Analysing topographical changes in open cast coal-mining region of Patratu,Jharkhand using CARTOSAT-I Stereopair satellite images

This study provides an assessment of changes in the terrain topography due to opencast coal mining in the Patratu region of Jharkhand state during the period of 1962–2007. It demonstrated the potential of digital elevation model (DEM) differencing technique using Cartosat-I satellite (2007) derived DEM with reference to DEM derived from contours obtained from Survey of India topographical map (1962). The topographical changes through DEM differencing revealed positive relief changes (up to 49 m) due to coal-mining overburden dumps. The dumping of overburden near the banks of perennial Damodar River also caused positive topographic changes (up to 20 m) indicating adverse effects on its hydrological regime. Negative relief changes are represents by deep depressions (up to 66 m) created within coal mines due to the extraction of coal. These depression areas within the abundant mines generally become the zones of water accumulation causing wastage of surface and ground water resources.     

2000—2010年神东矿区植被NPP的变化特征及影响因素分析

基于EOS/MODIS NPP数据集,对神东矿区植被净初级生产力(NPP)变化的时空特征及主要影响因素进行分析。研究表明,2000—2010年,神东矿区植被年NPP主要介于(98~160)g C/(m2·a)区间,11 a平均值为139.80 g C/(m2·a),低于同期全国植被年平均NPP值360.97 g C/(m2·a)约61.3%,低于同期矿区10 km缓冲区年平均NPP值142.49 g C/(m2·a)约2%,同时也低于同纬度对比区域年均NPP值161.97 g C/(m2·a)约13.7%。11 a NPP值一元线性回归分析表明,3个区域2000—2010年平均NPP变化趋势及斜率特征大致相符,相关系数均达到0.94以上;植被NPP与同期气候因子的相关性分析表明,神东矿区植被年NPP与年降水量相关系数较大,为0.716。     

Structural trends in deccan trap area nw of Poona: A study based on landsat-1 imagery interpretation

Geological interpretation of the area northwes tof Poona was carried out with the help of Multiband LANDSAT-1 imagery. An area of about 2800 sq. km which is exclusively covered by the Deccan Trap basalts was selected to study the lineament pattern. The interpretation was mainly carried out on a scale of 1:270,000. It has been observed that N50°E and mean N-S are the most prominent linear directions in the area. Field evidences have shown that these directions represent the fracture zones which have controlled linear valleys, elongated ridges and linearly arranged truncated spurs. The mean N-S trend observed in the area can be interpreted as a trend parallel to the basement (Dharwar) trend while the N50°E trend can be explained as a manifestation of Satpura trend.     

Interferometric SAR Time Series Analysis for Ground Subsidence of the Abandoned Mining Area in North Peixian Using Sentinel-1A TOPS Data

The North Peixian mining area of China has rich coal resources, with total proven reserves of 2.37 billion tons. However, the underground coal mining activities have resulted in ground collapse, which has caused serious harm to the environment and threatened the lives and properties of local residents. In this study, 12 Sentinel-1A terrain observation by progressive scans (TOPS) mode acquisitions between 30 July 2015 and 13 May 2016 over the abandoned mining area in North Peixian were analyzed using the interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) time series method to detect the ground subsidence, with the maximum ground subsidence reaching 83 mm/a and an average value of about 12.7 mm/a. The subsidence results derived from the Sentinel-1A TOPS mode dataset were proven to be effective in investigating and monitoring the ground subsidence in the North Peixian mining area. Compared to the rapid deformation during the ongoing period of mining excavation, the ground subsides slowly in abandoned mining areas and shows a linear relationship with time over a relatively long period of time. Spatial correlation between the subsidence distribution and land cover was found, in that the magnitude of the subsidence in urban areas was smaller than that in rural areas, which is associated with the controlled coal mining activities under buildings, railways, and water bodies. The results demonstrate that Sentinel-1A TOPS SAR images can be used to effectively and accurately detect and monitor ground subsidence in a mining area, which is critically important when investigating land subsidence in a large-scale mining area.     

