Multistage approach in soil mapping using remote sensing techniques

The use of Landsat images at 1∶1 Million and 1∶250,000 scales and aerial photographs at 1∶60,000 scale for preparation of soil maps has been discussed. It was possible to prepare soil maps at Suborder and its association from the Landsat images as the base and Subgroup and its association map using the aerial photographs as base. The compatability of classification of landscape units has been discussed keeping the API map as the standard.     

Morphotectonic analysis in Anandpur Sahib area,Punjab (India) using remote sensing and gis approach

Anandpur Sahib area of Rupnagar district (Punjab) was investigated using an integrated multi-disciplinary approach of geomorphological, structural, drainage and morphotectonic analysis through satellite data and GIS. Most commonly used geomorphic indices viz., channel sinuosity, drainage basin asymmetry, basin elongation ratio, mountain front sinuosity and valley floor to valley width ratio index have been used to identify the geomorphic indicators of active tectonics in the area. Existence of fluvial anomalies viz., abrupt changes in flow direction, flow against gradient, beheaded streams and river terraces reflect the strong structural control on the fluvial features. Asymmetric nature of drainage basin, elongated nature of the sub-watersheds, straight to curvilinear mountain fronts and narrow incised valley floors further substantiate the role of active tectonics in the region.     

Assessment of sedimentation in the Linganmakki Reservoir using remote sensing

The reservoir surveys carried out using the conventional equipments like theodolite, plane table, sextant, range finders, sounding rods, echo-sounders and slow moving boats etc. are time consuming and sometime it takes up to three years to complete the survey of a major reservoir like Hirakud. During such longtime of survey, the siltation pattern and the bed levels also get changed. So, the need to update the sediment measurement techniques and to introduce latest technology available in the field was felt to overcome the difficulties faced in the conventional method especially in major reservoirs. With this objective, the present study of the assessment of the sedimentation in Linganmakki reservoir is carried out using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The revised capacities in the zone of reservoir levels (533.05 – 548.78 m) for the year 1989–1990 and 2001–2002 in the zone of 532.20 – 545.91 m of reservoir levels were determined, which is found 2837.84 M cum and 2207.95 M cum respectively. Based on these results, the sedimentation rates in the zone (533.05 – 548.78 m) come out to be 8.96 ham/100 km²/year and for the zone (532.20 – 545.91 m) is 8.57 ha-m/100 km²/year. It is found that the results are comparable during and the uniform sediment rate of 8.57 ha-m/100 km²/ year can be considered.     

Assessment of sedimentation in harakud reservoir using digital remote sensing technique

As per recommendations of Working Group for National Action for Reservoir Sedimentation Assessment, National Institute of Hydrology has taken up study on sedimentation for 25 reservoirs in India during X plan period using remote sensing technique. One such study for Hirakud reservoir in Mahanadi basin in Orissa for year 1999–2001 is described here. Reservoir’s original utilizable and gross volumes were 5818 and 8136 M m³, respectively. Minimum draw down level (MDDL) and full reservoir level (FRL) for reservoir are 179.83 and 192.02 m, respectively. Linear Imaging Self Scanning (LISS)- III data of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) 1C and 1D, covering elevation range between 180.68 and 191.89 m, were used. Rule based classification was applied to ‘water index’ and radiances of near infrared band to determine water spread area. Revised live storage capacity was 4842 M m³. The silt index for the live storage area was 2.623 ha m (100 km² year)^-1 (0.376 % of live storage or 21.9 M m³ year^-1). Total live storage lost in sedimentation was 984 M m³ (16.90 % of live storage).     

