ISRO Deploys Satellite and Geospatial Tools to Monitor

The Government of India is using satellite and geospatial technologies to monitor glaciers, glacial lakes, snowfall, water resources, and landslides in Ladakh. ISRO and the Department of Space undertake multiple satellite-based projects in Ladakh over the last 5 years for monitoring, modelling, and alert generation.

Satellite and Geospatial Projects in Ladakh :

Dimension	Key Details
Monitoring focus	Satellite and geospatial technologies monitor glaciers, glacial lakes, snowfall, water resources, and landslides in Ladakh.
Cryosphere Science and Applications Programme (CAP)	Provides for monitoring snow and glaciers of the Himalaya-Karakoram region, including Ladakh, as an ongoing ISRO project in collaboration with state agencies, academia, and institutes.
Ladakh Specific Modelling and Space Applications (LAMA)	Authorises ISRO/DoS to execute a project for Ladakh UT comprising a space inputs-based weather forecasting model, heavy rainfall alerts, and hydrological simulations for estimating snowmelt, glacial melt runoff, and river discharge.
Satellite Integrated Landslide Assessment and Alert System (SILAAS)	Has been undertaken since 2023 under ISRO-DMSP to map landslides using satellite data in Ladakh and for generation of village-wise landslide alerts.
National Hydrology Project	Applies to the 2017–2025 period and is sponsored by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, comprising glacial lakes mapping, GLOF risk assessment, snow-cover monitoring, evapotranspiration, and hydrological drought assessment.
Geo-Ladakh	Provides for the 'Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Geoportal with Allied Database Development for UT-Ladakh’ project, carried out by ISRO, comprising development of the ‘Geo-Ladakh’ geoportal, generation of a geospatial database of natural resources, energy, infrastructure, and administrative boundaries, and capacity building.