山西省西山煤田长时间序列NDVI时空变化趋势及对气候响应

研究采矿扰动区内植被变化规律,能够为矿区生态修复提供理论依据。本文以山西省西山煤田为研究区,通过设立对比试验区,利用MODIS/NDVI（2001-2019年）结合同期的气温、降水气候因子,分别从植被指数的时空变化及与气象因子之间的关系等方面展开对比,用于探究采矿扰动区内植被变化情况。研究结果表明：①19年来西山煤田与间接影响区及校验区的植被均呈增加趋势,但西山煤田相比于校验区NDVI均值低11.42%。②西山煤田相较于自然生态条件下植被增长率为-5.53%。③西山煤田与校验区的NDVI值均受到气温、降水两种气象因子的影响,但是与降水的相关性更高,即受降水影响更大。     

Mapping of Coal Fire in Jharia Coalfield,India: a Remote Sensing Based Approach

In India, Jharia Coalfield (JCF) has one of the densest congregations of surface-subsurface coal fires known worldwide. Systematic investigation and quantification of actual scenario of coal fires in JCF is always necessary to plan sustainable mining, industrial growth and environmental remediation on a long term basis. The present approach involves evaluation and mapping of coal fire using ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection) data. Mapping reveals that the area located around western, eastern and south-eastern parts of JCF covering territories of Shatabdi opencast, Barora; Sijua opencast; Godhar colliery; Kusunda; Bokapahari; Kujama and Lodna are under intense fire with cumulative coverage of 6.23 km². The ASTER derived Land Surface Temperature (LST) of the anomalous areas have been subsequently validated by the field observations, carried out in JCF in February, 2010. The methodology adopted in the present study would provide precise evaluation and monitoring of coal fire in Jharia.     

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of TanDEM-X DEM over western Himalayan glaciated terrain

Glaciers have a high impact in the socio-economic sectors including water supply, energy production, flood and avalanches. A high precision digital elevation model (DEM) is required to monitor glaciers and to study various glacier processes. The present study deals with the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the DEM generated from the bistatic TanDEM-X data by comparing it with GPS, Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) data and standard global DEMs such as Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global DEM (ASTER GDEM). The study area consists of highly undulating glaciated terrain in western Himalaya, India. The results reveal that TanDEM-X is slightly better than SRTM both qualitatively and quantitatively, whereas ASTER GDEM showing maximum discrepancy among the three DEMs. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the TanDEM-X DEM with respect to GPS is 3.5 m at lower relief and 11.9 m at glaciated terrain, against 6.7 and 12.5 m for SRTM and 9.3 and 19.8 m for ASTER GDEM, respectively, for the same sites. On an average, for the whole study area, the RMSE of TanDEM-X is 7.9 m, SRTM is 9.3 m and ASTER GDM is 14.2 m. The RMSE of TanDEM-X, SRTM and ASTER GDEM with respect to ICESat are 16.3, 19.9 and 101.1 m, respectively. It is evident from the analysis that though SRTM is closer to TanDEM-X in terms of accuracy in the mountainous terrain, however, TanDEM-X will be more useful for studying glacier dynamics and topography.     

Assessment of Fragmentation and Disturbance Patterns in Eastern Ghats: A Case Study in R.V. Nagar Range,Visakhapatnam District,Andhra Pradesh,India

