Satellites to predict landslides, build highways- Navalgund
Wednesday, 05 January 2005, 20:30 IST
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AHMEDABAD: Remote sensing technology in India is being increasingly used for a range of tasks, from building highways to predicting landslides. "Remote sensing technology can provide critical inputs to policy and decision-making in priority areas like food security, water security, environmental conservation, weather and ocean state forecasting and disaster support," said R.R. Navalgund, director of the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA). Speaking at the 92nd session of the Indian Science Congress here,he said: "With the Indian Earth Observation Programme, the country has a rich constellation of satellites pouring images of one kilometre to one metre resolution. "In recent years, we have institutionalised our systems into a Decision Support Centre (DSC) at NRSA as an evolving body that collects inputs and disseminates information," he said. NRSA's data proved useful for the National Highway Authority of India while planning the road link between Bangalore and Mysore. "With the help of the satellite images, the extension of a two-lane highway into a four-lane one can be planned better by taking into account what land or water bodies need to be cleared," Navalgund said. Similar data were also under analysis for planning an extension of the railway network to the mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is long known that there is a high potential for hydropower generation in the Himalayan regions. With the help of remote sensing technology, NRSA has identified 40 specific sites that should be prioritised for setting up power units," he said. In recent years, the agency has been analysing satellite images of the pilgrimage routes in Uttaranchal, where landslides are common. "We have been regularly providing inputs to the state governments in areas of vulnerability. Our predictions turned out to be right during the last monsoon," he said. While the agency did record detailed images of the destruction brought about by the quake-triggered tsunami waves of Dec 26, Navalgund clarified there was no way of predicting the disaster with the available technology. The agency similarly mapped the flood damage in Assam and elsewhere in July-August 2004.
Source: IANS
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