Natural resource management calls for study of natural system prevailing in the country. In
India floods and droughts visit regularly, causing extensive damages of natural wealth including
agriculture that are crucial for sustenance of economic growth. The Indian Sub-continent drained by
many major rivers and their tributaries where watershed, the hydrological unit forms a natural
system that allows management and development of land resources following natural harmony.
Acquisition of various kinds and levels of soil and land characteristics using both
conventional and remote sensing techniques and subsequent development of digital spatial data base
are essential to evolve strategy for planning watershed development programmes, their monitoring
and impact evaluation. The multi-temporal capability of remote sensing sensors helps to update the
existing data base which are of dynamic in nature.
The paper outlines the concept of spatial data base development, generation using remote
sensing techniques, designing of data structure, standardization and integration with watershed
layers and various non spatial attribute data for various applications covering watershed
development planning, alternate land use planning, soil and water conservation, diversified
agriculture practices, generation of soil health card, soil and land reclamation, etc. The soil and land
characteristics are vital to derive various interpretative groupings or master table that helps to
generate the desired level of information of various clients using the GIS platform.
The digital spatial data base on soils and watersheds generated by All India Soil and Land
Use Survey will act as a sub-server of the main GIS based Web Server being hoisted by the
planning commission for application of spatial data for planning purposes under G2G domain. It
will facilitate e-governance for natural resource management using modern technology.
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