Pakistan: remote sensing to forecast floods

Remote-sensing-based climate and flood warning technology is to upgrade flood management of Pakistan. The project will help build the capacity of Pakistan Meteorological Department and other agencies responsible for flood forecasting, early warning and management at the national, provincial and district levels. UNESCO, with the financial assistance of Japan, is introducing the system at a cost of 3.5 million dollar. The system is expected to be completed by 2013.

 

Pakistan_UNOSATThe project will be completed in two years, which will enable the institutional capacity of Pakistan, to predict floods as prior as 1 to 14 days by tracking weather and flood waves. This would be major milestone in achieving the better capacity to mitigate extreme floods like 2010 floods in Pakistan. The project will not only bring state of the art technology but will also harness linkages between Pakistani institutions such as Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), SUPARCO, Federal Flood Commission (FFC), NDMA and Japanese institutions such as International Centre for Water Hazards and Risk Management (ICHARM), a UNESCO Category II Centre, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

 

Article in The News

 

The Netherlands National IHP Committee has supported the relief efforts in pakistan after the floods in August 2010.