Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development (IMSD)
The Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development (IMSD) is a nation-wide remote-sensing application initiative launched under the Department of Space, Government of India, to provide spatially explicit natural-resource information and decision support for integrated, area-based planning and sustainable development. Originally developed with technical guidance and standardized field and mapping procedures captured in NRSC/IMSD technical guidelines, the mission established a replicable framework for producing multi-thematic geo-databases (land use/land cover, soils, slope, hydrogeomorphology, drainage and transport networks, settlements and related layers) which can be combined with socio-economic and meteorological data to produce localized action plans. In recognition of its practical value for district and regional planning, the approach has been accepted as a suitable methodology for integrated planning by central planning bodies and used widely across states to inform sectoral interventions. In Mizoram, the project was co-sponsored by the Government of Mizoram and entrusted to the Mizoram State Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC, formerly MSRSC) for implementation, with technical oversight and inputs from ISRO Headquarters, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, and RRSC, Kharagpur. The state-level execution followed a phased, district-wise rollout so that each district could receive tailored mapping, field survey support and an action plan prepared from integrated thematic maps and ground surveys. Field reconnaissance and stratified ground truthing were combined with satellite image interpretation and GIS processing to ensure thematic consistency and to calibrate remote-sensing signatures for local conditions. The project emphasized institutional collaboration, capacity building of state technical staff, and the creation of GIS-ready spatial databases that could be maintained and updated by state agencies for iterative planning and monitoring. The principal objective was to generate local-specific, implementable action plans by synthesizing natural-resource thematic maps with socio-economic needs assessments gathered through on-site surveys. These action plans are designed to translate map-based diagnostics into sectoral interventions: forest management and regeneration (including identification of degraded and priority regeneration sites), fodder resource development, targeted agricultural and horticultural development, soil and slope conservation measures, water-resource management (catchment and groundwater interventions), rural infrastructure and settlement planning, and livelihood enhancement activities. The resulting outputs comprise thematic maps, area statistics, land-use change indicators, GIS layers for decision support, and a set of prioritized, site-specific recommendations and implementation steps intended for departmental, village council and programme managers. Operationally, IMSD products serve three linked purposes: (1) to provide an evidence base for integrated, cross-sectoral planning at district and sub-district scales; (2) to identify spatial priorities for conservation and development interventions; and (3) to build state capacity for ongoing monitoring and periodic updating of resource inventories. Lessons from the Mizoram implementation emphasize the need for systematic field validation, periodic updating of imagery, and close coordination between technical agencies and local stakeholders to translate spatial plans into effective on-ground actions. The IMSD framework therefore remains a practical template for scaling remote-sensing-based planning across administrative units and for embedding geospatial information into sustainable development practice. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS 1A/1B (1995-1996) & IRS 1C/1D (1998-2002) Study area: Tuipui watershed, Part of Aizawl district, Part of Chhimtuipui district, Part of Lunglei district, Lunglei district, Saiha & Lawngtlai district. Collaborating/Funding Agency: Mizoram State Remote Sensing Application Centre (MSRSC) No. of Reports published: 6 Project Period: 1995 - 2002
Studies on Dynamics of Shifting Cultivation using Satellite Remote Sensing Techniques
The project constitutes a two part in-house investigation by the Mizoram Remote Sensing & Space Application Centre (MSRSC) designed to evaluate the capability of remote sensing to detect, quantify and characterize shifting cultivation (jhum) dynamics in Mizoram. The combined work brings together two complementary studies by two in-house scientists, each addressing distinct objectives and study areas while sharing a common methodological framework and institutional purpose. One report specifically addresses the Tuivawl catchment in Aizawl District, and the companion report examines shifting-cultivation dynamics in a separate study area described in the document. Together they form an integrated assessment of jhum patterns and associated ecological responses across representative terrain in the state. The combined aim of the project is to establish whether multi-temporal satellite data, interpreted with GIS techniques and supported by field observations, can provide a reliable, repeatable basis for mapping land-use transitions associated with shifting cultivation, estimating fallow-cycle durations, and identifying hotspots of forest conversion or regeneration. To this end the two reports unite remote sensing change detection and classification approaches with ground-level ecological reporting (including a status note on flora and fauna for the Tuivawl catchment), thereby linking landscape-level land-cover dynamics with on-the-ground environmental status. This arrangement allows the project to address both the technical performance of remote sensing methods and their ecological validity when applied to Mizoram’s complex, hilly landscape. Methodologically, the studies use satellite imagery as the principal input, applying temporal comparison and thematic classification to delineate cropping/fallow sequences, shifting cultivation patches, and associated vegetation responses. The Tuivawl component additionally presents a status account of local flora and fauna to contextualise observed land-cover changes. Map products, area statistics and GIS-ready datasets are generated to summarise spatial patterns and trends. Field knowledge and institutional expertise are used to refine thematic assignments and to interpret ambiguous or mixed land-use pixels which is an important consideration in steep, mosaicked landscapes where smallholder practices create heterogeneous signatures. Collectively, the two studies complied in separate reports deliver: (a) district- and catchment-scale LULC maps focused on jhum cycles and their temporal evolution; (b) quantified area changes and fallow-cycle indicators useful for monitoring; (c) an ecological status synopsis (Tuivawl) that grounds remote observations in species-level and habitat information; and (d) an assessment of remote sensing’s strengths and limitations for operational monitoring of shifting cultivation in Mizoram. The work thus supplies policy-relevant evidence for land-use planners, forest managers, and local development agencies seeking spatially explicit data to inform interventions that aim to balance livelihood practices with conservation and land-use sustainability. The reports are presented as an internal study to test method feasibility and to provide baseline products for subsequent, more extensive monitoring programmes. Technical specifics such as sensors and temporal span of imagery, mapping scale, classification schema, field-validation protocols, exact study-area boundaries, authorship of the reports, and year(s) of execution and publication are documented within the individual reports and should be referred to for operational or citation purposes. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:250,000 Satellite data & Year: Landsat TM Major Land Use / Land Cover categories: Shifting cultivation & Forest types. Collaborating/Funding Agency: Mizoram State Remote Sensing Application Centre (MSRSC) No. of Reports published: 2 Project Period: 1991 - 1993
Land Use / Land Cover Mapping of Mizoram
The Land Use / Land Cover (LULC) mapping of Mizoram was undertaken to generate a systematic and spatially consistent assessment of land use patterns across three main districts – namely Aizawl, Lunglei & Chhimtuipui using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The project aimed to establish a reliable geospatial baseline that would support district-level planning, environmental monitoring, and sustainable resource management in the districts. The primary objective of the project was to identify, classify, and map the major land use and land cover categories prevailing within the administrative boundary of the study districts. The study sought to produce standardized thematic maps and associated spatial statistics that could be readily used by line departments, planners, and researchers. Emphasis was placed on creating a uniform and replicable dataset that could also serve as a reference for future land use change studies. Satellite remote sensing data formed the core input for the analysis, supplemented by GIS-based spatial processing and interpretation. Established land use / land cover classification schemes were followed to ensure thematic consistency with national and institutional standards. Image interpretation techniques were applied to delineate different land cover classes, and ancillary datasets such as administrative boundaries and existing reference information were used to enhance spatial accuracy. Institutional expertise and domain knowledge played a key role in refining classifications, particularly in areas with mixed or transitional land use patterns. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:250,000 Satellite data & Year: Landsat TM, 1989 Major Land Use / Land Cover categories: Built-up, Agriculture, Forest, Water bodies, Shifting cultivation & Abandoned jhum. Collaborating/Funding Agency: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad No. of Reports published: 2 Project Period: 1989 - 1990