876 
FLOOD PLAINS 
PIEDMONT PLAINS 
ROCK PLAINS DISSECTED ROCK PLAINS 
(LAKI FORMATION) (RANIKOT FORMATION) 
Al 
Levees 
PI 
Piedmont Aprons/ 
Valley Floors 
A2 
Level Plains 
P2 
Gently Undulating 
Plains 
A3 
Basins/ 
Channel Infills 
P3 
Undulating Plains 
LI 
Mesas 
R1 
Mesas 
L2 
Higher Terraces 
R2 
Higher Terraces 
L3 
Lower Terrace 
R3 
Lower Terrace 
Remnants 
Remnants 
L4 
Terrace Footslopes 
normal s 
originati 
runs aci 
pattern 
A2 Le 
nearly 1 
represer 
1953 phi 
is somev 
On the 
unit die 
intensivi 
or both. 
brighter 
intensivi 
part ap 
sites arc 
in exten 
A3 B: 
the Floi 
medium 
The are 
present 
courses 
rock ou 
road is 
the can 
of Hyde] 
tone is 
to be es 
4.2.2 Pi 
Mapped 
right ba 
as conti 
drainage 
Indus r 
has bee 
high du 
of the 1; 
PI Pie 
to very 
Locally 
lift irrig 
P2 Ge 
of piedi 
vegetati 
stable, 
ent. 
P3 Ur 
shrub v 
valleys 
occur al 
4.2.3 Le 
Figure 2. Physiographic aerial photo interpretation map, Hyderabad Metropolitan Region, Pakistan. 
From the nature of sediments and other environmental 
characteristics the behaviour of various terrain ele 
ments was predicted for urban expansion and improve 
ment. The results of the study were matched with 
the reference knowledge of the physiographic pro 
cesses studied outside the region. 
4.2 Terrain analysis 
The region represents several physiographic units 
significantly varying in landform, relief and elevation. 
Indus Flood Plains, Rock outcrops, Piedmont Aprons, 
Dissected Rock Plain and the main river channel, 
including annually flooded land, are the main compo 
nents. The following subdivisions of the main physio 
graphic units were identified. They are shown in 
Figure 2. 
4.2.1 Flood Plains 
The Flood Plains make up the matrix of the Indus 
left bank part of the region. The area is generally 
flat but small-scale unevenness associated with the 
riverain features is very common. Based on photo 
image characteristics and physiographic processes 
involved in evolution of the landscape, the following 
three main units were identified. 
Al Levees. This unit is characterized by high 
relief, lighter graytone, profuse river activity in 
the form of numerous small channels perpendicular 
to the river streams and by seasonal vegetation. 
The unit is formed by bank-topping floods of the 
Indus river. Presence of rock outcrop at shorter 
distance from the river modified the drainage pattern 
parallel to the river, leaving sandy deposits besides 
the rock outcrops. The resulting convergent stream 
pattern south of the railway line indicates structural 
influence of rocks, as it is contradictory to the 
The roc 
They ha 
pattern. 
parts c 
drainage 
ciable ( 
on the 
divided 
LI Mi 
the are 
periphei 
No gulli 
L2 H 
at a lo 
with Me; 
parts t 
but the 
low. 
L3 Lc 
eroded 
on top