Dr. Manzul Hazarika

Dr. Manzul Hazarika

Director

Director (Project Operations)
Phone:(+66) 252-46184
Email: manzul@ait.asia

 

Profile
International experience in 17 developing countries of Asia over the past 15 years in project and programme management. Closely working with the government agencies as well as international institutions in multi-hazard risk assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Collaborating with the World Bank in capacity building in CAPRA for probabilistic risk assessment. Developed a rich network of professionals and institutions through partnerships and inter-agency liaison. Proven ability in developing concept-papers/proposals, securing funds and mobilising resources, initiating stakeholder consultations, providing managerial/technical supports, and conducting training and capacity building.overnments. Further he has close collaboration with international agencies such as UNESCAP, WHO, UNOCHA, UNU.

 

Qualifications

  • 2003 – Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  • 1997 – M. Eng. in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems, Asian Institute of Technology
  • 1990 – M. Tech. in Agricultural Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India
  • 1989 – B. Tech. in Agricultural Engineering, J. N. Agriculture University), Jabalpur, India

Area of Expertise

  • Project Management
  • Multi-hazard Risk Assessment
  • Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation
  • Remote Sensing and GIS
  • Training and Capacity Building

Memberships

  • World Association of Soil and Water Conservation

Editorial Board

  • Managing Editor, Asian Journal of Geoinformatics

Appointments

  • Thematic Area Team Leader at AIT in Disaster Risk Management

 

Publications
Peer-Reviewed Papers

1)     Jinwei Dong, Xiangming Xiao, Sage Sheldon, Chandrashekhar Biradar, Geli Zhang, Nguyen Dinh Duong, Manzul Hazarika, Ketut Wikantika, Wataru Takeuhci, and Berrien Moore (2014). A 50-m Forest Cover Map in Southeast Asia from ALOS/PALSAR and Its Application on Forest Fragmentation, PLOS ONE, Volume 9, Issue 1, pp. 1-12.

2)     Jinwei Dong, Xiangming Xiao, Sage Sheldon, Chandrashekhar Biradar, Nguyen Dinh Duong, Manzul Hazarika(2012). A Comparison of Forest Cover Maps in Mainland Southeast Asia from Multiple Sources: PALSAR, MERIS, MODIS and FRA. Remote Sensing of Environment, 127, 60–73.

3)     Thirapong Santiphop, Rajendra P. Shrestha and Manzul K. Hazarika (2012), An Analysis of Factors Affecting Agricultural Land Use Patterns and Livelihood Strategies of Farm Households in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand,Journal of Land Use Science. Volume 7, Issue 3, pp. 331-348.

4)     S. Shahid and M.K. Hazarika (2009), Groundwater Drought in the Northwestern Districts of Bangladesh, Water Resource Management (DOI 10.1007/s11269-009-9534-y), Vol. 24:10

5)     Parida, B.R., Oinam, B., Patel, N.R., Sharma, N., Kandwal, R. and Hazarika, M. K. (2008). Land Surface Temperature Variation with relation to Vegetation Types using MODIS Satellite Data in Gujarat state of India. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 29:14.

6)     Parida B.R., Collado W.B., Borah R., Hazarika M.K. and L. Samarakoon (2008), Detecting Drought-Prone Areas of Rice Agriculture Using a MODIS-Derived Soil Moisture Index, GIScience and Remote Sensing, 45, No. 1, 109-129.

7)     Wilfredo B.C., Sonia L.A, Cheryll B.C., Magsud M., Parida B.R., Hazarika M.K. and Samarakoon L. (2008). Radarsat Data and Crop Growth Parameters for Monitoring Rice in the Rainfed Areas of Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija, Philippines,International Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, Vol.2 No.1, 15-28.

8)     Sharma R.R., Samarkoon L., Hazarika M.K. and Kafle T.P. (2007). Applicability of Tropical Rainfall Measuring toPredict Floods in the Bagmati River. Journal of Hydrology & Meteorology, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1-15.

9)     Shahid S., Chen X. and Hazarika M.K., (2006). Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation in Bangladesh Using Geographic Information Sys., Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 54(1), 3-14.

10)  Hazarika M. K., Yasuoka Y., Ito A. and Dye D. (2004). Estimation of Net Primary Productivity by Integrating Remote Sensing Data with an Ecosystem Model. Remote Sensing of Environment, 94:298-310.

