Image processing and GIS techniques applied to high resolution satellite data for lineament mapping of thermal power plant site in Allahabad district,U.P., India

The present study is based on digital analysis of IRS 1C/1D LISS-III and IRS P6 LISS-IV images for identification of lineaments in Meja Thermal Power Plant site in Allahabad district. In spite of all limitations due to anthropogenic activities of stone quarrying and criss cross unmetalled roads, almost non-existent vegetation indicators and soil moisture, the efforts were made to identify and map a number of lineaments in the study area and these were subsequently verified in the field. Most of the lineaments identified and mapped are not having any major displacement along them or are not displacing or truncating any major rock unit. Field investigations have revealed that there is no drastic change in the trend of rocks along the lineaments mapped in the study area. On the basis of digital analysis of IRS P6 LISS-IV data NE–SW and NW–SE trending lineaments have been identified and mapped. Some NNE–SSW trending lineaments have also been mapped. All the lineaments demarcated in this area still need to be correlated with the seismic data of the area by superimposing the microseismicity data over lineaments.     

Geological and geomorphological significance of a few mega-lineaments of Northeastern Rajasthan

The Precambrian metamorphites of Northeastern Rajasthan belonging to Pre-Aravalli, Aravalli and Delhi Supergroups exhibit a mature topography where the physiography has faithfully depicted the major structures of area. Few important megalineaments demarcated on the imagery either represent major fault zones or the zones of intense granitic activity. Some of these are oblique to the regional strike of rocks and support drainage running in diagonally opposite direction within the same lineament, indicating thereby upheavels subsequent to the lineament formation. The lineaments fall broadly in two sets which are correlatable to the two major phases of Delhi orogeny. The lineaments of the first set trend NE-SW and are more prominent: than the NW-SE and WNW-ESE running lineaments. The major lineaments such as Sabi-Sota, Mendha and Kakor-Lalsot lineament together with other regional lineaments depict appreciable geomorphological expressions and significant geological evidences.     

Application of directional filtering in lineament mapping for groundwater prospecting around bhinmal — A semi arid part of thar desert

The significance of neotectonic lineaments for groundwater prospecting was studied for the area around Bhinmal — a semi-arid part of Thar desert. The application of Directional Filtering procedures on IRS LISS I Band 4 digital image of the study area revealed NE-SW, NW-SE and E-W trending lineaments which are very subtle and in two cases, even unnoticed otherwise. The use of exploratory borehole lithologs and field evidences indicated that the identified lineaments are long rectilinear buried and partly exposed channels and the intersection zones are characterised by thick lenses of coarse sand and gravel. These buried channels and zones of coarse sediments thus represent potential sites for the accumulation of freshwater during rain. The present work has highlighted the suitability of Directional Filtering procedures for lineament mapping and buried channel studies in a desertic terrain.     

Geology amd drainage analysis of the area between peram-balur and padalur in the Trichinopoly District,Tamil Nadu

Photogeological studies of the area shows the presence of four major lithological groups as : 1. Precambrian basement made up of granitic gneisses and Charnockites, 2. The Utatur Group of rocks, 3. The Trichinopoly Group of rocks and 4. The Ariyalur Group of rocks. Some prominant lineaments roughly trending in NE-SW direction are seen. These lineaments represent the traces of the reactivated faults in the basemeht. The photogeological studies were supplemented by morphometric analyses. It is seen that the drainage in lower order basins is controlled by structure, i.e. by the strike of the rocks and faults in the basement. The higher order streams apparently follow the direction of regional gradient.     