At present the biodiversity in Eastern Ghats is threatened by loss of habitats, exploitation and unscientific management of natural resources, forest fire, biological invasion and other anthropogenic pressures. In this context, we have assessed the forest cover changes, fragmentation and disturbance in the R.V. Nagar Range of Eastern Ghats region, Andhra Pradesh using satellite remote sensing and GIS techniques. Satellite data of IRS-1A LISS II of 1988 and IRS-P6 LISS III of 2006 were assessed for forest cover changes in 1 sq.km grid and generated as Sensitivity Index map. Further the road and settlement buffer of 1000 m was generated to represent Threat Index map. From 1988 to 2006, the forest cover had a total cover loss of 35.2 sq.km and increase in scrub cover by 7.2%. Over all change analysis from 1988 to 2006 with reference to forest cover indicates, negative changes (loss of forest area) accounted for 48.1 sq.km area and positive changes (gain of forest) for an area of 12.1 sq.km of area. The results of the change detection using multi-date satellite imagery suggest degradation in forest cover over two decades, which necessitates the conservation measures in this range with high priority.     

Land System studies for resources evaluation—A demonstration around Sagar,Madhya Pradesh

Land System studies, which integrated landforms with geology, soils, vegetation, hydrology and landuse, should form the basis of evaluation of the resources of a region. Such studies were carried out in a 1400 sq. km, tract around Sagar, M. P., employing the methodology of the C.S.I.R.O., Australia, as a part of a detailed geomorphic survey of the area on modern lines. Two land systems were recognized on the basis of the patterns deciphered on the areial photographs of the area: the Vindhyan Land System and the Daccan Trap Land System. The former occupies 148 sq. km. and 17 land units have been made out in it. The latter occupies 1252 sq. km. and 14 land units have been recognized in it. Choosing representatives «sites» on these land units, quantitative integrated studies were carried out in the field. The data so collected are presented in the paper and it is shown how there could form the basis of an evaluation of the resources of the area.     

Monitoring Horizontal and Vertical Cropping Pattern and Dynamics in Bihar over a Decade (2001–2012) Based on Time-Series Satellite Data

Increasing population and natural disasters like drought, flood, cyclone etc., has impacted global agriculture area and hence continuously modifying cropping pattern and associated statistics. The present study analysed agriculture dynamics over one of the densely populated and disaster prone state (Bihar) in India and derived vital statistics (single, double and triple cropping area, and monthly, seasonal, annual and long term status at the state and district level) for the years 2001–2012. The study used time-series MODIS vegetation index (EVI; MOD13A2, 1 km, 16 day, 2001–2012), MODIS annual Land Cover product (MCD12Q1, 500 m, 2001–2012) and Global Land Cover map (Scasia_V4, 1 km, 2000; Globcover_V2.2, 300 m, 2005/2006 and V2.3, 2009, 300 m), and extracted horizontal (i.e., area change) and vertical (i.e., cropping intensification) agriculture change pattern. The results were inter-compared, and validated using government reports as well as with high spatial resolution data (IRS-LISS III 23.5 m). From 2001–2006 to 2007–2012, the net horizontal and vertical change in agriculture area is +145.24 and +907.82 km², respectively, and net change in seasonal crop area (winter, summer and monsoon) is +959.21, +1009.84 and ?1061.64 km², respectively. The districts which are located along the eastern part of Ganges experienced maximum positive changes and the districts along Gandak river in the north-western part of the study area experienced maximum negative changes. Overall, the study has quantified and revealed interesting space–time agriculture change patterns over 12 years including impacts caused by droughts and floods in the study area.     

基于子区域多标签学习的露天煤矿区场景识别

露天煤矿开采易对区域生态环境产生不利影响,对其进行高效监管有利于矿区环境保护和可持续发展。随着遥感技术和人工智能的发展,基于高分辨率遥感影像的露天煤矿区场景自动识别成为可能。本文针对单标签学习算法在场景子区域识别中识别率较低的问题,将多标签学习策略和地理学第一定律相结合,提出一种基于子区域多标签学习的露天煤矿区场景识别方法。为了区分露天煤矿区场景与其周边场景,设置了6类矿区标签和7类非矿区标签,对9768张场景子区域图像进行标注,构建多标签数据集,利用该数据集训练基于多标签学习的Inception-v3模型。场景识别时,首先将一幅覆盖研究区的遥感影像划分为相同大小的子区域并进行多标签分类;然后对含有矿区标签的子区域,利用地理学第一定律对其矿区标签的相关性和完整性进行判定,识别出属于露天煤矿区场景的子区域。胜利西露天煤矿区识别实验结果表明：该方法提取的结果最接近真值,显著高于单标签学习的识别精度;其子区域多标签分类F1分数达到0.857,与单标签学习中性能最好的ResNet50模型相比,提高了8个百分点。本文提出的方法能够自动提取子区域内多类标签的有效特征,提高露天煤矿区场景识别的精度,...     

