In a major boost for environmental research, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has secured a prestigious national project funded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The initiative, sanctioned under ISRO's RESPOND program, is titled "Groundwater Regime Impact and Climate Change towards Sustainable Development Goals." It aims to tackle India's critical challenges of water security and building resilience against climate change.
Interdisciplinary Team to Lead Pioneering Research
The research will be spearheaded by an interdisciplinary team from PAU. Dr. Samanpreet Kaur, Principal Scientist in the Department of Soil and Water Engineering, is the project's leader. She is joined by climate expert Dr. Prabhjyot Kaur Sidhu and Dr. Surbhi Gupta, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and IT. The university group will collaborate closely with Rajarshi Saha from ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ensuring a direct link between academic research and advanced space-based applications.
Dr. Samanpreet Kaur highlighted the project's national significance. She stated that it underscores PAU's expanding role in applying geospatial technologies to solve pressing issues related to water and agricultural security. "With groundwater sustainability emerging as a pressing concern for India's agricultural and water security, the study will focus on assessing climate change impacts on groundwater regimes and developing science-driven solutions," she explained.
Harnessing Space Tech and AI for Water Security
The project plans to deploy a cutting-edge methodology that integrates Earth observation techniques with big data analytics and machine learning. This powerful combination is designed to create a predictive management framework for groundwater. Key objectives include:
- Generating downscaled satellite products and predictive models.
- Accurately forecasting groundwater dynamics under various future climate scenarios.
- Creating a nationwide map identifying groundwater vulnerability hotspots.
This approach moves beyond traditional assessment, aiming to provide actionable insights for policymakers and water resource managers across the country.
Building Capacity and Strengthening National Missions
Beyond its core scientific outputs, the initiative is structured to foster significant capacity building. It will provide advanced training and hands-on research opportunities for students and young scientists in crucial fields like hydrology, climate science, and geospatial applications.
The university's leadership, including Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal and Director of Research Dr. A S Dhatt, congratulated the team on securing the grant. They emphasized that this strategic partnership with ISRO reinforces PAU's standing as a premier institution actively contributing to India's critical national missions on water conservation and climate action.
