Satellite Analysis of Nepal Flood Damage... Nara Space Steps In to Support Recovery

AI Estimates 31.28 Square Kilometers Affected by Flooding and Sediment
Building Damage Risk Areas Analyzed; Nine Priority Sites Selected for Field Surveys

Nara Space Technology, a South Korean space company, has used satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) to assess the scale of flood damage in Nepal and support local disaster authorities' recovery efforts. By using satellite data to assess damage in areas that are difficult to access because of mountainous terrain and damaged roads, the company is providing baseline information for on-site surveys.

Nara Space said on October 19 that it had submitted a report analyzing flood damage in Nepal to the Embassy of Nepal in Korea. The report is expected to be forwarded through the embassy to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), where it may be used to assess damage and set recovery priorities.

Flood damage in Nepal's Nuwakot region, analyzed by Nara Space using satellite imagery. Courtesy of Nara Space.

On August 26, a massive collapse of rock and glacial material in the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border triggered debris flows and flooding. Soil and water flowed through the Lende Khola and Bhote Koshi rivers and spread downstream along the Trishuli River, damaging infrastructure including homes, roads, and bridges.

Using satellite imagery and its proprietary AI analysis technology, Nara Space estimated that about 31.28 square kilometers of land in the Trishuli River basin had been newly covered by water and sediment. An analysis using AI-based building detection technology found that the area where building footprints overlapped with the estimated flood and burial zones totaled about 52,180 square meters. Based on these findings, the company identified nine settlements in the Bidur area that require follow-up field surveys.

The analysis used Nara Space's AI-based satellite data analysis technology. The company operates EarthPaper, its proprietary platform that supports satellite image searches, disaster damage analysis, and report preparation.

"The value of satellite data lies not only in obtaining imagery, but also in turning it into information needed for real-world decision-making," said Kim Min-sik, head of business development at Nara Space. "We hope this report will help Nepal's disaster authorities assess the damage and develop recovery plans."

"We thank Nara Space for supporting Nepal's disaster response with its flood damage analysis report," said Nirmal Prasad Bhattarai, chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of Nepal in Korea. "We expect this analysis to help us assess the damage more closely."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.