In response to the emergency in Joshimath, the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), under the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Government of India), has turned to Genesys International for aid. The company is leveraging Genesys Constellation of Sensors for the project. Genesys quickly dispatched its experts to the region. They completed an aerial LiDAR survey, creating a Reality 3d Mesh Model, Digital Elevation Model, Digital Terrain Model, Ortho maps, and Analysis Report of the area. These tools will provide the government with deeper insights and better decision-making capabilities for disaster management.
The project aims to investigate and prevent land subsidence in the Joshimath region of Uttarakhand, India, and help those affected and prevent further damage. This is not the first time Genesys has supported the nation. In 2013, they provided similar assistance for the Kedarnath flash floods. Also, they scanned the Sonprayag and Rampada extensions to contribute to the region's sustainable development, support the government, and create positive social and environmental impacts.
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About Joshimath disaster
In January 2023, hundreds of residents were forced to leave their homes in the historic pilgrim settlement of Joshimath, Uttarakhand, after the land beneath them began to subside. Experts have speculated that several potential factors could be at play, including unauthorized construction, increased tourism, high population growth, and the effects of climate change, such as more extreme weather events and inadequate drainage systems. Reports from the region suggest that at least 50 buildings in Bahuguna Nagar have been significantly damaged due to the ground subsidence, with many of the structures showing signs of cracks and fissures.
Genesys’ work will help better understand the causality of the subsidence and aid in various aspects of future mitigation strategies. Joshimath is situated at 6150m above sea level, making terrain mapping difficult due to sudden changes in terrain. The ongoing winter conditions in the Himalayas create a non-favorable climate for UAV operations. Genesys is equipped with a swath of sensors, the biggest of its kind in Asia called Genesys Constellation. This helped the company complete the mapping despite all the challenges.
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Kedarnath: Genesys International's Role in Disaster Preparedness
In 2013, a landslide occurred near the Kedarnath Temple, followed by a gushing of vast amounts of water from the Chorabari Tal down the Mandakini River, washing everything in its path. The next day, water rushed down the river Saraswati and from the Chorabari Tal, bringing along with-it vast amounts of silt, rocks, and boulders. The resulting flash floods nearly destroyed the town of Kedarnath and caused thousands of deaths and missing people, mostly pilgrims. The surrounding area and compound of the Kedarnath temple were destroyed, but the temple still stands amid the debris. Genesys identified that the northern portion of the Shrine was partially blocked by boulders and needed to be scanned from a higher elevation. Genesys had scanned Kedarnath Dome, including Chorabari lake and the entire valley starting from Kedarnath to Sonprayag, wherein many villages were washed off, Rambada being the worst hit. The company also mapped the area around the Shrine and lake Chorabari with optimum scans. This information was aimed at aiding in future disaster response efforts.
