International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

S. E. Saranaathan ¹, D. Soosai Manickaraj ¹

Affiliations
1 SASTRA University, Thanjavur-613402, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

The present study makes an attempt to study drainage morphometry and its influence on hydrology of Agaram Watershed, Tamil Nadu, India. For detailed study, Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data was used to create Digital Elevation Model (DEM), aspect grid and slope maps. Geographical Information System (GIS) was used in evaluation of linear, areal, relief and gradient aspects of morphometric parameters. The study reveals that the elongated shape of the basin is mainly due to the guiding effect of thrusting and faulting. The lower order streams are found mostly dominating in the basin. The mean Bifurcation Ratio of the entire basin is 3.80, indicating that the drainage pattern is not much influenced by geological structures. The Relief ratio of the basin is 0.018. This indicates that the discharge capability of the watershed is very high and the groundwater potential is meager. Morphometric analysis of Agaram watershed reveals that about 38% of the area was highly suitable for rainwater harvesting and about 25% of the watershed coming under high alarming of soil erosion. This study is very useful for planning rainwater harvesting and watershed management.

Keywords

Morphometric Analysis, SRTM Data, GIS, Agaram Watershed, Tamil Nadu, India.

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S. E. Saranaathan ¹, S. Mani ¹

Affiliations
1 School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA University, Thanjavur-613401, IN

Abstract

Landslides occur in hilly regions that are prone to activities of urban development, agricultural activities, construction of dams and road and railway network. The slope instability in hilly slope areas is due to construction activities, clearing the natural vegetation, unplanned resort development tourist activities, etc. The landslide susceptibility mapping is an effective tool for the development of hilly areas to analyse the slope stability along the road network. This paper attempts a GIS based multi-criterion methodology to identify landslide susceptibility zonation in CNG (Calicut-Nilampur-Gudalur)-37 ghat section in Nadugani, Gudalur taluk, The Nilgiris district. The environmental geological factors used for the landslide susceptibility analysis include, geology, weathering thickness, geomorphology, lineament, lineament density, lineament intensity, lineament buffer and slope. By applying and integrating the multi-criterion weights using ArcGIS software, a landslide susceptibility zonation is obtained and the study area is divided into five classes which include very low, low, moderate, high and very high regions. The susceptibility zonation map shows that 1.60% in Very low, 18.49% in Low, 40.39% in Moderate, 33.78% in high and 5.74% very high hazard zone. The landslide susceptibility zonation map is validated with landslide points which were collected from the field using high performance GPS. According to landslide inventory details 1.25% is located in very high, 24.27% in high, 55.66% in moderate, 18.83% in low and 0% in very low hazard zones.

Keywords

Landside, Susceptibility Zones, GIS, Multi-Criterion Analysis.

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