Application of remote sensing and GIS techniques for exploring construction material from inaccessible terrains; case study in Eastern Province of Sri Lanka

Demand for construction materials in the North and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka has risen significantly due to accelerated construction work in progress to restore the destroyed infrastructures during the civil war. Ground surveying methods to locate quarries within this area are not applicable due to security reasons and the larger area to be covered. Thus a Remote Sensing method is suitable for this task. This study introduces a methodology to locate suitable quarries and sand mines for constructions in the Eastern province. LANDSAT ETM+ images were used for classification. Feasible rocks and sand deposits for quarry operations were located using Multicriteria Analysis (AHP).The highly suitable rock quarries and sand deposits were considered in closest facility analysis. The results showed that the integration of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) can serve as an effective tool in demarcating suitable sites for construction material and this methodology can also be applied for projects of similar nature

Flow category landslide susceptibility modelling of the Sydney Basin

University of Wollongong Landslide Research Team has completed a GIS-based Landslide Susceptibility model for the entire Sydney Basin region. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the 2011 Census data, the population within the Sydney Basin Study area is approximately one quarter of the population of Australia. This model has been developed with the aid of a large scale Landslide Inventory for NSW, which contains 1823 landslides to date. A composite geology dataset has also been developed using commercially available geology datasets including those from NSW Department of Primary Industries and elsewhere. The model employs a 10m pixel Digital Elevation Model (DEM) across the entire study area derived from either Local Government sourced Airborne Laser Scan data and where absent the 30m pixel year 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data. Using techniques developed over the last decade and refined ArcGIS tools developed over the last three years, Data Mining methods and ESRI ArcGIS capabilities have enabled the modelling to produce a very useful zoning outcome over the entire Sydney Basin area. The Major advantage of this new tool is that it applies the See5 logic derived from rule sets over a large datasets, and produces a visually interpretable outcome. The authors expect the susceptibility zoning are suitable for use at Regional to Local Advisory level Local Government Planning Development Control Plans

Landslide inventory and susceptibility zoning across SE Australia

A landmark Australian landslide research project, that will produce a series of medium-scale landslide inventory and susceptibility zoning datasets for substantial areas of Australia, is proposed. The project will produce a series of planning tools to facilitate the implementation of the AGS 2007 Landslide Risk Management (LRM) guidelines within government, and also address the new paradigm in risk management of due diligence. The project will also summarize the current variable status of landslide regulations around the country at both state and local government levels. This project will complement the earlier National Disaster Mitigation funding of the Australian Geomechanics Society and will address the difficulty in assembling a meaningful landslide inventory, essential for the development of susceptibility and hazard maps in landslide risk management practice. Susceptibility maps are seen as the best product from which to produce planning and development control areas for use in local government planning schemes addressing landslide issues. The development of a National Landslide Inventory framework would enhance data collection standards for this hazard across Australia. The costs associated with landslide damage and management are poorly documented within Australia and this project will also contribute to enhancing this element. Preliminary figures from early work in this area suggests government spending in the Wollongong area alone is at least $5 million annually since 1950 on landslide related costs. The project will also result in a series of regional to local zoning inventory and susceptibility zoning datasets and associated maps ranging from 1:250 000 and perhaps in some areas up to 1:25 000 scales for substantial areas of Australia. A modelling process will also be documented to promote transparency and to facilitate subsequent review and revisions. Achieving appropriate levels of funding to undertake this project remains a priority for the team. However, substantial elements are being developed already (some of which are summarized in this paper) and the authors are confident this project will come to fruition