GeoAi LAB

The GeoAi Lab has completed detailed damage assessment reports for landslides across Kandy, Matale, Kegalle, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, and Kurunegala districts, following requests from NBRI District Offices, the Road Development Authority, and Sri Lanka Railways.

Between 22 November 2025 and 15 May 2026, our team conducted LiDAR and photogrammetry drone surveys using DJI Matrice 350 RTK, LiDAR L2 sensor, DJI Mavic 3M, and Toknav T30 Pro GNSS, and the assessments completed up to that date have been compiled into reports.

The reports provide comprehensive insights including:
✅ Incident details and damage boundaries
✅ Number of fatalities and injuries
✅ Fully and partially damaged buildings
✅ Landslide profiles (spatial, longitudinal, cross-sectional)
✅ Economic losses at site and district levels

These assessments help authorities plan recovery efforts, improve risk management, and strengthen disaster preparedness for the future.

🌐 Explore the full reports and data here: https://nbri.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=741&lang=en

Kick-off of the LA‑Res Project: Advancing Landslide Resilience in Sri Lanka

NBRI has officially started the 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦(LA‑Res) project in collaboration with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center - ADPC, with the kick-off meeting held at the Climate Resilience Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (CRes MPA) project office.

Developed under the CResMPA, the LA‑Res system will provide a comprehensive digital platform for:

01. Continuous landslide monitoring and dynamic risk analysis using real-time data streams and analytical models.

02. Advanced 2D/3D visualization and high-resolution terrain analysis to support evidence-based decision-making.

03. Multi-channel communication tools, including dashboards, interactive maps, notifications, and social media integration for real-time risk communication.

This initiative will empower decision-makers at both national and local levels, strengthening communities and infrastructure against landslide risks across Sri Lanka.

🪔 සැමට සතුට, සාමය සහ ආලෝකයෙන් පිරි සුබ වෙසක් මංගල්‍යයක් වේවා!

දයාබරත්වය, කරුණාව සහ යහපත් සිතිවිලි පිරි බුදු දහමේ අගයන් සමඟින් ඔබේ දිවියට සැනසීම හා සෞභාග්‍යය උදාවේවායි GeoAI Lab අපි ප්‍රාර්ථනා කරමු. 🙏✨

🛰️ Technical Support in Action: Thermal Drone Assessment at Karadiyana Dumping Site 🔥

In the wake of the recent fire incident at the Karadiyana Waste Management Site, the GeoAi Lab at the National Building Research Institute - NBRI stepped in to provide technical support to monitoring and response efforts.

Using high-precision UAV-based radiometric thermal technology, our team conducted a specialized assessment to track subsurface heat and ensure the site was returning to a safe state.

📅 Surveys were carried out on April 18, 20, and 22, 2026, at 07:00 AM under consistent environmental conditions.

The study aimed to quantify the magnitude, spatial distribution, and decay behavior of thermal anomalies, while identifying potential residual subsurface activity. Thermal remote sensing was applied due to subsurface combustion processes that are not readily observable on the surface.

A consistent methodology was followed, including:
• Radiometric thermal image capture
• Orthomosaic generation
• Application of uniform emissivity (ε ≈ 0.95)
• Temperature-based classification of landfill fire intensity zones

🔍 Key Findings -
The thermal assessment shows a clear transition from active combustion to stabilized conditions within a short period:

✅ On Day 01, temperatures reached 176.32°C, with widespread extreme hotspots indicating active or recently active combustion
✅ By Day 02, all high-intensity zones were reduced to 38.87°C – 47.39°C, marking the end of “Extreme” and “High” thermal conditions
✅ By Day 03, temperatures further declined to 27.87°C – 39.21°C, approaching ambient environmental levels

📉 Mean temperature decreased from 158.30°C to 31.82°C
📉 Overall reduction of 126.48°C across the monitoring period
📉 The most significant thermal decline occurred between Day 01 and Day 02 (116.42°C), representing the primary cooling phase

➡️ The site transitioned from a highly variable thermal state to a uniform and stable condition, indicating effective suppression of active heat sources

👉 Recommendations
Recommends random thermal checks, especially during dry periods, to ensure long-term site stability.

🚀 Partner with the GeoAI Laboratory
We provide advanced analytical support and systematic monitoring for hazard identification and risk evaluation. Contact us today for your survey and project requirements:

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 011 2588946 (Ext. 559)
📍 Address: GeoAI Laboratory, National Building Research Institute - NBRI, No. 99/1, Jawatta Rd, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka.

🔥 Thermal Drone Survey at Karadiyana Waste Management Site

The GeoAI Lab conducted a thermal drone-based assessment at the Karadiyana Waste Management Site following a recent fire incident, providing technical support to ongoing monitoring and response efforts. While the fire has now been largely controlled, sporadic re-ignitions continue to occur, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and proactive intervention.

🚁 Our Approach
The GeoAI Lab team carried out a thermal drone survey to systematically scan the affected area and identify active and potential thermal hotspots.

By integrating aerial data capture with thermal analysis, we were able to:
▪️ Detect hidden heat signatures not visible to the naked eye
▪️ Map the spatial distribution of high-temperature zones
▪️ Support authorities in prioritizing targeted mitigation efforts
▪️ Enhance safety by minimizing the need for manual inspection in hazardous zones

🛰️ Technology Used
▪️ Drone Platform: DJI Matrice 350 RTK
▪️ Sensor: DJI Zenmuse H20T (Thermal & Visual Imaging)

The use of high-resolution thermal sensors enabled precise identification of temperature variations across the site, providing reliable and actionable geospatial insights for decision-makers.

📩 For your survey and project requirements, reach us at:
✉️ [email protected]
📞 011 2588946 (Ext. 559)

GeoAI Laboratory
National Building Research Institute - NBRI
No: 99/1, Jawatta Rd, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka

✨ Wishing everyone a very Happy & Blessed Sinhala & Tamil New Year from GeoAi Lab! ✨

May this New Year bring warmth to your hearts, success to your endeavors, and harmony to your homes. 🌾🌞

Here’s to new beginnings, brighter opportunities, and a year filled with happiness and growth.

Today, we celebrate the spirit of freedom, resilience, and unity that defines our nation. As Sri Lankans, we honour the sacrifices of the past and look ahead with hope, innovation, and responsibility.

At GeoAI Laboratory, we remain committed to supporting a safer, smarter, and more resilient Sri Lanka through geospatial intelligence and innovation.

✨ Wishing all Sri Lankans a proud and meaningful Independence Day. ✨