Geospatial mapping of Srinagar City

Mapping has remarkably become an essential tool to represent the land surface processes, utility sites and the interactions of the human activities with the environment. The rapid evolution of geographic information data management and the automation of satellite image interpretation through remote sensing techniques are providing increasingly abundant ways of mapping. Geospatial approach is very useful tool to demonstrate the spatial disparity of land use land cover and the distribution of key areas, Heritage sites, and Tourist utilities. In this paper, an integrated approach of remote sensing, geographic information, GPS and field surveys was utilised to map the Srinagar city. Mapping was sub divided in three broad categories: land use land cover dynamics mapping, tourist utility mapping and cultural heritage mapping. To improve the adverse environmental impacts of urban expansion, planning regulations need to be enforced and effective coordination should be ensured to save the declining natural resource base for sustainable development and tourism. Key words: Geospatial mapping, land use land cover, cultural mapping, tourist utilities and sustainable development.