On April 25, 2023, the Internet Society Kyrgyz Chapter successfully hosted forum titled “Application of Innovative Technologies in Monitoring and Forecasting Climate Change and Natural Disasters” at the Central-Asian Institute for Applied Geoscience (CAIAG). Organized thanks to a research grant from the ISOC Foundation, the forum drew an impressive crowd of 70 participants, including representatives from esteemed institutions such as the Kyrgyz State Technical University, Manas University, and the Academy of Sciences.
This forum addressed the vital role of technology, especially the Internet of Things (IoT), in mitigating climate change and managing disasters in landlocked, mountainous countries, with a particular focus on the case of Kyrgyzstan. The event served as a platform for sharing valuable insights and knowledge, reinforcing the importance of advanced technologies in climate change monitoring and disaster management.
Renowned expert Marco Zennaro initiated the substantive sessions, illuminating the various opportunities available at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). Subsequently, his presentation “Introduction to the Internet of Things” shed light on how IoT can dramatically enhance our capabilities to monitor and predict climatic changes and environmental disasters, especially in challenging geographies like Kyrgyzstan.
The dialogue around an open and secure IoT infrastructure was deepened by Ermanno Pietrosemoli’s session on “Introduction to LoRaWAN.” This discourse showcased the potential of LoRaWAN as a long-range, low-power wireless platform for establishing an effective IoT network in regions characterized by difficult terrains and connectivity challenges.
B. Moldobekov’s presentation on “Monitoring and Forecasting of Climate Change and Natural Disasters” deepened the understanding of the role that innovative technologies play in tackling climate change and managing natural disasters. A. Zubovich further highlighted this with his presentation on how innovative technologies can be applied in real-world scenarios to monitor and forecast climate change and natural disasters.
Participants were also engaged in presentations and discussions around the practical implementation of IoT technologies, facilitated by Marco Zennaro’s hands-on lab session on the “Use of MQTT for IoT” and the insightful session on the “Use of TinyML in Disaster Monitoring”. Both sessions highlighted the transformative role of these technologies in enhancing disaster monitoring and response systems.
The forum, organized by the Internet Society Kyrgyz Chapter and supported by the ISOC Foundation, is a testament to the growing significance of IoT and other innovative technologies in climate change mitigation and disaster management. By focusing on landlocked mountainous countries like Kyrgyzstan, the event underscored the unique challenges and opportunities in these regions. The insights and experiences shared during this forum will undoubtedly shape further advancements in the field and pave the way for innovative, resilient, and sustainable solutions to our global climate crisis.
