Goutam Bhati
Team Lead/ Sr. RS & GIS Expert
National Water Informatics Centre, New Delhi
Q1. Please share your educational and professional journey?
My educational journey started long ago I wanted to become a teacher. First I graduated in agriculture, then I completed my graduation in education, but with time I changed my interest, now I wanted to do something in technology because I wanted to do something out of the box.
I went to MDS University, Ajmer to do a postgraduate in the environment, but perhaps luck was a little different, and I filled an application in remote sensing that would make me go to the world of space.
I was very fond of studies and wanted to know every stream whether it was art, science or technology or journalism, that’s why I graduated in three subjects in education, agriculture, journalism and did many diploma courses as well as postgraduate did in public administration, remote sensing and Environmental science subjects.
In way of my professional journey after completing my post-graduation I started ad-hoc basis teaching job in Kendriya Vidhyalaya But later I came to know that the field I am working in is not for me, I had to do something in the technical field.
It was during the teaching job that I received a job offer from Reliance Communication for the job of Project Manager, which I accepted. After that, I started making my career in this field only, After working at Reliance Communication in Noida, Jaipur, I worked for many years in a State remote sensing center, Jodhpur.
My professional career truly got wings only after joining ISRO in 2010, which was a wonderful experience for me, which I dreamed of, After meeting with the project director Dr. JR Sharma ji, under his experienced guidance, I learned many new things from professional experience, he has truly established himself as a role model in my life.
Since this project was in the joint venture of ISRO and MoWR, So in 2015, my team and I were transferred to the office in New Delhi. Currently I am Associate with National Water Informatics Center, MoJ, New Delhi.
During my professional career, I have attended a lot of National International Symposium Conferences and Professional Training, as well as some major publications, scientific papers published. My greatest achievement was in this professional career as an editorial member of the River Basin Atlas,2012 an international publication.
Q2. What did attract you towards Remote Sensing and GIS?
I used to read a lot of science and technology books and news from school time, so ISRO was always in my mind the days when Kalpana Chawla who was an Indian-origin NASA scientist became the first Indian woman to go into space having considered them as ideal, I thought of doing post-graduation in remote sensing so that I could do something according to my thinking.
Q3. What kind of hurdles did you face in your journey?
When my graduation in agriculture was completed in 2002, the people did not know about remote sensing, nor was this topic so popular, for me to take admission in a completely new subject and covered this subject in MDS University the same year. It was obviously a challenge for me to carry a carrier with limited resources.
There was a lot of trouble because there was a new department at that time, there was no teaching faculty, other than the head, 2 or 3 times a year the guest faculty used to come from outside and there was no practical lab and the course was also long.
We also organized a lab next year by agitating. We did self studies of most subjects.
Q4. You were a part of India WRIS Project. Please share something about that project and how it is useful?
I am happy that I am a part of a big project like India WRIS which is well known by the whole world and it has a huge contribution in water resources management, this is the first project in India to digitally related data from water resources at central level It was made available to the public.
Water information in Public domain – Initiative of India-WRIS Project with the aim of dissemination of data in public domain constitute the most important aspects of the water resources management. Information on the state of water resources is must for planning and water resources management strategy. Government of India took an initiative for developing a centralized platform to act as a repository of water resources and related data at National level with administrative granularity up to the smaller units of governance at state level as well as hydro-logical level such as basin and sub basins.
India-WRIS focuses on ensuring increase in public and stakeholders awareness about the present status of water resources and the need for its effective management by attracting their interest in leading towards the holistic goal of water security. New technologies like GIS and Remote sensing together with Water resources domain skills has proven its application in successful mapping, evaluation and management strategic of the asset. This includes all varied sources data collection, standardization, and storage of the entire gamete of information on a nationalized scale. Hence, providing an operational system for all kind of users with increased visibility and global standard platform on public domain.
Q5. How Remote Sensing and GIS are necessary for every Industry/Domain?
Remote Sensing & GIS are powerful decision-making technology for any business or industry since it allows the analyzed of environmental, demographic, and topographic data. Data intelligence compiled from GIS applications help companies and various industries, and consumers, make informed decisions. It is useful in many application like Telecom and Network Services, Accident Analysis and Hot Spot Analysis, Urban planning, Transportation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, Agricultural Applications, Disaster Management and Mitigation, Natural Resources Management, Banking, Irrigation Water Management etc., The use of Remote Sensing and GIS has a profound impact on business and industry, as well as on the general public for taking better less-cost decision.
Q6. How do you handle stress in this fast and competitive life?
I actually work better under pressure & stress, and I’ve found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment. As a Scientist, I thrive under tight deadlines and multiple projects. I find that when I have to work to a deadline, I can produce some of my most creative work.
To calm myself in stress, I take deep breaths and do meditation and also do regular exercise as well as soft music also gives me positive support… if any stress comes, then by diverting the mind then parting task it I will complete. I always accept stress as a challenge.
Q7. You have done numbers of Project in GIS and Remote Sensing in last many years. Which one do you like most and why?
You said right, I have done a lot of projects like Urban Development Water Resource Management, Land Resource Mapping, Hydro Power Generation Potential, but I had more interest in Water Resource project.
The following list of major project which I have done:
- India Water Resource Information System Web GIS (India-WRIS)- Client : Ministry of Jalshakti
- Land Base Survey & Updation (Web based GIS Project) Client : Reliance Communication, Mumbai
- Vikas Darpan Project (Web based GIS Project) Client : DoIT & C. RajCOMP, Govt.Of Rajasthan
- Hydropower Potential in Country, Client: – Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Hydrogeomorphological Mapping, Client: – State Remote Sensing Application Centre, Jodhpur
- Development of GIS based Pipeline Information System, Client : GAIL (India) Ltd.
- Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project Client : Asian Development Bank
- National Wetland Inventory and Assessment , Client : NNRMS
- GIS Based Water Resource Plan Development, Client : State Water Resources Planning Dept. (Rajasthan)
- Nation Wide Mapping Of Land Degradation Using Multi-Temporal Satellite Data, Client : NRSA (Hyderabad)
All We known better that Water resource management is a very important issue from several angles such as development of water bodies for future, protection of available water bodies from pollution and over exploitation and to prevent disputes. A paramount issue is water-its availability, quality and management. Extensive hydrological information is necessary to develop water resources and protect them.n So I like most my project ever “India Water Resource Information System Web GIS (India-WRIS)”- https://indiawris.gov.in
Q8. What do you do in your free time? Do you update yourself in terms of education?
My career is very important to me- but I realize that I have to take time to recreate as well. To help me transition from a busy day at the office to down time- I spend a couple of hours each evening reviewing spreadsheets- journaling my ideas and reading publications. I have a couple of favorite websites in our industry which I enjoy browsing- as well. I also enjoy cooking. Good food also helps me relax and stay healthy.
Definitely I always update my educational ethics whether it is reading through a book or watching some professional videos through YouTube or getting a diploma through a distance learning course, whenever I get an opportunity to update education ethics I definitely keep doing it.
