Groundwater prospects in a developing satellite township of Andhra Pradesh, India, using remote sensing techniques

Geomorphologic map prepared, using the remote sensing techniques and conventional methods, has been used to assess groundwater prospects in a developing satellite township of Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Complex. Andhra Pradesh, India. The geomorphic units delineated are denudational, fluvial and coastal. The study indicates that the fluvial and rolling plains are promising zones for groundwater occurrence. The denudational landforms are not considered as groundwater potential zones, whereas the groundwater occurring in the coastal plain is not suitable for any use, because of its brackish nature.     

Mapping small wetlands of Kenya and Tanzania using remote sensing techniques

Although wetlands in Tanzania and Kenya have great potentials for agricultural production and a multitude of uses, many of them are not even documented on official maps. Lack of official recognition has done little in preventing there over utilization. As the wetlands continue to play remarkable roles in the movement of people and terrestrial species in the region, it is important that they are monitored and properly managed. This study was undertaken in Usambara highlands and the Pangani floodplain in Tanzania, the Mount Kenya highlands and Laikipia floodplain in Kenya to map the different types of wetlands in terms of their size, density, spatial distribution and use patterns. Remote sensing techniques and field surveys were adopted, and 51 wetlands were identified in flood plains within the semi-arid and sub-humid lowlands, and inland valleys in the region. The detailed maps generated showed the intensity of wetland use, inland valleys being the most intensively used, and are useful in monitoring changes in wetlands for their effective management. The use of multispatial resolution imagery, combined with field survey and GIS produced satisfactory results for the delineation and mapping of small wetlands and their uses.     

Mapping and monitoring of urban landuse of Hisar Town,Haryana using remote sensing techniques

Aerial photographs for the year 1965 and 1975 and Landsat TM (FCC) 1986 data on 1:50,000 scale were used to map and monitor the pattern of growth and development of Hisar Town during the last 20 years. The different landuse categories identified are residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, vacant lands etc. The original shape of the town was nucleated one, but presently it is star-shaped, which is due to extension of the urban centre along the radiating roads. It has mainly elongated itself along the Delhi and Rajgarh roads. The presence of Government Livestock Farm (GLF), Equine Breeding Farm and HAU Farm towards North-west of the town has completely checked its growth on these sides. The total residential-cum-commercial area has nearly doubled during 1965–1975 and trebled by 1986. The change in net area under different types of urban land-use categories, described above has also been calculated. Degraded scrub lands and sandy wasteland on the fringes of the town have been identified where further development can be planned to avoid encroachment on good agricultural lands. Recommendations have been given for future urban planning of the town.     

Glacier inventory in Himachal Pradesh using satellite images

A total of 125 glaciers covering an area of 1896 sq. km. were mapped on 1:250,000 scale in Himachal Pradesh using satellite images. The areal extent obtained from satellite images was found to be comparable with that from field estimates for eight glaciers for which data are available. This suggests that remote sensing can provide glacial areal extent similar to ground-based methods. Depth of an individual glacier was inferred indirectly by using its relationship with areal extent and geomorphological characteristics, as suggested by Muller (1970). These characteristics were estimated by using satellite images. The analysis suggests that the water equivalent of the glaciers in Himachal Pradesh is about 165 cu km. It is seventeen times more than the storage capacity of the Govind Sagar. This estimate will get revised when other snow/ice features as permanent snow field, ice apron, hanging glaciers and rocky glaciers are mapped. Mapping on larger scale, say 1:50,000, will lead to a further revision as many smaller glaciers and other features will get mapped.     

Remote sensing of horticultural plantations in Kumarsain tehsil in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh

The favourable agroclimatic conditions for orchards especially apples have increased the acreages in Himachal Pradesh (HP) which has significantly contributed in the growth of state economy. Realizing the importance of horticulture in HP and its changing scenario of the land use/land cover, a study was conducted to identify and map apple and almond plantations in the Kumarsain tehsil of Shimla district using Remote Sensing (RS) techniques. IRS-IB LISS-II False Colour Composite (FCC) diapositives of October 27, March 30 and April 20, 1992 were visually analysed for mapping apple and almond plantations. The results indicate that IRS LISS-II data of April 20 on 1∶50,000 scale was found very useful for identification and mapping of apple and almond plantations in this region. Accuracy of interpretation was also tested on sample basis assuming a binomial distribution for the probability of success/failure of sample points. The overall interpretation accuracy assessed based on 40 sample points was found to be 87 per cent at 90 per cent confidence limits.     

