Natural
Resource Planning using Geographic Information System (GIS)
Ramachandra T.V., Sanjeev Kumar Jha and Murari R.R.V.
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science
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Abstract
Sustainable
management of natural resources has attained the attention of decision makers
in the early 20th century consequent to the crisis faced by the society
due to unplanned anthropogenic activities. The anthropogenic activities has
affected the quality and quantity of resources, which is evident from the disappearance
of waterbodies, degraded catchments and increased organic pollutants in waterbodies.
This necessitated optimal resource planning. Spatial and temporal tools such
as Geographic Information System (GIS) are helpful in analyzing the spatial
data. To meet the growing demand for water due to burgeoning population, planners
attention is diverted towards alternatives such as rainwater harvesting, treatment
of waste water, recycling, etc. Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge
of ground water augments the ground water storage and improves the condition
of the other water resources in the vicinity. Rainwater harvesting forms one
of the most cost-effective methods of improving the Ground water resources and
for domestic water requirements. By adopting this procedure the rainwater is
efficiently used and held in a desired locality to improve the groundwater condition,
which other wise would be lost as runoff.
This paper analyses the feasibility of a harvesting structure at Indian Institute
of Science (IISc) campus using GIS. Indian Institute of Science covers an area
of 180 hectares and forms a part of Sankey lake catchment, located to south
east of the Institute. The harvesting structure was marked with a detailed investigation
on the land use pattern, hydrological analyses, catchment delineation, and identification
of potential water demand areas. Ecological, economical, social and technical
aspects were also considered, while marking the harvesting structure. Harvesting
structure with an area of 1.5 hectares and a depth of about 3m can hold about
48,000 cubic meters of water. This was found sufficient to meet the requirement
of swimming pool, gardening and toilet usage in the campus.
Topographical analyses with help of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) created
using Geomedia Professional 5.1 and Geomedia Grid, suggested suitable location
of the harvesting structure at eastern side of the campus. About 1.5 hectares
land is available in this region to construct harvesting structure. Hydrological
analyses to assess the water yield in the eastern part of the campus were carried
out taking into account various landuses (sub-catchment delineation). The cumulative
annual yield of the catchment ranged from 0.4 Million Cubic meters to 0.8 million
cubic meters.
Address for Correspondence:
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra, Energy Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
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PAPER PRESENTED AT 14th User Interaction Meet
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National Remote Sensing Agency
Dept.of Space,Govt. of India
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Andhra Pradesh,India
Website: http://www.nrsa.gov.in