MULTISATELLITE MAPPING AND STEREO - RELIEF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL GEOSPHERE - BIOSPHERE PROGRAM IN THE NEPAL AND TIBET HIMALAYAS : A CODATA PROJECT

Abstract

For projects of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program, satellite data in conjunction with existing geoscientific databases provide effective means. These databases cover scattered areas and comprise topographical and geological map data, remotely sensed data (aerial photographs and satellite images at various scales), geophysical and geochemical data files, geological field reports and geoscientif is publications.
For Nepal, the elaboration of modern thematic maps at useful scales has to be based on data from appropriate satellites, primarily from LANDSAT Thematic Mapper taking into account also SPOT data for the High Himalaya where no air photo coverage exists. The combination and evaluation of multisatellite data together with aerial photographs reveal geomorphological, geological, tectonic, soil and vegetation features as well as erosion and landslide phenomena.
The results of satellite data evaluation and air photo interpretation are integrated with existing unbiased geoscience data and supplemented by ground truth data. In selected areas, digital elevation models will be constructed using SPOT data and existing topographic data. The resulting information will be integrated with data from snow-hydrological stations in the Himalayan mountains permitting, for example, the estimation of snow-melting run-off. Using GIS techniques, the results finally achieved will be displayed in thematic maps at different scales.