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
Environmental Studies of Lunglei town
The Environmental Studies of Lunglei Town project was undertaken by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC) under the Science, Technology & Environment Wing, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram, and completed in 2008. The study was initiated in response to increasing developmental pressure and environmental concerns in Lunglei, including heavy rainfall, unstable slopes and rock formations, seasonal water scarcity, vegetation degradation and uncontrolled human activities. The project recognized the need for a reliable environmental database to support more scientific and sustainable urban development. The study covered Lunglei Town, the headquarters of Lunglei District and the second-largest settlement in Mizoram, with an area of about 55.08 sq. km. The project applied Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, supported by field investigations and other environmental datasets, to analyse the interrelationships between natural conditions and human activities. The major themes examined included climate, surface-water resources, groundwater potential, water quality, geology, geomorphology, landslide hazards, slope, aspect, altitude, soils and land use/land cover. The study also aimed to formulate recommendations for environmental management and future development planning. The project provides an integrated environmental framework for understanding the physical constraints and resource potential of Lunglei Town. Its thematic maps, spatial database, field observations and accompanying report are valuable for urban and infrastructure planning, water-resource management, landslide-risk reduction, land-use regulation, environmental conservation and identification of suitable areas for future development. The generated information is particularly useful to the Planning Department, municipal and district authorities, engineering and development agencies, disaster-management institutions, researchers and other government departments requiring reliable environmental baseline data. By bringing multiple environmental parameters into a common geospatial framework, the project provides an important reference for monitoring environmental change and promoting safer, better informed and more sustainable development of Lunglei Town. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:10,000 Satellite data & Year: ResourceSat – LISS IV (2007) & Cartosat-1 (2006) Study area: Lunglei town Collaborating/Funding Agency: Science & Technology wing, Planning Department No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2008
National Wastelands Monitoring - Mizoram
The National Wastelands Monitoring using Multi-Temporal Satellite Data – Mizoram project formed part of a national initiative led by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to update and improve information on wasteland distribution across India using satellite remote sensing. For Mizoram, the study was carried out by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Science & Technology, Planning Department, as a partner institution under the national programme. The project responded to the need for more detailed and regularly updated wasteland information than was available from earlier small-scale national mapping exercises. The principal objective was to update the spatial extent and distribution of wastelands with reference to the 2003 database using 2005–2006 satellite imagery, and to create a standardized digital database and information system for monitoring land degradation and change. The study covered the entire State of Mizoram, comprising all eight districts and its predominantly mountainous, forested and shifting-cultivation-influenced landscape. The project employed IRS-P6 LISS-III multi-temporal satellite data, supported by existing wasteland vector layers, Survey of India maps and ancillary information. Remote sensing interpretation and GIS-based spatial analysis were used to delineate and classify wasteland categories such as current and abandoned shifting cultivation, scrub forest, open scrub and degraded pasture/grazing land. A major component of the project was change analysis, wherein the 2003 wasteland database was overlaid with the 2005–2006 mapping to identify areas of reclamation, continuing degradation, newly emerging wastelands and areas showing no significant change. The maps, digital database, district-wise outputs and change-analysis information generated through the project provide an important planning resource for land-resource management, watershed development, soil and water conservation, forestry, agriculture, rural development and environmental monitoring. They also offer government agencies, planners, researchers and development departments a consistent geospatial baseline for identifying degraded areas, prioritizing rehabilitation measures, monitoring land-use change and evaluating the effectiveness of land-restoration programmes over time. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P6 LISS-III (2005 & 2006) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2009
National Land Use Land Cover Mapping - Mizoram
The National Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Mapping of Mizoram using Multi-Temporal Satellite Data was undertaken as part of the Natural Resources Census Programme of the Department of Space, Government of India. The nationwide programme was coordinated by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, while the Mizoram component was implemented by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC) in close coordination with the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Shillong. The project was designed to generate an updated, standardized and spatially consistent LULC database for the State to support natural-resource planning and management. The study covered the entire State of Mizoram and used multi-temporal IRS-P6 LISS-III satellite data for 2005–2006, representing the Kharif, Rabi and Zaid seasons. These datasets were supplemented by field verification, Survey of India topographic maps at 1:50,000 scale, existing thematic maps, road and settlement information, census data and other statistical records. Standard Remote Sensing and GIS procedures were employed, following the NRC-LULC 50K classification and codification framework, to generate seamless district- and State-level digital databases. The mapping framework represented major land-use categories including built-up areas, agriculture, forest, bamboo, grassland, wasteland, water bodies and shifting cultivation. The primary objective of the project was to provide a reliable geospatial representation of the State’s land-use and land-cover pattern and its seasonal characteristics. Such information is particularly important in Mizoram because of its rugged terrain, extensive forest cover, shifting cultivation and rapidly changing patterns of land utilization. The resulting maps, GIS database and report provide valuable baseline information for government departments, planners, researchers and development agencies. They can support land-use planning, agricultural and forestry programmes, watershed management, infrastructure development, environmental monitoring, resource conservation and future change-detection studies. By adopting a nationally standardized methodology, the project also enables Mizoram’s LULC information to be integrated with the larger national natural-resource database for consistent monitoring and evidence-based planning. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P6 LISS-III (2005 & 2006) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2009