Dr. Morimasa Tsuda, JICA Expert, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda, a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) long-term expert, dispatched from the Japan Water Agency to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), is an advisor regarding the advancement of integrated water resource management in Bangladesh, including the use of satellite technology for disaster risk management. His contributions have been pivotal in bringing BWDB and the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) to join the Sentinel Asia initiative in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and establishing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for emergency observation requests in Bangladesh.
 |
| Dr. Morimasa Tsuda, JICA Expert, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) |
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
Could you tell us about your background?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
I began my career with the Japan Water Agency in 1999, focusing primarily on development and management of water resources. I was dispatched as a water technology and policy advisor to BWDB in June 2022. In this role, I assist in river planning and management, as well as in coordinating and building relationships with related agencies. I believe the Sentinel Asia framework can be highly effective in fostering these relationships.
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
How did you begin utilizing satellite data for disaster risk management? Could you provide specific examples of how you have used satellite data? Additionally, can you share any experiences with satellite applications and disaster risk management outside of Bangladesh?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
During my tenure at the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) from 2014 to 2017, I participated in a UNESCO project aimed at creating a flood forecasting and warning system for the Indus River in Pakistan. The primary challenge was managing the rain data to input into the model. JAXA was also involved in this project, where they corrected the GSMaP (Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation) data with ground rain gauge information. As GSMaP relies on calculations between observations, the rain position sometimes shifted. However, this correction program adjusted the rain position to align with ground observations. This experience taught me that combining satellite and ground observations significantly improves data usability.
When I arrived in Bangladesh, where the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers converge, I realized the difficulty in collecting accurate precipitation information, as only 7% of the river area flows through Bangladesh, with upstream rainfall impacting the country. I recognized the potential effectiveness of GSMaP and consulted JAXA. Around this time, BWDB was joining Sentinel Asia, and I have been collaborating with BWDB activities since then.
Moreover, I believe combining satellite images and ground observation could be instrumental in monitoring riverbank erosion. As water and sediment flow into Bangladesh from upstream, the fragile riverbank leads to the loss of houses and fields each year. We have been using satellite images to monitor erosion, but by integrating water levels to generate topography data, we can better monitor erosion around river structures. I have been advocating for Bangladesh to utilize this approach.
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
Could you tell us about any appealing points or challenges of Sentinel Asia? For instance, you requested an emergency observation in 2023—how was that experience?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
BWDB requested emergency observations during Cyclone Mocha in May 2023 https://sentinel-asia.org/EO/2023/article20230514BD.html.
The procedure was straightforward, and we received a substantial amount of information. In times of disaster, the simplicity of the procedure is a significant advantage.
During Cyclone Midhili in November 2023 https://sentinel-asia.org/EO/2023/article20231117BD.html,
I appreciated the proactive concern from ADRC and JAXA regarding the impending cyclone. Initially, we were uncertain about requesting an emergency observation, but their support made it easier to proceed. It was reassuring to have them reach out to us in such a manner.
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
What are the challenges for Sentinel Asia?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
As we can only submit one Emergency Observation Request (EOR) per disaster, it is essential to coordinate with other domestic agencies due to the extensive coverage required. Additionally, as the information is sent only to the organization that submitted the EOR, there is a need for a mechanism, such as WebGIS, to share this information with other domestic organizations.
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
You coordinated the roles among the relevant organizations in Bangladesh during the EOR and established the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Could you share what you consider to be the significance of the SOP, what you found useful, and the challenges you encountered during the coordination?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
Given that the target area changes from time to time, it was clear that a system to
coordinate the target area in advance was necessary. To address this, we held a coordination meeting with relevant Bangladeshi agencies, and agreed on and established the SOP. With ADRC providing the template, the discussion process was straightforward. As a JICA expert, I supported the formulation of the SOP, and I found it beneficial that this process also strengthened relationships with related organizations.
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
You gave a lecture on flood monitoring using GSMaP-IF at JPTM https://sentinel-asia.org/meetings/SA3JPTM8/index.html.
Could you share your comments on your participation in JPTM? Additionally, do you have any advice on the use of GSMaP for human capacity development?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
First and foremost, I am delighted to have participated in JPTM. It was particularly gratifying to meet and build relationships with the individuals who responded to the EOR in May.
Lecturing on GSMaP at JPTM was also a valuable experience. Some participants mentioned that they found the talk engaging. I firmly believe that the combination of satellite and ground observations is highly effective. This concept applies to other satellite data as well. I hope that DAN and DPN will consider this approach, as it could lead to the development of practical technologies that are user-friendly for disaster risk management agencies. (Dr. Tsuda's presentation at the JPTEM 2023 can be found here: https://sentinel-asia.org/meetings/SA3JPTM8/agenda/Day2/Day2_Workshop2_2.2_BWDB.pdf)
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
Could you tell us about any appealing points about joining Sentinel Asia?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
Sentinel Asia is unique because it is based on volunteer-driven activities, making it easy to join and recommend to other organizations. Additionally, Sentinel Asia has been operating for over 10 years. This longevity provides a stable foundation for ongoing activities and collaborations.
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
How does Bangladesh use space technology for disaster response, and what are the challenges?
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
Riverbank erosion is a significant focus, with IWM using satellites to monitor long-term changes. Other agencies are also studying this issue. Additionally, I have heard of using satellites to observe local river shape changes over time, which is useful when designing river infrastructure.
One major challenge is cloud cover, which hinders our ability to observe river conditions during the summer. In this context, JAXA's ALOS-2 satellite, having Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor onboard, is advantageous because it can make observations regardless of weather conditions. However, utilizing ALOS-2 is technically challenging because we are not yet fully familiar with handling satellite data.
Sentinel Asia Secretariat
Please let us know if you have any expectations for Sentinel Asia to improve our activities.
Dr. Morimasa Tsuda
Sentinel Asia is a remarkable initiative with over a decade of success. However, there is a need for greater awareness of the participation procedures; encouraging more institutions to join could significantly enhance its impact.