Inventory and mapping of land resources for land use planning through detailed soil survey coupled with remote sensing and GIS techniques: A case study in Nagenahalli watershed, Doddsaballapur Taluk, Bangalore Rural District

Abstract

Planning for development of natural resources without endangering the environment is a crucial issue, which the world is facing today. Growing population pressure and human activities increases the demand on the limited land resources, both for agricultural and other land uses. To meet this unprecedented demand of land for various pursuits, it is imperative to develop land use plans which can counteract the detrimental effects on environment and at the same time improve productivity of land. The present study deals with the application of remote sensing and GIS for mapping of land resources of Nagenahalli watershed in Bangalore rural district of Karnataka. Base maps, google earth images, toposheets and satellite imagery (1:12,500 scale) collected from Karnataka State Remote Sensing Application Centre, Bangalore have been used in the study. Maps on various themes, viz., land use, drainage, soil, slope, depth etc. have been generated using aforementioned satellite data coupled with ground truth. The analysis in a GIS system helped in bringing out maps and statistics with constructive options for alternate land use plans which are expected to be both productive and sustainable.