Resource Use Planning and Systems Simulations Programme
INTRODUCTION
In response to the environmental degradation especially posed by increasing
population pressure and human activities, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic
Information Science (GIS) are becoming essential tools and techniques to
understand, plan and monitor the complex interrelated natural as well as man
made systems. It is well established fact that RS can give a quick, economical
and reasonably accurate mean to understand the resource base which at times is
inaccessible.
Resource Use Planning and Systems Simulations Programme (RUP) was established
in 1991 under WRRI. It was initiated by merging small scale projects and
strengthened by several international institutions like TARC/JIRCAS (Japan),
ICIMOD (Nepal), BOSTID (USA), UNEP, APN, IUCN, ICARDA (Syria), etc. The
programme is dedicated to geoinformatics applications in agriculture and natural
resources with the aim to promote geo-informatics in planning, development and
research especially in the fields of agriculture and natural resources.
Under this programme a fully functional RS and GIS facility has been
established. This facility is well equipped with hardware standard softwares to
handle all sorts of spatial analysis using satellite remote sensing as well as
ancillary data. A comprehensive digital database is available with the programme
which is being continuously updated/enhanced.
A multi-disciplinary team including ecologist, hydrologist, geologist,
agricultural and civil engineers, computer scientists, cartographers, etc. has
been developed. The technical staff was nationally as well as internationally
trained and is capable of handling basic as well as advanced RS/GIS applications
and trainings.
OBJECTIVES
The primary
objective is to generate resource and research based scientific information
related to agriculture sector and natural resources with an aim to have
systematic resource use planning for sustained agriculture and natural resource
management in the country.
The secondary objective is to use computer modeling and simulations for systems analysis and management so that generalized information can be used by planners, administrators, research managers, researchers, extension agents and progressive farmers.
ACTIVITIES
The programme is involved in executing several national and international projects/programmes, on-job tailored trainings, consulting services, development of methodologies and technology transfer programmes. Some of thrust areas using RS and GIS are:
Spatial Database Development
Characterization and Classification
Resource Inventories
Diagnostic Analysis
Trend/ Impact Analysis
Climate Change Analysis
Socio Economic Analysis
Training
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Spatial Database Development A comprehensive data records/toposheets/thematic maps from various data collecting institutions like Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Soil Survey of Pakistan, Pakistan Meteorological Department and Survey of Pakistan have been collected and a spatial digital database has been developed. This database has been updated now and then whenever current data sets are available/accessable. Some of the examples of such datasets are: |
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Characterization and Classification
Considering the data limitation, using GIS layers and RS data, appropriate methodologies have been developed for characterization and classification. Some of the examples include:
Based
on historical climatic data, the agro-climatic zones have been identified.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan this exercise was done on
seasonal basis. The classification criteria identified are Aridity Index
(AI) and Crop Growth Index (CGI).
Using
statistical crop data set on seasonal basis, a methodology has been
developed for delineating cropping zones. The major existing cropping
patterns for the country have been mapped for planning future agriculture.
In collaboration with IUCN (Pakistan) an activity was initiated to review the past classification efforts for the ecosystems/ vegetation types of Pakistan and based on these information a methodology was devised to improve this classification on sound criteria. Using database like NOAA image supplemented with extensive ground data, maps of land use and vegetation types of Pakistan were developed. After thorough field validations these maps were updated.
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Resource Inventories The pre-request for resource use planning and monitoring is the knowledge of the existing/past state of the resource. Several studies have been carried out for resource inventory of various systems. The most important one among these is the inventory of glaciers, glacial lakes and potentially dangerous glacial lakes in HKH region of Pakistan. It is a regional initiative supported by ICIMOD, APN, UNEP and START. Under this study a comprehensive database on glaciers and glacial lakes of northern Pakistan covering Himalaya, karakoram and Hindukush ranges has been developed and potentially dangerous glacial lakes have been identified. The information is available in the form of CD and can be accessed on request from the institute. |
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Diagnostic analysis
Water
is a precious natural resource and over-exploitation of ground water in the past
has resulted in rapid aquifer depletion. Outside Indus basin the groundwater is
not a contiguous aquifer and its recharge is jagged. For future water
developments in this area, a careful investigation is required to evaluate the
existing ground water potential and its recharge. For identification of
potential sites for dug wells, in six tehsils of Punjab province, a detailed
digital analysis was carried out. The area was classified based on high, medium
and low potential for ground water recharge.
