Spatio-Temporal Investigation of Mining Activity and Its Effect on Landscape Dynamics

Abstract

In this chapter, landscape change dynamics triggered by mining disturbance in the Beejoliya tehsil (Rajasthan) have been examined by geo-spatial techniques, especially using open source software e.g., Sentinel Applications Platform (SNAP), System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA)-Geographical Information System (GIS), R, Quantum Geographical Information System (QGIS), etc. Earth observation data sources, i.e., Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) (1978), Thematic Mapper (TM) (1998), and Operational Land Imager (OLI) (2018) images and ancillary data, i.e., a topographical map (1:50,000) have been integrated for extracting diverse land use and land cover (LULC) features. Moreover, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) change assessment within the mining area buffer zone and three multi-resolution digital elevation models (DEM), namely, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), and Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) – Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) were used. The different LULC classes, mainly agricultural land, scrubland, mining area, built-up land, forest cover, and water body, have been identified from the multi-temporal satellite imageries and validated with the topographical map in correspondence to real-time Google Earth (GE) images. The results revealed that forest cover significantly decreased from 49.02% in 1978 to 33.51% in 2018, while built-up area increased from 0.36% in 1978 to 3.24% in 2018. Agricultural land gradually increased from 30.74% in 1978 to 34.26% in 2018. On the other hand, water body increased from 0.41% in 1978 to 1.08% in 2018 due to mining. Scrubland slightly increases, whereas stony dumping sites decrease from 18.97% to 19.24% in 1978 and 2018 respectively. The mining area increased from 0.50% in 1978 to 8.67% in 2018. The NDVI was used for vegetation cover changes within different mining buffer zones in the study area, and it was found that vegetation areas were disturbed by mining activities from 1978 to 2018. The topographical variation illustrated that the landform elevation had changed due to human interference and mining activity. Studying four directions of the area, it was found that had been loss or gain in landscape elevation. The final results gave suitable facts to address proper development strategies and land management design in arid and semi-arid areas.