Geotagging of plant saplings during plantation drives

Monsoon season is here, so it's time to plant more trees and saplings to regenerate forests. Seeds and saplings are distributed throughout Goa by NGOs, institutions, forest departments, local MLAs, etc. This is an annual event during this time. That's great, but how successful are these campaigns? These campaigns are rarely assessed based on data that can verify the success of particular campaigns. Has the plant grown to maturity? What was the number? What is their location? Those trees were planted by whom? When were they planted? We would be more accountable for our plantation campaigns if this data were available, in addition, the spatial distribution of the saplings would allow us to determine what areas are currently covered by our program and where new plantation drives could be launched. As such initiatives are rarely successful without community support, we will also know where to look for volunteers. Mobile technology, such as geotagging, can help us achieve this goal. 

 

Geotagging refers to adding geographic coordinates to media based on a mobile device's location. The geotag can be applied to photos, videos, websites, text messages, and QR codes, and it could also include a time stamp. 

Geotagging can help us 

• In order to assess the growth of plants through Apps and websites
• Assessing the protection of plants and saplings
• Locating and counting trees and saplings in order to document the afforestation process 

As part of the Plantation Programme, all plants must be geotagged so that the authorities can monitor their progress. 

This makes it prudent to include geotagging of the saplings as part of future sampling drives. Due to low-cost technology and easy access to mobile phones, this novel technology is now accessible to everyone. 

GeoSensitive has been the technical team behind the ongoing Plantation Drive with Geotagging 2022 in Benaulim Constituency, Salcete Goa.

You can reach us at geosensitive.goa@gamil.com or WhatsApp on 7057067906 for help

Georeferencing

 

Georeferencing is the name given to the process of transforming a scanned map or aerial photograph so that GIS or mapping software can 'place' the image in its appropriate real-world location

GIS for Agricultural Planning at Village Level

Agricultural activity is best handled through community participation. This is particularly relevant in the case of Goa, India where farm holdings are extremely small and fragmented. In community farming, resources are shared and managed together, thereby bringing greater benefits to all. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to map and quantify all the available agricultural land in a village and identify its status of utilization, i.e. whether it is cultivated or not.  

An Agricultural Map of Carmona Village in South Goa is shown here. In order to map all the designated agricultural land in the villager, the Regional Plan for Carmona was used as a basemap. Various high-resolution satellite imagery was interpreted using Google Earth Engine and Google earth pro to identify cultivated and uncultivated areas. The map was further validated on the ground with farmer inputs before it was finalized.

Using this map, the village can better plan logistics for cultivating 250.5 ha of agricultural land, of which 90.2 ha are cultivated and 160.3 ha are uncultivated. 

On the basis of the spatial insight provided by the map, the farmers have identified four clusters of areas. Clusters have a designated farmer in charge to oversee all the farmers who have land in that particular cluster. This is the first time a local farmers' group has used GIS and Remote Sensing technology for grassroots planning in Goa. There is still a long way to go, and more plans for GIS implementation are in the works. This will be covered in another post. watch this space. Thanks for reading.

Community Outreach Footprint Mapping

A lot of NGOs work in specific regions where they conduct various activities for the communities that they serve. Many times the objective is to reach out to the maximum number of people in need, this also needs to be done in a cost-effective and efficient manner without missing out on anyone. this is where GIS can help gain spatial insight for better decision-making. 

Presenting a community outreach footprint map. This map depicts the areas covered under community outreach initiatives of a local NGO based in Goa. Such maps can help the NGO's/Organizations/Institutions gain a spatial insight into planning their activities more efficiently. For example, they can identify areas of clusters of activities and areas that have remained out of their outreach programmes and hence plan further activities in these areas.

Contact: geosensitive@gmail.com

Destruction of Mangrove forest and the need for its documentation.

What's happening in Sal River? River dredging or Mangroove smothering!? Let's find out in this post. The river in question is located in Salcete Goa. Recently the river has been in the news due to the ongoing tussle between the Traditional fishermen community and the state government authorities to stop the dredging work. As per government view the dredging work is being carried out to desilt the river so as to allow sufficient depth for river navigation, fishing and other activities that will benefit the Traditional fishing community however the Traditional Fishermen community believes that their livelihood is at stake due to the environmental destruction caused by the haphazard dredging activity. 

In the below Sentinel II satellite time-lapse imagery from 2019-to 2022 of the river stretch between Varca and Carmona Village, it appears as if the river has been stripped of its jewels- the mangroves. 

A ground inspection of this stretch reveals piles of matured mangroves trees smothered to death under heaps of sand. A number of dead tree stubs protrude out of the sand on the river bank with machine cut marks an evidence of its death caused by humans. Take a look at the videos below captured along this stretch in Carmona on 25/07/2021 and in Varca on 28/12/2021 respectively.

