Development of GIS based Coastal Information System  Vimal Garg vimalg@del3.vsnl.net.in  Ritu Seth ritu70@yahoo.com Water & Power Consultancy Services (India) Ltd. Gurgaon, Haryana Abstract The paper describes on the development of an information system that could be used as a regulating, management and decision making tool vis-à-vis development activities along the coastal stretches of India. The system aids in implementing and regulating development activities along coastal stretches under CRZ notification issued by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India which stipulates regulation of development activities in areas till 500 m from High Tide Line on landward side those have been designated as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and have been classified into various CRZ categories. The system helps in identifying areas those could be re-categorized under various CRZ categories to open or close certain stretches for undertaking any development activity based on myriad of factors primarily related to sensitivity of the area. It could also help any future developers in identifying an appropriate site for development of ports, tourist resorts, etc. Based on the existing guidelines issued by regulating agencies, the most essential components those are required to be a part of such Coastal Information System are mainly Low Tide Line (LTL), High Tide Line (HTL), Town/Regional Planning maps aided by census information as well as information related to occupational profile of the population, population density, latest landuse maps, details of infrastructure facilities like road/rail etc, information of bathymetry, navigational details, marine ecological data etc. The above information could be procured from various agencies/maps or could be derived from high-resolution satellite data. All this spatial and non-spatial information thus can be converted into digital format and geo-referenced where it could be overlaid on each other so as to derive various kinds of information to be used for CRZ activities’ regulation. GIS based Coastal Information System could be developed using high resolution IKONOS or IRS 1C/1D LISS III and PAN merged products for specific dates. Other information could be collected from state departments, topographical maps, IN charts, revenue maps, census records etc. Maps need to be prepared on 1:25,000 scale as per the CRZ guidelines. Introduction Development activities in the coastal stretches till 500 m from High Tide Line on landward side are regulated as per Coastal Regulation Zone notification issued in 1991 and subsequent amendments by Ministry of Environment & Forests. Under this notification, the Ministry of Environment & Forests has declared the coastal stretches of sea bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters, which are influenced by the tidal action (on the landward side) upto 500 m from High Tide Line (HTL) and land between Low Tide Line (LTL) and the HTL as Coastal Regulation Zone. In case of rivers, creeks or backwaters, this distance is not less than 50 m or width of the creeks, rivers or backwaters whichever is less. The distance upto which development along rivers, creeks as backwater is to be regulated is governed by the distance upto which the tidal effect of sea is experienced in rivers, creeks or backwaters as the case may be identified in CRZ. The coastal stretches have been divided in four zones looking at the fragility of existing ecosystem, the extent of development and area which are relatively disturbed or undisturbed. They are briefly described below: CRZ I: Areas which are ecologically sensitive and important such as national parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserved forests, wildlife habitats, mangroves, canals, coral reefs, areas close to breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life, areas of outstanding natural landscape, historical, heritage area, areas rich in genetic diversity, etc. CRZ II: Areas, which have already been developed upto or close to the shoreline. For this purpose developed area is referred to as that area that lies within municipal limits or in other legally designated urban area which is already substantially built-up or which has been provided with approach road & other infrastructural facilities such as water supply, sewerage mains etc. CRZ III: Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which do not belong to either CRZ I or II category. These include coastal zone in the rural areas (developed and undeveloped) and also area within municipal limits or in other legally designated upto an area, which is not substantially built-up. CRZ IV: Coastal stretches in Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshwadweep islands and small islands except those designated as CRZ I, II or III. A decision making requires enormous amount of information which could be stored, analyzed, overlaid, manipulated and updated to extract appropriate data as and when required. GIS based Coastal Information System is an excellent example of demonstrating the way to integrate information from various sources/agencies for user specific needs. This GIS based Coastal Information System is an excellent example of demonstrating the way to integrate information from various sources/agencies for user specific needs. The paper demonstrates the use of GIS and Remote Sensing techniques in development of Coastal Information System. 
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