Validation of Indian National DEM from Cartosat-1 Data

CartoDEM is an Indian National DEM generated from Cartosat-1 stereo data. Cartosat-1, launched in May, 2005, is an along track (aft ?5°, Fore +26°) stereo with 2.5 m GSD, give base-height ratio of 0.63 with 27 km swath. The operational procedure of DEM generation comprises stereo strip triangulation of 500?×?27 km segment with 10 m posting along with 2.5 m resolution ortho image and free—access posting of 30 m has been made available (bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in). A multi approach evaluation of CartoDEM comprising (a) absolute accuracy with respect to ground control points for two sites namely Jagatsinghpur -flat and Dharamshala- hilly; second site i.e. Alwar-plain and hilly with high resolution aerial DEM, (b) relative difference between SRTM and ASTERDEM (c) absolute accuracy with ICESat GLAS for two sites namely Jagatsinghpur-plain and Netravathi river, Western Ghats-hilly (d) relative comparison of drainage delineation with respect to ASTERDEM is reported here. The absolute height accuracy in flat terrain was 4.7 m with horizontal accuracy of 7.3 m, while in hilly terrain it was 7 m height with a horizontal accuracy of 14 m. While comparison with ICESat GLAS data absolute height difference of plain and hilly was 5.2 m and 7.9 m respectively. When compared to SRTM over Indian landmass, 90 % of pixels reported were within ±8 m difference. The drainage delineation shows better accuracy and clear demarcation of catchment ridgeline and more reliable flow-path prediction in comparison with ASTER. The results qualify Indian DEM for using it operationally which is equivalent and better than the other publicly available DEMs like SRTM and ASTERDEM.     

Density interface topography recovered by inversion of satellite gravity gradiometry observations

A radial integration of spherical mass elements (i.e. tesseroids) is presented for evaluating the six components of the second-order gravity gradient (i.e. second derivatives of the Newtonian mass integral for the gravitational potential) created by an uneven spherical topography consisting of juxtaposed vertical prisms. The method uses Legendre polynomial series and takes elastic compensation of the topography by the Earth’s surface into account. The speed of computation of the polynomial series increases logically with the observing altitude from the source of anomaly. Such a forward modelling can be easily applied for reduction of observed gravity gradient anomalies by the effects of any spherical interface of density. An iterative least-squares inversion of measured gravity gradient coefficients is also proposed to estimate a regional set of juxtaposed topographic heights. Several tests of recovery have been made by considering simulated gradients created by idealistic conical and irregular Great Meteor seamount topographies, and for varying satellite altitudes and testing different levels of uncertainty. In the case of gravity gradients measured at a GOCE-type altitude of \(\sim \)300 km, the search converges down to a stable but smooth topography after 10–15 iterations, while the final root-mean-square error is \(\sim \)100 m that represents only 2 % of the seamount amplitude. This recovery error decreases with the altitude of the gravity gradient observations by revealing more topographic details in the region of survey.     

