No.

144/ February 2025

MY MEETING NOTES
Application of Geoinformatics for Women Scientists
Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM),
Bhopal | November 18th-29th, 2024.

In this meeting note, Ruchi and Tara reflect on their participation in the DST-
sponsored two-week training program, "Application of Geoinformatics for
Women Scientists," organized by the Indian Institute of Forest Management
(IIFM), Bhopal, from November 18th-29th, 2024.

CONTEXT

IIFM, as a leading forestry research institution, recognizes the integral role of geoinformatics, including
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, particularly in areas like forest fire
management, hydrology, and climate data analysis. IIFM has been proactive in adapting to the current
geoinformatics landscape, including restructuring postgraduate courses and fostering capacity
development initiatives through institutional alliances.

This DST-sponsored training program was designed to cultivate new competencies, career
opportunities, and research priorities within the forestry, agriculture, and allied sectors. The program
was held from November 18th-29th, 2024, and offered hands-on training in tools like Google Earth
Engine and QGIS, familiarizing participants with the fundamentals of geoinformatics applications in
emerging areas. Twelve participants from six states, representing diverse backgrounds including
forestry, agriculture, veterinary science, and pollution control boards, were selected for the 12-day
program.

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The program was designed and executed under Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria, Chairperson of the Centre of
Geoinformatics for Forestry, Climate Change, and Livelihood Support. The program's broad focus
encompassed the following themes:

Foundational Geoinformatics and

Research Reorientation

Spatial Data Infrastructure and

Drone Technology
Application of Geoinformatics

Pollution monitoring and

control

Spatio temporal analysis using GEE

Ecosystem and Species Diversity

Assessment with Remote Sensing

LiDAR and 3D Point Cloud Analysis

for Forest Biomass Assessment

Geoinformatics Applications in
Hydrology

TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS

Theme 1: Foundational Geoinformatics and Research Reorientation

Focus: Introduction to geoinformatics, encompassing remote sensing, GIS, GPS, and spatial data
infrastructures. Emphasis on shifting research paradigms from traditional methods to innovative
approaches like LiDAR and sensor-based technologies.

Key Learnings: Understanding fundamental geoinformatics terminology (geodesy, gravimetry, LiDAR,

remote sensing types, sensors). Recognizing the need for capacity development and skill enhancement
in line with modern agricultural and environmental challenges. Adopting innovative research
methodologies for landscape management, wildlife conservation, change detection, and biodiversity
modeling.

Reflections: Experts Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria and Dr. K. Ramesh provided valuable insights into current
research practices and inspired a forward-thinking approach in geoinformatics towards evidence-
based research.

Theme 2: Spatial Data Infrastructure and Drone Technology

Focus: Exploring the role of spatial data infrastructure (SDI) in Madhya Pradesh for land management,
urban planning, disaster management, environmental monitoring, and rural development.
Understanding the applications of drone technology, particularly in forest fire assessment and
biodiversity preservation.

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Key Learnings: Utilizing geospatial analysis and monitoring systems for improved public governance.
Integrating drone applications into traditional forest management practices for enhanced biodiversity
and forest resilience. Understanding the specifics of the Drone Policy 2021.

Reflections: Experts Dr. Sandeep Goyal, Mr. R. Arun Kumar, and Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria highlighted the
critical role of geospatial technology in infrastructure development and forest management using
drones, transforming traditional methods by offering more accurate, efficient, data-driven research
techniques.

Theme 3: Pollution Monitoring and Control

Focus: Applying geoinformatics in pollution monitoring and control across various environments.
Integrating GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis to monitor, assess, and manage pollution.

Key Learnings: Using geoinformatics tools to track environmental changes, identify pollution sources,
and evaluate the effectiveness of pollution control measures. Leveraging data-driven decisions for
public health protection and sustainable development.

Reflections: Experts Dr. Saumya Singh and Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria provided insights into new research areas
and the skills required for impact-driven research. Hands-on training on Sentinel 2 imagery analysis
using GEE was particularly valuable in signature extension machine learning.

Theme 4: Spatiotemporal Analysis with Google Earth Engine (GEE)

Focus: Utilizing GEE for spatiotemporal analysis, examining how spatial and temporal patterns evolve
and interact. Applying GEE and machine learning for forest monitoring, management, and land cover
classification.

Key Learnings: Efficient and accurate forest monitoring through satellite imagery, machine learning,
and cloud-based infrastructure. Hands-on experience with GEE for cloud and shadow removal, image
combination, and land cover classification using algorithms like random forest and K-means clustering.

Reflections: Experts Mr. Amit Biswal and Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria emphasized the importance of
spatiotemporal analysis in forest cover analysis and change detection using GEE and machine learning.
This information can help inform policymakers and promote sustainable land use advisory through
extension professionals.

Theme 5: Ecosystem and Species Diversity Assessment with Remote Sensing

Focus: Assessing ecosystem and species diversity using remote sensing technologies. Understanding
the use of Landsat and Sentinel imagery for vegetation classification and biodiversity assessments.

Key Learnings: Characterizing biodiversity by mapping and monitoring habitats, species, and
ecosystem health. Understanding the role of remote sensing in habitat classification, biodiversity
hotspot identification, phenological change monitoring, and climate change impact assessment.

