Kanpur, 20 May 2025| TerrAqua UAV Solutions Private Limited, an incubated startup at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, has launched a sophisticated urban flood disaster response system. The initiative is supported by NTT DATA, a global leader in digital and technology services, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program and is a significant step toward climate-resilient urban planning.
The project revolves around a Web-GIS platform that integrates high-resolution data from drone-based aerial surveys and satellite remote sensing. This system enables precise flood mapping, inundation simulations, and population impact assessments, empowering decision-makers with actionable insights. The pilot covered 24 flood-prone villages near the Ganga Barrage, collecting granular data crucial for proactive disaster planning and emergency response.
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The officials from Irrigation Department Uttar Pradesh and Kanpur Development Authority attended this event. They spoke very highly about the project which is launched under Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur. Officials commented that this project, if upscaled, could prove to be very meaningful in predicting flood inundation and development of early warning system. They added that it will also greatly assist in town planning in terms of mapping the flood risk areas and assessing the possible risk to infrastructure and population.
“The project launched at IIT Kanpur will prove highly beneficial for the region. It utilizes both drone and satellite technologies to enhance flood response efforts. With the help of this system, it will be possible to detect potential flooding early, allowing for timely measures that can prevent large-scale damage,” said Kanpur Commissioner K. Vijyendra Pandian. He stressed the need to upscaling this project to Kanpur district and to the entire UP in future, keeping view that several districts of UP are extremely flood-prone. He emphasized that such a technology driven initiative by TerrAqua is timely and critical for sustainable development in the region and this initiative is especially valuable for farmers as it can help protect crops from flood-related losses. Commissioner Pandian also emphasized that this project is a praiseworthy step by IIT Kanpur and will play a significant role in strengthening disaster preparedness in Uttar Pradesh in the future.
“SIIC is committed to empowering deep-tech startups like TerrAqua UAV. Their success reflects how strategic collaborations with industry leaders such as NTT DATA can help translate innovative technologies into meaningful solutions for society,” said Mr. Anurag Singh, CEO, SIIC, IIT Kanpur.
“Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters like floods, especially in urban centers. Through this CSR collaboration with IIT Kanpur and TerrAqua UAV, we aim to support smarter governance and safer communities,” said Gauri Bahulkar, Senior Director, Global Corporate Social Responsibility, NTT DATA.
“Our platform makes geospatial intelligence accessible for real-time flood response. This collaboration with NTT DATA has allowed us to develop a scalable, real-time flood management framework, combining UAV and satellite inputs into an intuitive decision-support system,” said Prof. Rajiv Sinha, Founder of TerrAqua UAV and Professor at IIT Kanpur.
A live demonstration of the geospatial dashboard was held during the launch event at IIT Kanpur’s PBCEC. The event was attended by civic administrators, municipal officers, researchers, and community leaders. The platform is specifically designed to assist city administrators, disaster response teams, and planning agencies in real-time flood mitigation efforts.
This partnership leverages the power of academia, industry, and innovation to drive impactful, sustainable solutions for climate resilience. By enhancing flood preparedness and response capabilities, the initiative empowers communities, government agencies, and city planners with tools to build safer urban environments.
About IIT Kanpur:
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. IIT Kanpur is best known for the highest standard of education in science and engineering and for seminal R&D contributions over the years. The institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1050 acres with a large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centres and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 580 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students.
About Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur
Established in 2000, the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur stands as one of the earliest technology business incubators, boasting numerous successes. In 2018, the incubator’s operations were integrated under the Foundation or Research &Innovation in Science & Technology (FIRST), a Section-8 company promoted by IIT Kanpur. Over the past two decades, this dynamic incubation ecosystem has successfully bridged all the essential stages in the journey from concept to commercialization.
About NTT DATA
NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future.
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