29. Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Micro Level Planning

Micro level planning (MLP), sometimes also called as grassroots level planning or cadastral level planning, is a developmental planning exercise, which requires detailed spatial database on presently available natural resources in the area in terms of geology, geomorphology, soil resources, groundwater and surface water resources, rivers/streams, and land use/land cover. Though abundant data is available, not much of it is properly organized and analyzed, which has resulted in limited outcome and wastage of available resources. By making this resource information available to the people at grassroots level in easy and user-friendly manner, planning process could be catalyzed at micro level. Geospatial technologies, i.e., satellite remote sensing, global positioning system (GPS), information technology (IT), and geographic information system (GIS), have the capability in generation and integration of datasets derived from various sources. In recent decades, satellite remote sensing data has improved continuously in terms of the spectral, spatial, and temporal resolutions. This has led to revolutionary change in mapping in two ways – one, in terms of spatial extent, and, two, in terms of information content that can be mapped. Information derived from remote sensing data can be used in conjunction with other field data for prioritization and characterization of areas for micro level planning enabling us to prepare village cadastral level development plans. Further, remote sensing and GIS technology is also used in monitoring and evaluation of the implemented developmental plans mainly to assess the overall improvement in the health of the micro-watershed or gram panchayat (village) and to evaluate the long-term effects and impact of the developmental activities taken up.