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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMATICS AND GEOSCIENCES Volume 2, No 1, 2011

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing services Review article ISSN 0976 – 4380

Submitted during July 2011 published on September 201 57

An overview of GSI mission in Disaster Management using Geoinformatics

Senthi Vadivel.A.S, Bhupatthi Rav 1 Member, Indian Society for Training & Development,

Hyderabad Chapter , Hyderabad. [email protected]

2 Professor & Director, Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, Osmania University, Hyderabad.

ABSTRACT

About 60% of area in India is prone to various natural hazards. The frequent natural hazards in the late 20 th century, have forced some of the Organisations under Government of India to plan for risk reduction by early warning system and to mitigate the post disaster effects. Geological Survey of India (GSI) is one of the oldest survey organizations, which is one among the government organisations engaged in the study of natural hazard in India for more than last 125 years apart from its main activity of mineral exploration. From the year 2004, GSI being the convener of the Technical Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) prepares Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping as these base maps depict the ground reality in disaster prone areas and provide meaningful insights into various decisions making. The article presents the futuristic plan of GSI from middle of XI plan to XIII plan using 3D GIS, RDBMS, 3D processing technology, etc. in preparation of National ¾ Dimension (3/4D) geospatial data with special reference to natural hazard management, particularly integrated thematic mapping after geomorphological mapping, scale as per site specific requirements based on the vulnerability, for the purpose of Natural Hazards Processes and GeoEnvironmental Hazard, etc., The article further focuses on the relevant portion of Mission III of the GSI on Geoinformatics, Mission IV of the GSI on natural hazards viz., landslide, earthquake, flood and volcanoes and Mission V of the GSI on Training and Capacity Building. The authors conclude that Geoinformatics as a tool of Intelligent Decision Support System, Expert system and Earth Observation System, can play a major role in Disaster Management and can sustainably contribute towards nation’s sustainable development.

Keywords: Integrated Thematic Mapping, GSI Mission, Geoinformatics, Fundamental & Multidisciplinary Geoscience and Spatial Studies

1. Introduction

The Geosphere is dynamic. Whenever the geosphere changes its pattern due to various geological reasons, the results are natural disasters. Most of the times, these natural disasters destruct natural resources, property and kill human life. As such natural disasters are becoming a great challenge for the survival of human beings in the affected area. According to United Nations Report, 1998, India ranks second in the world among

An overview of GSI mission in Disaster Management using Geoinformatics Senthi Vadivel.A.S, Bhupatthi Rav

International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences Volume 2 Issue 1, 2011

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the worst natural disaster affected countries as nearly 55.5 million people, i.e. 6% of the population is exposed to natural disasters every year. It is increasingly recognized worldwide that the devastating effects of natural disasters is linked to shortcomings of development policies. Thus confronting disaster issues in a systematic and coherent fashion is becoming an explicit objective of development strategies. Such a situation warrants the Government of India to initiate visionary steps to make India stronger and a safer place to live. A scientific understanding of the entire gamut of disaster management would go a long way in mitigating the effects of a natural disaster. Hence the Government of India actively involves Geological Survey of India, one of the premier scientific institutions, in the processes of natural disaster risk assessment and mitigation as a part of its charter of duty. Despite various evil effects on the human life, natural disasters are considered as a development issue when adequate arrangements of institutional mechanisms for disaster risk assessment, mitigation and financing exist. Because of the availability of scientific expertise, the GSI has been declared as nodal agency for coordinating and undertaking geological studies for landslide hazard mitigation. The Director General of the GSI is one of the members of the national core group for landslide hazard mitigation. To have a comprehensive model instrumentation based studies, GSI is evolving an early warning system involving various other institutions in India. National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) adopts various advanced remote sensing technologies and supports the optimal utilization of conventional data/techniques. The Earth Observation (EO) Systems by the ISRO and the GSI using Intelligent Decision Support Systems and Expert Systems are exemplary examples. As a part of charter of duty, the GSI is making a detailed analysis of specific landslides affecting habitations, communications routes and civil projects in north western Himalayas, eastern Himalayas, northeastern region and southern states including Nilgiris and Western Ghats. Topographical mapping of slide area on 1:1000 scale, geophysical surveys, slope stability analysis, numerical modeling, monitoring of movements on slope by ATR, etc., are undertaken using various instruments like GPS, and DGPS. Remote sensing data contributes substantially in preparation of thematic maps of various causative factors related to landslides (Bhoop Singh, Arun Kumar and Bidin, 1999).Till date, GSI has published a total of 351 landslide incidences of both types, i.e. debris slides and rockslides studied and inventory for 778 landslide incidences of North West Himalayas. The correct assessment based on the observed movements in the slope and advice of the geologists of the GSI and the prompt action by the district administration based on the advice saved many people and property when the disaster struck the part of Varunavat Parvat landslide in Uttarkashi Town, Uttaranchal Himalaya during August 2003. A detail study was carried out to find out the cause of the landslide using aerial photographs acquired by NRSC after the landslide (Vinod Kumar, Lakhera, Martha, Chateerjee, and Bhattacharya, 2008). The landslide on National Highway No.44 near Sonapur village, about 142 km from Shillong in Meghalaya state is active almost every year, particularly during the monsoon often disrupting road communication which is life line to the states of Tripura, Mizoram, South Assam and Meghalaya. Owing to that importance, GSI conducted site specific studies during 20042006 and carrying out monitoring studies using the state of art tool of geoinformatics. Pre disaster assessment and coordination with Border Roads Organisation by the GSI directly attributes in the development