Conference Papers

1)     Bormudoi, M.K. Hazarika, Ir. Budi Kartiwa, Erni Murniati, L. Samarakoon (2011). Hydrograph Simulation and Flood Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS In Citarum Watershed, Indonesia, 32nd Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, Taipei, Taiwan, 03-07 October 2011.

2)     Manzul K. Hazarika, S. Singh, Md. Shahab Uddin and Lal Samarakoon (2010). Present Status and Trends of Natural Hazards in the Asia-Pacific Region, 31st Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1-5 November 2010.

 3)     Rana S., Gunasekara K., Hazarika M.K., Samarakoon L. and Siddiquee M. (2010). Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Cyclone Disaster Management in Coastal Area: A Case Study at Barguna District, Bangladesh, ISPRS Commission VIII, Kyoto, Japan, 9-12 August 2010.

4)     Hazarika M.K., Samarakoon L., Senevirathne N., Fowze J.S.M.  and de Silva R. (2010). Capacity Building in Applications of Remote Sensing and GIS for Disaster Risk Assessment, ISPRS Commission-VI held at ITC Enschede, The Netherlands, 2-4 June 2010.

5)     Bormudoi A., Hazarika M.K., Samarakoon L., Phaengsuwan V. and Thanasack K. (2010). Potential Use of ALOS PALSAR in Flood Hazard Mapping, A Case Study in Five Districts of Lao PDR, 8th Annual Mekong Flood Forum held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 26-27 May 2010.

6)     Hazarika M.K. (2009). Capacity Building on Disaster Risk Assessment in South and South-East Asian countries. A paper presented at the 1st International Conference on Policy & Research for Global Disaster Management (PR4GDM), Seoul, South Korea, 11-13 November 2009.

7)     Hazarika M.K., Borah R., Samarakoon L., Subarkah A., Velly A., Carolita I., and Sitorus J. (2008). Tsunami Hazard Assessment in Indonesia Integrating Numerical Model and Geospatial Data, 29th Asian Conference on Remote Sensingheld in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 10-14 November 2008.

8)     M. K. Hazarika, A. Bormudoi , T.P. Kafle, L. Samarkoon, K. Nuon , Y. Savuth and R. Narith (2007), Flood Hazard Mapping in Four Provinces of Cambodia Under the Mekong Basin, Fifth Annual Mekong Forum, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 17-18 May, 2007

9)     Hazarika M.K., Kafle T.P., Sharma R., Karki S., Shrestha R.M., Samarkoon L. (2007). Statistical Approach to Discharge Prediction for Flood Forecasts Using TRMM Data, 28th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 12-16 November 2007.

10)  Hazarika M.K., Kafle T.P., Shrestha K.G., Prathumchai K. and L. Samarakoon (2006). Integration of Remote Sensing Data with a Flood Simulation Model for Flood Hazard Mapping in the Bagmati River, Nepal, ISPRS Commission-IV International Symposium on Geo-information for Disaster Management, Goa, India, 25-26 September, 2006.

11)  Hazarika M. K., Yasuoka Y. and Ito A. (2004). Integration of remote sensing data with an ecosystem model to estimate the NPP in the tropical region, LUCC Workshop on Impacts of Changes in Landuse and Management on Carbon Stocks and Turn-Over in the Tropics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 23-25 August, 2004.

12)  Hazarika M. K., Yasuoka Y. and Ito A. (2003). Estimation of net primary productivity by integrating remote sensing data with Sim-Cycle. A paper presented in the ISPRS Commission-VII WG6 International Workshop on Monitoring/Modeling Global Environmental Change, Kyoto, Japan, 21-22 October, 2003.

13)  Hazarika M. K. and Yasuoka Y. (2002). Estimation of terrestrial carbon fluxes by integrating remote sensing with ecosystem modelling. A paper presented in the 23rd Asian Conference on Remote Sensing held in Kathmandu, Nepal, 25-29 November 2002.

14)  Hazarika M.K., Honda K. and Lal S. (2000). Extraction of road information using multi-sensor data. A paper presented in XIXth Congress of ISPRS, 16-23 July 2000, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

15)  Hazarika M.K, Samarakoon L., Honda K. et al. (2000). Monitoring and impact assessment of shrimp farming in the east coast of Thailand using remote sensing, XIXth Congress of ISPRS, 16-23 July 2000, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

16)  Hazarika M.K. and Honda K., Estimation of Soil Erosion using Remote Sensinand GIS, its Valuation and Economic Implications on Agricultural Production, 10th International Soil Conservation Organisation Conference, 23-28th May, 1999, Purdue University, USA.

