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Analysis of relief characteristics is an important part of terrain analysis. Morphometric analysis based on geospatial technology has several advantages over manual methods based on conventional data bases such as topographical maps. Firstly, being fully automated process, it has very less scope for subjectivity, omission or commission errors. Secondly, it is much easier to acquire geospatial data than topographical maps. There are various authoritative sources that provide free geospatial data on global and regional scales. Hence, it is much easier to work on global or regional scales cutting across international boundaries. In this paper ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) digital elevation model (DEM) has been used for the analysis of relief characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

We have attempted comparative analysis of the utility of linear spectral unmixing (LSU) method and band ratios for delineating bauxite from laterite within the lateritic bauxite provinces of Chotonagpur Plateau, Jharkhand of India. This was attempted based on processing of visible–near infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral bands of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor. In LSU method, spectral features of main constituent minerals of lateritic bauxite are used to decompose the pixel spectra to estimate the relative abundance of bauxite and laterite in each pixel to spatially delineate bauxite within laterite. We have also compared the bauxite map derived using LSU method with bauxite maps of two band ratios in terms of spatial disposition of bauxite. We also have attempted to relate the abundance values of pixels of LSU-based bauxite map with band ratio values of bauxite pixels of two selected bauxite indices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] more...

Abstract: Bauxite deposits of Jharkhand in India are resulted from the lateritization process and therefore are often associated with the laterites. In the present study, ASTER (Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) image is processed to delineate bauxite rich pockets within the laterites. In this regard, spectral signatures of lateritic bauxite samples are analyzed in the laboratory with reference to the spectral features of gibbsite (main mineral constituent of bauxite) and goethite (main mineral constituent of laterite) in VNIR–SWIR (visible-near infrared and short wave infrared) electromagnetic domain. The analysis of spectral signatures of lateritic bauxite samples helps in understanding the differences in the spectral features of bauxites and laterites. Based on these differences; ASTER data based relative band depth and simple ratio images are derived for spatial mapping of the bauxites developed within the lateritic province. In order to integrate the complementary information of different index image, an index based principal component (IPC) image is derived to incorporate the correlative information of these indices to delineate bauxite rich pockets. The occurrences of bauxite rich pockets derived from density sliced IPC image are further delimited by the topographic controls as it has been observed that the major bauxite occurrences of the area are controlled by slope and altitude. In addition to above, IPC image is draped over the digital elevation model (DEM) to illustrate how bauxite rich pockets are distributed with reference to the topographic variability of the terrain. Bauxite rich pockets delineated in the IPC image are also validated based on the known mine occurrences and existing geological map of the bauxite. It is also conceptually validated based on the spectral similarity of the bauxite pixels delineated in the IPC image with the ASTER convolved laboratory spectra of bauxite samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier] more...