National Database for Emergency Management
The latest news regarding India's National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) includes the mandatory use of its datasets for all highway project reports and the recent launch of new technological platforms that utilize the database.
About National Database for Emergency Management
The National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) is a comprehensive geospatial platform developed by ISRO and NRSC to support effective disaster risk reduction and emergency response in India.
Key Features
- NDEM is a unique geo-portal designed for dissemination of space-based data and services from forecasting organizations, addressing all major natural disasters in India.
- It is a centralized, national repository of multi-scale geospatial databases, integrated with customized decision support system tools for disaster management authorities and officials.
- The portal is maintained by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under ISRO, with the guidance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Objectives
- To synergize disaster-related data and near real-time alerts from multiple forecasting organizations on a single national platform.
- To provide timely information and disaster-specific products for preparedness, hazard/risk zonation, damage assessment, and emergency response.
- To strengthen decision-making processes for all States/UTs, NDRF/SDRF, and other disaster management agencies.
Technical and Operational Details
- NDEM offers multi-temporal satellite imagery, thematic layers, and hazard maps for floods, earthquakes, landslides, droughts, cyclones, and forest fires.
- The portal provides decision support tools including routing, proximity analysis for emergency facilities, geospatial visualization, and historical data queries for disaster events.
- A mobile version (NDEM Lite 2.0) allows ground-level officials to access alerts and updates in near real-time for operational efficiency during emergencies.
Usage and Implementation
- As of 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport has mandated the integration of NDEM analysis in all highway project reports to ensure disaster resilience in infrastructure.
- Regular capacity-building initiatives, trainings, and mock drills are conducted for state and central disaster management officials to maximize the use and impact of NDEM services.
Institutional Support
- NDEM aids in planning, management, and mitigation for a range of hazards in India, making it an essential tool in the national disaster management strategy.
- It provides access to live and historical disaster alerts, as well as integrated services for analysis, visualization, and on-ground support to disaster response forces.
This structured approach supports proactive and informed action for emergencies and enables a technology-driven, resilient disaster management ecosystem in India.
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