Evaluating Urban Topography and Land Use Changes for Urban River Management Using Geospatial Techniques

Abstract

This study focused on the urban river management using geospatial techniques of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) and its associated watersheds of the Bindal River and Rispana River. Shutter Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data with a spatial resolution of 30 m was used for the delineation of watershed boundaries and drainage networks and for identifying topographic features. Additionally, Sentinel-2 data with a spatial resolution of 10 m were utilized to analyze change in land use in 2017 and 2022. The drainage patterns in the Bindal and Rispana watersheds were dendritic in shape with moderate relief. The study found a significant decline in agricultural land from 17.94% in 2017 to 14.66% in 2022. This decline was accompanied by an increase in built-up area from 32.53% to 35.44%. The increased biotic pressure poses a critical threat to river health and biodiversity. This study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive river management strategies to efficiently monitor biotic pressure due to transformations in land use. This research will be beneficial to diverse stakeholders, including decision-makers and urban planners engaged in the sustainable management of water resources and urban development.

Keywords

• remote sensing
• geographic information system (GIS)
• digital elevation model (DEM)
• land use changes
• watershed
• urban river management