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activities and thus the role of geoinformatics in this kind of joint project in making the life of people comfortable and normal in disaster prone area, which is one of the commendable achievements. The MumbaiGoa (NH17) Route is being carried out in association with the GSI for that landslide hazard zonation map on 1:50,000 scale is prepared as in this area mostly the type of landslides in this area are shallow translational landslides type (Vinod Kumar, and Tapas, 2010). The contribution of GSI in Landslide Inventory in this project is drawing attention of general public.

2. Materials and Method

2.1. Methodology

This article focuses on the role of the GSI in natural disaster management using Geoinformatics and its contribution towards sustainable development. The methodology involves a descriptive type multiple case design study relying on documentation and archival records as the sources of evidence. This study is mainly based on the analysis of secondary data. The main sources of secondary data are the GSI publications, records, and reports of various official committees (www.portal.gsi.gov.in, 2011). In addition to the secondary data, the authors used participated observation method to know more on the realistic activities of the GSI related to natural disaster activities using geoinformatics. Besides focusing on the significance of the usage of Geoinformatics (GIS, RS and GPS) by the GSI in natural disaster management, the article presents an overview the planned systematic step by step vision of the GSI in Natural Disaster Management using Geoinformatics.

2.2. High Powered Committee

Earlier, independence brought a momentous change on the mineral policy, which changed the complexion of the GSI. For the benefit of the society for a safe, secure and standard happy life, a High Powered Committee (HPC) headed by Sri.Vijaya Kumar, the then Additional Secretary during 2009 Ministry of Mines was constituted. It made many recommendations in the year 2009 and most of which have been accepted by the Government of India (Report of the HPC, 2009). Subsequently, Shri. Vijaya Kumar became Secretary to the Ministry of Mines and putting efforts for transformation of GSI as visualized by the HPC. Accordingly, GSI is gradually transforming from a mineral exploration organisation to a multi faceted geoscience related resources survey organization, committed to the strategic needs and sustainable socioeconomic development of all areas of the country. Because of this transformation, the activities of the GSI have grown significantly and got diversified in recent years in tune with the need to explore the country’s resources in the most optimal manner to speed up the process of development in vital sectors such as agriculture, land management, irrigation, power development, utilization of water resources, development of transport and communication, education, scientific management of environment, etc.,



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The application of Geoinformatics in saving the natural resources in the Globe is being realized by the Geological Surveys across the World. In India, the new charter of operations of the GSI notified during 2009 entrusts to explore through ground, airborne, satellite, and marine survey in conducting natural hazard studies and facilitate their optimal exploration through proactive information dissemination. The GSI conducts multidisciplinary as well as fundamental geoscientific research and studies including geotechnical investigations, physical, chemical and biological hazard geoinvestigations, climate change geostudies, paleogeostudies etc., and foster partnerships with state and central research and academic institutions for the purpose. Further the GSI participates in international collaborative projects to improve the understanding of the earth and its ecosystems as a whole, including studies related to tectonics, global warming, climate change, polar studies, etc., using Geoinformatics.

