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Current Status of Geological Remote Sensing in Bangladesh: a Review

A. K. M. Khorshed Alam
Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Geological application of remote sensing in Bangladesh has been reviewed from published literatures with an objective of evaluating its present status and potentiality of future use. Application of remote sensing started in Bangladesh with the use of aerial photographs in the middle of the last century, and satellite remote sensing started since the beginning of Landsat era in early 1970s. Data from different sensors are being used in geological mapping, mineral exploration, neotectonic studies, coastal geological mapping etc. and is also used in the fields of urban geology, environmental geology and natural hazard assessment which give valuable results. Both visual image interpretation and digital image processing techniques are being applied for data analysis. The review result clearly shows its effective use in various geological applications and ascertains its potential utilization to meet the challenges of the country in the 21st century. But the future successful and wide use of remote sensing will largely depend on trained and knowledgeable manpower and availability of these data at low cost.

Keywords: Bangladesh, Remote Sensing, Geology, Natural Hazards, Neotectonics

Location: Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Remote sensing

Objectives:

To give an idea to the users and especially the young researchers about the present status and strength of the remote sensing technology and its potential future use in geology and related-fields in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

A geological reconnaissance in part of Bangladesh and India was made during 1955-56 on an area exceeding 1,80,000 square kilometres covered with Quaternary deposits (Morgan and McIntire, 1959). This classic study was based on interpretation of aerial photographs coupled with as much field work as was possible. They defined the geomorphic and stratigraphic framework of the Bengal delta and demonstrated the neotectonic activity influencing the course of rivers on the delta. Geologists of the country started using aerial photographs for geological mapping and delineating natural resources as early as 1961-62 (Alam and Quaraishi, 1985) to prepare maps in the folded sedimentary rock terrain of the SE part of Bangladesh. In a later date the floodplain of the Jamuna-Brahmaputra river was mapped on the basis of examination, in detail, of several sets of aerial photo-mosaics (scale 1:50,000) to determine the sediment dynamics, geomorphology and tectonics of the Bengal delta (Coleman, 1969). Use of satellite remote sensing data in geological purposes started with the preparation of geomorphological map on the eastern part of Bangladesh with the help of Landsat-1 and 2 imagery at the scale of 1:1 million (Bakr, 1977). The image interpretation was supported by field work during 1973-76. The objectives of the work were to identify Quaternary geomorphic surfaces and the accompanying deposits, the past and present drainage, and analyze the nature of geomorphic evolution of the area. The imagery furnished useful information on tonal variation and texture, and aided in classification of mappable units. In this work archeological evidences have been efficiently used to solve Holocene geological problem. In early 1980s geological mapping were done in an area adjacent south of the Shillong Plateau (Islam and Alam, 1992) and in the SE part of the country using aerial photographs at the scale of 1: 30,000 (Khan et al., 1998). The aerial photographs were found to be useful for geological mapping. The later work identified few environmental problems in the area. Field surveys were carried at different times during 1984-85 to prepare geomorphological and geological maps of the coastal parts in the SW region of Bangladesh with the help of aerial photographs (1:30,000) and Landsat images (Azeem and Khalequzzaman, 1994). They classified the terrain into different land facets for obtaining maximum benefits from landuse. During late 1980s Geological Survey of Bangladesh took a large geological mapping programme in different geological environments in 1988-1990 periods (Alam et al., 1990; Khan et al., 1990; Huq et al., 1991; Huq et al., 2003; Alam et al., 2008) to map Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. Remote sensing data gave the opportunity to reinterpret the images in many cases. Geological map of the NW part of Bangladesh was prepared to understand the Tista fan geology (Khan et al., 1990). Bangladesh is located in a tectonically active region of the world. Studies on the neotectonics have been carried out to understand the style, pattern and behavior of the activities. Technique of neotectonic studies in soft sediment-covered area is quite different from that in folded sedimentary terrain. Important environmental issues of Bangladesh are air pollution, pollution from municipal waste, industrial and oil pollution in the coastal region. These pollutions can be monitored and protective and mitigative measures may be taken. Environmental impact of development projects can be studied using this technology and the knowledge can be applied to such projects in future. Environmental impact of the underground coal and hard rock mines in the northwestern part of the country can be monitored using different remote sensing data. Melting of Himalayan ice due to global warming is predicted that will cause more erosion in upper part and sedimentation in the down-stream part. Study and monitoring these effects will help taking proper steps towards adaptation or mitigation. Dynamics of mangrove forests can be monitored using hyperspectral remote sensing.

Source of Information: Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 4, December 2015

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Remote sensing techniques have been found to be very effective in various fields of geology. Although the high cost of remote sensing data and related hardware and software hinders research works and applications in many developing countries. Besides the optical and infer-red region of the electromagnetic spectrum other potential range could be in the thermal infrared and microwave region. The technology could be of much beneficial for Bangladesh in resource exploration, exploitation and management. Pressure from huge population on a small piece of land for food, shelter, urban and other development activities can be reduced through proper planning and management which depends on reliable and timely information. More research should be carried out in order to understand the interactions between the electromagnetic energy and terrain characteristics. This is true in case of Bangladesh because it has a unique combination of soft Holocene sediment covered alluvial-deltaic country in an active tectonic region with anthropogenic influence from its huge population. Moreover, its position is in a tropical humid climatic zone. To obtain maximum benefit using the RS tool we have to understand the interactions among these. With the development in data acquisition capability, and in image processing software, trained and skilled users with up-to-date knowledge will help in successful application of remote sensing. In addition to the academic courses in different universities arrangement of short training courses are recommended which will help in reducing deficiency in qualified manpower in this sector. Moreover, its application will get wider spectrum if the remote sensing data are available at low cost.

Knowledge Management: Journal