Land use and land cover change detection study at Sukinda valley using remote sensing and GIS

Abstract

Sukinda valley is known for its chromite deposit which accounts for 97 percent of the India’s total chromium reserve. But the chromium found here being hexavalent in nature, possesses health risk to the people residing in the area. Therefore, it becomes indispensable to monitor the changes in the mining activities of the area and to regulate them. The present study was therefore undertaken to analyze the land cover and land use change that has taken place in Sukinda valley between 1975 and 2005 using Remote Sensing data and GIS by mapping land cover and land use. The land cover and land use study was conducted by mapping LANDSAT data of three different years (1975, 1992, 2005) with the help of ERDAS and Quantum GIS. The result of the work shows a rapid growth in mining between 1975 and 2005 at the cost of decrease in forest area.