Geomatics Engineering Program Responds to recent Earthquake in Nepal: a case of Kathmandu University

The following are the activities carried out by Geomatics program of Kathmandu University 1 Standard geo-tagged hash tag simulation with image attachment The features were assigned standardized hashtag along with Geo-location services with the provision of attachment of images and photographs.

2 Android application development for disaster assessment Geo-spatial lab of Geomatics Engineering program, KU in collaboration with ICIMOD, developed an android application meant to assess natural disasters like fire, earthquake, flood, landslides etc. However, after April 25th earthquake, it was modified for earthquake damage assessment. The application was named “Disaster Reporting” and was released on Google Play which can be freely downloaded. The application has the provision of geo-tagged ground sourcing by data collection of individual households with photographs. 3 Concerns regarding heritage sites With the successful development of “Disaster Reporting” application, geo-spatial lab turned its concerns over heritage site archive and conservation. The application was modified for earthquake assessment of heritage sites and renamed as “KTM-Heritage” which later was used by Kathmandu Metropolitan City in order to create spatial database of pre- and postearthquake merged with digitized file archives.

4 Preliminary earthquake damage assessment Geomatics engineering program set up the milestone of successful implementation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle by integrating it in damage assessment of earthquake. Faculties, research assistants and students collected earthquake affected households data of Dhulikhel Municipality ward numer 1 and 6 along with Panga and Itagol of Kirtipur Municipality using UAV. The collected data were visualized via different damage assessment maps. 5 Post disaster mapping The development of “Disaster Reporting” application proved to be very beneficial as the country was hit by major earthquake. The application was used by faculties and students of Geomatics Engineering to collect ground data of earthquake hit places of Kavre (Kuttal and Nayagaon) and Bhaktapur (Bhaktapur Municipality- 14) districts. Detailed earthquake assessment was concluded as pilot project of the application with ICIMOD technically assisting and Sano Paila, geo-spatial lab and I.STEM lab assisting financially. The other helping hands were Rotaract Club of Baneshwor and Bhaktapur, Youth Club of Bhaktapur. Information regarding Owner’s name, mobile number, geo-location, damage type, income source and status of affected, current situation, type of houses and buildings, needs of the affected people etc. were collected. After the completion of data collection, the information was visualized via infograph.

6 Volunteering to distribute relief materials The Geomatics Engineering students are also involved voluntarily in distributing relief materials at Sindhupalchowk and other nearby areas. They have also been with Civil engineering students for rapid assessment of structural damage of buildings within and outside the KU after earthquake. For this year, the intern of the 2011batch students has focused on the impact of earthquake. The individual assignment of Master in Land Administration students are also focused on post-earthquake mapping in various places. The faculties and students of Geomatics program involved in resettlement of Ghyampae Dada at Lalitpur district. The proposal has been prepared, design and estimate has been prepared and is in the phase of collecting the fund for the project.

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