Photo Credit: ADPC

Bangkok, Thailand, 22 October 2025 – The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Geoneon successfully convened the Regional Workshop on Geospatial Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Subnational Risk Assessment in Southeast Asia.Across Southeast Asia, climate change related extreme events are increasingly impacting lives, livelihoods, and local development. Droughts, floods, landslides, and heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening communities in both rural and urban areas. To address these growing risks, governments and development partners are turning to high-quality geospatial data to better understand and manage risks at the subnational level.

The Regional Workshop was part of the project "Addressing Climate and El Niño-related Risks in Southeast Asia (ACER-SEA)", which bridges the gap between advanced geospatial technologies and on-the-ground risk management. Through the collaboration between SDC, ADPC, and Geoneon, the project demonstrates how    geospatial technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and open data can enhance disaster preparedness, inform planning, and support resilient development and humanitarian action.

Photo Credit: ADPC

Ms. Christine Löw, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Thailand emphasized that "Risk assessments are foundational because knowing where and how risks manifest at the subnational level enables smarter planning, better resource allocation, and ultimately, more resilient communities. This workshop reflects a shared understanding that in Southeast Asia, disaster risk reduction and climate action are essential preconditions for sustainable development. SDC places a strong emphasis on subnational approaches, allowing us to focus our efforts where needs and vulnerabilities are greatest."

Through pilot initiatives in Lao PDR and Indonesia, the project showcased the practical applications of emerging technologies. In Lao PDR, flood susceptibility and exposure maps are being used to guide early warning planning in collaboration with People In Need. In Indonesia, ACER-SEA works with local and national disaster management   authorities to enhance the national risk assessment framework (Kajian Risiko Bencana – KRB) in West Sumatra through AI-powered exposure and vulnerability data and analysis.

Key topics of the workshop included the role of community-based geo-tagging and crowdsourced data, the use of open-access datasets, and the potential of geospatial and AI-powered tools to support early warning, planning, and resource prioritization. Participants shared lessons from the pilot initiatives, discussed how to scale the use of open geospatial technologies, and explored ways to integrate localized data into subnational decision-making for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Photo Credit: ADPC

Mr. Aslam Perwaiz, Executive Director of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center highlighted that "ADPC places strong importance on translating scientific information into actionable decisions. In our earlier risk assessments, we primarily relied on physical data, but this project introduced a new level of innovation by integrating AI and space-based technology. Hence, we have demonstrated how effectively data, space technology, and artificial intelligence can be utilized to strengthen risk   assessment at the subnational level. As this project concludes next year, we look forward to opportunities to scale it up and align with the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme 2026–2030."

 

Photo Credit: ADPC

The regional workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen partnerships and innovation across the region. Bringing together national and sub-national disaster management organizations, hydro-meteorological agencies, development partners, academia, and the private sector, the workshop reaffirmed the vital role of collaboration in advancing resilience and building a more climate-secure future for Southeast Asia.

For more information, please contact: adpc@adpc.net