Studies on irrigation distribution equity and crop growth performance in a Canal Command using remote sensing

Irrigation distribution equity and crop growth were studied in Delhi Sub-branch of Western Yamuna Canal Command. Total irrigation was estimated from the canal and tube well discharge data and irrigation distribution equity was expressed in terms of Theil’s and Christiansen’s Coefficients for nearly 140 wheat fields randomly chosen over the command. Crop growth performance for these plots was assessed from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained from the IRS, LISS II data. Four soil associations viz., Nabha-Ghoga, Daryapur-Hissar, Holambi-Nabha and Khampur-Hissar mainly represented the study area. In general, increase in amount of irrigation enhanced the growth performance of the wheat crop. Increase in distribution equity within soil associations slightly improved the growth performance of the crop. Over and above, the irrigation equity, quality and quantity constraints to irrigation, the other soil parameters like CEC, applied P also contributed to differences in wheat growth as observed from the stepwise multiple regression analysis. Irrigation performance indices were estimated from water distribution between soil associations and from water requirement of crop, indicated performance slightly below the critical level.     

Satellite remote sensing derived spatial water utilisation index (wui) for benchmarking of irrigation systems

Water Utilisation Index (WUI) defined as area irrigated per unit volume is a measure of water delivery performance and constitutes one of the important spatial performance indicators of an irrigation system. WUI also forms basis for evaluating the adequacy of seasonal irrigation supplies in an irrigation system (inverse of WUI is delta, i.e. depth of water supplied to a given irrigation unit). In the present study WUI and adequacy indicators were used in benchmarking the performance of Nagarjunasagar Left Canal Command (NSLC) in Andhra Pradesh. Optimised temporal satellite data of rabi season during the years 1990–91 and 1998–99 was used in deriving irrigated crop areas adopting hierarchical classification approach. Paddy is the predominant crop grown and cotton, chillies, sugarcane etc. are the other crops grown in the study area. Equivalent wet area (paddy crop area) was estimated using the operationally used project specific conversion factors. WUI was estimated at disaggregated level viz., distributary, irrigation block, irrigation zone level using the canal discharge data. At project level, WUI estimated to be 65 ha/MCM and 92 ha/MCM during rabi season of 1990–91 and 1998–99 years respectively. A comparison of total irrigated area and discharges corresponding to both the years indicate that irrigation service is extensive and sub optimal during 1998–99 and it is intensive and optimal in 1990–91. It was also observed that WUI is lesser in blocks of with higher Culturable Command Area (CCA) compared to the blocks of lower CCA. All the disaggregated units were ranked into various groups of different levels of water distribution performance. The study demonstrates the utility of WUI as spatial performance indicator and thus useful for benchmarking studies of irrigation command areas. The WUI together with satellite data derived spatial irrigation intensity, crop productivity constitutes important benchmarking indices in irrigation command areas.     

EMD与分形相结合的遥感影像水体信息提取方法

提出一种基于经验模态分解(empirical mode decomposition,EMD)和分形理论相结合的遥感影像水体信息提取方法,该方法尝试结合影像的光谱特征和纹理特征以提高分类提取精度。对影像进行主成分分析得到有效信息量最大的第一主分量,计算每个像元的分维数得到分维图,同时将第一主分量EMD分解得到有效信息量较大的前3个经验模态函数,再结合原有的波段信息作为研究数据,利用极大似然法分类器提取水体信息。该方法充分结合了EMD在降噪和区分相似光谱特征中的优势和分形理论在纹理信息提取中的优势。研究表明,该方法可有效提高水体信息的提取精度,Kappa最高到0.932 5。     

Role of aerial photo-interpretation and remote sensing techniques for command area development projects

The problems and need for CommandAreas Development (CAD) are discussed. The study highlights the advantages of using aerial photographs for the preparation of Soil Map, Land Use Map, Geomorphological Map and large scale topographical Map are for CAD. The Institutions of help and a rough idea of cost of such surveys for CAD are mentioned briefly.     