2.3. Geoinformatics in developmental issues

Geoinformation technology offers an opportunity to support disaster management. Disaster management depends on large volumes of accurate, relevant, ontime geo information that various organisations systematically create and maintain (Peter van Oosterrom, Siyaka Zlatanova and Elfriede M. Fendel, 2005). Remote Sensing is useful to examine a large area in a relatively short time. It increases efficiency and effectiveness. It is an exciting, challenging idea for the exploration field and the research scientist. It is playing an important role in earth quake prediction, seismic microzonation and post earth quake disaster management related studies. The major limitations of remote sensing based earth quake studies is ascribed to rare validation of satellite based measurement with ground data and the lack of consistency in trend in the relations of observed anomaly with the earth quake (Vinod Kumar, 2010) Remote sensing has been widely used in the GSI for earth quake research from 70’s with the availability of satellite images. For the last one and half decade National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is extensively using satellite remote sensing data for flood mapping and monitoring activity operationally in near realtime besides in other river mapping studies. In the GSI, initially it began with the structural geological and geomorphological studies. Subsequently geological assessment was carried out using the satellite data, and in the year 2000, GSI published a Seismotectonic Atlas of India and its environs, covering the varied aspect of geology structures, tectonics, seismology and its relevant analysis.

GSI is revamped for the purpose of its programmes in the form of 5 Missions. The Mission I relates to baseline geoscience data generation, the Mission II relates to natural resources assessment, the Mission III relates to geoinformatics, the Mission IV relates to fundamental & multidisciplinary geoscience and special studies including study on natural disaster risk assessment, disaster risk reduction and participating in disaster management plan and the Mission V relates to training & capacity Building. Thus GSI is actively participating in national sustainable development programmes.

2.4. Mission III

All developmental activities involve human interaction with the landscape and the landform governed by the geological formsprocessed materials. Today Geological



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Survey is regarded as an organisation which is geologically sensing and geologically attempting to secure the Globe. In that process, there is a need for breaking the conventional data/techniques/manual survey using Brunton compass, as the latest techniques of remote sensing is the call of the day. For geologically sensing purpose, GSI is using the internetbased GIS. The integration of Remote Sensing with Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) which is often used for various vulnerability analysis. For example generating Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) in vulnerability mapping of coastal stretch is yielding fairly good results. GIS based approach is found to be more appreciable than the conventional methods in evaluation and analysis of drainage morphometry and land resources and to understand their inter relationship with hydrology for planning and management at river basin level (Suvarna Shah and Patel, 2009). The study of LANDSAT imagery of Jaisalmer area on 1:1 million scale on all four bands reveal the occurrence of circular features in a NESW trending 100 to 130 wide zone in the vast sand country (Bakliwal, P.C. and Ramasamy, S.M., 1983). The studies carried out by Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) using satellite data enabled in identification of locust breeding centres to undertake aerial spraying to arrest the further growth of locust in Rajasthan, Gujrat and Haryana States in India (Dutt, 1995)

The study of natural hazard viz., landslide, earthquake and flood by the GSI is divided into two broad categories: Pre and Post Disaster Studies. The Natural Hazard Domain of the GSI stores the following data:

a) Flood Hazard

• Floodplain description along with morphostratigraphic units, available data from meteorological and hydrological stations.

• Flood description including flood parameters, flood effects and remedial measures

b) Landslide Hazard

• Landslide description • Landslide zonation • Description of Geology • Description of Geomorphology • Description of geotechnical properties • Origin of the slide

c) Seismic Hazard

• Description of a seismic event • Earthquake data repository • Macro seismic data • Isoseismic curve description



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All these data is going to be linked to the spatial datasets of Map 1:50,000 domain Enterprise GIS. The Enterprise GIS is planned to be ready for use from XIV plan onwards.

The GIS application of Enterprise GIS is broadly divided into the following subsystems:

v The Spatial Data Ware House v Load and Update Subsystem v Metadata Editor v The Inquiry Subsystems

The multiuser geodatabase acts as a centralized spatial data warehouse for all users across the organisation.

In order to ensure accuracy and easy retransformation from the GIS to real world, 4D geographical data models are preferred. 3D/4D geospatial data with special reference to Natural Hazard management using 3 D GIS, RDBMS, 3D processing Technology is planned during XII, XIII and XIV plan priod. The 4D maps almost account data completeness. The consistencies of linking all the local disaster management authority in the globe largely depend upon data completeness on disaster Management issues.

