Post Graduate Programmes

Master's in Disaster Informatics and Geospatial Technologies (DIGIT) (One Year programme)

Location: Mumbai

School: Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies

Intake: 15

Description

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Disasters are an universal phenomena impacting everyone in each continent. A global consensus duly acknowledges the loss of lives, properties and infrastructures. Minimizing such losses and their direct-indirect impacts is obligatory for modern society. The progression of emerging and exponential technologies are playing a promising role in disaster mitigation, preparation, response and recovery.

Disaster Informatics (DI) ensures the efficient utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for improving decisions and actions across various phases in disaster management. Further, geospatial technologies such as remote sensing systems and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are capable of providing a comprehensive platform for the development of state-of-the-art solutions for disaster management. Moreover, recent advances in satellite services, Internet of Things (IoT), social media, computer vision, machine learning and big data have paved the way to assess and address multi-dimensional complexities in disaster management discourse. However, the gaps at the interface of science, society and policy, and the role of technology in minimizing these gaps have been minimal. This is especially true for the marginalized section of society, globally. It is evident that we need better integration of disaster informatics and geospatial technologies with the social and environmental dimensions of disasters.

Disaster management is a classic problem of decision-making. The quality of management majorly depends on who the decision-makers are and what is the context of the rationale being followed for decisions. The current approach to disaster management is predominated by the pursuit of technical and scientific rigour without much emphasis on the fundamentals of social science and core values of human well-being. Thus, there is a need for coherence and synergy among logic (tools and technologies), emotions and sensitivity (of the affected one and all). Given the context, the purpose of disaster education should be to prepare professionals with skills and knowledge to holistically address the discussed gaps.

In this regard, the Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies (JTSDS) introduces a one-year master’s programme in Disaster Informatics and Geospatial Technologies (DIGIT). The programme will be focussing on transdisciplinarity in disaster discourse through problem-solving approaches. This programme aims to prepare practitioners with sensitivity for ethical decision-making using emerging and exponential technologies. The programme envisages delivering knowledge as a service in the following thrust areas:

• Scientific understanding of earth system processes and their role in disasters

• Socio-spatial marginality of the society and relevant approaches to vulnerability in disasters

• Tools and skills for acquiring, processing and analyzing remote sensing and geospatial data for various phases of disaster management

• Potential use of decision science for science-policy instruments in a disaster context

• Development of integrated geospatial solutions for the optimization of resources for different disaster scenarios

• Development of novel methods and approaches for site-specific problems of data quality and science-policy-society interface

• State-of-the-art tools and techniques to understand and explore complex dynamics of different disasters

• Role and use of geo-intelligence in various disaster management phases

Objectives of the DIGIT Programme

• To acquire knowledge for the use of technology in ethical decision-making for disaster management

• To enhance the conceptual, critical and analytical ability for the development of approaches and solutions in disaster management.

• To encourage the values and integrity of social sciences praxises in the field of disaster education through experiential learning

Admission Process

• TISS National Entrance Test (TISS-NET)

• Shortlisted candidates through TISS-NET will be called for an interview

• Candidates also need to submit a Statement of Purpose (~500 words) during the interview.

Distribution of Credit Hours:

Semesterwise Courses:

Note: The total number of credits, list of CBCS courses, and semester-wise listing of courses is provisional, and may undergo some changes.

Fee Structure:

Note: Three scholarships of 75% Tuition Fee waiver will be provided based on merit and need (Criteria will be defined by the internal committee at the school).

CLICK HERE TO APPLY.