Detection and delineation of water bodies in hilly region using CartoDEM, SRTM and ASTER GDEM Data

Detection and delineation of Water Body Area (WBA), particularly over inaccessible hilly region is not always possible in view of time, resources and cost issues. An automated procedure for detection and delineation of water bodies in the hilly region was performed using satellite-derived DEMs. CartoDEM, SRTM and ASTER GDEM data with 30, 90 and 30m resolutions, respectively to generate the Elevation Points Features (EPF) in GIS platform. Total 7194906 EPFs were generated using these three DEMs. Contour and slope maps were also prepared to eliminate the outlier EPFs (non-water bodies) with flattered surface logic. Flattened area on DEMs, connected contour at edges of water bodies and 0° to 0.5° slopping area were considered as WBA in the region (2311 Km2) of Western Ghat (India). The nearest neighbor to cubic convolution conversion of DEMs was found useful for detection of boundary of water bodies more precisely. These results were validated from Landsat- 8 satellite images and topographic maps (Survey of India). About 3.09% from CartoDEM, 2.22% area from ASTER GDEM and 2.05% from SRTM DEM were estimated as WBA. CartoDEM data can be suggested for precise detection of smaller water bodies in hilly region. Methodology formulated in this study could be used as a rapid assessment tool for detection of water bodies, especially in the inaccessible region for better water resources management

Development of Balloon Biogas Plant for Small Farmers

Biogas plants are a sustainable and environmentally friendly way of generating energy from organic waste materials such as animal manure, crop residues, and food waste. In addition to producing biogas, these plants also generate nutrient-rich bio-slurry, which can be used as a fertilizer to improve soil fertility and crop yields.The utilization of natural resources for cooking gas generation has been a long-standing practice in various countries. However, the prevalent issue with existing systems lies in their chambers, which are prone to damage due to low-quality materials. Additionally, their construction often requires skilled labor and high-quality materials, posing challenges in affordability and accessibility. A comparison study conducted by referring problems that lead to troubleshooting in Biogas Plants between various types of biogas and a novel balloon-type biogas system has been designed and developed to address these limitations. The system exhibits cost-effectiveness, weather resistance, and thermophilic characteristics, enabling operation at high temperatures of 50°-55°C, within the range suitable for the digestion of mesophilic bacteria (40°-50°C) that contribute to gas generation. The work also elaborated to enhance biogas efficiency by incorporating a scrubber module capable of removing impurities such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapor (H2O)