Development of Avalanche Information System using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology in the Indian Karakoram Himalaya

Snow avalanches pose severe threat to lives and property in snow-bound regions of the Western Himalaya. The Karakoram Range in Western Himalaya has the highest mean elevation and is the most glaciated region compared to other ranges. Snowfall in this range is frequent even during summer season. Snow accumulation on mountain slopes results into frequent snow avalanches and several lives have been lost due to snow avalanches in the past. In this communication we discuss about the development of avalanche information system using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technology for the Indian Karakoram Himalaya. High spatial resolution (0.5 m) PLEIADES satellite images and digital elevation model (DEM) of ASTER GDEM V2 (30 m) and Cartosat (10 m) have been used here. Terrain parameters, e.g. slope, aspect, elevation, etc. have been derived using DEM. Sites in avalanche-prone areas have been identified using terrain parameters and snowfall information. Villages in the region, camp locations of borderguarding personnel, pedestrian routes followed by villagers and border-guarding personnel, avalanche sites along pedestrian routes, etc. have been digitized using appropriate GIS vector features, e.g. point, line and polygons. Past avalanche accidents along pedestrian routes, past avalanche occurrences, climatology of the region, etc. have been mapped in GIS environment. Remote sensing and GIS technology proved to be useful for the development of avalanche information system in digital form. The system is being used for avalanche forecasting and mitigation of avalanche hazard in the Indian Karakoram Himalaya.