Patna: The director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC-ISRO), Nilesh M Desai, on Tuesday outlined how satellite technology and artificial intelligence could transform disaster forecasting and urban management in Bihar, during a special lecture at the Legislative Council’s sub-building auditorium.
Speaking on the theme “New Frontiers in Space Technology and Development”, Desai said the Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra (BMSK) and SAC-ISRO have been collaborating for the past three years on a range of applications, with a particular focus on disaster prediction.
He said the partnership covers early warning systems for floods, earthquakes, lightning, cold waves, heat waves and storms. As part of these efforts, Doppler weather radars are being installed in West Champaran and Bhagalpur to strengthen real-time monitoring.
Desai said satellite technology could also be used for managing crowds during large-scale events such as Chhath Puja, as well as for assessing air quality across cities in the state. With the integration of artificial intelligence and continuous data analysis, he said, cyclone and storm warnings could potentially be issued up to 15 days in advance.
Providing a historical overview, Desai spoke about the establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the vision of its founder, Dr Vikram Sarabhai. He also acknowledged the contributions of Dr C V Raman, Dr Satish Dhawan and former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in advancing India’s space programme.
“We are running this programme not to compete with developed countries, but for the welfare of the entire country,” Desai said.
Renowned scientist Deepak Singh also addressed the gathering.
The event was attended by the deputy chairman of the Legislative Council, Prof Ram Vachan Rai, the deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, members of the Legislative Council, and officials and staff.
Concluding the session, the chairman Avadhesh Narayan Singh thanked Desai and his team, describing the lecture as valuable and expressing hope that they would address the Council again in future.
