Climate resilience and geospatial innovation with Dr Pooja Mahapatra

In this insightful episode, host Valrie Grant sat down with Dr Pooja Mahapatra, a geospatial expert who brings her passion for addressing global challenges through technology to the forefront. Dr Mahapatra currently serves as the Principal Advisor for Climate & Nature at Fugro, where she focuses on climate resilience and biodiversity applications.

 

Dr Mahapatra shares her inspiring journey from growing up in India with dreams of becoming an astronaut to discovering her passion for geospatial technologies. She explains how her background in electrical engineering and space science led her to specialize in satellite data and climate change solutions.  She discusses how geospatial technologies and remote sensing data are key to tackling the pressing global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. She also highlights the importance of data-driven decision-making in addressing these issues, particularly in the context of the Paris Agreement and the global movement toward climate resilience.

Dr Mahapatra explores the role of data and artificial intelligence in predictive analytics, emphasizing the need to move from reactive solutions (post-disaster data analysis) to proactive ones (predictive models that can help prevent disasters). She provides insights into Fugro's innovative projects aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Memorable Quote:

"Climate change is a global problem. You cannot say that it’s limited to the Global North or the Global South. Being exposed to clients and colleagues from across the planet helps us come up with solutions that are fit for purpose." – Dr Pooja Mahapatra

Takeaways:

• The critical role of geospatial data in tackling global
  challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss.
• The importance of collaboration, funding, and sustainable practices in ensuring data accuracy and effectiveness.
• How technological advancements, including AI and autonomous vehicles, are transforming the geospatial industry and contributing to sustainability goals.

Listen to the full episode to dive deeper into these

important discussions!