The use of Radar Remote Sensing Imageries
for Developments in
Southern Coastal Belt of Sri-Lanka
T.K.D. Tennakoon
NARA-Sri-Lanka
Firoz Verijee
RSI Canada
Abstract
Sri Lanka is Island in Indian Ocean with 1700km length coastline and 6900000 km2 EEZ. From ancient times it has been divided into three parts Ruhunu (Southern and Southern eastern), Maya (Central) and Pihiti (eastern and central eastern). The Ruhunu was well developed part of the Island in the ancient times. Unfortunately due to effects of Colonialism this part backards compare to other part of the country. This was persuaded to the critical social problems in the country in a roundabout way. The present government takes task for the rapid development of Southern region. The development of Industries, fisheries, harbours, land uses, Agriculture sectors are highly concerned about government vision of Southern development. The wide range f opportunities of Radar remote sensing imageries may useful for investigations, for monitoring and in many aspects of mentioned development. Recent shuttled commercial basis Canadian satellite RADARSATI imageries could be use in many event in various industries. This paper discuss the places where Radar remote sensing imageries could utilize.
Radarsat imageries could be used for activities, such as Coastal Zone Mapping, Ship Detection, Oil Spill detection and Monitoring, Aquaculture site detection, Bathymetry survey, to read Mesoscale Features and wave Spectra. There are many industries which could promote in Southern Sri_Lanka and get servies from the Radarsat imageries. To investigate suitable sites, to monitor various industries.
Introduction of Radarsat -1
Radarsat was the first Canadian remote sensing satellite which was alunched in 1995. It is C-band sar satellite which also includes a steerable antenna and changeable image scale or swath with. As well, it is the first operationally oriented commercial radar satellite. Radarsat imageries having significant advantage compare to the other satellite resolution in;
- surface roughness (Radarsat can distinguish textural differences created by forest clearest, agricultural village and crop practices to name a few)
- Topography (Radar backscatter is better one for slopes facing the radar sensor than for slopes facing away from the sensor)
- Land/water boundaries (Smooth water surface tend to reflect microwave energy away from the satellite sensor. Land surface tend to be rougher and reflect more energy back to the satellite.
As a result, RADARSAT provides
- sharp contract between land/water boundaries
- Man made Features (Man-made features such as buildings and ships strongly reflect microwave energy back to the SAR sensor)
- Moisture (The amount of moisture in the soil or on vegetation affect the amount of SAR backscatter).
These technologies and facilities could be utilize in various fields and in various aspect in different conditions. Some of specific application as follows:
Agriculture: Crop identifications/delineation, Soil moisture
Cartography: (base mapping topographic mapping interferometer, stereo radargrammetry)
Hydrology (Soil moisture, water shed studied/flood plain mapping) Forestry (board class mapping harvest mapping), Land use (Urban mapping, target detection, transportation network)
Disaster (flood monitoring, land slide identification, oil slick identifications), Geology (Oil and gas exploration, mineral exploration, natural hazard monitoring)
Coastal/Open Oceans (Ocean features, wave spectra, coastal interaction aquaculture identification, ship monitoring).
Depend on the requirements and conditions, different types of radar beams can be used, some of are illustrate in table1.
Southern coastline of Sri-Lanka's is length in 400 km of sandy beaches, extensive lagoons and estuaries, mangroves coastline lie reefs of coral or sandstone and shallow beds of coastal and estuarine seagrass. This coastal belt has significant for the economy of the country. Some could be classified as follows.
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Sun, sand surf of Southern sea beaches are Sri lanka's major tourist attractions that also offer recreational opportunities for there people.
- Its natural coastal habitats coral reefs, estuaries and lagoons, mangroves, tidal flats and barrier beaches are immensely productive, essential for nation growth and rich reservoirs of generic resources.
- It bears significant minerals, such as Monazite bearing beach sands, Silica sands, Miocene limestone, Kaolin, China clay and Peat.
- It hosts over 80% of the industrial units in the region, many of which are highly polluted.
Over the past five centuries, following foreign occupation, the countries development has been closely linked to maritime affairs. Expanding international trade and commerce accelerate population shifts to the coasts. Since independence coastal settlements had grown in size and in economy, particularly in the south, southwest and west. By 1985 the census recorded 2.04 million people of the total population, living in coastal assistant government agent division, of whom 45% lived in urban areas Fishing, tourism, Industry and agriculture sustain the growing economy of the southern. These industries at present facing problems of degradation due to the over exploitation of resources which could be monitor periodically by the Radarsat imageries.