Application of photo-interpretation and remote sensing techniques for integrated survey of Anantapur district,Andhra Pradesh

Multi-disciplinary integrated studies were carried out in the drought prone, backward district of Anantapur, for an appraisal of its natural resource and environmental potential, by applying the photointerpretation and remote sensing techniques. Shortage of land and water resources are identified as the major constraints for developmental planning. The natural resources and the potential available for development are documented in various thematic maps. The landuse pattern for agriculture and forestry is mainly controlled by the lithological and morphological units. It is surmised, that with the new source for groend water identified along linement and fracture zones, there is scope for augmenting and uplift the land use and crop-pattern, and this helps to upgrade the socio-economic condition of the district.     

Land suitability analysis for cereal production in Himachal Pradesh (India) using Geographical Information System

Land suitability analysis is prerequisite for sustainable agriculture and it plays a pivotal role in the niche based agricultural planning in mountain regions. In this paper different parameters viz. climatic (precipitation and temperature), topographic (elevation), soil type and land cover/land use have been used in order to perform land suitability evaluation for cereals food-grain crops in Himachal Pradesh using Geographic Information System (GIS). The suitability analysis was performed by digital processing of geo-referenced data (elevation, climate, soil and landcover) and calculating potential production areas by combining different types of geographical data through decision rules framed for each crop in ArcView spatial analyst. Suitable areas have been delineated for cereal crops in the form of land suitability maps. In comparison to the actual area under cereal crops, the possibility of further expansion under each cereal crop was determined. These discriminated areas appear suitable for growing these crops and can be harnessed efficiently for achieving long term sustainability and food security.     

Evaluation of geology and structure of eastern Harda-Barwah basin,Madhya Pradesh using remote sensing techniques with field checks in crucial sections

The geological studies of the eastern parts of Harda-Barwah basin covering about 3000 sq. km area on 1∶50,000 scale have been carried out using satellite imagery of IRS (FCC), supplemented by Landsat TM/MSS scences and air photos. The present studies with the aid of satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques have brought out the regional stratigraphy and structure of the area and helped in deciphering the interrelationship of various rock groups in the Narmada lineament zone. The area comprises Archaean/Proterozoic gneisses, the Mahakoshal volcano sedimentary suite, the Harda granitoids, the Bijawar Group and the rocks of Vindhyan Supergroup, Deccan Trap and Quaternary sediments. The Archaean/Proterozoic rocks comprising gneisses and schist form basement. The Mahakoshal Group of rocks occur along the ENE-WSW to E-W trending Narmada lineament zone and comprise foliated quartzite, actinolite-chlorite-sericite phyllite and metabasics. The Harda granitoids showing intrusive relationship with earlier rocks, comprise coarse-grained crudely foliated grey to pink granites, fine to medium grained homogeneous granites and porphyritic granites. The Bijawar Group comprises quarzite, chert breccia and dolomite in the order of younging and shows unconformable relationship with the Mahakoshal and the Harda granitoids. The Bijawar rocks show doubly plunging major synformal structure and numerous sympathetic minor folds along ENE-WSW to E-W axis and cross folds along NW-SW axis. The Bijawar rocks are unconformably overlain by a sequence of sandstone and shales belonging to the Rewa Group of the Vindhyan Supergroup. The Deccan Trap lava flows represent the last igneous activity in the area. The Quaternary deposits comprising a cyclic sequence of sand, silt, clay and rock gravels of the Narmada river represent the youngest formation of the area.     

Landscape analysis in Fambong Lho wildlife sanctuary,East district,Sikkim, India using remote sensing and GIS techniques

The high biological diversity and rich genetic forest resources of the state of Sikkim are to be conserved due to their sensitiveness to environmental degradation through continued human interference. The conservation of bioprospecting zones in natural forests as well as in protected areas is considered important for up keeping genetic resources and their germplasm. Keeping this in view, ‘Fambong Lho’ wildlife sanctuary in East district, Sikkim, has been selected to characterize different communities in the dominant vegetation type of Tropical Broad Leaved Hill Forest and to assess biodiversity controls in respect of different topographical features, such as altitude, slope, and aspects and use these inputs for prioritizing the protected area into different Bioprospective zones for conservation and planning. An altitude above 2000 m, having a slope in the range of 1–5 percent facing south east aspect are the ideal environmental conditions conducive to have high species richness. The analysis of fragmentation indicates that the forests are under stress along the fringes as they are closely associated with the habitations. The biological richness is recorded reasonably within the limits in the core area of the park but further prioritizing of such areas for conservation is necessary in view of impending danger of frequent interaction of human habitation with in the sanctuary for forest resources.     

