Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in Identification of River Course Changes
Bal C Char, Darshini
Anna University, INDIA

In the present investigation, an effort has been made to study the course changes of the Tamirabarani River, Tamilnadu using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System techniques. The Tamirabarani River originates from the peak of the Pothigai hills at an elevation of 1,725 meters above sea-level and joins the sea at Punnaikayal in Srivaikundam taluk of Thoothukudi district. This paper aims at proper management of water and attempts to identify the sites largely affected due to changes in the river course. To determine the dynamic changes satellite data of IRS - 1D LISS III (2001) and IRS - P6 LISS III (2012) has been used. In this study, the entire width of the river was obtained by digitizing the satellite imageries. The central flow lines of the river in multi - temporal data were compared to find out changes incurred in the river course in terms of distance and area. Raster Overlay tool of ArcGIS software was used for identification of changed areas. Manual method of demarcation of channel changes is very tedious. The study showed that remote sensing and GIS can provide properly calibrated and validated results that could help understand likely impacts of climate, land cover changes and human activities on stream course changes and the sites that are susceptible to further acute changes over multiple time periods.