A few weeks back I had the opportunity to visit ICIMOD on behalf of the SERVIR program. ICIMOD is the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development  that serves eight member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region.

ICIMOD is the latest institution to join the SERVIR program as a regional node (the other nodes include RCMRD in Kenya and CATHALC in Panama). The week in Kathmandu was spent taking a deep dive in to the technical issues and challenges associated with deploying sophisticated mapping applications and geo-processing services in this part of the world. The joint team dug into geodatabase models, ISO metadata profiles and dataset publishing amongst other topics.

ICIMOD already has a talented group of developers and the MENRIS division already hosts some great applications including the Mountain GeoPortal. Now that the partnership with SERVIR is firmly in place, the plan is to create some specific thematic and regionally focused mapping applications. Several environmentally focused systems are planned that will initially focus on addressing fire mitigation, land use change and the cryosphere.

Of course it wasn’t all work. We we’re hosted to a traditional, five-course Nepali dinner in one of the nicest hotels in Kathmandu. The local team was also kind enough to show us around the city for some quick visits to famous Buddhist and Hindu temples. SpatialDev is looking forward to continuing work with the team at ICIMOD and SERVIR.