Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development Using Geoinformatics – A Case study in Suryapet Mandal, Nalgonda District

Abstract

The paper presents an example of the application of the land use planning for sustainable development in Suryapet Mandal, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh (2013).  The aim of the research was to propose evaluation methodology applied in GIS environment and based on available digital (or easy for digitalization) spatial data. IRS_LISSIII - 2013 were used for LU/LC. Drainage, TIN, DEM, Slope, Aspect, LU/LC, and Soil data were collected and mapped using GIS software. The ground water potential, Land Productivity and action plan maps were prepared and used for land use planning. The present study helped in the reconnaissance survey of the area as well as integrating the information to look at different scenarios in the landscape and plan for sustainable use of the land.  The approach has given good insight into the areas potential for alternate land use.  The action plan prepared using this approach shall help the administrators in taking decisions regarding resource use and mobilization of support for a change.  The action plan not only serves as a guide but also as a blue print for natural resource management for sustainable development. Compilation and collation of information of the area under study is the preliminary task in planning. The availability of remotely sensed data at high spatial and temporal resolutions has facilitated the planners to access natural resource information at a rate faster than never before.