Sustainable land use planning in post war areas using geo- informatics as tools

Abstract

Proper land use planning is indispensable for the sustainable economic development in the war affected areas. Impacts of war always result in drastic change in the present land use practices of a region. Migration of people is the major factor induced in the transformation of (and use. Geo informatics (Geographic Information System, Remote sensing and Global Positioning System) can be used as a powerful tool for sustainable land use planning in the post war regions. Sustainable land use planning in post war regions involves two stages a) Creation of database (Spatial and non-spatial) and b) Planning with the help of decision support systems. Creation of database involves identifying natural resources using satellite images, preparation of various thematic maps (soil map, geomorphology map, geology map, topographical map, vegetation map and present land use map), surveying using sophisticated instruments and collecting general information's! population, Climate and land ownership) from the local administration. Effective planning can be made using GIS and remote sensing which involves identifying disaster free sites for settlements, creating ecology conserved zones and building basic infrastructures. Occupation creation and restoration are also parts of sustainable land use planning. Restoring people to their own lands, providing basic infrastructures, natural resource management and creating income to the people are the major themes of sustainable land use planning. Land use planning in post war areas using GIS as a decision support systems are able to bring out a sustainable and more efficient land use pattern than in the pre war period.