Changing Pattern of Channel Morphology of Alaknanda River in Srinagar Valley (Garhwal Himalaya), India

The Alaknanda River is the most significant parental river of Ganga and forms an 11.5 km long and 2.5 km wide valley, locally known as the Srinagar Valley. The purpose of the present study is to highlight the recent landform changes in the Alaknanda channel course after the Kedarnath disaster, 2013. The Kedarnath flood completely changed the channel morphology of the Alaknanda river. The river changed its course at Srikot, SSB and Sriyantra Tapu with lower terraces being silted by sands at Ranihat, SSB, Bhaktiyana and Sriyantra Tapu. A new depositional terrace also formed opposite to Sriyantra Tapu. New lateral channel bars, braided channels, back swamp, rapids, pools and river souls were identified in the channel course of the river. Shifting of the channel course at Chauras still remains a serious problem for the Garhwal University Chauras Campus. About 2–5 m silt was deposited on the lower terrace at SSB, and ITI. The Srikot river bed was appended to 4.60 m. Shifting of channel course remains a serious threat to the Srinagar valley. Urbanization, sand and boulders mining, construction of dam, hydrological canal, road and settlements are the prominent example of anthropogenic activities which affect the shifting channel.     

Spatial Assessment of Soil Organic Carbon Density Through Random Forests Based Imputation

Regional estimates of soil carbon pool have been made using various approaches that combine soil maps with sample databases. The point soil organic carbon (SOC) densities are spatialized employing approaches like regression, spatial interpolation, polygon based summation, etc. The present work investigates a data mining based spatial imputation for spatial assessment of soil organic carbon density. The study area covers Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states of India. Field sampling was done using stratified random sampling method with land cover/use, soil type, agro-ecological regions for defining strata. The spatial data at 1 km resolution on climate, NDVI, land cover, soil type, topography was used as input for modeling the top 30 cm Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) density. To model the SOC density, a Random Forest (RF) based model with optimal parameters and input variables has been adopted. Experiment results indicate that 500 number of trees with 5 variables at each split could explain the maximum variability of soil organic carbon density of the study area. Out of various input variables used to model SOC density, land use / cover was found to be the most significant factor that influences SOC density with a distinct importance score of 34.7 followed by NDVI with a score of 12.9. The predicted mean SOC densities range between 2.22 and 13.2 Kg m^?2 and the estimated pool size of SOC in top 30 cm depth is 923 Tg for Andhra Pradesh and 1,029 Tg for Karnataka. The predicted SOC densities using this model were in good agreement with the measured observations (R?=?0.86).     

Mapping the Extent of Agroforestry Area in Different Altitudes of Tehri District,North Western Himalaya,India Through GIS and Remote Sensing Data

Assessment of area under agroforestry in Tehri district of North Western Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India has been done using GIS and remote sensing technology. The study district characterized by hilly terrain with varying elevations from 288 m to more than 2800 m and generally gentle slopes, valleys, flat land covers and agricultural terraces. High-resolution satellite imageries (spatial resolution 5.8 m) were used in this study for land uses and land covers classification. According to unsupervised classification, highest area was found under forest class (65.22%) followed by cropland (20.41%). Considerable area was also found under snow cover (9.45%) in the district. Area under agroforestry was estimated to be 5572.26 ha (1.53%) by this method, whereas it was estimated to be 7029.06 ha (1.93%) by supervised classification. Estimated cropland area comes out to be about 20.0%. An accuracy of 86.5% was found in this classification for agroforestry class. Highest area under agroforestry of 3707.36 ha was obtained in 1200–2000 m elevations followed by 2231.26 ha in 288–1200 m elevations. Negligible area was found on high elevation zones of more than 2800 m. The major agroforestry systems of dominated by Grewia oppositifolia (Bhimal), Celtis australis (Kharik) and Quercus leucotrichophora (Banj) were identified and mapped and remaining systems were grouped as others class. Estimated area under G. oppositifolia, C. australis and Q. leucotrichophora based systems come out to be 2330.82, 1456.80 and 1129.10 ha, respectively. These systems are multiple usufructs are food, fuelwood, fodder, fiber and small timber. It has been observed from the accuracy assessment that the estimates of area under agroforestry obtained under this study are reliable.     