Analysis of fractures inferred from DBTM and remotely sensed data for groundwater development in godavari sub-watershed, Giridih, Bihar

Godavari sub-watershed is a part of buried pediplain developed over ‘Chotanagpur’ granite gneiss. Aquifer is unconfined in nature and groundwater occurs under water table condition. In the study area, groundwater is being exploited only through dugwells which are not capable of sustaining long duration pumping. Groundwater exploration involves the investigation of depth and nature of weathered and fractured horizon. To understand the groundwater storage and retrieval in the area, the basement topography derived from Digital Basement Topography Modelling (DBTM), the lineaments identified on remotely sensed data and geohydrological and physiographic data have been analysed. From DBTM, fracture zones have also been inferred. Lineaments (probable fractures) identified with the help of remotely sensed data are linear features representated on a planner surface. Lineaments in the area are subtle in expression due to deeply buried pediplian. Correlation of lineaments with DBTM reveals that a few lineaments/fractures are deep seated and a few have no sub-surface extensions. Also some sub-surface fractures inferred from DBTM have no expressions on the image. Attempt has been made to delineate more authentic lineaments/fractures with the help of remotely sensed data and DBTM. Correlation of probable fractures inferred from remotely sensed data and fracture zones inferred from DBTM indicated that 40 per cent of lineaments seems to be real fractures. Higher correlation may be achieved where lineaments are prominent and reproducible. It has also been observed that those lineaments which correlate with the fracture zones inferred from DBTM, are also not completely traceable in their linear extent. The exaggeration in length of lineaments may be due to subtle nature of lineaments. Correlation shows that remotely sensed lineaments are improtant for groundwater exploration and its authenticity can be further ascertained with DBTM.     

Delineation of geology of a part of bundelkhand complex around girar, distt. lalitpur, u.p., using remote sensing data

An attempt is made to mark regional geology of part of Lalitpur district. The area is characterized by flat topography gently sloping east ward with isolated hillocks. The well contrasted lithology has been marked on the basis of variation in tone, drainage pattern and texture. The main lithounits are foliated granites/gneiss, banded iron formation, granites, ultra basic, quartz reef and basic dykes. The structural elements of lineaments are visible on aerial photos and imagery which range in length from 1 to 10 km. The lineaments at places intersect with each other. The major trends are NNW- SSE. NE- SW. NNH- SSW. These NNW- SSE and NE-SW lineaments are retlected by well aligned body of quartz- sericite schist and quartz reef respectively.     

Remote detection of geological structures: an application to the Aravalli region,western India

Optical and microwave remote sensing data are used in conjunction with a digital elevation model to map lineaments in the central parts of the Aravalli region, Rajasthan, western India. Lineament maps interpreted from each data-set are subsequently combined to derive a composite lineament map of the area. Rose plots are used to identify the prominent trends of the lineaments and compared with published structural map of the study area. Three major trends are identified, namely, the NE–SW, NNE–SSW and EW, which are interpreted to be, related to the DF1, DF2 and DF4 deformation phases identified by the previous workers through field studies. The lineaments are classified as fold axes or faults, and a total of 10-fold axes and 30 faults mapped in the area.     

Assessing image processing techniques for geological mapping: a case study in Eljufra,Libya

Various image processing techniques were experimented with in this study to evaluate their efficiency for geological mapping in the Eljufra area of northwest Libya. Remote sensing data including multi-spectral optical Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+), Synthetic Aperture Radar (ERS-2 SAR) and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) extracted from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data were used to trace different lithological units as well as extracting geological lineaments in the study area. The study area is located in an arid environment mostly devoid of any vegetation. Most lithological and structural units are distinguishable based on their topographic form and spectral properties. Fusion of ETM+ and ERS-2 images was experimented with to further identify lithological units. Shaded relief techniques were implemented to enhance terrain perspective views and to extract geological lineaments. The results discriminated different rock units and modified formation boundaries and revealed new geological lineaments. Nine rock units were identified and plotted in the new geological map defined by the new boundaries. The dominant lineaments tend to run in the NNW-SSE and NNE-SSW directions. Analysis and interpretation of the lineaments provided information about the tectonic evolution of the study area.     

