Micro Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping of Aizawl City
The Micro Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping of Aizawl City using Remote Sensing and GIS was undertaken by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) as an in-house project funded by the Science, Technology and Environment Wing, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram. The study was initiated following consultations with the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department in response to recurring landslides, rapid urban expansion and increasing development pressure on the steep and geologically fragile slopes of Aizawl city. The main objective was to prepare a detailed, micro-level landslide hazard zonation database for the entire Aizawl city area and identify locations with different degrees of potential slope instability. High-resolution QuickBird satellite imagery, Cartosat-I stereo data, Survey of India topographical maps, published geological information and field observations were integrated using Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System and digital terrain-analysis techniques. The project examined major landslide-controlling parameters, including land use and land cover, slope, geomorphology, lithology and geological structures. These thematic layers were evaluated and combined to divide the city into relative hazard categories and to support the formulation of suitable mitigation measures. The study is particularly important because Aizawl is developed along narrow ridges and steep hill slopes that are exposed to intense monsoon rainfall, unregulated construction, road cutting, quarrying and alteration of natural drainage. These conditions increase the vulnerability of settlements, roads, public utilities and other infrastructure to slope failures. The resulting hazard-zonation maps, thematic datasets and project report provide valuable decision-support information for the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department, municipal and planning authorities, engineers, infrastructure agencies and researchers. The outputs can guide building regulations, site selection, road and drainage design, slope-stabilization works, emergency preparedness and hazard-sensitive urban development. They also provide an essential baseline for future monitoring, detailed site investigations and periodic updating of landslide-risk information as Aizawl continues to expand. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:5,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P5 Cartosat-I & Quickbird (2006) Study area: Aizawl City Collaborating/Funding Agency: Science, Technology & Environment Wing, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 - 2008
Landslides in Mizoram
The Report on Landslides in Mizoram, prepared by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) under the Science and Technology Wing, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram, was compiled in 2007 in response to the increasing incidence of landslides and associated disruptions across the State's mountainous terrain. The study was undertaken to document recent landslide occurrences, assess their geographical distribution and impacts, and provide an initial scientific understanding of landslide susceptibility across Mizoram, particularly following intense monsoon rainfall during September 2007. The project employed Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to prepare a generalized Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) map for the State. IRS-1D LISS-III satellite imagery acquired in February 2003, together with Survey of India topographic maps at 1:50,000 scale and available ancillary spatial datasets, was used to analyse terrain and geo-environmental conditions. Key causative parameters—including lithology, geological structure, geomorphology, slope, and land use/land cover—were integrated using ARC/INFO GIS software to classify Mizoram into five relative landslide hazard categories. The analysis provided a statewide framework for identifying areas of varying susceptibility and understanding the influence of both natural terrain conditions and human interventions such as road cutting and quarrying. The report also compiled field and administrative information on landslide impacts from across all eight districts of Mizoram, documenting damage to houses, roads, bridges, public utilities, and communication networks. The assessment highlights the vulnerability of settlements and infrastructure during periods of intense rainfall and demonstrates the widespread nature of landslide-related hazards in the State. A key outcome of the project was the preparation of a generalized Landslide Hazard Zonation Map of Mizoram, providing an important baseline for disaster preparedness and mitigation. The report emphasizes that although landslides cannot be completely prevented, their impacts can be reduced through appropriate land-use planning, slope stabilization, safer infrastructure development, and avoidance of highly susceptible areas. The resulting landslide inventory, hazard zonation map, spatial information, and documented observations provide valuable reference material for government departments, disaster management authorities, planners, engineers, researchers, and local administrations. The information can support road and infrastructure planning, hazard monitoring, emergency preparedness, environmental management, and prioritization of mitigation measures, while also providing a foundation for more detailed, site-specific landslide susceptibility and risk assessments in the future. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS 1D LISS III (2003) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007
Vulnerability analysis of cyclone in Mizoram
The Vulnerability Analysis of Cyclone in Mizoram State is a key initiative by the State Remote Sensing Centre (SRSC), under the Science, Technology & Environment Wing, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram, Aizawl. Initiated following a Hazard Mapping meeting on April 13, 2004, chaired by Pu K. Riachho, Secretary of Relief & Rehabilitation, the project received funding from the Relief & Rehabilitation Department. The project harnessed SRSC's expertise in remote sensing for rapid execution, completed in December 2004. Advanced geospatial technologies formed the backbone, including visual analysis of IRS LISS-III False Colour Composites (FCC), Survey of India (SOI) topographical maps, and historical cyclone records (1985–2004) from district Deputy Commissioners and Relief & Rehabilitation Directorate. Integrated with 2001 Census data, ArcInfo GIS software enabled classification of 828 villages/towns/wards into vulnerability zones (high, medium, low) based on occurrence, frequency, physiography (ridge/hill-top vs. slope/valley), aspect, and altitude. This produced detailed thematic maps and tables overlaying cyclone-prone locations across Mizoram's eight districts. The primary objective was to assess cyclone vulnerability statewide for enhanced disaster preparedness and mitigation and the first such effort by SRSC. Mizoram, wedged between Bangladesh/Myanmar with NNW-SSE trending ridges (elev. 40–2,157 m, e.g., Phawngpui), young tertiary sediments (Surma/Barail groups), trellis/dendritic drainage (e.g., Tlawng, Chhimtuipui rivers), and humid tropical climate (250–350 cm rainfall), faces cyclone tails from Bay of Bengal (post/pre-monsoon). Impacts include house/powerline damage, road blockages, crop/livestock losses, amplified by predominant Assam-type/timber-thatched structures on exposed ridges. The study underscores urgency for risk mapping in this topographically vulnerable, agriculturally dependent region with 888,573 population (2001). Generated reports/maps for village/ward/district-wise vulnerability (location/aspect/altitude analyses), cyclone history overlays are transformative for city/town planning. They guide resilient zoning (avoiding saddles/ridge-tops >501 m), building codes (wind-resistant designs: sloping roofs, anchors, braces), site selection (leeward/shielded), and infrastructure (reinforced walls, windbreaks). Planners can prioritize retrofitting (e.g., J-bolts, bands), integrate into District Disaster Management Plans, and foster mitigation (e.g., tree belts). This database empowers disaster management authorities to minimize losses, enhance recovery, and build cyclone-resilient settlements amid frequent moderate storms. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS LISS III (2003) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: Relief & Rehabilitation Department, Govt. of Mizoram No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2004