LANDUSE AND LANDCOVER ANALYSIS USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS: A CASE STUDY IN AND AROUND RAJAMPET, KADAPA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

Land use/ land cover is an important component in understanding the interactions of the human activities with the environment and thus it is necessary to monitor and detect the changes to maintain a sustainable environment. Land use/ land cover change study is very important aspect of the natural resources data base study. The knowledge of land use and land cover is important for many planning and management activities as it is considered as an essential element for modeling and understanding the earth’s features. The present study aims to find out the land use/land cover features of in and around Rajampet of Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The total area of the region is 316.88 sq.km. The study has made use of high resolution IRS LISS III satellite imagery for identifying the land use/land cover classes. ERDAS and ArcGIS software were used to demarcate the land use/land cover features of study area. Remote sensing and GIS provide consistent and accurate base line information than many of the conventional surveys employed for such a task. The land use and land cover analysis in and around Rajampeta area has been attempted based on thematic mapping of the area consisting of built-up land, agriculture land, water bodies, forest and waste land using the satellite image. The research concludes that there is a rapid expansion of built-up area. In the study area the major part is occupied by the cultivated land. Land use and land cover information, when used along with information on other natural resources, like water, soil, hydro-geomorphology, etc. will help in the optimal land use planning at the macro and micro level.