IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring”, Hyderabad, India, 2002 
  
  
  
REMOTE SENSING FOR NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 
- JA CASE STUDY 
P.Venkateswarlu and M.Anji Reddy 
Centre for Environment, IPGSR, JNT University, HYDERABAD - 500 028. 
e-mail: drperni @rediffmail.com 
KEYWORDS: Resource, geomorphology, land use, drainage pattern, conservation 
ABSTRACT: 
Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for of Natural Resources Management for suitable land management and water 
conservation in a semi-arid rainfed tract of Prakasam District in Andhra Pradesh form the theme of this paper. Characterisation and 
analysis of watershed are carried out using 1 RS - IC - LISS III data and SOI toposheet. The computerised data base created using 
ARC/INFO software, information derived interms of natural resources and their spatial distribution was then integrated with 
socioeconomic data to develop a action plan. Such a plan is useful for natural resources management and for poverty alleviation 
through the provision of Rural livelihoods. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Conservation and management of land and water resources are 
crucial for sustainable development of rural areas. The 
growing population, the growing needs and increased economic 
activities are exerting tremendous pressure on these finite and 
vulnerable natural resources. Due to irrational use and lack of 
scientific planning, ground water levels are getting depleted 
rapidly and lands are getting either degraded or becoming 
wastelands. Any attempt on rural development and poverty 
alleviation is therefore to address the problem of 
degraded/under utilized natural resources, like stock and 
humans. The best physiographic unit for development initiative 
in a watershed. 
GEOLOGY 
The area falls under Cuddapah supergroup composed of 
argillaceous and arenaceous rocks along with subordinate 
calcareous sediments. The Bairankonda (Quartzites, Phyllite, 
dolomite and shales) are the distinct geological formations 
present 
METHODOLOGY 
Natural Resources thematic maps on 1:50000 scale are 
generated availing I.R.S-IC Liss-III sensor data using visual 
interpretation as well as digital image processing techniques. 
The spatial analysis of the socio-economic data along with the 
infrastructural facilities is carried out to evaluate the socio- 
economic status. 
A socio-economic ranking system is assigned to each village on 
the basis of which classification of villages is carried out. The 
landuse/landcover map (Fig.1) is prepared using visual image 
interpretation techniques along with collateral data such as 
topomaps and censor records. Hydrogeomorphology map 
(Fig.2) depicts geomorphic units delineated based on the image 
characteristics like tone, texture, shape and colour as also 
available geological maps. Slope analysis was carried out 
using SOI topomaps 1:50000 scale with 20m contour interval. 
Drainage map is prepared on the basin of data from SOI 
toposheets and linearly stretched FCC of satellite data. 
642 
Morphometric analysis of watershed is preferred to empirical 
and conceptual sediment yield models to avoid cumbersome 
processes to derive useful information about the watershed and 
also prioritisation of sub watersheds. The soil map (Fig.3) is 
generated using image interpretation along with field studies 
upto the association/series level. 
The drainage pattern for delineated eight (8) sub watersheds 
(Fig.4) was exported to ARC/INFO GIS software for 
morphometric analysis. Erosion risk assessment parameters are 
used for prioritizing sub watershed s to initiate conservation 
measures. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
The thematic maps generated for the study region have brought 
out detailed information. The land use land cover map reveals 
the extent of agricultural land, forest land, waste land, water 
bodies and settlements. The area possess 5 (level-I), 18 (level- 
ID, and 5 (level-IIT) classes. The kharif unirrigated area 
accounts for 177.8 sqkm out of 421 sq.kms. the structural hills 
occupies an area of 74.39 sq.kms. 
The valley fill is an area of Conconsolidated sediments 
deposited by streams/rivers. The structure and the lithology of 
this area is fractures such boulders, cobbles, pebbles, gravel 
and stilt with excellent ground water prospects. Moderately 
weathered shales and phyllites with more than 5m thick 
weathered soil cover give moderate yields.  Fractures and 
lineaments are zones of good yields. Shallow weathered buried 
pediplain upto 5 mtrs thickness and composed of weathered 
Shales and phyllites with black soils on top provide moderate 
to good groundwater yields. Shallow weathered pediplain is a 
smooth surface of weathered Cumbum Shales and phyllites 
with a trend of NE - SW to NNE - SSW. The structural hills 
are linear to arevale hills showing definate trend associated 
with folds and faults with poor groundwater prospects. 
The categories of slopes in the study area along with 
distribution are indicated in table .... Nearly level category 
occupies area of 237.12 sq.kms and very gently sloping and 
gently sloping varieties occupies 6.25 and 30.71 sq kms 
respectively. An area of 105.57 sq kms bears very steep 
sloping terrain. More than half of the area is nearly level.