Remote Sensing in Geosciences

Study of remote sensing data for geological applications is one of the few
studies which started immediately after the availability of remote sensing data.
With the availability of GIS technology, these geological studies have shown
better results particularly in mineral exploration and hazard zonation areas.
The major activities carried out at NRSC include Geomorphological
mapping, Geo-hazards, Geo-engineering and Geo-environment studies. Research
& Developmental activities are being carried out on Hyperspectral data analysis,
Interferometry,Satellite gravity,Geodetic GPS and Planetary geology. Essential
input for applied geological studies such as ground water, mineral mapping,
geotechnical and geo-engineering applications. Nationwide mapping is executed
in association with Geological Survey of India (GSI). Landforms including coral
reef, sand dune, offshore bars and palaeochannels are mapped from satellite
image.
Mineral Exploration |Geological Hazard|Geo-Environment |Geo-Engineering|
Geomorphology and lineament mapping
1.Mineral Exploration
Mineral Exploration India has vast resource of mineral and satellite
remote sensing is essentially used in regional survey to narrow down potential
belts of mineralization's. Some of the guides for mineralization especially
geological, geomorphological and structural can be deciphered from satellite
data for narrowing zones for detail explorations. Remote sensing has significant
role in geoexploration studies. Geoexploration studies include mapping of
lithounits known for hosting mineral deposit, mapping of structural controls of
mineralization and mapping of surface signatures( i.e. alteration minerals like
gossans, phyllic, argillic zones with different assemblages of clay minerals
associated with hydrothermal deposit) associated with mineralization. High to
moderate spatial resolution data are used to often controls the emplacement of
economic rock like kimberlite.Hyperspectral data collected in laboratory
environment can be upscaled to bandwidth of hyperspectral or advanced
multispectral data for mapping surface mineralogy of proxies of mineralization.
Bauxite mapping in parts of Jharkhand.
In recent times, laboratory spectra of different economic rocks are
analyzed to identify diagnostic absorption feature imprinted in the reflectance
spectra of respective economic rocks. Further, these diagnostic spectral features
are upscaled to the bandwidth of advanced multispectral data of space borne
sensors for spatial mapping of different economic rocks.
2.Geological Hazard

Indian subcontinent is prone for various natural hazards.

Landslide and earthquake are the major geological hazard effecting our
country. Remote sensing is essentially used in post disaster scenario to
understand the impact and spatial disposition of the damage. Assessment
of the geological disasters such as landslide, earthquake and volcanic
eruption. Go to Top
Landslides

In India, in terms of frequency of occurrence, landslides are the

most prominent Geohazard causing damage to property, infrastructure
and above all; loss of precious lives, almost every year. Nearly 15% of the
Indian
land
area
is
prone
to
landslide
hazard
(GSI,
http://www.portal.gsi.gov.in). The Himalayan terrain accounts for about
80% of this, followed by the NE hills, Eastern and Western Ghats, Nilgiri
Hills and Ranchi Plateau. Geospatial techniques have widely been used in
the preparation of landslide inventory, landslide hazard and risk
assessment, for damage assessment and also for generating early
warning. Landslide hazard of an area can be assessed using
statistical/geo-technical models or using ANN, SVM etc. Statistical
methods are suitable for medium scale (~1:50,000 ) application where as
the geo-technical method is data-extensive and is applicable on large
scale (~1:5K or larger) and for small areas. The Case Study here describes
a multivariate statistical approach for preparing landslide hazard zonation
maps in the Himalayan terrain. Using remote sensing data, landslide
inventory is generated annually and also after major triggering events
[recent studies are Okhimath landslides (14/09/2012) and Sikkim
landslides (21/09/2012)].

Landslide hazard zonation (LHZ) and inventory mapping along

important tourist and pilgrim routes in the Himalayas is carried out.
Recently for the Uttarakhand disaster, the chain of events that led to the
massive damage in Kedarnath area has been reconstructed. Landslide
inventory mapping was also carried for the entire area. Landslide hazard
zonation (2001) and event-based inventory (2013) around Kedarnath.

