GIS-Based Digital Terrain Analysis of Assam-Meghalaya Foothills in Kamrup District, Assam

Abstract

Terrain characteristics and their evaluation usually come under geomorphological study and more particularly the applied geomorphological study (Prasad & Sarkar 2011). Foothills are a geographically defined zone having a gradual increase in elevation at the base of a mountain or hill range. Detailed assessment of the present terrain parameters of the study area using GIS is significant as it shows the influence on the landscape of the area. It is a prerequisite in effective management of the impact of transition upon the landscape and its natural resources for sustainable management. In the study, an attempt has been made to delineate the foothill belt of the Assam-Meghalaya border in Kamrup District, Assam using Geographical Information system (GIS), and remote sensing techniques. Datasets available from USGS Earth Explorer, i.e. Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) are used for analyzing the elevation, contour, slope, and terrain characteristics. The present study aims at getting an information archive of the geomorphological and terrain characteristics of the Assam-Meghalaya foothills in Kamrup District, Assam, and its spatio-temporal variation.

Keywords

• terrain, geomorphology, foothills, gis, digital terrain analysis