Lineaments in the coastal zone of Goa

The paper decribes the lineaments in the coastal area of Goa identified on aerial photographs and their correlation with the lineaments reported from the adjoining areas. The majority of lineaments along the coastal part of Goa follows a NW-SE, NE-SW and a few ENE-WSW trends. The NW-SE direction is predominant and corresponds with the regional Dharwarian trend followed by NE-SW trending linears due to cross folding of Dharwar Orogeny.     

遥感图像线性体统计数据在塔里木盆地北部油气勘探中的应用及效果

利用遥感图像的线性体统计数据进行塔北地区油气勘查十分有效。该区遥感图像上线性体主要以北东向、北西向及近东西向为主,与区域构造线一致。线性体密度异常与局部含油气圈闭空间分布上具有很好的一致性,线性体密度异常区与已知油气田和工业油气井的吻合程度为62.5%.本文主要介绍；①通过线性体统计分析所获得的塔北地区区域构造信息,②通过线性体数据处理获得的线性体密度异常的分布特征和类型；③线性体统计分析在油气勘探方面的应用前景。     

Interpretation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery for geological appraisal: A comparative study in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh

The paper describes the details of a comparative study of geological interpretations carried out from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, Landsat MSS (B & W) imagery and Aerial Photographs, covering 2100 sq km of area in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The area comprises Peninsular—Gneissic Complex and rocks of Dharwar and Cuddapah Super Groups beside the Quaternary alluvial deposits along the Penneru river and its tributaries. Geomorphologically the areas is represented by denudational, fluvial and structural landforms. The study indicates that the details of the geological and geomorphological maps prepared from SAR imagery and aerial photographs are comparable despite the smaller scale of SAR imagery while the same are not exhibited in Landsat imagery mainly due to its low resolution. Although broad lithological units are possible to be discriminated on SAR as well as aerial photographs, some of the finer rock types viz. gabbroic dykes could be discriminated from the delerite dykes in the SAR imagery due to their different surface roughness. Stereoscopic coverage and enhanced micro-relief of SAR imagery gives better geomorphological details in comparison to aerial photographs. A detailed study of lineaments has also been carried out which shows that in SAR imagery there is over-representation of short lineaments due to enhanced micro-relief and radarshadow effects across the look direction and under-representation of lineaments along the look direction. Landsat imagery is perhaps the best for demarcating lineaments of regional magnitude while aerial photographs are good for depicting shorter lineaments. However, certain lineaments seen in SAR imagery are often not continuously seen on aerial photographs.     

Fracture zones in the Deccan Traps of Western and Central India: A study based on remote sensing techniques

Deccan Trap lavas (Cretaceous to Tertiary), which cover a large area in the Western and the Central India, are generally regarded as structurally undisturbed save for certain areas along the west-coast and the Narmada Valley in Central India. Remote Sensing techniques have given a new dimension to the problem of locating such disturbed areas by virtue of the capacity of aerospace imagery to delineate lineaments, many of which represent structural geological features. Studies carried out in the areas west and north west of Pune, (above and below the western ghat scrap), the Narmada valley region north of Barwah and the Ramakona area of Central India, reveal that these areas are riddled with fractures. The fractures have generally given rise to narrow valley or escarpments. Some of the fractures show displacement along them, while some show intrusive dykes filling them. The fractures in Central India were sometimes found to the extensions of faults traversing the basement. Hence, in the regoins, where the basement is not exposed, they may be suggestive of the structural trends of the concealed basement.     