Assessment and monitoring of estuarine mangrove forests of Goa using satellite remote sensing

The present study highlights the application of satellite remote sensing in the assessment and monitoring of the mangrove forests along the coastline in Goa state of India. Based on onscreen visual interpretation techniques various land use and land cover classes have been mapped and classified. An attempt has been made to analyse changes in the mangrove forest cover from 1994 to 2001 using IRS-1B LISS-II and IRS-1D LISS-III data. An increase in the mangrove vegetation in the important estuaries has been found during 1994 and 2001. During this period, the mangrove forest increased by 44.90 per cent as a result of increased protection and consequent regeneration. Plantation of mangrove species has been raised in 876 ha (1985 to 1997) by the State Forest Department¨     

Integrated approach of using remote sensing and GIS to study watershed prioritization and productivity

Soil data obtained from soil resource inventory, land and climate were derived from the remote sensing satellite data (Landsat TM, bands 1 to 7) and were integrated in GIS environment to obtain the soil erosion loss using USLE model for the watershed area. The priorities of different sub-watershed areas for soil conservation measures were identified. Land productivity index was also used as a measure for land evaluation. Different soil and land attribute maps were generated in GIS, and R,K,LS,C and P factor maps were derived. By integrating these soil erosion map was generated. The mapping units, found not suitable for agriculture production, were delineated and mapped as non-arable land. The area suitable for agricultural production was carved out for imparting the productivity analysis; the land suitable for raising agricultural crops was delineated into different mapping units as productivity ratings good, fair, moderate and poor. The analysis performed using remote sensing and GIS helped to generate the attribute maps with more accuracy and the ability of integrating these in GIS environment provided the ease to get the required kind of analysis. Conventional methods of land evaluation procedures in terms of either soil erosion or productivity are found not comparable with the out put generated by using remote sensing and GIS as the limitations in generating the attribute maps and their integration. The results obtained in this case study show the use of different kinds of data derived from different sources in land evaluation appraisals.     

Detection of subtle deforestation due to logging using satellite remote sensing in wet and dry savanna woodlands of Southern Africa

Tropical deforestation through logging activities poses a direct threat to biodiversity. However, the detection of logging has remained a challenge. Based on study sites in Zimbabwe and Zambia, we tested whether the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Coefficient of Variation in NDVI (CVNDVI) derived from high and medium spatial resolution satellite data could be used to detect logging in dry and wet miombo woodlands. Separately, we integrated NDVI and CVNDVI in logistic regression to test whether each can be used to successfully predict logging in the study sites. We tested whether the spatial resolution of satellite data has an effect in detection of logging using NDVI and CVNDVI derived from Landsat 8 and Worldview-2. Based on the ROC curves, we concluded that remotely sensed data could provide an effective predictive tool for detecting logging. However, in wet miombo woodlands the predictive power of remotely sensed data is weak.     

Groundwater resources development in hard rock terrain - an approach using remote sensing and GIS techniques

To demonstrate the capabilities of remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques for groundwater resources development in hard rock terrains, specifically for the demarcation of suitable sites for artificial recharge of groundwater aquifers, a study was carried out in the Kallar Basin, which is located in parts of the Salem and Tiruchirapalli districts, Tamil Nadu, India. Thematic maps defining lithology, lineaments, landforms, landuse, drainage density, thickness of weathered zone, thickness of fractured zone, hydrological soils, and well yield were prepared from data collected by the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) -1C and by conventional methods. All the thematic layers were integrated using a GIS-based model developed specifically for this purpose, enabling a map showing artificial recharge zones to be generated. The exact type of artificial recharge structure, eg, check dam, nallabund, gully plugging and percolation pond, suitable for replenishing groundwater was identified by superposing a drainage network map over an artificial recharge zones map. The GIS-based demarcation of artificial zones developed in the study was based on logical conditions and reasoning, so that the same techniques (with appropriate modifications) could be adopted elsewhere, especially in hard rock terrain, where the occurrence of groundwater is restricted and subject to greater complexity.     

Segregation of soilscapes using statistics in remote sensing

The use of remotely sensed data in the form of vertical aerial photographs has been in practice since several decades. Launching of Landsat satellites and their capability together multispectral scanner data afforded soil scientists enhanced capability for mapping soils. Technological advances in computer processing of Landsat MSS data coupled with ancillary information provided added advantages. Still difficulties exist in identifying the interference to vegetation and in segregation of narrowly defined soilscapes. Utility of statistical data, obtainable from computer analysis, and an aid in understanding the reflectance characteristics of various types of vegetation and soilscapes has been discussed in this paper. The final output obtained by computer processing compared with existing soil maps of the area registered more future prospects for utilisation of statistics in segregation of soilscapes and vegetation.     

