An Analysis on Land Use/Land Cover Using Remote Sensing and GIS A Case Study In and Around Chigicherla Watershed Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Land use and land cover map forms the backbone for any developmental planning, important role in the study and assess the natural resource in any part of the world. Anthropogenic changes in land use and land cover and land use are often assumed to be identical, they are rather quite different. Land cover may be defined as the biophysical earth surface, while land use is often shaped by human, socio economic and political influences on the land. Remote Sensing (RS) integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) provides an effective tool for analysis of land use and land cover changes at a regional level. The geospatial technology of RS and GIS holds the potential for timely and cost effective assessment of natural resources. The techniques have been used extensively in the tropics for generating valuable information on forest cover, vegetation type and land use changes. Therefore, we have used RS and GIS to study land use land cover changes in and around Chigicherla Watershed Anantapur District Andhra Pradesh, India covering an area of about 211 sq. km. In this view the present work has been taken up to study and assess some of the natural resources and environmental potential of study area which is falling in the Survey of India toposheets No: 57 F10, 11,13 and 57 F 14. Under this study three thematic maps such as location map, drainage map and land use land cover maps were prepared. The land use and land cover analysis on the study area has been attempted based on thematic mapping of the area consisting of built up land, Agriculture land, water bodies, forest and waste land using the satellite image. The research concludes that there is a rapid expansion of built up area. Land use and land cover information, when used along with information on other natural resources, like water, soil, hydro geomorphology, etc. will help in the optimal land use planning at the macro and micro level.