The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) is a constituent unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, Government of India. Located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, the institute is engaged in capacity building, education, training and research in the fields of remote sensing, geoinformatics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for natural resources management, environmental monitoring and disaster studies.
| Type | Autonomous educational and research institute |
|---|---|
| Parent organisation | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space |
| Location | Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India |
| Focus areas | Remote sensing, GIS, geoinformatics, photogrammetry, satellite image analysis |
| Affiliation for academic programmes | Andhra University and others (for selected degree programmes) |
| International partner | University of Twente / ITC, the Netherlands (joint programmes) |
IIRS traces its origins to the establishment of an institutional facility in Dehradun for training in aerial photo interpretation and photogrammetry, evolving over the decades into a centre dedicated to spaceborne earth observation. It was later integrated into the ISRO ecosystem and developed into a full-fledged training and academic institute serving Indian and international participants.
The institute draws on India's remote sensing satellite programme, including data from the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series, Cartosat, Resourcesat, RISAT and other earth observation missions for academic and applied work.
IIRS conducts a range of programmes aimed at students, working professionals and government officials:
IIRS runs an extensive outreach programme that delivers live and recorded lectures on remote sensing and GIS to universities, research institutions and government departments across India through its EDUSAT-based and internet-based distance learning platform. The programme has enabled wide participation by students and faculty from institutions that do not have specialised earth observation laboratories.
Research at IIRS spans several thematic areas, including:
The institute participates in national missions and projects coordinated by ISRO, including studies in support of disaster management, climate change assessment and natural resource inventories.
As ISRO's principal training institute for earth observation, IIRS plays a central role in building human capacity in remote sensing and GIS for India and partner countries. Its graduates and trainees contribute to user departments in agriculture, forestry, urban planning, water resources, disaster management and defence, supporting the operational use of satellite data in governance and development.