Dr. Y.V.N. Krishna Murthy, served as Distinguished Scientist, in ISRO and currently working as Sr.Professor and Registrar of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram. Earlier he has worked as Director, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and also as Scientific Secretary, ISRO. Presently he is
Dr. Krishna Murthy has significantly contributed during the last four decades in promoting Remote Sensing and allied Geospatial Technologies (Navigation & GIS, Communication) in Resource Management and extending their use at grass root level. His contribution in developing innovative methodologies by integrating geospatial inputs into conventional methods has greatly facilitated in ultimate assimilation of such inputs in their planning and implementation of developmental programs by the concerned viz., technocrats, bureaucrats, NGOs and end-user community.
As Scientific Secretary, ISRO he had spearheaded the major policy level functions in (i) planning of ISRO’s programmes for near and far future, as the Member Secretary to the ISRO Council; (ii) evolving national policies for space technology development and space applications programme; (iii) developing public private partnership for ISRO’s production programme; (iv) International co-operation; (v) human resource management, leadership development in ISRO and (vi) enabling public outreach of Indian Space Programme.
Dr.Krishna Murthy as Director, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) was responsible for Earth Observation Satellite Data Acquisition, Processing, data dissemination and development of various applications including aerial flying.
Dr. Krishna Murthy had developed a unique methodology for geo-referencing of cadastral maps thereby overlaying on to satellite data with derived information on natural resources and action plan generated for water and land resources management. This has benefited in implementing beneficiary oriented Government schemes like Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), GIS Implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Geo-MGNREGA), Crop Insurance under PMBSY etc., this has further benefited assessing the water cess, assessment and collection from individual land holding, urban tax assessment & collection and effective implementation of crop insurance with advancement of navigation system.
Similarly many collaborative projects were also initiated in collaboration with various state governments. “Harpath Haryana Citizen Grievance" mobile app for Govt. of Haryana, Crop insurance in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, Telangana Water Resources Information System (TWRIS), Geospatial Technology Support for Development of Water Resources Information and Management System for AP state, Space based inputs for Disaster Management (AP & TN) are few among them.
As Director of Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) administered capacity building in the field of remote sensing and geo informatics through quality education programmes (both regular and customized special courses based on the needs of the stake holders). First time in country introduced e- learning modules on Remote Sensing, digital image processing, navigation and on space applications to benefit the students right from 10th standard passed.
Introduced Cloud sourcing to access the damage due to disaster in Uttarakhand for better planning and focusing on the resources available in collaboration with DST.
Member of CEOS working group on Education and Training.
As Director of UN affiliated Centre for Space Science Technology Education for Asia and pacific (CSSTEAP), enabled imparting of post graduate diploma and short courses to international participants in the disciplines of RS and GIS, satellite communication, satellite meteorology, space sciences through interface with United Nations, Department of Space and various missions in India and abroad. A new PG course on ‘Satellite Navigation’ has been introduced. A short course on small satellites has also been introduced.
Introduced specific programs in Disaster Risk reductions.
Dr. Krishna Murthy had made technical contributions as member of advisory and technical task teams of various ISRO programmes like Natural Resources Census, National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and held many positions in his professional career, including: Head, Regional Remote Sensing Centre at Nagpur; Director, Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres; Deputy Director, Applications at National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Director, National Atmospheric Research Laboratory and Director, ANTRIX board. He was also Project Director for the National level Projects like “Space based information support for Decentralized Planning”, Cadastral Referencing Database, Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development (IMSD), Maharashtra. National Resources Information Systems (NRIS), Maharashtra, National Resources Census, Chattisgarh GIS Project etc., In these roles Dr. Krishna Murthy has contributed for operational programs, research & development, capacity building, technology promotion, entrepreneurship in various disciplines of applied sciences and geospatial technology.
Dr. Krishna Murthy had represented India and ISRO in International assignments of ISRO in USA, Mexico, ISRAEL, Austria, Thailand, Japan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Syria, Peru, Vietnam and Oman.
Dr. Krishna Murthy has been conferred with awards like:
He has about 208 technical papers and 280 technical reports to his credit. Dr. Krishna Murthy has guided 7 Ph.D. scholars and development of 25 indigenous software packages, organized more than 500 training programmes benefitting international, national, state and local participants.