Remote sensing study of granulitic terrain in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan

The geology of northwestern part of Indian peninsula is considered to be important due to complete preservation of rocks from Archaean to Upper Proterozoic. Further, these rocks have served as ideal host of varieties of economic minerals. The present work is an attempt to study the structurally deformed granulitic terrain in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan in light of remote sensing. The study area falls under Sirohi, Banas Kantha and Sabar Kantha districts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Remote sensing technique is utilized for the understanding of structural geology and deciphering the shear pattern. The methods adopted in this study include generation of False Color Composite (FCC) of satellite data, interpretation of lineaments from FCC and study the drainage pattern, structural basin delineation, profiling, and field mapping. It is observed that the area has undergone extensive deformation. There are two major sets of lineaments interpreted in the granulitic terrain such as WNW-ESE and NE-SW directions. Majority of the WNW-ESE lineaments are brittle in nature and N-S, NE-SW trending lineaments are ductile in nature. Overall the study area bifurcated into seven structural basins comprises of basic granulites, calc granulites and pelitic granulites.     

Identification of groundwater prospective zones using irs-id liss iii and pump test methods

The role of hydrogeomorphological units and lineaments in the storage of groundwater from the Muvattupuzha river basin has been investigated using IRS ID LISS III data. Other than the usual water bodies such as river course, reservoirs and ponds, the major hydrogeomorphological units identified in this basin in the descending order of their groundwater potential are: valley fills, moderately dissected plateau, pediments, residual mounts, residual mount complex, linear ridges, residual hills and structural hills. Majority of the lineaments trends in NW-SE and WNW-ESE directions. Even though the eastern part of the basin is characterised by moderate to high lineament density, the above area is found to be poor to moderate groundwater prospect zone because of high gradient and structural hills. The pump test analyses of dug wells from different hydrogeomorphic units also confirm that valley fills are the most promising unit for groundwater prospecting than the rest.     

Microcomputer aided lineament analysis of Son-Mahanadi Valley coal basins,Central India from Landsat data

In the overall tectonic set up of various coal basins of the Peninsular India, the Son-Mahanadi Valley coal basins of Central India have a unique disposition. The coal measures sediments of Peninsular India are developed along well defined E-W and NW-SE trending linear narrow belts. The Son-Mahanadi Valley basins represent the tract where NW-SE trending Mahanadi Valley basins seemingly merge with the major east-west trending Damodar-Koel-Son-Satpura alignment. Landsat data of Son-Mahanadi Valley basins in the four spectral bands (0.5 to 1.1 Micrometers) were used to pick up the lineaments which are possibly of geologic origin. Detailed analysis of lineaments were carried out with the help of three softwares. Diglin (to produce rose diagram) and PLLIN (to plot digitized lineaments to produce a map on any scale) by a Hewlett Packard 45 series microcomputer equipped with graphics screen, plotter, digitiser and floppy disc unit. Detailed analysis revealed a pronounced direction roughly, N 70°E which is present in the northern half of the area while N 40°W direction is present alongwith N 70°E in the southern half. These trends correspond to the NW-SE trending Mahanadi Valley and to the E-W trending Damodar-Son Satpura belt. The above clearly brings out the striking parallelism between the lineament trends in the basement and the overlying coal bearing Gondwana Sediments. This parallelism is suggestive of a genetic relationship between the two.     

Application of Remote Sensing in Studying Holocene Sediments and Tectonic Episodes at Kelshi,Ratnagiri District,Maharashtra, India

Kelshi is a coastal village, located on the southern bank of the Bharja river in Dapoli taluka of Ratnagiri district. All along the coast occurs a habitation site which is overlaid by a sand deposit having a thickness of +20 m. The archaeological artifacts collected around the site are found to be significant in understanding the antiquity of the site. It also substantiates that, human occupation survived here for seven centuries. Remote sensing data interpretation carried out has revealed the existence of three lineaments in this area. In the field, the lineaments have been confirmed as faulted surfaces and the magnitude of the movements along are measurable. A geophysical survey was conducted by using ABEM WADI equipment for confirmation of outcome of the aerial-photo interpretation. It confirms that the area had undergone three tectonic activities after 1524 A.D. The inferences based on the investigations convinced us to study the historical seismicity of this region. A comprehensive and exhaustive investigation in such areas is necessary to know the evolution of the west coast of India and the tectonic activity during the late Holocene.     

