Simulation and evaluation of satellite scanner stereo images

During 1986–1996, several satellite missions on Stereoscopy are planned. This paper sumarises an attempt in evaluating these stereoscopic images for cartographic purposes. For the purpose, we have taken into account a proposed Indian experiment on satellite stereoscopy, which will be based on push-broom type scanning and a ground resolution of 70m×70m. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A04KF003 00004     

Landslide susceptibility mapping of Tevankarai Ar sub-watershed,Kodaikkanal taluk,India, using weighted similar choice fuzzy model

This paper deals with the landslide susceptibility zonation of Tevankarai Ar sub-watershed using weighted similar choice fuzzy method in a GIS environment. There has been a rapid increase in landslide occurrences in the Kodaikkanal town and area surrounding the town specially in the settlements around the town and road links leading to and from the town. This necessitates a detailed study of slope instability problems in this area. It is observed that these incidences occur frequently during the monsoon and summer showers. Rainfall is identified as the prime triggering factor. Eleven physical factors that cause instability are identified as causative factors from the field investigations and landslide occurrences. Land use pattern, slope gradient, curvature and aspect, weathering index which are evaluated from the weathering ratios of different chemical constituents of the three major lithological variations, soil type, hydraulic conductivity of soil and soil thickness, geomorphology, drainage, and lineament have been utilized to prepare the spatial variation. A weighted similar choice fuzzy model which ranks a set of alternatives by identifying the similarity between the outcome of alternatives and outcome of ideal alternatives is used to rank the causative factors. Each causative factor is classified into sub-categories and rated based on their effect on stimulating the landslide event using qualitative judgment derived from field studies and landslide history. The prepared thematic maps of causative factors are integrated, utilizing the GIS software Arcmap. The outcome has projected the low, moderate, high, and very high landslide susceptibility zones. The high-hazard and very high-hazard areas fall in the northwestern part characterized by croplands and agricultural plantations, while the moderate hazard zones are seen in prominent settlements and low-hazard zones are observed in the sparse settlements and zones of less agricultural activity. The model is verified using the relative landslide density (R) index, and the susceptibility map is found to be consistent with the mapped landslide incidences. The results from this study illustrate that the use of weighted similar choice fuzzy method is suitable for landslide susceptibility mapping on regional scale in growing hill towns as Kodaikkanal town.     

GIS based landslide susceptibility mapping of Tevankarai Ar sub-watershed, Kodaikkanal, India using binary logistic regression analysis

Landslide susceptibility mapping is the first step in regional hazard management as it helps to understand the spatial distribution of the probability of slope failure in an area.An attempt is made to map the landslide susceptibility in Tevankarai Ar subwatershed,Kodaikkanal,India using binary logistic regression analysis.Geographic Information System is used to prepare the database of the predictor variables and landslide inventory map,which is used to build the spatial model of landslide susceptibility.The model describes the relationship between the dependent variable(presence and absence of landslide) and the independent variables selected for study(predictor variables) by the best fitting function.A forward stepwise logistic regression model using maximum likelihood estimation is used in the regression analysis.An inventory of 84 landslides and cells within a buffer distance of 10m around the landslide is used as the dependent variable.Relief,slope,aspect,plan curvature,profile curvature,land use,soil,topographic wetness index,proximity to roads and proximity to lineaments are taken as independent variables.The constant and the coefficient of the predictor variable retained by the regression model are used to calculate the probability of slope failure and analyze the effect of each predictor variable on landslide occurrence in thestudy area.The model shows that the most significant parameter contributing to landslides is slope.The other significant parameters are profile curvature,soil,road,wetness index and relief.The predictive logistic regression model is validated using temporal validation data-set of known landslide locations and shows an accuracy of 85.29 %.     

Application of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System in infrastructure development

Road transportation network development is a vital component of infrastructure development. Absence of database on roads of Trivandrum district was felt as a major hindrance in prioritizing improvement/development/repair of the roads for better traffic efficacy. High resolution PAN imagery (IRS-IC, September-December 1999, 1:25,000 scale) was visually interpreted to decipher road net work for preparing an elaborate database for Kerala Highway. The data were incorporated on 1:25,000 scale SOI base maps. Field verification was carried out to identify and categorize the PWD roads as per their administrative sections. Final maps were digitized in ARC/INFO environment. Information about terrain conditions was also generated using satellite remote sensing images and aerial photographs. Incorporating the height source and elevation data in the value field and taking mass points as input, a TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network) model of a sample area near Vellanad, 22 km east of Trivandrum city was created to analyse the terrain-road network interrelationship. Our case study involving draping of road network on TIN model as well as on geomorphology map established that this methodology could be used to define alternative and efficient route corridors, with particular emphasis on selection of the least-cost route and prioritization of repair.     

Impact of lead contamination on the engineering properties of clayey soil

Clay liners are widely used as barriers to arrest the migration of pollutants. These liners are subjected to leaching of various chemicals and hazardous wastes. Migration of heavy metals through the liner material may lead to changes in the soil properties and this, in turn, may affect the performance of liners. In this paper, the change in index and engineering properties of clayey soil due to migration of lead is presented. Pronounced changes in soil properties are noticed when the soil is contaminated with high concentrations of lead. The findings from the present study are important while designing liners in landfills used for containment of pollution due to heavy metals and hazardous wastes.     

Keni — the Vanishing Wonder Well

This paper discusses the ancient perennial water abstraction structures—Keni—developed by the tribal communities in Wayanad district, Kerala, southwest coast of India. Keni is shallow wooden abstraction structure built in the soil zone where the water table is near or above the ground level. These traditional water abstraction structures are perfect example of water harvesting and water purification. As a preliminary assessment, a detailed survey of the Keni in the district is conducted and the result of the chemical analysis of water from the Keni is presented in this paper. Water from Kenis meet the drinking water quality standards prescribed by the BIS.     

Landslide susceptibility analysis using probabilistic likelihood ratio model—a geospatial-based study

The crucial and difficult task in landslide susceptibility analysis is estimating the probability of occurrence of future landslides in a study area under a specific set of geomorphic and topographic conditions. This task is addressed with a data-driven probabilistic model using likelihood ratio or frequency ratio and is applied to assess the occurrence of landslides in the Tevankarai Ar sub-watershed, Kodaikkanal, South India. The landslides in the study area are triggered by heavy rainfall. Landslide-related factors—relief, slope, aspect, plan curvature, profile curvature, land use, soil, and topographic wetness index proximity to roads and proximity to lineaments—are considered for the study. A geospatial database of the related landslide factors is constructed using Arcmap in GIS environment. Landslide inventory of the area is produced by detailed field investigation and analysis of the topographical maps. The results are validated using temporal data of known landslide locations. The area under the curve shows that the accuracy of the model is 85.83%. In the reclassified final landslide susceptibility map, 14.48% of the area is critical in nature, falling under the very high hazard zone, and 67.86% of the total validation dataset landslides fall in this zone. This landslide susceptibility map is a vital tool for town planning, land use, and land cover planning and to reduce risks caused by landslides.     

Effects of the Herbicide Metazachlor on Phytoplankton and Periphyton Communities in Outdoor Mesocosms

The effects of the chloroacetanilide herbicide metazachlor have been investigated in outdoor artificial mesocosms. Decreasing phytoplankton densities were caused by the application, however, the communities recovered after 30 to 35 days. Periphyton growth was found to be affected not only by the herbicide application but by the presence of species with different ability to grow on artificial substrates. Zooplankton diversity was small due to low density of ingestible algae species. Oxygen saturation was found to be correlated with the dosage levels of the herbicide in the second half of the study.