Sentinel Asia Training on SAR Data Analysis for Disaster Mapping and Damage Assessment in Indonesia on 16 – 18 June 2025
Background
Indonesia, an archipelagic nation located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, etc. Given the country’s complex geography and dispersed island population, rapid and accurate disaster response is essential for saving lives and reducing damage. In this context, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing has become an increasingly important tool in Indonesia’s disaster response operations. Unlike optical sensors, SAR can acquire imagery in all weather conditions, day or night — a crucial advantage in Indonesia’s often cloud-covered, tropical environment.
Sentinel Asia, established in 2006, is a voluntary initiative led by the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) to support disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region through the provision of Earth observation satellite data. The initiative has been instrumental in providing timely satellite imagery and derived products during and after disaster events. It facilitates the rapid sharing of critical data during emergencies, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making for disaster response operations. Additionally, Sentinel Asia promotes capacity building and regional collaboration, encouraging knowledge exchange and joint projects to strengthen member countries’ capabilities in utilizing satellite data for disaster risk management.
As disaster risks escalate due to climate change and rapid urbanization, the operational integration of SAR data — supported by both national agencies and international collaborations like Sentinel Asia — is crucial for an effective, data-driven, and timely disaster response in Indonesia.
Objectives
This training aims to build upon Sentinel Asia's existing framework and Indonesia's ongoing efforts in disaster management. By enhancing the capacity to utilize SAR imagery for rapid disaster mapping and damage assessment, the training will contribute to more effective, data-driven, and timely disaster response operations in Indonesia.
- To introduce participants to the Sentinel Asia initiative and its mechanisms for activating Emergency Observation Requests (EOR), as well as highlight successful case studies.
- To familiarize the participants with the application of SAR imagery in flood mapping and damage assessment for various disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
- To equip participants with practical skills in accessing and analyzing SAR imagery using open-source data and software tools.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this training, participants are expected to:
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the Sentinel Asia initiative, including its operational framework, the process for submitting EOR, and examples of how satellite data has supported real-world disaster response cases in the region.
- Develop practical, hands-on skills in accessing, processing, and analyzing SAR satellite data using freely available software tools, enabling participants to generate rapid disaster maps and damage assessments to support emergency operations.
- Enhance national and local capacity for satellite-based disaster response, contributing to more timely, accurate, and informed decision-making during emergencies.
- Strengthen collaboration and information-sharing networks between national agencies, local governments, and regional partners through increased awareness and engagement with Sentinel Asia mechanisms.
Agenda
| DATE/TIME | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE PERSONS |
|---|---|---|
| DAY 1: MONDAY - 16 JUNE 2025 | ||
| 09:00 - 09:05 | Welcome remarks from the National Research and Innovation Agency: Director of Environmental, Maritime, Natural Resources, and Nuclear Policy, BRIN | Dr. Ratih Damayanti |
| 09:05 - 09:10 | Opening remarks from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) | Ms. Yuki Tanaka |
| 09:10 - 09:15 | Group photo | MC |
| 09:15 - 10:30 |
|
All GIC, AIT |
| 10:30 - 10:45 | Lecture: Introduction to Sentinel Asia and Emergency Observation Request (EOR) process | Ms. Yuki Tanaka, JAXA |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Coffee Break | |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Lecture: Introduction to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) | Dr. Firman Hadi |
| 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:00 - 14:30 | Practical: Searching and obtaining SAR data | Mr. Syams N, GIC, AIT |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 14:45 - 16:00 | Practical: Basic SAR data handling | Mr. Syams N, GIC, AIT |
| DAY 2: TUESDAY - 17 JUNE 2025 | ||
| 09:00 - 10:15 | Lecture: Remote sensing applications for flood mapping | Mr. Syams N, GIC, AIT |
| 10:15 - 10:30 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Practical: SAR data analysis for flood mapping (thresholding) | Mr. Syams N, GIC, AIT |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Best Practices in Using Geospatial Data for Disaster Risk Mapping in Indonesia | Dr. Udrekh, BNPB |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Practical: SAR data analysis for flood mapping (thresholding-cont.) | Mr. Syams N, GIC, AIT |
| 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:00 - 14:30 | Practical: Exploring SAR data for urban flood mapping and assessment (coherence changes) | Mr. Syams N, GIC, AIT |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 14:45 - 16:00 | Practical: Exploring SAR data for urban flood mapping and assessment (coherence changes) | Mr. Syams N, GIC, AIT |
| DAY 3: WEDNESDAY - 18 JUNE 2025 | ||
| 09:00 - 10:15 | Lecture: Remote sensing applications for damage assessment (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.) | Mr. Thanaphol B., GIC, AIT |
| 10:15 - 10:30 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:30 - 12:00 | Practical: Damage assessment using SAR data (pixel-wise t-test) | Mr. Thanaphol B., GIC, AIT |
| 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:00 - 14:30 | Practical: Damage assessment using SAR data (coherence changes) | Mr. Thanaphol B., GIC, AIT |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 14:45 - 16:00 | Discussion and wrap-up | All |