of rural areas are not covered by existing infrastructure, private are not covered by existing infrastructure, private service providers have less priority to serve these service providers have less priority to serve these areas. areas.

Creating own private network is still very Creating own private network is still very expensive.expensive.

Limited and expensive bandwidth cost for internet Limited and expensive bandwidth cost for internet connectivity.connectivity.

Power supply – need to depend on solar energy, Power supply – need to depend on solar energy, high initial cost.high initial cost.

Awareness - top level decision makers and ICT Awareness - top level decision makers and ICT professionals are not aware of potentiality of ICT professionals are not aware of potentiality of ICT in Climate Change.in Climate Change.

Lack of activities to build the confidence of Lack of activities to build the confidence of stakeholders about ICT in climate change.stakeholders about ICT in climate change.

Affordability – devices and sensors to be used for Affordability – devices and sensors to be used for ICT enable system for climate change is still very ICT enable system for climate change is still very expensive and not affordable.expensive and not affordable.

Challenges in implementing ICT, Contd………..