Ground water targeting using digitally enhanced imagery
Dr. K. K. Rampal
Professor Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Kanpur (UP) India 208 016
K.V.G. Rao
Research Scientist Centre for Study
in Resources Engineering (CSRE)
Indian Institute of Technology
Bombay, India 400 076
Abstract
Morphology of features and permeability of rock formations seems to have a definite relationship with the availability of under ground water. Limited studies performed in this field have established that permeability is directly proportional to the infiltration umber. The ground water targeting thus depends upon the identification and mapping of fractures, lithological units and regional geology of the area.
To identify such features from the available remotely sensed data is presently not possible. It is expected that the image processing techniques applied to such data may be found useful in lineament detection.
By selecting MSS data pertaining to LANDSAT-5, the DODDAGUNI area in topographica sheet No. 57C in the Karnataka State of South India, Programs have been developed to enhance the images using histogram equalization, combination and ratioing of bands and high and low pass filtering etc., which are capable of image enhancement upon the general purpose computer including PCs. To suit the requirement the 256 gray levels have been compacted in 16 grey levels to suit a Tektronic-4107/4109A colour graphic terminal.
Using the various enhanced images, a geological map of the area has been prepared and based upon the above-mentioned understanding a relationship between various lithological units and estimated water features is made.
The availability of water is partially checked through he Bay's classifier and it is found that the classified areas estimated to be having water can be clearly marked through above mentioned enhanced images. In both cases the results were found encouraging.
Introduction
Morphology of features and permeability of rock formations seem to have a definite relationship with the availability of underground water. Limited studies performed in this field have established that permeability is directly proportional to the infiltration number. The ground water targeting thus depends upon the identification and mapping of fractures, lithological units and regional geology of the area.
In the present study the Digital Image Processing of LANDSAT digital available on Computer Compatible Tape (CCT) was carried out to enhance the geological features, such as, lineaments lithological units etc. related to ground water. In particular, study was made for the development and application of Image Enhancement and Image Classification procedures a general purpose computer systems and way of the assessing their performance and understanding how the ground water targeting is acheived. The area selected for study is the MSS data partaining to LANDSAT-5 to DODDAGUNI area in the topographical sheet no. 57C in the Karnataka State of South India. (Latitute 130N, Longitude 760E path No. and Row No. of CCT as 144-51).
Geological description of the study area.
As per available geological map, the village Doddaguni is situated on Chitradurga schist belt. Tee rock types in the area around Doddaguni can be subdivided into two groups. The older group is made up of amphibolites and chlorite schist interceded with cross-bedded guartizites and the younger group contains bedded iron formation (BIL), marble, peletic and simplistic schist along with amphibolts. The other group can be correlated with Babadudan group of earlier works (Swaminath et al 1976, Rama Krishna et al 1976) and the young group with the Chitra durga group (Mukhopadhaya - 1981). Fig. 1 shows the geological map.
