Challenges in implementing ICT to address
Climate Change in developing economies with
an experience of implementing sensors and
wireless technologies in monitoring Glacier
Lakes in Himalaya
ITU Telecom World 2009, Geneva, 5-9 October, 2009
Bhushan Raj Shrestha, PhD, Nepal Research and Education Network

Experience of implementing sensors and wireless
technologies in monitoring Glacier Lakes in Himalaya
is the experience gained through the project developed
for monitoring Imja Glacier Lake in high Himalayas of
Nepal.

This a collaborative project of NARC/NARO Japan,
Keio University Japan, Nepal Research and Education
Network (NREN) Nepal, ICIMOD, DNPW Nepal and
APAN-Japan.

This system is still in operation and can be accessed
through http://fsds.dc.affrc.go.jp/data4/Himalayan/.
The effect of climate change in the form of
increase in temperature, change in monsoon
cycle, heavy rainfall, floods and droughts
have adverse effect in the limited livelihood
options of the majority of people in
developing nations.

Vulnerable communities need strategies to
cope and adapt with the changing
environment.

ICT enables top-level decision makers to
identify the vulnerable communities and
develop national strategies for adaptation.

ICT enables community to develop strategies
to cope and adapt the changing environment.
Glaciers are most
sensitive to global
temperature condition.
Most glaciers in Nepal
are undergoing rapid
deglaciation: rate of
glacial retreat ranges
from several meters to
20m/year.
Source: Melting Himalayas
Regular monitoring of
glaciers and their
associates not only
help in preventing
potential disaster from
GLOF, it also helps in
monitoring the trend of
global warming.
Objective

Real time monitoring of Imja
glacial lake as a pilot project
http://fsds.dc.affrc.go.jp/data4/Himalayan/.

Establish
early
warning
system to save villages from
GLOF in down stream.

Establishing
network
infrastructure for researchers
working in climate change
worldwide.
Imja Glacial lake is a large lake on moraine with narrow outlet located at 5100 + m
altitude. It is formed by melted glaciers. Water level is rising, high risk of Glacial Lake
Out-Burst and several villages downstream are on risk.
Mt. Everest
Island (Imja) Peak
Imja Glacier
Imja Lake
Imja Now and Then
May, 2008
Technology Deployed
Field Server : A sensor developed
by National Agriculture Research
Center (NARC), Japan
Wi-Fi
Internet through VSAT
Web Server (Measurement &
Device Control)
Sensors (up to 24 channel)
(Air temp., humidity, Solar
radiation, CO2, Water level in
Imja)
IP Camera for picture and video
Solar Cell
FIELD SERVER
Wireless Network from Imja Lake to
Namche Bazar – 4 days walk
•Everest
 Everest base camp
 Kalapathar
 Khumbu Glacier
 Loboche (Pyramid)
 Chhukung Ri
 Imja lake
25 Km
 Phortse
 Dingboche
 Tengboche
 Namche
bazaar
 Quangde
 Pangboche
Lesson Learnt

Countries situated in Himalayan region are highly
vulnerable to climate change

ICT is an appropriate technology to address Climate
Change

The skill of available human resources within the
developing nation are sufficient for establishing such
system
Lesson Learnt, Contd………..

New development in wireless and sensor technologies,
availability of broadband Internet connectivity are great
opportunities for
 developing
efficient monitoring and early warning
systems
 creating knowledgebase for coping and adapting the
changes due to climate change
 national and international researchers outside the
region to study on glaciers and its associates due to
climate change in real time
 local people or decision makers in developing nations
to get real time advisory from experts and others for
immediate action to be taken on disaster or any other
natural events
Challenges in implementing ICT for
climate change in developing nations
Network Infrastructure – large pats of rural areas
are not covered by existing infrastructure, private
service providers have less priority to serve these
areas.
Creating own private network is still very
expensive.
Limited and expensive bandwidth cost for internet
connectivity.
Challenges in implementing ICT, Contd………..
Power supply – need to depend on solar energy,
high initial cost.
Awareness - top level decision makers and ICT
professionals are not aware of potentiality of ICT
in Climate Change.
Lack of activities to build the confidence of
stakeholders about ICT in climate change.
Affordability – devices and sensors to be used for
ICT enable system for climate change is still very
expensive and not affordable.