Geomorphological Change Analysis of Mahanadi Estuary and Hukitola Island of Odisha: A Geospatial Approach

Abstract

Hukitola Island is situated in the north of Mahanadi river delta system in Odisha which is protected by a barrier island. The study area is Mahanadi estuary in the Kendrapara district which situated 20°16ʹ18.443ʹʹN to 20°32ʹ22.094ʹʹN latitude and 86°35ʹ25.115ʹʹE to 86°49ʹ38.818ʹʹE longitude in Kujanga block of Jagatsinghpur district and Mahakalpada block of Kendrapara district and the Hukitola Island which is situated in the Mahakalpada block. The objective of the study is to analyze the shifting the mouth of Mahanadi estuary and the geomorphological process of the Hukitola Island which is very dynamic. The study was taken during the year 1929 to 2015. According to Srinivasan et al., during the year 1952 to 1973, the mouth of Mahanadi estuary migrated northwards up to 4 km. The geo-spatial technique has emerged as the most important tool of a geographer to handle spatial data. This technique is now widely used around the world to analyse physical as well as cultural geographical elements. This technology has been used for calculating the migration of the mouth and also the island. The SOI toposheet and the spatio-temporal satellite image have been used for interpretation of mouth migration and geomorphological changes of the island, which are utilized in several regional planning and management for community development.

Keywords: Geomorphological, island, estuary, geo-spatial, SOI