In the catchment areas of main reservoirs and small dams of the country, the problem of soil erosion and land degradation is on rise thus threatening the life of the reservoirs. In collaboration with JIRCAS, Japan a methodology has been established to develop the management strategies for watershed areas. Using the processed/classified satellite image and various GIS layers, the most sensitive areas prone to erosion have been identified for immediate watershed management. Furthermore, surface hydrology was correlated with ground water hydrology for identification of recharge potential.
Trend/Impact
Analysis
Based on various GIS layers, trend/impact of any development/ management
activity or natural disasters can be studied. Some of such studies include:
temporal and spatial analysis of water quality and water table depth after
installation of tube wells in saline and waterlogged areas, impact of drought in
desert environment, watershed analysis in various ecologies for identification
of management strategies, resource monitoring in national parks, game reserves,
wetlands, etc.
Climate
Change Analysis
A project has been initiated to estimate and model the climate change impact on
major landuse systems. This analysis has three components including climate
analysis and modeling, landuse trend analysis and integration of climate and
landuse trends.
Socio
Economic Analysis
To correlate the poverty levels with natural resources endowment, in
collaboration with ICARDA, Syria a study was initiated in WANA region of
Pakistan. The baseline GIS layers, for natural resources, agriculture and
socio-economic parameters were developed for Balochistan province of Pakistan. A
detailed analysis for poverty levels and natural resources were carried out and
the correlations between these two parameters were studied. As a result a CD was
developed.
Training
The staff of various national research and development organizations and
educational institutions are trained in basics of Remote Sensing and Geographic
Information Science and their applications. The programme has the capacity to
tailor the training courses according to the client's requirement. Under this
activity several training manuals for various level courses have been developed.
Furthermore, students from educational institutions do their research work and
complete their internship as a part of their master's degree programme.
Facilities
The programme has a dedicated research environment for a wide range of
geoinformatics applications. The facilities include an independent wing of WRRI,
standard hardware, raster and vector based softwares, GPS receivers, etc.
Besides, a database covering SRS and ancillary data is also available which is
regularly updated based on the availability/accessibility of current datasets. A
multidisciplinary team of more than 12 dedicated personnel are busy in
developing methodologies and application of geoinformatics at various levels
ranging from farm level to national and regional level.
The
facilities of the programme are open to any government, non-government, private
or international organization for training, research and development in the
field of remote sensing, GIS and GPS. We warmly welcome short and long term
enthusiastic visiting research fellows/students to join our team to work on
ongoing projects/activities and will happily be sharing our research facilities
and data archives for the promotion of RS/GIS application.
CURRENT
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
We have started ambitious projects on geoinformatics application in Rod Kohi
areas and development of National Land Use Plan besides our ongoing commitments.
Small scale activities on monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes in norther
Pakistan, climate impact on natural resources and landuse/landcover change have
also been initiated.
Scientists
Involved
1- Dr. Rakhshan Roohi, SSO/Programme Leader
2- Mr. Arshad Ashraf, SSO
3- Dr. Bashir Ahmad, SSO
4- Mrs. Rozina Naz, SO
5- Mr. Naveed Mustafa, SO
6- Mr. Bilal Iqbal, SO
Contacts Details:
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Dr. Rakhshan Roohi, PSO/ PL |
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WRRI, NARC, Park Road, Islamabad. 9255074, 9255022 |
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[Last updated: March, 2008]
