Hyperspectral remote sensing applied for hydrogeological mapping in a hard-rock terrain for water resource management

摘要

This study aimed at studying the whole of geological environment associated with a semi-arid, hard-rock terrain utilizing hyperspectral satellite data, topographic analysis and 3D visualization techniques to infer hydrological regime in form of GIS outputs. The study area selected has a rapidly changing land use pattern and subjected to mining activity. Several natural lakes have dried up and few abandoned mining pits have turned up into lakes. Efforts are being made to restore the landscape and protect any further degradation. Availability of water is prime decisive factor in all such efforts. In this study, Hyperion data has been utilized in a unique and elaborated methodology designed to effectively isolate the intruding urban cover and extract maximum information in an unmixing approach. This has been coupled with ground surveys as well as analysis of soil/sediment, rock and water samples. ASTER DEM has been used for topographic analysis using TauDEM to infer watershed and drainage pattern. Apart from geological endmembers, available pockets of vegetation have been identified as these are themselves an indicator of groundwater availability. This also resulted in identification of sites suitable for future geophysical surveys to determine the nature of sub-surface fractures. This whole exercise in detail has been helpful in obtaining a synoptic view of water resource in the region and then subsequent planning for integrated water resource management.