Report on Watershed Assesment Used by Gis and Remote Sensing: Assessing Land Use and Cover Changes in Anabur Watershed using GIS and Remote Sensing

Abstract

This paper describes the studies conducted generation of a digital data base for using spatial data modeling using Remote sensing and GIS techniques for Anabur, Davangere district. This digital data base serves as a ready reckoned- tool for pollution risk assessment and aids in faster decision making process in issues related to development.The studies consisted in development of a digital data base for the Anabur water shed of 900sq.kmsL depicting Land use, Land cover changes in classes such as Barren Rocky, Water Bodies, Semi-Evergreen Forest, Evergreen Forest, Litho logy, geo-morphology and Agricultural Area by calculating the area in hectares of the resulting Land use/Land cover types for each study years and subsequently comparing the results. Thus the study detects land use changes between the year 2000 to 2009 by using Land and LISS-3 satellite images.Information on Land use/Land cover in the form of maps and statistical data is very vital for spatial planning, management and utilization of land. In the study, Remote Sensing and geographic information system (GIS) were used in order to study Land use/Land cover changes. Land use change may influence many natural phenomena and ecological processes, including runoff, soil erosion and sedimentation and soil conditions. The Areas are changing due to various human activities, natural conditions and development activities. According to the user requirements, updating of land use mapping is required to various departments. Monitoring of Land use/Land cover changes which would help to plan the development activities. Change detection has shown that the Barren Rocky area increased between 2000 and 2009 by 22.26% from 5825.21 ha to 7121.87 ha, Evergreen Forest area increased between 2000 and 2009 by 24.83% from 16333.40 ha to 20388.85 ha, Water Body area decreased between 2000 and 2009 by 2.02% from 10822.37 ha to 10603.42 ha,