Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Expert Shares Insights on Advanced Landslide Monitoring Systems
Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh Highlights Proven Success of Advanced Landslide Monitoring Early Warning Systems in Kerala, Sikkim, and New Collaborations in Karnataka and Odisha
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham emphasizes the critical need for integrated landslide monitoring and early warning systems amidst changing climatic patterns. The university has been a pioneer in this field, with a robust early warning system operational since 2009, providing real-time alerts and monitoring in landslide-prone areas such as Munnar, Kerala, and Sikkim.
Since its launch, Amrita’s landslide early warning system has been operational in Munnar and Sikkim, providing timely alerts and facilitating successful disaster management. The system’s effectiveness in these regions has encouraged further collaborations. Recently, Amrita signed MoUs with Karnataka and Odisha for installing this system, reflecting growing recognition of its capabilities.
Amrita’s landslide monitoring and early warning system integrates an IoT-based sensor network, advanced forecasting module, and a multi-level warning framework. This setup allows for dynamic risk assessment and provides timely warnings that support local authorities in executing effective evacuations. For example, a second-level regional warning issued for Munnar in July 2024 enabled timely evacuations and avoided fatalities despite multiple landslides. Additionally, the university’s Dynamic Multi-Hazard Risk Management Geospatial Platform combines remote sensing, geotechnical surveys, and hydrological models to generate dynamic hazard maps and facilitate real-time risk communication, proving essential for managing regional risks, including landslides.
The system has been operational since 2009, including a fault-tolerant communication system in Idukki. It has been successfully tested and validated over multiple years, including 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, with timely warnings that have significantly reduced casualties. For example, in July 2024, a second-level regional warning for Munnar facilitated timely evacuations, preventing fatalities despite multiple landslides in the area.
Amrita University is collaborating with the Indian Meteorological Department for weather forecasting and early detection. The university is also presenting this platform to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, offering a dual-level warning system for enhanced risk management. This system integrates data from various sources, including satellite networks, meteorological data, and local sensors, to facilitate localized disaster management. Collaborations with state governments, such as with Sikkim, have demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in providing real-time alerts and monitoring. A similar initiative is being planned with the Odisha Government.
India’s vulnerability to landslides affects about 12% of its land, worsened by climate change. The 2019 monsoon’s severe landslides and floods in Kerala prompted Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to publish findings in their esteemed journal Landslides, guiding future disaster management.
Speaking about the current scenario, Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, Provost of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Director of the Amrita Centre for Wireless Networks and Applications, said, “The rise in such scenarios across the country underscores the urgent need for real-time systems to provide immediate insights into landslide initiation probabilities and to delineate potential impact areas. Over the past decade, our landslide early warning system has significantly advanced our understanding of extreme weather patterns and their impacts. We are committed to continuously improving these systems and working with relevant agencies to mitigate disaster risks and save lives. Amrita is ready to collaborate with any stakeholders to create effective solutions for reducing disaster impacts and safeguarding communities.”
Amrita’s innovative approaches have garnered international recognition, earning the designation of a World Center of Excellence in Landslide Risk Reduction from the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL). The university’s efforts have also been praised by the Prime Minister of India, reflecting its significant contributions to disaster risk reduction and management.