Identification of Landslide prone areas in Kodaikanal Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu using Geoinformatics Techniques
Abstract
Landslide hazards are the most common hazard which affects 15 per cent of the area in India. Kodaikanal is an important hill station in Tamil Nadu. Landslide occurrence is a frequent and recurring phenomenon in Kodaikanal Hills, causing loss of lives and damage to roads, dwelling units, properties and agricultural lands. The present study covers the spatial analysis of the landslide in the area of Kodaikanal, Dindigul district using satellite data and GIS techniques. Development of various types of thematic layers such as Slope, Aspect, Geological structure, Geomorphology structure, Soil structure, Hill shade, Accumulation, Lineament and Drainage density was done for deriving the landslides hazard zone areas. Weightage rating system used for different classes of thematic layers which are based on the relative importance of various causative factors. The classes were assigned corresponding rating values as attribute information in the GIS environment. In the thematic layer, each class was assigned an ordinal rating system from 1 to 9. The present study of Kodaikanal shows categories like low, moderate and high hazard zones. Which fur-ther signifies that slope stability and manmade causes are still a major concern when taking up developing activities. The present study will be useful for carrying out mitigation programmed as well as planning and important for future development schemes within the study area.