17)  Hazarika M.K, Samarakoon L., Honda K. and Francis X.J. C. (1998). Application of remote sensing and GIS for road network database management and risk assessment, 24th Annual Conference of the Remote Sensing Society, 9-11 September 1998, The University of Greenwich, Kent, U.K.

18)  Francis X.J.C, Honda K, Hazarika M.K.,and Samarakoon L., Flood Monitoring in the Central Plain of Thailand Using NOAA/AVHRR and JERS SAR data, 24th Annual Conference of the Remote Sensing Society, 9-11 September 1998, The University of Greenwich, Kent, U.K.

19)  Hazarika M.K., Samarakoon L. and Honda K. (998). Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Road (Asian Highway) Network Database Creation and Risk Assessment, 19th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, 16-20thNovember, Manila, Philippines.

20)  Hazarika M.K. and Honda K. (1997). Monitoring Changes in Agricultural Practices to Assess Soil Erosion using Remote Sensing, 18th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, 20-24th October 1997, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Book Chapters

1)     Hazarika M.K., Das D.K. and Samarakoon L. (2010). Integrated Information and Communication System for Disaster Management in Bangladesh, In: ICTD Case Study Series – Issue No. 2: ICT for Disaster Risk Reduction, APCICT-UNESCAP.

2)     Hazarika M.K. and Honda K. (2001). Estimation of soil erosion using remote sensing and GIS, its valuation and economic implications on agricultural production. In Stott D.E., Mohtar R.H. and Steinhardt G.C. (Eds.). Sustaining the Global Farm (pp. 1090-1093). Selected papers from the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization meeting held at Purdue University and the USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, 24-29 May 1999.

3)     Murai S., Hazarika M.K., Lacoul, M. and Honda K., Updating Map Information in Bangkok Ayuttaya Area Using Japanese Satellite (ADEOS AVNIR) Data and GIS, published in  “Retrospective and Commemorative Collection of Papers” in respect of professor Gottfried Konecny of University of Hannnover, Germany in September, 1998.

Reports

1)    Hazarika M.K., Singh S. and Samarakoon S. (2010). Disaster risk in Asia and the Pacific (Chapter-I), Protecting Development Gains – Reducing Disaster Vulnerability and Building Resilience in Asia and the Pacific, The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report, 2010, a joint publication of UNESCAP and UN-ISDR.

2)     Export of Shrimps to Japan: Its Environmental and Socio-economic Impact in Thailand, a research report submitted to The Sumitomo Foundation, Tokyo, Japan in March 2000.

 3)     Investigation for Use of Remote Sensing Data for Road Planning – Asian Highway, a research report submitted toCORE Corporation, Tokyo, Japan in March 1999.

Syams Nashrrullah

Syams Nashrrullah

Research Specialist

Research Specialist
Phone: (+66) 252-46488
Email: syams@ait.asia

Profile

Syams joined the Geoinformatics Center in 2008 to 2009, and then continued in 2011 after completion of his master degree in Applied Earth Science with specialization in Geo-Hazard from the ITC, the Netherlands. He has been working on projects, research activities, and capacity building training related to remote sensing and GIS applications on various topics including landuse/landcover, disaster monitoring and mapping, multi-hazard risk assessment, environmental, agricultural, and forestry in a number of Asian countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Qualifications

  • 2011 – M.Sc. in Applied Earth Science, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, the Netherlands
  • 2006 – B.Eng. in Geodesy and Geomatics, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia

Area of Expertise

  • Remote Sensing and GIS
  • Disaster Monitoring and Mapping
  • Multi-hazard Risk Assessment

Lakmal Deshapriya

Lakmal Deshapriya

Research Specialist

Research Specialist
Phone: (+66) 252-46484
Email: lakmal@ait.asia

Profile

Lakmal joined GIC in June 2013. Currently, he is a research specialist/team leader at the center, and he has been engaged in a wide range of projects in 13 countries in Asia-Pacific. He holds a Master of Engineering degree in computer science with a specialization in data science and artificial intelligence. He is competent in data analysis, machine learning, and programming for numeric computing (Python/MATLAB).