National Geospatial Datasets from XI plan period to XIV plan period GIS based map compilation and composition. Geomorphological mapping from XI plan which is in its 3rd year to completion of XII plan and from XIII plan preparation of Integrated Thematic Mapping are on the priority agenda of the GSI.

2.4. Mission IV

The Mission IV of the GSI is focusing on strengthening its Research and Development activities that deals with natural hazards viz., landslide, earthquake, flood and volcanoes that typically have a sudden onset and can have a catastrophic consequences in terms of loss of life and destruction of property. Landslide susceptibility map is used for predicting the occurrence of the landslide and planning sustainable development activities in geomorphologically in fragile area. The beneficiaries of the maps could be mainly the local disaster management authorities, Regional Planners, Building authority, Revenue official, Road engineers, forest managers. The list could be endless.

Landslide is among the major hydrogeological hazards that effect almost large parts of border of India, Himalayas at north, northeastern hill ranges, Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. GSI is taking leading role in linkage and interaction of national/ international institutions in natural disaster management activities. It adopts the following strategy in landslide hazard studies:

• Three fold hazard zonation of landslide prone areas to delineate zones according to degree of susceptibility to landslides.



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• Strengthen interaction with National Natural Resource management System (NNRMS) for making available spatial data for disaster assessment, management and response.

• Integration of activities with disaster management group of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and linkage with state Disaster Management Authority (DMAs).

• Foreign collaboration in Real Time Monitoring of landslides for development of early warning system.

Table 1: Milestones and Technology Infusion

Plan Technology Infusion Coverage

XI Plan

LHZ (Macro/Meso scale) 6000 LKm/20 sites Site specific:20

sites

XII Plan

LHZ (Macro/Meso scale) 12000 LKm/50 sites Site specific:50

sites

XIII Plan

Digital Tilt meter6 (XII Plan) Digital piezometer6 (XII Plan)

Borehole Extensometer8 (XII Plan) GPR 6 (XII Plan)

Creep meter8 (XII Plan)

As above XIV & XV PLAN coverage envisages as per XIII PLAN

In order to form landslide hazard zonation map terrain information on six categories of controlling factors for landslides viz., aspect of slope, geology, land use, drainage, lineament and runoff is processed for integration by GIS. Likewise, landslide susceptible map is generated from satellite imagery, Digital elevation model and maps (Evany Nithya and Rajesh Prasanna, 2009). GSI prepares both kind of maps to reduce risks related to land slide hazards.

The GSI adopts the following major assignments in earthquake related studies:

• Active Fault mapping including seismotectonic assessment of some interplate and intraplate faults

• Macroseismic (Postearthquake damage survey for assigning intensity) survey • Seismic hazard microzonation • Microseismic (aftershock) survey



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• GPS Monitoring for crustal movement study • Seismic observatory

According to National Flood Commission, around 40 million hectares of land in India are subject to floods. Department of Space (DoS) has been developing techniques and methodology by integrating space based systems and services for Disaster Management. DoS has executed a Disaster Management Support Programme (DMSP) for integrating operationally the space technology inputs and services on a reliable and timely basis for strengthening India’s resolve towards disaster management. Optical satellite data from the series of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) and microwave data from Canadian Satellite RADARSAT are used to map the floodinundated areas in near real time and estimate the flood damages. For the last one and half decade, National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) has been extensively using satellite remote sensing data for flood mapping and monitoring activity operationally in near real time besides in other river mapping studies. (Bhanumurthy Manjusree and Srinivasa Rao 2010). Remote sensing and GIS technique have successfully established their applications in Flood inundation mapping, Flood plain zoning and River morphological studies (Aparajita Ghatak, 2009). The GPSGIS integration brings real world to the desktop to perform data analysis at the workplace itself (Madhav N.Kulkarni and Mahendra Kamath, 2007). When Tsunami, cyclone or other natural hazards hit India, reliable warning system is needed to keep red alert of volunteers to manage pre, during and post disaster scenario (Senthi vadivel and Bhupatthi Rav, 2009). The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunamis demonstrated that a rectified, predisaster remote sensing image database is indispensable. (Jenson J.R and M.E. Hodgson, 2006)This can be planned by the Geological Survey of India like United States Geological Survey (USGS, 2011) is doing now using geoinformatics.