Regional geoid computation by least squares modified Hotine’s formula with additive corrections

Geoid and quasigeoid modelling from gravity anomalies by the method of least squares modification of Stokes’s formula with additive corrections is adapted for the usage with gravity disturbances and Hotine’s formula. The biased, unbiased and optimum versions of least squares modification are considered. Equations are presented for the four additive corrections that account for the combined (direct plus indirect) effect of downward continuation (DWC), topographic, atmospheric and ellipsoidal corrections in geoid or quasigeoid modelling. The geoid or quasigeoid modelling scheme by the least squares modified Hotine formula is numerically verified, analysed and compared to the Stokes counterpart in a heterogeneous study area. The resulting geoid models and the additive corrections computed both for use with Stokes’s or Hotine’s formula differ most in high topography areas. Over the study area (reaching almost 2 km in altitude), the approximate geoid models (before the additive corrections) differ by 7 mm on average with a 3 mm standard deviation (SD) and a maximum of 1.3 cm. The additive corrections, out of which only the DWC correction has a numerically significant difference, improve the agreement between respective geoid or quasigeoid models to an average difference of 5 mm with a 1 mm SD and a maximum of 8 mm.     

GIS application to determine the effect of topography on landuse in Ashwani Khad watershed

The landuse status of Ashwani Khad watershed has been obtained using 1RS-ID satellite data for 1999 and further topographic analysis has been carried out using GIS software-ARC/ INFO and ARCVIEW. It has been found that of the total geographical area (85.30 sq. km) of the Ashwani Khad watershed which lies between 30°50′ to 31°N latitude and 77°05′ to 77° 15′E longitude in Himachal Pradesh, 54.53 % constituted wasteland, 33.55% agriculture and least 11.92 % forest. The altitude, aspect and slope have exhibited marked effect on land utilization. Agriculture and wasteland have been found maximum in mid altitude (1300-1500 m) and moderate slopes (13.2-26.4 degree), whereas, agriculture and forest have been maximum in flat and north aspect.     

Uncertainty analysis of soil erosion modelling using different resolution of open-source DEMs

The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is one of the important parameters of soil erosion assessment and notable uncertainties are found in using different resolutions of the DEM. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model has been applied to analyze the effect of open-source DEMs with different resolution and accuracy on the uncertainties of soil erosion modelling in a part of the Narmada river basin in Madhya Pradesh in central India. Selected open-source DEMs are GTOPO30 (1 km), SRTM (30 and 90 m), CARTOSAT (30 m) and ASTER (30 m), used for estimating erosion rate. Results with better accuracy are achieved with the high-resolution DEMs (30 m) with higher vertical accuracy than the coarse resolution DEMs with lower accuracy. This study has presented potential uncertainties introduced by the open-source DEMs in soil erosion modelling for better understanding of appropriate selection and acceptable errors for researchers.     

Mapping of environs of Dharavi slums of Greater Bombay for site suitability using enhanced Landsat thematic mapper (TM) imagery

Slums are universal and a ubiquitous part of the urban landscape. Dharavi, the biggest slum in the whole of Greater Bombay, encompasses 4.0 sq.km. of reclaimed land with 3.50 lakh inhabitants and 75,000 hutments. Majority of the slums of Indian cities, being structurally small with high density of dwellings and uniform building material, seldom give subtle ’spectral signature’ on the satellite imagery. Here, an attempt has been made to map by visual techniques the land use of Dharavi and environs of 20 sq.km area, using optically enhanced Landsat (TM) FCC of January, 1986, on 1:25,000 sale, The study has clearly brought out the land use details, the areas undergoing reclamation, and those susceptible to hazards like floods and marine erosion. A few alternate sites, based on geomorphic attributes are suggested for resettlement of Dharavislum and their areas are also quantified. The results of the present work is a part of the project study completed for a larger area covering 150sq. kms.