Geospatial specialist Kabir Uddin, who currently works as a Research Fellow in Geospatial Analytics for Disasters and Ecosystems at the United Nations University - Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has been honored with the prestigious Data User/Provider Award at the Global Flood Partnership (GFP) Annual Conference 2026 hosted by Brigham Young University (BYU).

According to a press release issued today, the conference gathered approximately 78 scientists, hydrologists, and geospatial professionals from around the world under the theme "From Research to Operations: Advancing Global Flood Forecasting and Operational Hydrology."

The GFP Steering Committee selected Kabir Uddin for the accolade to acknowledge his achievements in connecting cutting-edge technological advancements with direct local community engagements.

During the event, Kabir Uddin delivered a keynote address titled "Beyond Rapid Flood Mapping from Local to National Scale Using Actionable Geospatial Data for Risk Assessment and Flood Shelter Suitability," wherein he demonstrated the application of Earth Observation (EO) satellite imagery and GIS systems in evaluating flood hazards and pinpointing optimal shelter locations.

Before his tenure at UNU-INWEH, Kabir Uddin served for more than two decades at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), taking on roles as a Data Analyst, Project Manager for the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, and focal point for Sentinel Asia.

His pioneering contributions to satellite-based flood inundation mapping played a key role during major regional disaster responses, including the 2008 Kosi flood, the 2010 Pakistan flood, the 2016 Bihar flood, and the 2024 flooding occurrences in Kathmandu and Thame in Nepal, as well as Feni in Bangladesh.

He maintains active collaborations with primary government bodies—such as Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)—to incorporate satellite inputs into real-time disaster response and flood risk mitigation frameworks.