Land Slides in Uttarakhand

Satellite-based study of landslide and cloudburst affected areas

around Okhimath, Uttarakhand
Areas around Okhimath (Rudraprayag dist.) were severely affected
by landslides triggered due to cloudbursts on 14-Sept-2012. Damage
assessment due to the event was carried out using Kompsat-2 (1m) data
acquired on 19-Sept-2012. Extensive damage to the buildings, agricultural
lands and roads are seen at several places. Results of the preliminary
satellite data analysis are shown here. A detailed analysis of this event is
under progress using Cartosat-2 and Resourcesat-2 images acquired on
21-Sept-2012. Download Document
Uttarakhand Landslides June, 2013 Satellite based Inventory
The area in and around Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, witnessed a large
scale occurrence of flood and landslides between the 16th and 17th of
June, 2013 due to incessant rainfalls upstream of Mandakini river and its
tributaries. A landslide inventory is being carried out for the affected area
using pre and post IRS data. The data used for the study is listed as
follows:

Resourcesat-2 LISS-IV Multi Spectral data (Post-event data) of 5.8 m

Resolution of June 21, 2013.
Resourcesat-2 LISS-IV Multi Spectral data (Pre-event data) of 5.8 m
Resolution of November 18, 2011
Source:ISRO Semi-automatic detection of landslides using standard
algorithms was used in order to detect the landslides and generate the
outputs. The detected landslides shown here include existing landslides of
which some are reactivated. In the preliminary assessment, a total of
2266 landslides have been identified along the river valleys of Mandakini,
Basuki Ganga, Mandani, Kali, Madhyamaheshwar, Bhillangana, parts of
Alaknanda (and its tributaries like Kalpa Ganga and Kalapani Gad) from
Srinagar to Chamoli (and around Jakhpur, Kalpeshwar) and parts of
Bhagirathi around Gangotri. The major towns included in this area are
Kedarnath, Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Okhimath, Guptkashi, Mansuna, Phata,
Agastmuni, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Gauchar, Karnaprayag, Nandprayag,
Chamoli, Jakhpur, Kalpeshwar, Gangotri etc. Note: Currently the sections
along the river valleys of Mandakini, Basuki Ganga, Mandani, Kali,
Madhyamaheshwar, Bhillangana, parts of Alaknanda (and its tributaries
like Kalpa Ganga and Kalapani Gad) from Srinagar to Chamoli (and around
Jakhpur, Kalpeshwar) and parts of Bhagirathi around Gangotri are
completed and uploaded for visualization in Bhuvan.

Disclaimer: Note: i) Areas under snow, cloud cover and shadow could not
be mapped.
June,
2013:
Land
Slides
inventory
The area in and around Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, witnessed a large scale
occurrence of flood and landslides between the 16th and 17th of June,
2013 due to incessant rainfalls upstream of Mandakini river and its
tributaries. A landslide inventory is being carried out for the affected area
using pre and post IRS data.

Earth Quakes

In India, the very high to high seismic hazard zones (Zone V and
IV) fall mostly in the Himalaya, NE & Assam, Kutch, Saharanpur-AlwarMoradabad belt including Delhi and Koyna region. The Lakshadweep and
Andaman & Nicobar islands are also in the high seismic hazard zones. The
central India is in the moderate to low seismic risk zones. The application
of remote sensing technology in earthquake hazard evaluation is mostly in
the mapping of active faults and in displacement monitoring using
Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry technique. In the post-disaster
phase, the remote sensing application is basically for damage
assessment, where high resolution data aids in rapid evaluation of the
destruction during an earthquake

Volcanoes

Volcanism is another geological hazard. Thermal remote sensing

can be utilized for monitoring the temperature variations in known,
dormant or active volcanic terrains. Remote sensing data can also be used
for mapping the extent of volcanic ash deposits and lava flow extent, post
disaster. The barren island volcano is an active volcano in India and has
been studied using remote sensing data
3.Geo-Environment

Moderate resolution thermal remote sensing data is suitable for

mapping thermal anomaly caused by coal fires. Coal fires of two major
coal fires are being are studied and dynamicity of these coal fires are also
being observed. Geoenvironmental studies focus to map the coal fires;

which are the important causes for environmental hazards ( causing

subsidence by burning out coal faster, taking lives) in colliery areas. Coal
fires are mapped for Jharia coal field to understand the dynamicity of
thermal anomaly resulted due to coal fires for the period of 2003-2006.
The study has also discussed the reason behind such propagation. Coal
fire map is also derived for Raniganj coal field area. It has been observed
that coal fires are associated with open cast mines and associated with
regional structures.
4.Geo-Engineering

Engineering property of the rocks play a important role for

designing structures like road, dam, bridges etc. Satellite remote sensing
data can be used to understand the broad / regional engineering
properties of rocks. Oil pipeline alignment and feasibility study for
hydroelectric dam site selection Geological parameters derived from
satellite data used to provide a suitable site for engineering structures
5.Geomorphology and lineament mapping
Landform and Lineament mapping are best done from satellite data
because of its synoptic capability. The temporal dynamics of landforms especially
fluvial, coastal and glacial landform can be monitored using mutli date satellite
data This division in association with Geological Survey of India has taken up a
major activity of carrying out geomorphological and lineament mapping for the
entire country on 1:50,000 scale. These map is an important geo-scientific data
base which when integrated with geological, geophysical and geochemical data
will provide solution to the applied geological problems.