Hydrogeology of Talwandi Sabo Tehsil,Bathinda District (Punjab): A remote sensing approach

Studies on water resources and hydrogeology of an area have become much easier with the help of Remote Sensing Technology. As an attempt to evaluate hydrogeology and ground water conditions of the tehsil Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district, a hydromorphogeological map of the area was prepared through visual interpretation of satellite imagery. The study shows that the study area, a part of the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain, is occupied by a large number of sand-dune complexes deposited by the ancient Satluj River while traversing the area during the past. Later on reworking of sand-dunes by aeolian action and their physical removal for agricultural purposes resulted in the present landscape of a plain land with sanddune complexes. Unconsolidated Quaternary alluvial sediments consisting of fine to medium-grained sand with admixture of kankar and some clay constitute the aquifer system of the area. Studies show that ground water occurs under both confined and unconfined conditions with water table at shallow depths. But the quality of the ground water is poor to marginal in most of the area except in the vicinity of main canal (Kotla Branch) where water seepage from canals has made the ground water good in quality.     

粒子群算法及多阈值指数熵的遥感影像变化检测方法研究

在遥感影像检测中,一般采用多变化阈值来提高检测精度,但会导致运算量的增加。为解决该问题,提出利用粒子群算法及多阈值指数熵的遥感影像变化检测新方法。首先采用影像差值法构造差异影像;然后提出利用粒子群和多阈值指数熵的遥感影像分割方法,并将其用于对差异影像进行分割获取变化区域;最后对选取的实验数据进行变化检测,并与基于模糊C均值、双阈值指数熵、三阈值指数熵的非监督变化检测方法进行比较。实验结果显示,提出的变化检测方法其精度为94.77%,本案方法是一种有效地、可靠的遥感影像变化检测方法。     

Biophysical factors of remote sensing approach in urban green analysis

Greenery in an urban environment is an important consideration when studying temperature, and such enquiry can benefit human health. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how ambient temperature in urban areas is affected by forests and parks. The focus is on biophysical parameters related to these green areas, such as impervious surface percentages, albedo, areal coverage, elevation, and leaf area index (LAI). Geographic information systems and remote sensing were used to quantify green spaces using a pixel-based method. It was found that coverage area has little correlation with temperature. Factor analysis was used to determine the minimum number of independent factors, which explained 63% of the variance of that temperature. Only elevation, LAI and albedo were significant biophysical factors. Guidelines for greenery programmes should include these significant data-sets to understand the influence of green areas on heat reduction.     

Vegetation analysis and study of its dynamics in Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary (Orissa) using aerospace remote sensing

Changes brought in habitat conditions due to increasing human influences on natural areas have posed serious threat to wildlife. Remote Sensing has probably omerged as one of the most viable techniques to assess and monitor habitat conditions. Comparative analysis of maps of two-time period can provide authentic data with respect to changes brought in the habitat conditions. Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, covering an area of 213.71 sq. km in Orissa is one of the natural reserves of elephants which has undergone serious changes brought in through anthropogenic activities of urban areas of Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar lying within the proximity of the sanctuary. The natural reserve, an ideal habitat for elephants, was connected to neighbouring extensive forest belts. These connections have been either degraded or deforested over the years. The present study analyses the types of habitat available in the sanctuary using remote sensing data (aerial and satellite). Vegetation-type maps of 1975 have been prepared from B/W aerial photographs of 1:25,000 scale. For assessing the current vegetation types, maps have been prepared from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (LISS II) false colour composite on 1:50,000 scale. Comparative evaluation of the maps indicates changes in the vegetation pattern, increase in mining and agriculture areas within the sanctuary. Stratified field sampling of vegetation types provide structural characteristics of the vegetation. Bamboo has been found to extend in the valleys and side slopes of the sanctuary area during past 15 years. An analysis on response of vegetation in all major vegetation types mapped have been made in the context of the invasion of Eupatorium odoratum. Finally, bamboo biomass has been assessed through stratified random sampling as it constitutes a major elephant food source.