Dr.Y.V.N.Krishna Murthy

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

• Facilitating in building payloads/sensors, small satellites, space related systems and for Gaganyaan.
• Besides teaching & research, overall administration, expanding the infra-structure and facilities to meet future demands of ISRO and industry.
• Chairman, Research Advisory Council of NCCR, Ministry of Earth Sciences

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.

• He played a pivotal role in organizing the National Meet on “Promoting Space Technology based Tools and Applications in Governance & Development”, chaired by Prime Minister of India and subsequently organizing state level meets chaired by Chief Ministers / Chief Secretaries of respective states that  had resulted in more than 150 collaborative projects at National and State levels, as an outcome.
• He lead ISRO team at International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in October 2015 at Jerusalem and addressed the gathering as part of the Leaders of major Space Agencies and in conducting meetings with Space Agencies on collaboration in space activities of mutual interest.
• Discussion with SAARC Countries and Space Organization in realizing the SAARC Satellite.
• As a part of Group of Secretaries consultation formed by Prime Minister played significant role in evolving national level projects viz., Blue Revolution- Third option for livelihood in rural India, i.e, Space based inputs for inland fisheries, Second Green Revolution in the Eastern India, Performance evaluation of Irrigation Systems, Crop Intensification, Crop Insurance, Soil Health card, AMRUTH Mission, Smart Cities are significant among them.
• He was also member of Flight Readiness Review (FRR) of launch vehicles and Mission Readiness Review (MRR) of satellite missions.
• Member of Governing Board/Council and Board of Management of NARL, IIST of Dept. of Space and INCOIS, NCAR of Ministry of Earth Sciences.

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.

• Establishment of Triband Antenna at Shadnagar, Jodhpur and FSBS stations for data reception of advanced Satellites.
• Data Communication System (DCS) at Antartica Ground Stations for Earth Observations Satellites and upgradation.
• Operationalization of Integrated Multi Mission Ground Segment for Earth Observation Systems (IMGEOS) at Shadnagar, including  Disaster Management Support Division (DMSD),  National Database from Emergency Management (NDEM) and Earth and Climate Sciences Area (ECSA)
• Aerial Sorties for Lander Sensor Performance test (LSPT) for Chandrayan 2 Lander
• Testing and validation of Airborne X band mini SAR and L&S band SAR
• Establishment of outreach facility at Jeedimetla Campus, in Hyderabad to address Training, Outsourcing, Technical Exhibition, Information Kiosks, Web Services and an Incubation Facility to meet the increasing demands for Geo-Spatial solutions and industry.

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:

• “Indira Gandhi Gold Medal Award” from Global Economic Progress and Research Association, 2018
• Excellence award from Union Geographical Information Technology (UGIT), 2017
• Life time achievement award from Deccan Geographers, 2016
• Bhaskara Award (Indian Society of Remote Sensing), 2015
• Team Excellence Award (Indian Space Research Organization)for SIS-DP, 2015
• Performance Excellence Award, (Indian Space Research Organization, 2013
• ASI Award for outstanding contribution in Space Sciences and Applications (Astronautical Society of India), 2012
• Team Excellence Award (Indian Space Research Organization) for Bhuvan, 2009
• ASI Team Achievement Award (Astronautical Society of India) for Bhuvan, 2009
• National Geomatics Award for Innovative Applications (Indian Society of Geomatics), 2009
• Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Award for Innovative contributions and outstanding achievements in the field of Space Applications, 2003)
• He has also been conferred as Fellow of AP Academy of Sciences, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)

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.