Reflections: Experts Dr. C. Patnaik and Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria provided valuable insights into remote sensing
applications for biodiversity characterization, mapping, and monitoring, offering innovative solutions
for knowledge dissemination in extension research.

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Theme 6: LiDAR and 3D Point Cloud Analysis for Forest Biomass Assessment
Focus: Utilizing LiDAR technology and 3D point clouds for precise forest biomass estimation.
Calculating vegetation indices like NDVI using remote sensing software.

Key Learnings: Understanding LiDAR principles and its application in creating 3D forest canopy models.
Using 3D point cloud data for individual tree detection and crown delineation. Calculating NDVI and
other vegetation indices for assessing vegetation health and biomass.

Reflections: Experts Dr. Rajsekhar Gopalakrishnan and Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria highlighted the potential of
remote sensing for precise forest biomass assessment, ensuring that valuable data-based information
can be disseminated by extension workers on biomass in concerned forests, helping them make
informed decisions about harvesting, thinning, and replanting.

Theme 7: Geoinformatics Applications in Hydrology

Focus: Applying GIS and remote sensing in water resource management. Using remote sensing for
water body monitoring, water quality assessment, and hydrological feature mapping. Utilizing GEE and
machine learning for land cover and land use mapping.

Key Learnings: Efficient and accurate water resource management through geoinformatics
applications. Advanced analysis of remote sensing data using GEE and machine learning techniques.

Reflections: Experts Dr. T. Thomas and Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria showcased the potential of these
technologies in addressing water resource challenges. Hands-on training on GEE and machine learning
further enhanced the understanding of their practical applications in extension research, which often
deals with geographically dispersed communities and resources. GEE's cloud-based platform allows
researchers to process and analyze massive amounts of geospatial data.

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Further, GIS enables the creation of maps and spatial models that can be used to visualize different
scenarios and evaluate the potential impacts of various management options. This is crucial for land
use planning, infrastructure development, and disaster management. For example, maps showing
areas at high risk of forest fire can be used to prioritize fire prevention and suppression efforts.
Similarly, information on soil properties and crop health can be used to tailor agricultural extension
services to the specific needs of farmers.

SUMMARY

Geoinformatics provides a powerful set of tools and techniques that can significantly enhance
extension research and decision-making in a variety of fields, including Precision Agriculture, Forest
Fire Management, Water Resource Management, Climate Change Adaptation, and Biodiversity
Conservation. By enabling efficient data collection and analysis, improving decision-making processes,
facilitating communication, and supporting targeted interventions, geoinformatics plays a crucial role
in addressing contemporary challenges related to natural resource management, agriculture, and
environmental sustainability.

RELEVANCE AND APPLICABILITY OF THE TRAINING FOR EXTENSION RESEARCHERS AND

FIELD WORKERS

The training program on ‘Application of Geoinformatics’ effectively bridges the gap between
traditional research methods and cutting-edge geospatial technologies, allowing professionals to
better address contemporary challenges in agriculture, natural resource management, and
environmental conservation. The training content, particularly the focus on remote sensing, GIS, and
the use of drones and LiDAR technology, offers extension professionals an efficient and cost-effective
means to collect spatial data over large and often geographically dispersed areas. This is especially
valuable for extension workers who need to monitor vast agricultural landscapes, forests, and water
bodies. By employing satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and drone data, researchers can assess
crop health, monitor biodiversity, and detect environmental changes in real-time. This ability to collect
and process large datasets empowers extension workers to make more informed decisions. Extension
professionals often work at the grassroots level, where the ability to communicate complex issues to
diverse stakeholders is essential. The training on GIS mapping and visual data representations

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enhances the ability to convey environmental and agricultural concerns effectively to policymakers,
local communities, and other stakeholders.

WHY EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS SHOULD LEARN GEOINFORMATICS

In today’s rapidly evolving environmental and agricultural landscape, extension professionals must
adapt to new technologies to remain effective in their roles. Geoinformatics offers several key
advantages for extension professionals. The automation of data collection and analysis through tools
like GIS, GEE, and remote sensing leads to more precise, evidence-based decisions efficiently with less
time. This efficiency allows extension professionals to allocate more time to outreach, communication,
and implementation of solutions on the ground. By learning geoinformatics, extension workers are
preparing themselves for the future of environmental management.

OUR IMPRESSION

Course Director Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria and her team offered a comprehensive and modern educational
experience that integrated hospitality, practical instruction, up-to-date facilities, relevant course
content, and novel topics. A welcoming environment from the IIFM faculty made participants feel
comfortable and motivated to engage actively with the subject matter. The accessibility of up-to-date
GIS software (like ArcGIS, QGIS, or remote sensing tools) encouraged participants to learn new skills.

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SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT

The two-week training program, specifically for women scientists, with a perfect number of
participants, opens up a new path for the diversified application of geoinformatics in agricultural,
forestry, and allied sectors. However, a more tailored, practical learning experience would empower
female scientists by focusing on their strengths, providing them with real-world applications, and
helping them to develop into leaders in science.

Ruchi Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry
Extension Education at the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Nanaji Deshmukh
Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh 482001. She can be contacted via email at
drruchivet@gmail.com.

Tara Kumari is a Scientist-B in the Silviculture and Forest Management Division at the ICFRE-Rain
Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam 785010. Her email addresses are tarak@icfre.org and
tararishiforestry@gmail.com.

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