Kick-off Meeting
Project Title: Enhancing Satellite Gravimetry for Sustainable Water Resource and Disaster Management in Thailand and Southeast Asia under Climate Change Challenges

On 13 March 2026, the Asian Institute of Technology and the Geoinformatics Center (GIC) held a kick-off meeting for the project titled “Enhancing the Use of Satellite Gravimetry for Sustainable Water Resource and Disaster Management in Thailand and Southeast Asia Under Climate Change Challenges”, funded by the Program Management Unit for Frontier Brainpower and Future Industries, Thailand (PMU-B).

The project is led by Asst. Prof. Natthachet Tangdamrongsub, Academic Program Chair the Water Engineering and Management (WEM) program at AIT, with Dr. Kittiphon Boonma, GIC Research Specialist, serving as part of the research team. Other research members are Chulalongkorn University, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Rajamangala University of Technology (RMUT), Royal Irrigation Department (RID), Council of Scientific and Technological Associations of Thailand (COSTAT), Kasetsart University (KU) and Department of Groundwater Resources. 

Project Description

This initiative addresses a critical gap where global gravity data from the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and GRACE-FO (GRACE Follow-On) satellite missions is currently provided at a spatial resolution (~300 km) too low for localized basin management. To resolve this, the project implements advanced regional processing and data integration techniques to sharpen these signals into high-resolution datasets. By accurately separating groundwater components from total water storage, the project provides a vital tool for monitoring depletion and preventing land subsidence. Ultimately, by establishing an Open Data platform and fostering a network of regional experts, this PMU-B supported initiative empowers government agencies to make science-based decisions, reducing economic losses from droughts and floods while positioning Thailand as a leader in international space technology.

Project Outputs

Outputs

  • Enhanced-resolution GRACE/GRACE-FO Data: High-resolution datasets tailored for Thailand/ASEAN, provided as free Open Data.
  • Research Publications: Articles published in or accepted by international peer-reviewed journals.
  • Human Capital: Researchers and personnel skilled in satellite gravimetry technology.

Impact

  • Climate Resilience: Improved national capability to monitor groundwater and assess disaster risks (drought, flood, subsidence) with scientific backing.
  • Economic Stability: Reduction in economic losses from disasters and more efficient water allocation for agriculture and industry.
  • Global Leadership: Establishing a foundation in Earth and Space Technology, allowing Thailand to contribute to the direction of future international satellite gravity missions.

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