Qualifications

  • 2022– M.Eng. in Computer Science (Specialized in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
  • 2013– B.Sc. Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Area of Expertise

  • Remote Sensing and GIS
  • Data Science
  • Machine Learning
  • Capacity Building

Dr. Kittiphon Boonma

Dr. Kittiphon Boonma

Research Specialist

Research Specialist
Phone: (+66) 252-46199
Email: kboonma@ait.asia

Profile

Kittiphon joined GIC in November 2021. With a background in Applied and Computational Earth Science, Kittiphon is taking a technical lead in

(i) the climate modeling portfolio (climate downscaling, future climate projection scenarios)
(ii) the air-quality monitoring/pollution remote sensing and
(iii) the ongoing development of PyAEZ (a Python package for agro-ecological zones analysis)

He is interested in applying numerical modelling methods to Earth and Environmental Sciences. Get in touch with him if you have a possible collaboration!

Qualifications

  • 2021 – Ph.D. in Earth Sciences – University of Barcelona, Spain
  • 2016 – Joint M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics – TU Delft, The Netherlands, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, RWTH Aachen, Germany
  • 2014 – B.Sc. Hons. Geophysics – University of Edinburgh, UK

Area of Expertise

  • Climate modelling (statistical and dynamical downscaling, future scenarios)
  • Air-quality/pollution remote sensing
  • Computational Numerical Methods

Angsana Chaksan

Angsana Chaksan

Senior Research Associate

Senior Research Associate
Phone: (+66) 904-06417
Email: angsana@ait.asia

Profile

Angsana joined the Geoinformatics Center in October 2019 for a part-time job and then continued in December 2019 full-time after completing her master’s degree in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Currently, she is working on projects related to remote sensing and GIS for disaster and environment, and she’s also an administrator for ArcGIS online.

Qualifications

  • 2019 – M.Sc. in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
  • 2016 – B.Sc. in Geography from Kasetsart University Bangkhen, Bangkok, Thailand.

Area of Expertise
  • Remote Sensing and GIS

 

Anish Shakya

Anish Shakya

Senior Research Associate

Research Associate
Email: anish-shakya@ait.asia

Profile

Anish joined the Geoinformatics Center as a Research Associate in April 2021. He also did his internship in GIC from November 2020 to February 2021 as a part of his masters. He is interested in disaster risk management projects, including multi-hazard process modelling, qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, nature-based solutions for disaster risk reduction. He is into cartography and illustration as well.

Qualifications

  • 2020 – M.Sc. in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Specialization in Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction, ITC, University of Twente, the Netherlands
  • 2016 – B.Sc. in Environmental Science, Kathmandu University, Nepal

Area of Expertise
  • Hazard Modeling
  • Environmental Modeling
  • Risk Assessment
  • Remote Sensing and GIS
Aprilia Rinasti

Aprilia Rinasti

Research Associate

Research Associate
Phone: (+66) 6570-82439
Email: aprilianidia@ait.asia

Profile

April has been involved in marine plastic pollution for her undergraduate thesis, where it became her stepping-stone to do the comprehensive research in tackling overwhelming plastic waste in Indonesia’s maritime environment with a geospatial approach. Indulging in reading and enjoying nature, April has more dedication to reach earth sustainability with geospatial domain studies.

Qualifications

  • 2021 – Masters in Marine Plastics Abatement , Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand
  • 2020 – B.Eng in Geodesy & Geomatics, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Bandung, Indonesia

Area of Expertise
  • Remote Sensing & GIS
  • Marine Plastic Pollution
  • River Modeling
Swun Wunna Htet

Swun Wunna Htet

Research Associate

Research Associate
Phone: (66) 837-084378
Email: swun@ait.asia

Profile
Swun started off with geoinformatics and its integration to remote sensing based environmental geological researches during his bachelor’s degree. Gradually, it leads him to a great interest in environmental and sustainability issues using EO data. He joined GIC as an intern for two months, and he’s currently working in the agricultural sector, indulging in geospatial programming and geospatial analyses.
Qualifications

  • 2021 – M.Sc. in Remote Sensing and GIS at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
  • 2018 – B.Sc. (Hons.) Geology at the University of Yangon, Myanmar

Area of Expertise

  • RSGIS Application to Environment and Sustainability

Previous Researches

  • Remote Sensing of Geology (lineament analysis, mineral prospecting, geothermal prospecting, oil and gas prospecting)
  • Environmental Remote Sensing(Flood risk assessment, geohazards investigation)

Current Activities

  • Geospatial programming in agricultural sector

Hillson Ghimire

Hillson Ghimire

Research Associate

Research Associate
Phone: (+66) 839-403056
Email: hillson@ait.asia

Profile

Hillson joined Geoinformatics Center as a remote intern for four months in June 2021. After completing his geomatics engineering degree, he later joined the team as a Research Associate. He is currently involved in disaster risk management, software support, and RS/GIS applications.

