Remote Sensing and GIS Based Study of Land Suitability Evaluation in Coastal Domains of Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu, India

This paper presents an approach for land suitability evaluation model by geomorphology and landuse/landcover mapping in parts of Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu using the state and art of remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) as a powerful tool. Remote sensing images provide useful information and make many researchers to identify and interpret various geomorphic features/landforms and various landuse/landcover classes. Optical satellite images and SRTM - DEM were used for mapping of various geomorphic and landuse/landcover classes in this study. Various image processing techniques such as band ratioing, filtering and multi band enhancement techniques were applied on the raw images for the better identification and demarcation of various geomorphic and landuse/landcover features. Thematic maps such as geomorphology and landuse/landcover maps were prepared using GIS and geomorphological units and landuse/landcover classes were integrated and the area occupied by each landuse/ landcover classes was calculated. The evaluation and utilization of landuse features according to their geomorphic setup has been carried out. Thus, this study gives an integrated approach for land suitability evaluation with the aid of remote sensing techniques and GIS. The methodology suggested here can be used to suggest landuse practices in various geomorphic units which are suitable for such purposes.