One of the main five issues of the DMS programme addresses on development of appropriate Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) based decision support tools and techniques and demonstrations catering to the information needs at different levels.

• Portable navigation devices. • Remote Sensing and GIS techniques have successfully established their

applications in the following areas of flood management. • Flood inundation mapping • Flood plain zoning

The use of GIS and GPS in development planning for flood management is a new experience. The use of the GIS and Remote sensing techniques to generate Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) is able to yield fairly good results (Vijay Anand, Rajesh Kumar, 2009). Preparation of Coastal Vulnerability Map involves the method of Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) to map the relative vulnerability of the coast by considering parameters like tide range, wave height, coastal slope, historical shoreline change rate, sea level rise data and regional elevation.



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NRSC of ISRO under DoS is mandated to build the capacity in India for usage of Remote Sensing and GeoInformation for its utilization and institutionalization is arranged to support capacity building initiatives in the Remote Sensing and GIS Applications area. In addition, it has carried out many application projects for various government agencies under the aegis of National Natural Resources Management Systems to utilize the satellite data for various natural resources applications and disaster related information support. Earth Observation (EO) Programme focus in India has been to support operational remote sensing for sustainable natural resources management, address national needs and provide space based information support for disaster management and grass root planning.

While organizations like Survey of India and GSI have public access to geographic information as a mandate, this has for long been limited to only a small part of the actual data generated. High quality geoscientific data leads to sustainable development as the decision are made based on sound scientific information.

2.5. Mission V

Under mission V – Training Development, the GSI Training Institute is developing the expertise to their directly recruited Geoscientists in the field of GIS using GPS and other Survey Instruments. The course on Application of Geoinformatics to Disaster Management by GSITI intends to strengthen the capacity of the participants to apply geo information in hazard and Disaster Management, with particular emphasis on landslide and seismic hazards (Annual Programme 201012, 2010). The course envisages familiarizing with various steps involved in the disaster management by demonstration of case studies. Further, it deals with the potential of currently operational and Earth Observation systems and data analysis techniques, as well as their effective adaptation and integration into existing activities.

GSITI is conducting a separate course for its Geoscientists faculty & scholars from Universities & Colleges on Application of GIS & RS in earth sciences using free and open source softwares, Application of RS & GIS for Mineral exploration, course on GPS technology, GPS surveydata collection processing, analysis and Interpretation.

3.Challenges Ahead

Disaster Management is a Global issue. The intense interactions between people and nature, which for so long badly undermined the health of the latter, are today taking an even greater toll on the lives of the former. Hence there is an urgent dire need for a technical description of how disaster related issues can be realized using GIS. GSI has already initiated a new programme of Geomorphological Mapping (GMM) from 3 rd year of the XI plan. This Geomorphic Mapping with terrain analysis using remotely sensed data with limited ground checks is useful in

§ Hazard zonation § Understanding neotectonic movements § Useful in flood control studies



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§ Useful in communication/transmission and transport networks § Useful in river linking projects § Land use policy decisions

The total area planned for coverage is 31,45,8000 Sq.kms. The priority area is 450,000 in the Himalayan, IndoBurma hills and Western Ghats Landslide vulnerable areas. Under the XI plan 600 Toposheets and under the XII plan, 4400 Toposheets have been planned to cover. Followed this, Integrated Thematic Mapping (ITM) with the Natural Hazard processes and GeoEnvironmental Hazard themes are going to be commenced from XIII plan onwards. The scale will be as per site specific requirements.

A futuristic look on the comprehensive disaster management role of the GSI in its Mission based on the Geoinformatics Approach on Disaster Management is aimed towards integration of activities with Disaster Management Group of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and linkage with state Disaster Management Authority. GSI is upgrading its communication links with the control Rooms of MHA and the State Governments. Because of good usage of GIS in GSI, both are inseparable .GIS and GSI are inseparable and GSI require GIS at various stages in its activities.

Successful launch of LocationBased Services (LBS) and Mass marketing of AGPS phones are going to have many roles in the coming years on disaster management areas. There will be a day when a poor citizen is using LBS in built in GPS phone will be a set of key enabled in the disaster management cycle viz., prediction, relief and mitigation services. It is clear that the future of LBS solving application is going to be an aid in solving complexities of the disaster prone or affected area.

GSI is having Research Vessels for Marine Survey and twin otter for airborne Survey. Airborne, core logging mobile stations are using GIS. GSI is going to acquire helicopter for future Remote Sensing Survey.

