Remote sensing and gis techniques for tectonic studies

Abstract

Remote sensing and GIS are complementary to each other and efficient techniques for lineament mapping, and hence for tectonic studies. Advanced remote sensing techniques such as InSAR and GPS have revolutionized tectonic studies by directly measuring the motion of faults associated with earthquakes and rates of uplifts. Field studies are, however, needed to identify the types of lineaments and correlate them to the remotely acquired data. Comparison of orientations of major structures or lineaments such as joints, dykes, and faults obtained from field measurements, and plotted on rose diagrams facilitates their tectonic interpretation. GIS is a very time-saving and cost-effective tool once the database is established. Integrating data of different layers such as lineament and lithological maps, and geomorphic indices acquired, for example, from DEM, GPS measurements and field studies in a GIS environment followed by spatial analysis of the data allows correlation between different parameters for unraveling the nature of the tectonics of a region. Moreover, integrating historical dataset from past earthquake events, if any, including an understanding of the regional tectonic setting is essential in facilitating interpretation of results. Overall, combining remote sensing, GIS, and field techniques provides a powerful tool for understanding the tectonic framework of a region, and assessing the resulting fault mechanisms.