Resources Information System For Kundapallam (KD3) Watershed In The Nilgiris District Using Remote Sensing, GPS And GISP.Rajesh Prasanna Asst. Professor, Dept of Civil Engineering Jerusalem College of Engineering Pallikaranai, Chennai 601302. Tamilnadu Prasanna_17@yahoo.com Abstract Achieving and maintaining the ecological balance through eco-restoration, eco-development and eco-preservation is the prime objective with special emphasis on promoting the people living in the hill areas. The planning aims at the sustainable development of natural resources at cadastral level for maintaining the balance between the productivity function and conservation practices through monitoring and identification of problem areas and calls for alternate appropriate For watershed management at microlevel, maps on 1:5000 scale or larger are needed including contours of 5-m interval. Such maps are not available now and presently maps are locally prepared for the construction site for project management. Aerial photos taken during 1996 on 1:8000 scale for the entire Nilgiris district are used for preparing Large-scale maps. Global Positioning System was used for establishing ground control survey in sparse network. Orthophoto, Digital Elevation Model and 5m-interval contour map were generated using photogrammetrictechniques. The orthophotos and IRS I C Liss III + PAN merged Special satellite data were used for the generation of Thematic maps such as Landuse/landcover, Soil, Drainage etc. Slope map was derived from 5-m interval contour using Arcview 3D anslyst. Action plan for resources management on a sustinable basis was derived using GIS. Cadastral map showing parcel boundaries on 1: 7920 obtained from Survey and land Records department was brought into 1: 5000 scale and superimposed on thematic maps and action plan maps. And also other socioeconomic data pertaining to the watershed were collected and cadastral level Resources Information Database was generated. Cadastral level Database is customised in the GIS environment, which is interactive, and userfriendly. Monitoring and further updation will be easier for the field officers. Thus Remote Sensing, GIS and GPS have been found to be very effective and economical tool for Resources management on sustainable basis. Introduction The Nilgiris is one of the important hilly areas in the South India and lying in the junction of eastern and western ghats of India. Nilgiris is one of the smallest district in Tamilnadu, with the geographical area of 2544 km2. Nature manifestes itself in the form of Forests, Grass lands and Tea estates overhere. This study has been under taken to create cadastral level resources information system using Remote Sensing, Geographical Information System and Global PositioningSystem. Objectives of the study The main objectives of the study are as follows,
Kundapallam(kd3) micro watershed lies in the Nilgiris district of Tamilnadu with a geographical area of 12 sq.km and is bounded by 76° 35’ 30” and 76° 37’ 30” north latitude and 11° 14’ 15” and 11° 16’ 15” latitude and longitudes. Nilgiris is a hilly district located on the fragile environment of Western Ghats with an elevation renging from 300 m in the Mayor Gorge to 2634 m above MSL at Doddabettapeak. The features of the Kundapallam Watershed (Kd1) are
Aerial photographs on 1:8000 scale taken during 1996 IRS IC LISS III, PAN data, the coresponding SOI topographical maps of the area and other collateral data have been used in this study. The methodology used consists of the following types
Landuse map Landuse / Landcover map for the area has been prepared using 1:5000 scale orthophotos and IRS 1C PAN data. Following categories of landuse classes were identified. 
Slope map was prepared using ArcView 3D Analyst from 5 m intervel contours derived by photogrammetric techniques. Originaly nine groups were identified and the same were regrouped as given below. 
 Cadastral map  Data Integration All the above thematic maps were digitized using PC based Arc/Info GIS software. The thematic maps pertaining to the watersheds were registered and labelled and after assigning suitable rank and weightage, overlay analysis were carriedout and the action plans for land resources were generated. Cadstral maps showing the parcel boundaries were superimposed on the thematic maps. Action plan The spatial data for the watershed were intergrated based on the decision rules incorporating the landuse, soil and slope. Due to the hilly terrain, slope play a major role for all activities. Based on the different slope classes, the land suitablity are classified as follows:
The sensitivity of an area to erosion mainly depends on the ecological condition of that area. In this study, we have made an attempt to prepare the “Environmental Sensitivity Character Matrix” by identifying some indicators and sub-indicators. The methodology for assessing the sensitivity is, 1. Identification of indicators and sub-indicators Some of ecological condition of our study such as altitude, slope, runoff, lineaments, drainage are taken as indicators in order to find out the environmental character of each landuse pattern.They are further subdivided into 19 Sub-indicator. Indicators and Sub Indicators for erosion analysis (2004)  In order to establish the importance of each sub-indicator as a promoter for erosion, a system of weightage based on subjective judgement has been evolved. The weightage ranges from 5 – 25. The value of a, b in the tabular column is found out as explained below: i) The ‘a’ is the percentage value of sub-indicators. The value of ‘b’ is obtained by the product of ‘a’ and corresponding Weightages and it is called as weightage percentage of sub- indicators. 3. Preparation of Environmental Character Matrix The percentage value of sub-indicators was arranged in column with sub-indicator and land use patterns were in rows. Thus the formation of this matrix was named as “Environmental Character Matrix”.By adding all the values of weighted percentage of sub-indicator of each land use, the “Cumulative Weightage of Environmental Character” is obtained. Standard deviation of CWEC series will be considered as the differentiating criteria for sensitivity. Higher the CWEC the sensitivity to erosion is more. Cumulative Weightage of Environmental Character (CWEC)  Cumulative Weightage of Environmental Character Matrix, CWEC (1994) = 3638.161 CWEC (2004) = 6398.514 
Sensitivity Classes
1994
Highly Sensitive = Agricultural Land, Degraded Forest, Grassland,
Horticultural or Plantation & Land with or without
Scrubs.
Medium Sensitive = Dense Forest, Forest Plantation & Open Forest
Less Sensitive = Village
2004
Highly Sensitive = Agricultural Land, Degraded Forest, Dense Forest, Horticultural or Plantation, & Land with or without Scrubs.
Medium Sensitive = Forest Plantation, Grass Land, Village
Less Sensitive = Open Forest
Area Analysis
1994
Highly Sensitive 9417592.303 sq.m 63.89%
Medium Sensitive 5112347.427 sq.m 34.68%
Less Sensitive 210322.556 sq.m1 1.42%
2004
Highly Sensitive 14082357.41 sq.m 95.53%
Medium Sensitive 640805.656 sq.m 4.347%
Less Sensitive 17099.22 sq.m 0.116%
ConclusionThe study has shown that fragile eco-system of the Nilgiris district is under threat due to improper land use practices, human activities, land slides and enevironment of forest. The analysis has brought out the areas whose landuse practices are in tune with the slope and thus need not be altered, area to be altered and area to be preserved. The cadastral database created in user friendly and interactive. The Remote Sensing , GIS and GPS have been found to be very effective and economical tool for resources management. References
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