One of the future challenges for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience Assessment through collection of information from modern Earth Observation Net works. The GSI in collaboration with ISRO is training manpower on Earth Observation Net works. The High Powered Committee has suggested the GSI to consider the Geoinformatics model of British Geological Survey.

The expert panel on modernization of the GSI has recommended that computer compatible field locationcumdata collection systems to be introduced in the GSI comprising:

ü GPS, Palmtop computer, Digital Camera, Cellular phone for each field officer ü Diffential GPS, A3 size plotter, Laptop Computer for the

exploration/geophysical/geotechnical survey parties.

From the review of the mission and functions of the geological surveys of various countries the HPC has suggested the GSI to consider adoption of Geoinformatics



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including the Internet based systems for displaying spatial data and development of visualization and modelling technologies is seen as being vital to the growth and relevance of the British Geological Survey.

The Integrated thematic maps aim towards good date descriptions and specifications of accuracy are being maintained keeping in mind the end user of the thematic mapping products for specific use by the end users.

Indian National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) is a gateway for the dissemination of spatial data generated by various government and nongovernment agencies (Sumita Sen, 2007). A well coordinated, concerned effort leverage resources, minimize redundancies and collaboratively solve problems to achieve the NSDI vision.

4. Conclusion

Completeness is essential, when the integrated thematic maps of the GSI takes the desired steps for the generations and selections made during map production, without affecting the completeness. Any decision taken by local authorities based after integrations of various geoinformatics output prepared by the different survey organizations in the country viz. Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, Fisheries Survey of India etc; becomes not only more economical but also ends in risk reduction of human life and property.

If local disaster Management authorities have to solve many of the problems related to natural hazards, they shall need the help of skilled users of GIS technology. As GIS is considerably more than just technology, it can be applied in every situation form prediction to mitigation. GSI is in the mission of Environmental Sustainability but sure to achieve ‘steady state economy on a steady balance between the economy and the environment. Natural Disasters are limiting economic development in developing countries like India.

Earth Scientist are vigorously responding to the technical challenge of coupling GIS, remote sensing and slope monitoring systems to yield accurate, timely information on natural hazard to the maximum possible extend. GIS is substantially contributing to the processes of making spatial analyses of landslides by use of remote sensing data in conjunction with field investigation in a cost effective method for landslide studies.

Completion of GIS mapping is going to yield GIS solutions in Disaster Management related fields. The arrival of GPS equipped cameras is an important milestone while delivering relief and mitigation activities. GPSGIS integration brings real world to the desktop for common man’s benefit. The power of GPSGIS integration is immense with numerous applications in various fields.



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5. Recommendations

Today, GSI is regarded as a government organization which is responsible for geologically sensing and geologically secure India. Hence, it would be worth mentioning that all geological report should invariably contain a note on Disaster Risk Assessment along with a geomorphological mapping as geologists are oriented at the beginning of their career itself in GIS, GPS, RS related areas for exploration of Mineral Resources and also for understanding the dynamics of Geosphere. The GSI can play a major role in providing geoscientific data, including spatial information for the better administration of the environmental related Acts.

The GSI may depute Geologists as Trainer in the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management, Indian Institute of Public Administration, National Institute of Disaster Management Authority and like National Training Centre/Institute to train the Government Officers on National Disaster Management Plan/Strategy. This will help in enhancing the number of members in the Disaster Relief Team for sustainable development. All the Government Gazetted Officers should be prepared to work as professional in the Relief Team like their services being used during the election time. For that the GSI Training Institute may require to prepare all Geoscientists in the Country as Master Trainer on Natural Disaster management Programmes. Resilient Structural study of Dams and retrofitting required for making many storied building sustainable to withstand natural hazards are requiring an urgent attention for which application of geoinformatics will speed up the assessment.

There is a need for preparation of Integrated Hazard Based Thematic Map of the World. The United Nation needs to provide Integrated Thematic Mapping , scale as per site specific requirements based on the vulnerability, for the purpose of Natural Hazard Processes and GeoEnvironmental Hazard, etc., on priority basis on the lines of actions under Central Geological Correlation Mapping Programme.

The GSI is taking many good socially responsible initiatives on disaster management plan. Above all, there is a need for further strengthening the network and proper coordination among all other stake holders involved in various processes by the NDMA for an effective disaster management.