Morphometry using remote sensing and GIS techniques in the sub-basins of Kagna river basin, Gulburga district, Karnataka, India

The study area is a part of Kagna river basin in the Gulburga district of Karnataka, India. It covers an area of 1320 km² and it has been subdivided into 4 sub-basins namely Wadi, Chitapur, Sedam and Kurkunta, which range in area from 184 to 537 km². The drainage pattern of these sub-basins are delineated using Geo-coded FCC bands 2,3,4 of IRS 1C and 1D(LISS III+PAN merged) on 1:50,000 scale and Survey of India toposheets as reference. The morphometric parameters are computed using ArcInfo and ArcView GIS softwares. The drainage pattern of the study area is dendritic to sub-dendritic with stream orders ranging from IV to VII orders. Drainage density ranges from 1.40 to 1.86 km/km² suggesting coarse to moderate drainage texture. The change in values of stream length ratio indicate their late youth stage of geomorphic development. The values of bifurcation ratio ranging from 2.00 to 4.71 indicate that all the sub-basins fall under normal basin category. The values of form factor and circulatory ratio, suggest that the Kurkunta sub-basin is elongated and the remaining sub-basins are more or less circular in shape. Elongation ratio indicates that the Wadi sub-basin is a region of very low relief whereas the other sub-basins are associated with moderate to high relief and steep ground slopes. It is concluded that remote sensing and GIS have been proved to be efficient tools in drainage delineation and updation. In the present study these updated drainages have been used for the morphometric analysis.     

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.     

Landsat imagery analysis and field studies in the Kullu and Chauhar valleys,Himachal Pradesh,India

The rough terrain between the Gogar Dhar (Mandi-Brot rise) and the Kullu-Larji valley is geologically unexplored. This paper brings out for the first time the geology and regional tectonic set-up of the area on the basis of LANDSAT imagery interpretation and field checks. Image analysis of about 3700 sq. km area and field observations along selected sections of the area reveal that the area mainly comprises mica-chlorite schists, quartzites and phyllites i.e. low to medium grade Chail metamorophics with acid and basic intrusions within them. Structually the rocks are arranged in the form of a NNW-SSE trending faulted synclinorium, the axis of which passes through Daggi Dhar. The western flank of the synclinorium is more strongly folded. Granitoids and basics show concordent relations with the country rocks. Two belts of granitoids are found occupying the cores of the folds on both the limbs of the synclinorium. Along the Uhl river (in the Chauhar valley) and the Kullu valley passes the Chail thrust separating the Chail metamorphics from the rocks of the outer carbonate belt and the traps of the Mandi unit, and the inner carbonate belt of the Larji window zone respectively. The area is dissected into blocks by cross cutting, deep-seated major faults of three generations. The fold and fault systems have prominent control over the geomorphology including the drainage patterns and landforms of the area. The present area is a typical case of inverted relief, anticlinal valleys and synclinal hills being the main geomorphic features developed due to structural control. The change in the course of the Beas River between Mandi and Pandoh is a typical case of structural control on the present drainage system.     

Land use study in Mewat area,Haryana, using remote sensing techniques

A soil and land use survey of Mewat area, Haryana, was carried out using the aerial photographs of 1:50,000. Four major physiographic units namely hills, piedmont plain, intermontante basin and Yamuna alluvial plain were recognised. The land use was studied in relation to the physiographic units. The legend adopted for land use classification has physiography at first level, utility at second level and management and identification at third and fourth levels respectively. Of the total area of 161,103 ha surveyed, 131,637 ha (81.72%) are cultivated. Of this 75,967 ha (47.16%) irrigated and 55,670 ha (34.56%) is unirrigated. Under uncultivated area, barren lands cover 14,224 ha (8.82%), forests occupy 3,463 ha (5.25%), settlements cover 3,300 (2.05%), water bodies occupy 1,312 ha (0.81%) and roads, railway lines, canals and drains constitute 2,167 ha (1.55%).     

Morphometric analysis of sub-watersheds in the pavagada area of Tumkur district,South India using remote sensing and gis techniques

The study area covers 570 km² comprising of 9 sub-watersheds (Dalavayihalli, Maddalenahalli, Talamaradahalli, Puluvalli tank, Nagalamadike, Gowdatimmanahalli, Naliganahalli, Devadabetta and Byadanur) range from 49 to 75 km² forming part of Pennar river basin around Pavagada. The drainage network of 9 sub-watersheds was delineated using remote sensing data - Geocoded FCC of bands - 2 3 4 of IRS 1 C and 1 D (LISS III+PAN merged) on 1:50,000 scale and SOI topomaps were used as reference. The morphometric analysis of 9 sub-watersheds has been carried out using GIS softwares - Arclnfo and Are View. The drainage network shows that the terrain exhibits dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage pattern. Stream orders ranges from fourth to fifth order. Drainage density varies between 1.55 and 2.16 km/ km² and has very coarse to coarse drainage texture. The relief ratio range from 0.006 to 0.021. The mean bifurcation ratio varies from 3.21 to 4.88 and falls under normal basin category. The elongation ratio shows that Devedabetta sub-watershed possesses circular shape while remaining sub-watersheds mark elongated pattern. Hence from the study it can be concluded that remote sensing techniques proved to be a competent tool in morphometric analysis.     

