Potential Applications of Cloud Computing in
Nepal Using TEIN & the Challenges
Hanoi, December 6, 2012
Bhushan Raj Shrestha, PhD
Nepal Research and Education Network (NREN)
ISSUES
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Development Challenges & Opportunities
Required Resources
Potential Applications of Cloud Computing for Nepal
Computing Infrastructure Required for these Applications
Challenges in Implementing Cloud Computing in TEIN
Network
Strategic Approach for promoting Cloud Computing
Possible project for Demonstration
Characteristics of Nepal

Developing country

A mountainous country (ranged to 8,000 m+)
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Tectonically active
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Highly concentrated precipitation
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High population growth rate
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Vulnerable to the climate change
Development Challenges &
Opportunities

Nepal is highly vulnerable to Climate Change and
Natural Disasters such as Landslide, Flood and
Earthquake.

Advanced development in ICT enables community
and decision makers to develop efficient strategies to
cope and adapt such disasters.
Required Resources

Intensive spatial and non-spatial temporal data sets Satellite images and other remote sensing data,
hydrological and metrological data for monitoring
and predicting the situation.
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Hardware & Software with the high capacity of
image processing, modeling, simulating, statistical
and geo-statistical analysis.
Required resources, contd. ………………………………
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Computers with high storage and high processing
capacity (e.g. Super computing, Grid computing)
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Meeting the such required resources is very
challenging for organizations or research institutions
in developing countries like Nepal
Required resources, contd. ………………………………
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Resources required for systems & research activities
are available for sharing in different institutions
located around the world (e.g. Research centers /
Networks, Academic Institutes, etc.).

Only need to identify the required resources and
collaborate for sharing through TEIN.
Potential Applications of Cloud Computing
for Nepal

Monitoring climate change in different levels using
remote sensing and GIS data.
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Weather forecasting (National, regional and local
level) using various remote sensing and local
metrological data
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Early warning system for mitigating flood disaster
Potential Applications of Cloud Computing, Contd.……………
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Providing satellite images and GIS based maps for
disaster preparedness and post disaster management
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Land use planning & Land suitability analysis using
GIS and remote sensing
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Earthquake modeling and disaster preparedness
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Monitoring Glaciers, Glacial lakes and GLOF using
remote sensing data
Computing Infrastructure Required
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Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) based GIS
Service in supporting GIS-based data analysis & Map
preparation
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Data as a service (DaaS)
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Software as a Service (SaaS)
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Storage as a Service (STaaS)
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API as a Service (APIaaS)
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Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
SOA based GIS Service includes
following services
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Web Features Service (WFS) – web interfaces for
accessing feature-based geospatial data
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Web Map Service (WMS) – produces maps of spatially
referenced data
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Web Coverage Service (WCS) – web interface for
supporting electronic retriveal of geospatial data as coverage
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Web Registry Service (WRS) – web interfaces for
finding data from Registers
Challenges in Implementing Cloud
Computing in TEIN Network
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Lack of awareness about Cloud Computing
among Academicians and Potential
organizations for providing and using services
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Many potential users are not yet in NREN so not
in TEIN
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Lack of Knowledge about available Services and
Service Providers among TEIN Network
Challenges in Implementing Cloud Computing in TEIN Network,
contd............
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Hesitate to share data for security reasons
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Lack of idea in business modeling
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Services such as Google Map, Google API, etc
available in Internet cannot be integrated with
TEIN
Strategic Approach for promoting Cloud
Computing
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NREN in-cooperation with other experienced
TEIN members should promote available
initiatives to TEIN members
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Identify the SOA-based services available in
TIEN Network and promote through NREN
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Develop policy for using Services such as Google
Map, Google API, etc available in Internet
through TEIN
Strategic Approach for promoting Cloud Computing, Contd…………
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Develop and implement demonstration projects
that address key development Issues
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Existing sensor and wireless based system for
monitoring Glacier Lake in High Himalayas can
be potential project for demonstration
Real-time Monitoring of
Glacial Lake
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A pilot project initiated by NARC/NARO Japan, Keio
University, NREN, ICIMOD, DNPW and APANJapan in 2008 to monitor Imja Glacial Lake in
Himalayas above 5000+ m. alt.
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Objective was to monitor Imja glacier lake, GLOF as
well as global warming
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It is an integrated system of Sensors (Field sever) and
Wireless Technology.
Glaciers and glacial lakes in Nepal
Glacial lakes - 2323
Effects of climate change in the
form of the retreat of glaciers,
formation of new glacial lakes
and expansion of existed lakes
in high Himalayas are witnessed
at alarming rate.
Increase in water volume often
breaks the unstable moraine
dams and cause GLOF resulting
in extensive damages down
stream. (20 + vulnerable lakes)
Dangerous Glacial Lakes
Mt. Everest
Island (Imja) Peak
Imja Glacier
Imja Lake
Imja Glacial Lake (5100 ~5200m)
In the base of Island Peak
Formed by melted glaciers
Large lake on moraine with narrow outlet
Water level is rising
Risk of Glacial Lake Out-Burst (GLOB)
Several villages downstream on risk
Imja Now and Then
May, 2008
Imja Glacier Retreat and Growing Lake
Almost 1 square
kilometers in area
**********
28 million cubic meters
in 1992
36 million cubic meters
in 2002
***********
One of the highest retreat
rate found in the
Himalaya
LEGENDS
Retreat rate: Increased about 42m/yr from 1962 to 2001 and 74m/yr
from 2001 to 2006
15 Dec 1962
15 Oct 1975
02 Dec 1983
22 Sep 1992
30 Oct 2000
Jan 2006
\
Villages vulnerable to GLOF in Imja
(Total
events(1985-2007)
43)
Flash Flood
in Nepal
(Total events 43)
GLOF is one of
the key reasons
20
15
5
0
Unknown
Heavy Rain
Causes
GLOF
causing Flash
Flood in Nepal
Dam Break
10
Number of
events
20
Example:
Damage due to
Dig Tso burst
in 1985
Cumulative Occerence of GLOF
Cumulative Occerence of GLOF
Linear trend, 1935-1964
Linear Trend, 1965-2000
15
10
5
Trend of Occurring GLOF events in
0
1936
1944
1952
1960
1968
Date
1976
1984
1992
2000
Establishment
of
integrated system of
Field Server (a sensor)
and wireless network
to monitor Imja glacier
lake is a good initiation
in climate change
Technology Deployed
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Sensors
Monitor environment
Monitor water level
IP Camera
802.11b/g WiFi
Internet through VSAT
Data
- Collects by AgentServer
in Namche
- Relayed to and analysed in
NARC, Japan, e-Lab
What it Monitors ?
Capture high resolution pictures of the sites in an
interval of time
 Captures Audio and Video of the site
 Temperature
 Humidity
 Pressure
 Water Level & Flooding
 Glacier Collapse
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Interface used for monitoring different sites
Benefits of TEIN

TEIN
provides
access
of
existing
real-time
monitoring system of glacial lakes in Nepal to the
researchers working in the climate change around the
world.
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Researchers outside Nepal get opportunity to study
on glaciers and its associates in real time
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Nepali
researchers
get
resources
for
disaster
preparedness and give efficient respond on post
disaster
Required Services and Possible Service
Providers

Nepal as DaaS provider – e.g. Hydrological and
metrological spatial & temporal data, pictures,
audio, video, etc collected through sensors
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Nepal as a IaaS provider – e.g. sensors and
equipments used for on-line monitoring
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Other services has to be provided by other
service providers (to be explored) through TEIN
THANK YOU