Back to news
3 Jul 2017 | Cryosphere

Building Capacity on Database Management in Bhutan

Pema Namgyal from the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), Bhutan, completed a two-week long on-the-job training on database and system management at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) headquarters in Kathmandu, Nepal. Namgyal worked alongside cryosphere and remote sensing experts from 15–26 May 2017.

1 min Read

70% Complete
Namgyal worked alongside cryosphere and remote sensing experts during his on-the-job training at ICIMOD. Photo credit: Chimi Seldon/ICIMOD

Namgyal was introduced to data, data types, data format, database structure, MODIS snow data, and database management. He also learned about the metadata using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 19115 template and worked on real case data/filling up metadata using real data. He was introduced to Geo-Network and MSSQL Software, and given training on the installation of such software in the new Cryosphere Knowledge Hub to be set up in NCHM by the end of 2017. As part of his training, he sat in on discussions about correspondence mechanisms and data submission with the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). Bhutan will have a WGMS national correspondent once its Cryosphere Knowledge Hub is set up.


Namgyal worked alongside cryosphere and remote sensing experts during his on-the-job training at ICIMOD.
Photo credit: Chimi Seldon/ICIMOD

ICIMOD organized the training based on a request from NCHM for capacity building support on database management. As part of preparations for setting up its Cryosphere Knowledge Hub, NCHM has recently installed a server which will host data on cryosphere, and on its hydrological and meteorological monitoring activities. As the designated database and management person within NCHM, Namgyal will use the lessons learnt during the training at ICIMOD to operationalize the Cryosphere Knowledge Hub for NCHM per established data and meta-data standards.

Capacity building in its implementing partners is one of the main goals for ICIMOD’s Cryosphere Programme. The programme hopes that such efforts will help partners carry out long-term glacier research and monitoring activities, and also enable better knowledge and data exchange.

The training was carried out under the Cryosphere Monitoring Programme within the Cryosphere Initiative.

Note:

The National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) was formerly known as the Department of Hydro-Met Services (DHMS)

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related content

Continue exploring this topic

15 Nov 2016 News
New Publication: Climate Change Impacts on Upper Indus Basin Hydrology

The Indus is one of the most meltwater-dependent rivers on earth. It hosts a large, rapidly growing population, and the ...

14 Aug 2017 Climate change
Living in the Shadow of Climate Change

These days, readers frequently come across headlines spelling of the approaching doom and gloom of climate change. In South Asia, ...

4 May 2021 Cryosphere
Increasing risk of glacial lake outburst floods in Hunza River basin

The Hunza River basin is economically important for both China and Pakistan as the China-Pakistan Economic ...

1 May 2019 CryoHub
More research needed to understand the impact of cryosphere changes on mountain communities in the HKH

The review brings the much needed discussion on cryosphere services and their importance to the spotlight. The high-mountain societies that ...

13 Nov 2018 CryoHub
ICIMOD’s partners in Nepal hail successful cryosphere research collaboration

In collaboration with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Tribhuvan University (TU), ...

11 May 2017 Himalica
Joint Monitoring of Himalica Pilot Project in Tsirang, Bhutan

During the visit, the joint monitoring team interacted with goat and vegetable value chain groups formed by Himalica and a ...

4 May 2021 Cryosphere
Importance of glaciers for water availability in Pakistan

Snow and glacier meltwater from the Karakoram and western Himalaya provides water to 268 million people in the Indus basin ...