An assessment of geo-environmental quality using physical data and a geospatial approach: an example for a watershed in Central India

A spatial multiple criteria evaluation analysis (SMCE) was undertaken using GIS and remote sensing techniques with spatial datasets to identify the geo-environmental values for a watershed in central India. All the geo-environmental values were estimated based on this dataset for the development of an ecological system. We have investigated the resources of an environmental status of the region using this methodology. A set of ten natural resource parameters were evaluated using a combination of remote sensing information, GIS technologies and field data, which has significance in regional geo-environment sustainability. An integrated geo-environmental potential index (GPI) has been calculated and the same is used further to derived the final geo-environmental potential map (GEPM) illustrating four classes of geo-environmental resources, i.e., high, moderate, low, and poor. The geo-environmental quality map overall shows a high level of geo-environmental resources in the maximum area (48.30%). The results of study area are significant for identifying the protection, conservation, and planning management strategies that would be needed to protect the geo-environmental values of the river basin area. The geo-environmental potential zones that were identified are potentially manageable using conservation techniques. The work amply proves the applicability of RS, GIS, and SMCE techniques in the natural resource evaluation procedure.