About the Workshop
The workshop “Governing the Invisible — Participatory Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) Framework for the Brahmaputra Basin” focuses on understanding the underwater processes that shape the Brahmaputra River, such as sediment transport, riverbed changes, erosion, and bathymetric instability. It highlights the limitations of traditional river governance, which mainly relies on surface-level observations. The workshop introduces Participatory UDA, a framework that combines scientific tools like hydrographic mapping and acoustic sensing with the local knowledge of fishers, ferry operators, and riverine communities. The objective is to improve flood preparedness, navigation safety, infrastructure planning, livelihood resilience, and environmental management. It also explores how shared underwater and sediment data can support hydro-verification, build trust among riparian nations, and strengthen transboundary cooperation in the Brahmaputra Basin.
