Akram Javed

Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds for Conservation Measures in a Semi Arid Watershed Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Land and water resources development plans are generally adopted at watershed level. Delineation of watersheds and their prioritization within large river basins requires host of terrain parameters to be studied and analysed. Chopan watershed in Central India has been studied for sub-watershed delineation and prioritization based on drainage morphometry, land use/land cover and sediment yield index analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The watershed was demarcated into five sub-watersheds on the basis of drainage flow directions, contour value, slope, elevation. Geocoded satellite data of 1989 and 2001 on 1:50 000 scale were visually interpreted to prepare land use/land cover and drainage maps which were later digitized using Arcview/ArcGIS. Linear and shape aspects of the sub-watersheds were computed and used for prioritization. The results show widespread variation in drainage characteristics, land cover changes and sediment yield rates across sub-watersheds. On the basis of morphometric, land use/land cover change and sediment yield index, sub-watersheds were grouped into low, medium and high priority. A correlation of results show that SW1 and SW5 are common sub-watersheds falling under high and low priority based on morphometric, land use change analysis and SYI. The priority list of sub-watersheds will be crucial for decision making and implementation of land and water resource conservation projects.

Evaluation of natural resource potential in semi-arid micro-watershed, eastern Rajasthan, using remote sensing and geographic information system

The natural resources are considered more efficient and appropriate for necessary survey and investigation for the assessment, subsequent planning and implementation of various developmental programmes. Hence, it is necessary to increase the land and water resources levels for future demands. Morphometric, land use/land cover and hydrogeomorphic analyses have been carried out by visual interpretation method of remote sensing data of IRS, 1D-LISS III and IRS, P6-LISS III, and FCCs of band combination 2, 3 and 4. The interpreted data is supplemented as well as cross checked by field visits. The remote sensing and GIS tool could be helpful in getting the precise and valuable spatial information in understanding the present scenario contemplating with the past data and predicting the future trends. Morphometric analysis was done to determine the drainage characteristics of Bankukara watershed. The drainage pattern of the study area is predominantly dendritic to sub-dendritic in nature; however, locally structurally controlled drainage pattern is also seen. The development of stream segments is affected by slope and local relief. The bifurcation ratio indicates that the drainage pattern is structurally controlled. The land use/land cover change detection for 2001 and 2005 showed an increase in uncultivated land by 1.37%, dense forest by 0.17%, wasteland by 1.46% and rock quarry by 0.10%. There has been a decrease in the area under cultivated land by 1.99%, open forest by 0.12%, open scrub by 0.54% and water body by 0.40%. Hydrogeomorphic units identified through visual interpretation of FCC include alluvial plain, valley fills, plateau, buried pediment, pediments and intermontane. Based on land use/land cover change detection and hydrogeomorphological mapping, the Bankukara watershed has qualitatively been categorized into four groundwater potential zones, viz. good to very good, moderate to good, poor to moderate and very poor to poor.

Hydrological investigations in the semi-arid Makhawan watershed, using morphometry

Abstract In order to understand the hydrological behavior of a catchment area, morphometric analysis of the drainage basin plays an important role to expresses the geology, geomorphology and structural antecedents. In the present study, morphometric analysis and its influence on hydrology were carried out in Makhawan watershed, Central India, using SRTM, remote sensing and GIS. SRTM data were used for preparation of DEM, slope and aspect maps. DEM was used to delineate the watershed limits and to extract the channel network, which was later updated using IRS 1D LISS III data. The hydrological module in ArcGIS was used for calculation of watershed and morphometric parameters, under linear, relief and aerial aspects. The watershed shows dendritic-to-sub-dendritic drainage pattern; however, parallel-to-sub-parallel pattern developed locally which may be due to rejuvenation of streams in mature stage with moderate drainage texture. High drainage density in the watershed is observed over impermeable subsurface material, sparse vegetation with high relief; whereas, low drainage density is found over permeable subsurface material and low relief. It has been found that low relief with low drainage density areas are favorable sites for more groundwater prospects.

Spatio-temporal land cover changes in a semi-arid watershed: Central India

Land use/land cover change is a global phenomenon which reflects natural resources degradation and/or utilization. Remote sensing and GIS have been widely used to monitor such changes at watershed level. The present study evaluates the LU/LC change during 1989 - 2001 in a semi-arid watershed of central India. Geocoded satellite data of 1989 and 2001 on 1:50,000 scale, were visually interpreted to prepare thematic maps which were later digitized using ArcGIS softwares. The analysis shows that vast tracts of cultivated land have become uncultivated and at some places even converted to wasteland. However, the land under dense forest and open forest has decreased due to expansion of built-up land and other anthropogenic activities. Increase in area of uncultivated land, wasteland and decrease in cultivated land and open scrub is also supported by rainfall analysis, which shows a declining trend and a fall of 186.93 mm in average annual rainfall for 1986-2003 period. The change detection map prepared using land use/land cover of 1989 and 2001 as inputs shows that out of the total geographical area of the watershed, 25.78% of the watershed area has seen a change from one land use category to another, however rest 74.22% has remained unchanged.

Watershed management on land use/land cover dynamics in semi-arid watershed, Central India

Integrated watershed management (IWSM) was implemented to address issues of poverty and land resource degradation in the Kanera watershed, in semi-arid Central India (Madhya Pradesh), an area known for poverty and resource degradation. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of IWSM on the land use and land cover dynamics during 2001–2011 period. The change in land use and cover was assessed by integrating remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS). Integrating remote sensing (IRS) multi-spectral and temporal data have been utilized for land use/land cover mapping through visual interpretation, which led to the identification of eight land use/land cover categories. Rainfall data for 1986–2011 period was statistically analyzed to know the variation. The comparative analyses of land use/land cover from 2001 to 2011 satellite data reveal that significant positive changes have occurred within the watershed under major land use/land cover categories. The transformation of land use from one pattern to another is due to implementation of IWSM programme which has brought unproductive lands under the cropland category by reclaiming wasteland and uncultivated land. The study also confirms the importance of IWSM that is a key to improve the land use/cover of watershed, which contributes to sustainable development besides improving the livelihood of the local community.