Geomorphic features of a part of Cuddapah and Nellore districts,Andhra Pradesh — Using remote sensing techniques

An area of about 1000 square kilometres in Cuddapah and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh is studied to bring out the different landforms and other geomorphic features, their material content and distribution, the processes that have acted and are acting in the evolution of landscape and ultimately to get an idea of the geomorphic history of the area. The data obtained during the present study is mainly through remote sensing-techniques (Landsat image and airphoto interpretation) with field checks. The study area forms a part of southeastern Cuddapah Basin and consists of structurally disturbed and deformed sedimentary sequence of varied lithology. The impor-tant rock types in the area are granites, gneisses, quartzites, shales, phyllites, limestones and dolomites. The area presently comes under semi-arid climatic zone. The different landforms recognised and mapped in the area are hog-back ridges, piedmont fans, valley fills, river built plain, abandoned channels, point bars, ’ V‘ shaped valleys, piedmont zone, colluvial plain, residual hills, besides lineaments.     

Discrimination of low-grade magnetite ores using remote sensing techniques

The remote sensing community in geology is widely using the Multispectral Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data which has a wider choice of spectral bands (six between 0.45 and 2.35 μm, plus a thermal infrared channel 10.4-12.5 urn). These were evaluated for low-grade magnetite ores mapping over the high-grade granulite region of Kanjamalai area of Tamil Nadu state, India. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy data (0.4-4.0 μm) for powders of the magnetite ores exposed with granulite rock and published spectral reflectance data were used as guides in selecting TM band reflectance ratios, which maximize discrimination of magnetite ores on the basis of their respective mineralogies. The study shows that the weathering mineralogy of magnetite ores causes absorption features in their reflectance spectra which are particularly characteristic of the near infrared. Comparison of TM data with field and petrographic observations shows the presence of magnetite and aluminosilicate minerals & show strong absorption at 0.7-1 μ.m wavelength spectral region & increase in the product of two TM band ratios: band 5 (1.55-1.75 μm) to band 4 (0.76-0.9 μm) and band 3 (0.63-0.69 μm) to band 4 (0.76-0.9 μm). Various computer image enhancement and data extraction techniques such as interactive digital image classification techniques using color compositing stretched ratio, maximum likelihood and thresholding statistical approaches using Landsat TM data are used to map the low-grade magnetite ores of the granulite region. The field traverses and local verification enhanced to map the other rock types namely granulites and gneisses of the study area.     

Multi level land use surveys using remote sensing techniques

The use of Landsat imagery at 1:1 M and 1:250,000 and aerial photos on 1:65,000 and 1:20,000 scale have been used to study landuse. It has been possible to achieve identification using Landsat imagery up to utility level ( level 1 and II ) and with the aerial photographs further subdivisions of utility into management and identification (level III and IV) .     

Mapping and characterization of inland wetlands using remote sensing and GIS

Sustainable management of wetland ecosystem is necessary as it serves the important functions such as food storage, water quality maintenance and providing habitat for different species of wildlife. Hence, an inventory of wetlands in any given area is a pre-requisite for their conservation and management. A study has been carried out to delineate the wetlands of east Champaran district of Bihar, India, using IRS ID LISS III data. The data for the pre and post monsoon seasons have been analysed and the wetlands have been qualitatively characterized based on the turbidity and aquatic vegetation status. The extent of water logging problem in the study area was inferred from the seasonal variation of waterspread during both the seasons. The three categories of wetlands (ponds/lakes, water logged areas and oxbow lakes) have been identified. From the analysis, it has been observed that the inland wetlands constitute 2.7% of the study area, of which 1.8% is subjected to water logging. Thus, this study highlights the usefulness of remotely sensed data for wetland mapping, seasonal monitoring and characterization.     

Mapping of active tectonics intensity zones using remote sensing and GIS

The Bundi-Indergarh sector in southeast Rajasthan is characterized by folded and faulted Vindhyan rocks that are exposed as NE-SW trending long parallel ridges. The sector is separated from older rocks by the Great Boundary Thrust and is traversed by younger cross faults at several localities. The thematic maps of geomorphology, slope, vegetation index and morphotectonic parameters of Bundi-Indergarh sector have been prepared using IRS ID L1SS III and WiFS and, Landsat ETM digital data. These theme are integrated in GIS environment to assess the neotectonic potential in the area. The neotectonic potential map of the sector has been generated that indicates relative potential values as high (55–85), medium (35–55) and low (5–35) on 100-point scale. The observed four high potential zones in the area are located at the intersection of NE-SW and NW-SE lineaments. The study brings out methodology for assessing active tectonic potential of the area.