Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Application of Remote Sensing and
GIS in Groundwater Exploration
S.K. Nag
Department of Geological Sciences
Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, India
INTRODUCTION
Remote sensing and GIS methods permit rapid and cost effective natural
resource survey and management. Moreover, remotely sensed data serve as
vital tool in groundwater prospecting (Sharma and Jugran, 1992; Chatterjee
and Bhattacharya, 1995; Tiwari and Rai, 1996; Ravindran, 1997; Horton,
1945). The remote sensing data helps in fairly accurate hydrogeomor-
phological analysis and identification and delineation of land features (Kumar
and Srivastava, 1991). With sufficient ground data, hydrological characteristics
of geomorphological features can be deciphered. Groundwater occurrence
being subsurface phenomenon, its identification and location is based on
indirect analysis of some directly observed terrain features like geological
and geomorphic features and their hydrologic characters. Satellite remote
sensing provides an opportunity for better observation and more systematic
analysis of various geomorphic units, lineament features, following the
integration with the help of Geographical Information System to demarcate
the groundwater potential zones. Therefore, an integrated approach, including
studies of lithology, hydrogeomorphology and lineament, has been taken up,
using remote sensing and GIS techniques, for a proper assessment of
groundwater potential zones in the study area.
METHODOLOGY
For the groundwater resource development in an area the following
methodology may be undertaken which integrates remotely sensed data. The
groundwater resource development in the study area involves lithological,
hydro-geomorphological and lineament thematic maps generation. The Survey
