Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Pulivendula Mandal, Andhra Pradesh, India using Remote Sensing and GIS

Land use refers to the way in which land has been used by humans and their habitats such as Agriculture, settlements and Industry. Land cover is defined as the assemblage of biotic and abiotic components on the Earth's surface and is one of the most crucial properties of the earth system. The Land Use Land Cover is a dynamic phenomenon and which need to be monitored to assess the resources and proper management of the same. The changes occurred over different time intervals give a better idea for which change detection using spatial technologies is an appropriate method. Change Detection studies is a process of identifying and analyzing the differences of an object or a phenomenon through monitoring at different times within the equivalent corresponding visual representations. The study area i.e. Pulivendula mandal, is located on the North-West region of the district of Y.S.R. Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India and is bounded by longitudes 7808’00’’ & 78018’00’’ East and latitudes 14020’00’’ & 14030’00’’North with intended boundary falling in Survey of India open series maps numbering D44G03 and D44G07. The geographical extent of the study area is 18, 156.149 Ha and inhabited by 20 village settlements. The geology of the study area is mainly covered by three types of formations i.e. Gulchheru quartzites, Vempalli and Tadipathri formations.

The Satellite Imageries acquired in different time intervals 2001 and 2011 are used for Spatio-Temporal analysis using image processing and GIS techniques in ERDAS Imagine and Arc GIS Softwares among five classes. The Land Use/Land Cover maps thus generated using Maximum Likelihood decision rule in image processing and GIS techniques on both the imageries are thoroughly compared for change detection. The changes in the classes namely Forest Land, Agricultural Land, Water, Built up and Barren lands are identified with shift from one class to the other are detected and the reasons are being identified through field visits. The LULC studies in the present paper ensure future scope of the study area in environmental perspective, sustainable management of resources and future planning.