Abstract | Full Paper | PDF | Printer Friendly Format

Page 4 of 5
| Previous | Next |

Features for the Base Map
Before commencing the exercise the features required and their sources were determined and they are as follows:

Features	Source
Administrative boundaries of all spatial Units: TUDA, Municipality, Non Municipal Area, Wards, Town Survey Plots, Revenue Survey Plots	Drawings from TUDA, TMC – Village Maps, Town Maps, Block SheetsCensusSOI Sheets
Survey plot numbers	Drawings from TUDA, TMC – village maps, town maps, block sheets
Water bodies: rivers, streams, channels, ponds and tanks	Satellite ImagesSOI SheetsAerial PhotographsVillage Maps
Contours, Drainage	SOI Sheets
Reserved Forests	SOI Sheets
Roads	Satellite ImagesSOI SheetsAerial PhotographsVillage MapsMaps from R and B
Railways	SOI Sheets
Layouts	Drawings from TUDA
Settlements	Satellite ImagesSOI SheetsAerial PhotographsVillage Maps

Key Features of the Process Adopted to Prepare the Base Map
On the basis of the availability of maps for TUDA Region, Tirupati Town, features for the Base map and the availability of other sources of information, a well structured process was adopted for the preparation of the Base Maps. Key features are:

1. Use of Multiple Sources of Information
   These include:
   
   • Satellite images, PAN and IKONOS dated 2000
   • Aerial photographs, taken in the 1980s, available with TUDA
   • Survey of India Toposheets (at 1:50,00 and 1:25,000 scale) for TUDA Region
   • Survey of India Toposheets for Chittoor District.
2. Use of Satellite Images
   Satellite images were largely made use of for the preparation of the Base Map for TUDA Region and IKONOS images for the Base Map for Tirupati Town. National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) has only recently started providing IKONOS images. And it must be emphasized that TUDA was one of the first few agencies to procure the IKONOS images. In fact, TUDA is the only planning agency to use these images for preparing its Base Map.
3. Computer Hardware and Software Used
   High end computer systems were employed to handle large volumes of data. the computer software used include AutoCAD Map R2 to prepare the base Map, image processing software to register the satellite images and Survey of India topo sheets to ensure geographic accuracy.
4. Separate Base Maps for TUDA Region and Tirupati Town and their Integration
   Base Maps were prepared separately for TUDA Region and Tirupati Town. For both maps, a step-by-step process was adopted which is described in subsequent Sections. In the end, the two maps were merged/integrated to prepare one complete seamless map.