BANGALORE: The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, is planning to roll out a 'Digital Earth' programme - a bridge between various disciplines studying the earth - its director P.P. Chakrabarti said here on Sunday.

The programme would bring together disciplines like mining engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, geology and geophysics and involve study of various earth sciences related problems and develop solutions.

The project is under review by the ministry of earth sciences. Phase one would cost 25 crore, while the overall cost is estimated to be 100 crore, the director said.

The pilot study will be done in the Sundarban area for which very little data is available.

"The Institute will study the data pertaining to siltation, mangroves, tides etc. and the bio-hazards related to them. Intervening solutions will be available only after studying relevant data. Data will be shared with ministry," he said.

The institute will also extend its credit based micro-specialisation courses to industry executives and alumni in cities like Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai and possibly in Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.

The executive programme will launched in Bangalore at the beginning of next year, Chakrabarti said.

"The class size will be approximately 50-60. The course though aimed for alumni of the Institute will be available to all industry professionals," he said.

The institute is also launching a trans-disciplinary programme on petroleum engineering under the patronage of two of its alumni.

Students, who have completed B.Tech.or M.Sc. will be able to enroll for an M.Tech. programme in Petroleum Engineering, which will improve their employability in the global market, he said.

The IIT also has plans to set up an interdisciplinary centre to promote use of technology in various art forms.

"This initiative is inspired by noted alumnus Bedabrata Pain, world renowned scientist and award winning film-maker. Through this centre, the Institute plans to collaborate with universities with strong influence in fine arts and humanities and help improve the segments through technological intervention developed by the Institute in specific segments," he said.

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