 

Dredge caught in action while causing destruction of Mangrooves near Orlim bridge, on 28/12/2021. 

The extent of the loss is hard to quantify as most of the trees are buried beneath the heaps of sand, in spite of this there still a significant evidence left on the ground which needs to be documented properly so that the concerned authorities are held accountable. This documentation can be achieved by launching citizen science initiatives which can make use of open souce GIS software to collect geotagged ground data which can then be utilized to prepare authentic technical reports and measure the loss in terms of biodiversity, economic, ecological functions, watershed functions etc. Only by preparing such a report we will be able to draw the attention of the concerned authorities and seek answers from them. In the absence of such authentic data to substantiate claims the authorities in power easily plead ignorance to the subtle voices of the weaker sections of the society. GeoSensitive is capable of providing the technical GIS expertise and train volunteers to collect data and prepare authentic maps (sample below) which can be verified and acted upon by the concerned authorities. 

Sample Map from Geotagged data

To get in touch write to geosensitive.goa@gmail.com

Thank you.

References 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/stretches-of-sal-worst-hit-among-states-rivers-finds-pollution-body/articleshow/66112034.cms 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/traditional-fishermen-oppose-sal-river-desilting-seek-inspection/articleshow/80104683.cms

https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/phase-ii-of-river-sal-dredging-fishermen-environmentalists-cry-foul-term-ongoing-dredging-work-as-illegal/80677.html

https://www.heraldgoa.in/News-Today/Ongoing-mode-of-dredging-in-River-Sal-to-put-livelihood-of-fishermen-at-risk-say-surveyors/186880

Customized Thematic Maps: Village Road Network

In a world full of ready access to knowledge, getting the right direction becomes crucial. At a click of a button, we can get access to a lot of data however what we often really need is a focused blueprint. Welcome to the world of customized thematic maps. This post is about how a customized thematic road network map can give us an edge in planning. 

As a part of our endeavour to document our entire village biodiversity, we need to plan documentation trails for field data collection. This sounds straightforward. Google maps? You may say. here are some difficulties 

• Village roads are better known to the village people rather than google. (Think of all your childhood secret trails and escape routes after stealing mangoes)  
• Satellite imagery/maps do not represent village/ward/other boundaries however local landmarks do. 
• Most often, the type of road, its status is not shown on ready available roads maps. 
• All you need is just the Road map minus the clutter.

Therefore we took up this task to compile a road network map for Betalbatim Village in Salcete Goa. We will keep on updating this but for now, we shall plan our documentation trails for birds, religious structures etc.. with this map. 

Presenting a clutter-free thematic road map of Betalbatim village below. 

Road network overlaid on Satellite Imagery

How will you use your village road network map? Tell us in the comments below. 

Thank you, readers. 

GeoSensitive: Simplifying Decision Making - Services Offered

GeoSensitive prides itself in being a service provider to the bottom level decision-maker and upwards. We deliver spatial insights using Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing for decision making that impact lives, livelihoods and our environment. Our speciality is that we do this using a collection of some of the worlds leading open-source GIS platforms, skills we have honed over a period of 5 years. This allows us to provide the best and latest technology solutions at significantly lower project costs.

Our services cover two broad aspects

• Providing Geographic Information Systems Services and Remote Sensing Services for quick decision making and facilitating better and efficient management of resources to the people of Goa.
• Offering professional GIS skill development training on the world’s leading open-source GIS platform i.e., QGIS. 

 Our customers include- NGO'S, Local panchayat bodies, Businesses, Researchers, Farmer groups etc. 

Technical Services

Geosensitive provides specific technical expertise for the clients. These include but are not limited to 

• GIS mapping
• Field Data Collection/Surveying
• Terrain Analysis
• Hydrological Modelling
•  Digitization of existing maps

Training Services

Geosensitive provides education to the client. This can take the form of workshops, coaching, on-the-job support, etc. The following workshops can be curated as per the needs of our clients.

• Basic mapping using QGIS- 2-days (hands-on program).
• Advanced mapping using QGIS- 6 days (hands-on program).
• Ground truthing and Field data collection – 2-days (hands-on program).
• Basics of Satellite Remote Sensing – 6 days (hands-on program).

Specialized Services

Geosensitive provides specialized expertise and advice to the client.

• Spatial Analysis
• Site Suitability Analysis based on set criteria
• Remote Sensing Applications

Project Management

This includes completing a broad range of tasks for the client that is delivered as a package.

• Providing training and follow-up for employees.
• Overseeing implementation of the system.

We are always looking to upgrade our knowledge and expertise by tackling new problems and are happy to discuss burning issues concerning your environment/locality. Write in the comments below.

Drop-in an email at geosensitive.goa@gmail.com to connect with us and we will be happy to respond.