Landsat image enhancement and analysis approach for geological studies of central part of Goa,India

With the advent of multispectral scanners and the availability of digital data, information extraction through remote sensing has become one of the viable tools for studying natural resources. Normally thick vegetation and soil cover are common obstacles while geologically studying an area remotely. The study area, Goa, is largely covered by settlements, private mines, and dense vegetation. This makes it difficult to decipher lithology, structures and to find their extension by ground surveying. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study a variety of image enhancement and analysis techniques to delineate geological features, lineaments, and several landuse features. The information gathered from land use features and vegetation cover is also utilized in delineating lithology and lineaments. Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) data both in the visual and digital form have been used for the analysis. Various photographic techniques such as Bas-relief, combined printing of positive and negative for different bands, color composites, and digital image processing techniques like ratioing, principal component analysis and ratioing of the first two principal components have been applied for geological information extraction. This paper examines comparative utility of enhancement techniques in studying geological aspects. It is found that the ratio image of PCI and PC2 gives most significant and detailed information with maximum contrast and sharp boundaries. Bas-relief images are excellent for identifying geomorphic features and lineaments.     

Hydromorphogeological mapping of Panwari area,Hamirpur district,Uttar Pradesh using satellite data

The area around Panwari town, Hamirpur district, Uttar Pradesh, faces acute water scarcity and chronically drought prone. The groundwater resources in the area have not been fully exploited. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the groundwater prospective zones. Landsat TM and IRS-1A LISS-II data have been used to differentiate different hydromorphogeological units and to delineate the major trends of lineaments. The digitally enhanced False Colour Composite, Principal Component Analysis and Edge Detections were useful for better correlation. The digital enhancement was helpful with identification of faint lineaments. In addition, the boundaries of various lands forms were better discriminable on the digitally enhanced products. The deeply and moderately weathered buried pediplains are the most potential zones for groundwater targeting. Occurrence of lineaments in such zones is also a favourable indicator. A number of promising groundwater well sites have been located in the pediplains.     

Delineation and assessment of Central Indian Suture through lineament extraction approach using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System

Lineament extraction approach allowed mapping of larger number of lineaments in a classical manner in tectonic and structural studies. In the present study, various techniques were adopted to extract lineaments using Landsat ETM+ images. To remove the biasness of the images, some pre-processing techniques like stream ordering, band differencing, colour texturing were employed to enhance the edges of the structural features. Extracted lineaments and its distribution and orientation were mapped using ArcGIS Spatial analyst tool. Results of the study showed maximum number of lineaments were oriented in the ENE–SWS direction with 63° overall inclination. Accuracy assessment and validation were made with respect to visual interpretation and overlaying the lineament on Digital Topographic Model as well as with respect to an existing geological lineament map of the study site. The result of accuracy assessment indicates higher compatibility of Central Indian Suture with the geological map of the study area.     

Geology of the area around Katta,sindhudurg district,Maharashtra. Based on aerospace data

Geological studies of the area around Katta, in the southern part of the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra, were carried out with the help of visual remote sensing techniques using LANDSAT imageries on 1:250,000 scale and aerial photographs on 1:60,000 scale. The major stratigraphic units represented in the area under study are the Archean Complex, Kaladgi Supergroup, Deccan Trap, Laterite and Alluvium. The Kaladgis unconformably overlie the Archean metasediments and also at places exhibit faulted contacts with the latter. The major part of the area is covered by a thick evergreen vegetation. The interpretation followed by field work and laboratory work revealed the following:

1. The different lithologic units could be delineated on the aerial photographs.
2. Different lineaments marked on the imagery were found to be due either to faults or fracture zones. Some of the older faults appear to have been rejuvenated after the formation of the laterites.
3. Some of the lithologic horizons can be identified on the Landsat imagery by virtue of their spatial signatures.

These studies indicate that even in the area covered with thick vegetation, aerospace imagery in appropriate band and data scale can provide significant geological information.