Qualifications

  • 2021 – B.E. in Geomatics Engineering – Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Area of Expertise
  • Decision Support System
  • Web GIS
  • Remote Sensing and GIS
  • Spatial Data Analysis
Rabina Twayana

Rabina Twayana

Research Associate

Research Associate
Phone: (+66) 838-454390
Email: rabina@ait.asia

Profile
Rabina joined the Geoinformatics Center as a Research Associate in November 2022. She is engaged in the design, development, and maintenance of WebGIS-based applications.
Qualifications

  • 2020- B.E. in Geomatics Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal

Area of Expertise
  • WebGIS Development
  • Remote Sensing and GIS
Nguyen Cong Hau

Nguyen Cong Hau

Research Associate

Research Associate
Email: nchau@ait.asia

Profile
Hau is from Viet Nam and joined the Geoinformatics Center as a Research Associate in September 2023. Before his current role, Hau completed his internship with GIC’s pLitter team from February to May 2023. His interests include researching deeper into machine learning and developing AI models for monitoring and tracking objects. Currently, he is working with AI component of pLitter.
Qualifications

  • 2023 – Bachelor’s Degree of Computer Science, Can Tho University, Viet Nam

Area of Expertise
  • Machine Learning
  • Computer Vision and AI
  • Web Development
Pongpol Wipasuramonton

Pongpol Wipasuramonton

Research Associate

Research Associate
Email: pongpol@ait.asia

Profile
Pongpol (earth) is an electronic engineer with microcontroller and IoT arcithecture design expertise. He has more than six years experience in electrical components, dealing with several projects, such as developing a heating device for composting bin, wifi signal interference, fingerprint recognition, and smart-farm development. Earth joined the Geoinformatics Center in 2023, and working on product and circuit design.
Qualifications

  • 2017– Bachelor’s Degree of Electronics and Telecomunication Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thailand

Area of Expertise
  • IOT development
  • Product optimization
  • Drone Development and UAV applications

Sudchai Naikaset

Sudchai Naikaset

Senior Administrative Officer

Senior Administrative Officer
Phone: (+66) 252-46195
Email: sudchai@ait.ac.th

Profile

Sudchai joined the Geoinformatics Center in 1996. She is mainly responsible for the administration, management, delivery & service of day-to-day activities of the center. She is handling the financial aspects of all on going projects and the center’s accounts. She also assists in coordinating and providing the necessary support for GIC research and training activities.

Area of Expertise

  • Office Administration
  • Financial Management

Sinath Nop

Sinath Nop

Senior Administrative Officer

Administrative Officer
Phone:(+66) 252-45580
Email: sinath@ait.ac.th

Profile

Sinath joined GIC in January 21, 2015. His main responsibilities include general secretarial work and general office administration, and financial management.

Qualifications

  • MBA, Dhurakij Pundit University, Thailand
  • Bachelor Degree of Arts, Phranakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand
  • Third year student of Economics, NORTON University, Cambodia

Area of Expertise

  • Office Administration
  • Financial Management
  • Budget

Dr. Firman Hadi

Dr. Firman Hadi

Technical Expert

Technical Expert
Phone:(+66) 252-46489
Email: firmanhadi@ait.asia

Profile

Once a birdwatching enthusiast now a Spatial IT enthusiast. Research experiences on remote sensing for forest ecosystem and natural environment for more than 10 years. Have been actively using and promoting the use of Free and Open Source GIS (FOSSGIS) in Indonesia since 2004. Long experiences on training on the use of FOSSGIS in Indonesian government and non-government agencies.

Qualifications

  • 2011 – Ph.D. in Remote Sensing and Landscape Ecology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia
  • 2004 – M. Eng. in Remote Sensing, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia
  • 2001 – B. Sc. in Ecology and Conservation, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia

Area of Expertise

  • Remote Sensing
  • Landscape Ecology
  • Free and Open Source GIS