BHUBANESWAR: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhubaneswar, clinched the second runners-up position at HIMASHIELD-2024, a prestigious competition focused on developing solutions for glacial flood prevention.
The grand challenge, organised by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Thiruvananthapuram under the ministry of electronics and information technology, sought innovative indigenous approaches to tackle Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) threats in the Himalayan region.
The second runners-up position has a cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs, along with a trophy and certificate. The team from IIT Bhubaneswar, called CryoSenseTeam, consists of Ashim Sattar, Sudipta Saha, Debajyoti Biswas, Abhinav A, Kattamuri Mohan Krishna, and Kartick Cherukuri.
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu, topped the contest. This nationwide grand challenge was launched in Aug 2024. The initial round of HIMASHIELD-2024 witnessed the participation of 151 teams, with 30 teams advancing to the next round. Altogether seven teams participated in the final round.
HIMASHIELD-2024 is a grand challenge dedicated to tackling the growing threat of glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) caused by climate change-induced glacier melting. Organised to foster innovation, the challenge provides a platform for researchers, engineers, and innovators to develop cutting-edge solutions for monitoring and managing glacier lakes.
“The goal is to create practical, scalable, and indigenous solutions that can safeguard vulnerable communities, protect critical infrastructure, and enhance disaster resilience,” a statement from the ministry of electronics and IT reads.
It states that through this challenge, participants are invited to register their teams through the official HIMASHIELD website and submit proposals detailing their innovative systems, capabilities, and societal impact. Entries are evaluated based on innovation, technical feasibility, and real-world applicability.