Geospatial Based Terrain Characterization for Watershed Management: A Case Study of Upper North Koel Watershed, Latehar and Gumla Districts, Jharkhand, India

Abstract

Geospatial techniques have emerged as effective tools that contribute substantially to the assessment of terrain characteristics for the sustainable development and management of watershed resources. This study highlights the rapid and cost-effective application of RS-GIS to assess the terrain of the Upper North Koel Watershed, which encompasses the Latehar and Gumla districts of Jharkhand, with the aim of optimising resource management and supporting sustainable livelihoods within the basin. The river originates in the forested hill tracts of Latehar district, flows northwards through Betla National Park, and joins the Son River, thereby contributing to the region’s biodiversity. In this study, various terrain parameters were generated in QGIS v. 3.40.6 using Landsat 8 satellite imagery (date of acquisition: 25th November, 2025) and SRTM data at a spatial resolution of 30 m. Additional sources included Survey of India toposheets Nos. 73 A/2, 73 A/3, 73A/6 and 73 A/8 at a scale of 1:50,000, FAO data, and Bhukosh. The study area comprises 1,278 sq. km of highly dissected terrain within the Chotanagpur Plateau and is dominated by crystalline rocks. The pediment–pediplain complex (60%), Ferric Luvisols and Lithosols, dendritic to sub-dendritic and rectangular drainage patterns, and varied slopes suggest moderate structural control and susceptibility to surface runoff and erosion. Hydrological indices indicate moderate forest cover in the central portion, with patches of agricultural land in the south (NDVI: 0.09 to 0.41), moderate vegetation moisture (NDMI: -0.1450 to 0.2613), approximately 40% built-up development concentrated in the southern portion, and sparse water bodies (NDWI: -0.41 to 0.10). These results underline the watershed’s vulnerability to moisture loss, runoff, and erosion, emphasising the need for basin-level intervention. Agricultural development, which is largely confined to the southern region of the watershed, underscores the need to manage and prioritise groundwater resources. The study demonstrates that RS-GIS-based terrain characterisation can be applied to similar hard-rock regions.