Identifying optimal contiguous land parcels for solar parks requires navigating complex geographical and administrative constraints. The IDinsight team developed a data-driven approach to solve this spatial optimization problem. By synthesizing diverse government and non-government data sources, the project evaluates:

Ownership status: Pinpointing state-owned land suitable for development.

Topography: Assessing slope conduciveness for solar panel placement.

Demographics: Identifying and avoiding human settlements to minimize displacement.

Geospatial features: Filtering for other environmental and infrastructural variables critical for park viability.

The seminar will detail how this analytical framework assists the Madhya Pradesh government in making evidence-based decisions for renewable energy infrastructure. 

About IDinsight

IDinsight is a global advisory, data analytics, and research organization that helps social sector leaders use rigorous evidence to improve lives. They collaborate with governments, philanthropic foundations, and NGOs across diverse sectors—including agriculture, education, and energy—to design and implement data-driven solutions. By utilizing tools like impact evaluations, machine learning, and monitoring systems, IDinsight transforms how the world fights poverty and manages public resources.

Speaker Profiles

Rohan Raj is a Senior Manager at IDinsight, based in New Delhi. He specializes in large-scale data collection and the development of methodological and analytical tools for evidence-based decision-making. His previous work includes leading partnerships for ground-truthed geospatial data for agricultural machine learning models. He holds a Master's degree in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University.

Amir Emami is a Data Scientist at IDinsight with expertise in geospatial analysis and machine learning. His work focuses on improving data collection efficiency and using satellite imagery to address social challenges. He holds a Master's degree in Data Analytics & Society from the University of Leeds.