Acknowledgement

The Authors are grateful to Shri. V.Balachandran, Shri.V.Jagannathan, Shri.R.Balaji and other Geoscientists of the GSI for giving an insight into the Geoinformatics and Disaster management.



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6. References

1.Annual Programme 201012, (2010), Geological Survey of India Training Institute, Hyderabad, pp 5455.

2.Aparajita Ghatak, (2009), Coming to terms with the Kosi, Geospatial Today, Hyderabad, August, 2009, pp 4143.

3.Bakliwal, P.C. and Ramasamy, S.M. Lineament Fabric of Rajasthan and Gujrat States India, (1983), Geological Suvey of India Records, 113(7), pp 5467.

4.Bhanumurthy V., (2001), Flood Disaster Management using satellite data, Remote Sensing applications in P.S.Roy, R.S.Dwivedi and D.Vijayan (Ed), Remote Sensing Applications, ISRO, Hyderabad, pp 283302.

5.Bhoop Singh, Arun Kumar & ch.Bidin, (1999), Application of Remote Sensing Techniques in Landslide Hazard Zonation: A Case Study in Barak Basin in Remote sensing Applications in Applied Geosciences, Saumitra Mukherjee (Ed.) , pp 121137.

6.Details about GSI available at www.portal.gsi.gov.in, accessed during 2011.

7.Details about USGS available at www.usgs, accessed during 2011.

8.Dutt, C.B.S, Remote Sensing Application to Forestry and Environment, (1999), In Remote Sensing for Earth Resources, D.P.Rao (Ed.), 2nd edition, p 178.

9.Evany Nithya.S and Rajesh Prasanna. P, (2009), An Integrated Approach with GIS and Remote Sensing Technique for Landslide Hazard zonation, Proceedings of International Conference on Disaster Management and Mitigation at Dindigul, India 16 – 18 December, 2009, pp 737749.

10.Jenson J.R and M.E. Hodgson, (2006), Remote Sensing of Natural and Man made Hazards and Disasters in Manual of Remote Sensing: Settlements, M.K.Ridd (Ed.), pp 40142.

11.Madhav N.Kulkarni and Mahendra Kamath, (2007), GPS –GIS integration for effective traffic management, Geospatial today, Hyderabad, 6(3), May, 2007, pp 2730.

12.Peter van Oosterrom, Siyaka Zlatanova and Elfriede M. Fendel, (Ed.) (2005), Geo information for Disaster Management.

13.Report on the Functioning of The Geological Survey of India, (2009), High Powered Committee, Ministry of Mines, New Delhi.



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14.Senthi Vadivel. A.S. and Bhupatthi Rav, (2009), Disaster Management: A Global Issue in Proceedings of International Conference on Disaster Management and Mitigation at Dindigul, India 16 – 18 December, 2009, pp 28329.

15.Sumita Sen, (2007), Interoperability – Key to sustaining NSDI, Geospatial Toady, Hyderabad, 6(5), July, 2007, pp 2832

16.Suvarna Shah & J.N.Patel, (2009), Estimation of Geomorphological parameters using GIS for Vishwamitri River Basin, Proceedings of International Conference on Disaster Management and Mitigation at Dindigul, India 16 – 18 December, 2009, pp 757771.

17.Vijay Anand. R. and Rajesh Kumar. U, (2009), Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS in vulnerability mapping of coastal stretch. Proceedings of International Conference on Disaster Management and Mitigation at Dindigul, India 16 – 18 December, 2009, pp 395404.

18.Vinod Kumar, K. (2010),“Remote Sensing Applications in earthquake and Active Fault Studies” in P.S.Roy, R.S.Dwivedi and D.Vijayan (Ed), Remote Sensing Applications, ISRO, Hyderabad, pp 339349.

19.Vinod Kumar.K and Tapas R.M. (2010), “Remote Sensing in Landslide studies” in P.S.Roy, R.S.Dwivedi and D.Vijayan (Ed), Remote Sensing Applications, ISRO, Hyderabad, pp 331338.

20.Vinod Kumar.K, Lakhera, R.C, Martha, T.R, Chatterjee, R.S, and Bhattacharya,A, (2008), Analysis of the 2003 Varunawat Landslide, Uttarkashi, India using Earth Observation data, Environmental Geology, 55(4), pp 789799.

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