Tapi River Sustainability: Surat's Lifeline and Beyond

Analyzing river sustainability using satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques. This project assesses water turbidity, river width changes, and urban impact on river health, contributing to SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and other sustainability goals. 🚀🌊

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Tapi River Insights: Sustainable Water Management

Project Overview

This repository contains the research work "Tapi River Sustainability: Surat's Lifeline and Beyond", conducted by students of M.Sc. (Applied Statistics) semester-4 at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (V.N.S.G.U.), Surat, Gujarat.

Project Group:

Dekani Nikunjkumar
Mayat Sadiya
Rakholiya Dhruvi
Sukla Atish
Trivedi Nirav

Project Guide: Sahil Merai
Project Year: 2023-24

Introduction

This study utilizes satellite imagery to analyze the sustainability of the Tapi River, focusing on turbidity levels and river width changes. It contributes to:

Goal 14 (Life Below Water)
Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
Goal 15 (Life on Land)
Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Understanding these dynamics aids in pollution control, urban planning, and conservation efforts for sustainable river management.

Study Area: Tapi River, Surat City

Surat is a major commercial hub in Gujarat, where the Tapi River spans ~20 km. Remote sensing plays a vital role in tracking water quality and changes, supporting conservation efforts.

Research Methodology

Data Source: Sentinel-2 satellite imagery
Techniques:
- Normalized Difference Turbidity Index (NDTI): Assessing water quality
- Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI): Identifying water bodies
- Heatmap Analysis: Identifying high and low turbidity zones
- Historical Analysis: River width variations from 1987 to 2021

Key Findings

1. Turbidity Trends (2019-2023)

Highest turbidity at Dabholi Bridge (May 2023)
Lowest turbidity at Dummas Road-2 (January 2023)
Post-monsoon peaks (October-December), declines in winter & summer
Stable zones: Kathor, Savji Korat Bridge
Fluctuating zones: Amboli

NDTI Heatmap - Tapi River, Surat

Tapi-River Surat : High-Low NDTI Temporal Changes Before & After Causeway

2. River Width Variability (1987-2021)

Widest point: Jahangirpura (2002)
Narrowest point: Gorat (2020)
Stable areas: Kamrej, Rustombaug to Adajan Bridge
Significant fluctuations: Jahangirpura, Variyav Bridge to Dabholi Bridge

Width Heatmap - Tapi River, Surat

Tapi-River Surat : Satellite Image River Change Trends from 1990 to 2023

Recent Observations: The Rundh area has seen a steady increase in width since 1987, whereas the Chowk-Bazar area has fluctuated but remained relatively constant.

SDG Alignment

Goal 14: Monitoring water quality and pollution control
Goal 11: Sustainable urban planning along the river
Goal 15: Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health
Goal 6: Ensuring clean water supply
Goal 3: Reducing health risks linked to water pollution
Goal 13: Adapting to climate-driven river changes

Policy Recommendations

Integrated River Management: Combining pollution control and urban planning
Stricter Water Quality Standards: Regular monitoring and enforcement
Sustainable Riverfront Development: Eco-friendly urban infrastructure
Public Awareness: Educating communities on river conservation
Remote Sensing-Based Decision Making: Using real-time data for policy action

Future Work & Recommendations

Long-Term Monitoring: Continuous tracking of river width and turbidity
Expanded Water Quality Assessments: Identifying pollution hotspots
IoT-Based Monitoring: Deploying sensors for real-time data collection
Sustainable Urban Development: Enhancing green infrastructure along stable riverfront areas

Conclusion

The research highlights the critical need for sustainable water management using remote sensing. Surat must prioritize water conservation efforts, strict pollution controls, and data-driven policy-making to ensure the Tapi River’s long-term health.