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Remotely-sensed data products have got unique advantage over conventional data-gathering techniques in the study of urban morphology. The physical parameters like built-up area density, street pattern, population density, urban structure as well as functional characteristics which can be derived from land use/land cover map, are clearly visible on aerial data products. This technique provides synoptic view of the area which makes the study comprehensive and uniform. Sequential aerial photographs and satellite imagery help in studying the growth of urban area and temporal changes in urban structure. These informations are very useful in the planning of city extension. Here an attempt has been made to study the urban morphology of Saharanpur city by using panchromatic aerial photographs on scale 1∶10,000, IRS-1B LISS II geocoded imagery on 1∶50,000 scale and photo-maps on 1∶4000 scale, and the results are very encouraging.

For urban planning and decision making, exact information about population of a specific area is very important. In India, the population census is carried out after every decade by field survey. But to know the inter-censual population, field survey is not very appropriate method because it is not cost and time-effective. Remote sensing can help significantly in generating quick information about housing typology and housing stock, from which population data can be extracted with the help of limited field checks. Therefore, two techniques of estimation of population using remote sensing data have been employed for Saharanpur city as a case study and the results are very encouraging.

Historical monuments and sites are mirrors of human beings’ past life and reflect their genius, perfection, sensitivity and changing attitude towards life and nature. Their protection and preservation should be a part of national policy of economic and physical development. But unmindful execution of public works schemes, expansion of urban areas are causing irreparable damage to this cultural heritage. Improper mapping and listing is other fallacy which intentionally or unintentionally leads the planners and developers to prepare development scheme without taking location and extent of historic monuments and sites into consideration. Here an attempt has been made to develop an interpretation key for mapping of historical monuments and sites by using SPOT satellite image of Delhi and comparison of image and acrial photograph for a small sample area.

Ife Journal of Science Vol. 8(1) 2006: 83-90

Visual interpretation of satellite data products coupled with field checking is a very useful technique of finding out the physical growth of urban centres. The expansion of urban centres is very fast and conventional ground methods are slow and in-accurate because by these methods, delineation of built-up area is difficult. Mapping and monitoring the urban sprawl, as a result of urban decay of city centre, at regular intervals is very essential for urban planners to understand the trend of development on the urban periphery and subsequently to regulate it. In this study, various data products like Landsat MSS, TM, Toposheets were used to find out the growth of Delhi urban area since 1975 to 1988. Thematic Mapper imagery was used to prepare a broad landuse/land cover map of Delhi and environs. This study was very useful in finding out the potential, as well as shortcomings of satellite data products in the study of various urban aspects.

This paper is based on a case study of Delhi. The attempt has been made to find out the usefulness of aerial remote sensing in the study of urban fringe where all sorts of haphazard developments take place. Unauthorised construction, illegal sub-division of land, urban sprawl, environmental degradation are all parts of urban fringe Attempt has been made to find out the efficacy of aerial photos at pre-planning stage and their role in assigning various landuses for planned development of urban fringe zone. For the first time, the concept of “Urban Index” has been used to determine the scale of urbanity by aerial remote sensing technique. Growth of settlements, land speculation, impact of anticipated development proposal have been studied. Aerial photographs have been used to detect depressions, drainage pattern, flooding problems, location of high ground water table areas which are very important for a comprehensive planning and for environmental protection. Limitations of topomaps compared to aerial photographs have been worked out. The study is based on air photo-interpretation technique supported by field checking. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A04KF011 00003

This paper is based on the study done in Rohini and surrounding project area of Delhi. The objective of the paper is to evaluate the application of aerial remote sensing for preparing inventory of derelict land around urban areas. Inventory and monitoring of derelict lands is very important for urban planners and decision makers. Because of unmanageable growth of urban areas, the pressure on rich agricultural land in the urban-rural fringe is increasing day by day, while vast stretches of derelict land are lying unused. These derelict lands can be used for urban development, if properly mapped. An operational remote sensing methodology has been worked out. A classification has been developed and used for this study. Results of the ground truth collected have proved the efficacy of aerial remote sensing for such studies.