May 29, 2025

One-day workshop on NISAR awareness for the Non-Governmental Entities of India (NGEi) was organised at Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad on April 29, 2025, to enable and engage the NGEi in various activities since the early phase of satellite mission. The workshop was supported by IN-SPACe and NSIL. The primary objectives of the workshop were to involve NGEi for development of value-added products & services and upscaling of downstream applications developed using NISAR data. About 80 professionals representing NGEi from diversified domains joined by about 100 scientists and engineers from ISRO representing NISAR project and science teams participated in the workshop.

Major outcomes from the workshop

• The first of its kind workshop, notably prior to spacecraft launch, has been found to be stimulating for a wide cross-section of NGEi. The NGEi were apprised of various aspects and updates on NISAR mission including NISAR science plan and applications potential, observation plan, data products, data dissemination plan and possible roles of NGEi in the utilisation of NISAR data.
• Deliberations by IN-SPACe and NSIL with regard to the commercial aspects of NGEi engagement in NISAR have been found to be extremely helpful.
• An extensive interactive session between the representatives of NISAR science & project teams, IN-SPACe, NSIL, ISRO Headquarters and the NGEi helped to assess the interests and requirements of NGEi towards NISAR data utilisation.
• NGEi showed keen interest in several areas, with the major being in agriculture, crop insurance, water resource management and land deformation monitoring. Some of the NGEi showed interest in the NISAR science products such as soil moisture and vegetation biomass.
• As a way forward, the NGEi were advised to send proposals to SAC stating their interests and plans for utilisation of NISAR data and products. The proposals will be evaluated for technical collaboration with ISRO, while IN-SPACe and NSIL will look into the commercial aspects of the proposals.

The workshop concluded with resolve to hold next stage of focussed discussions with the NGEi to formulate plans of action for utilisation of NISR data.