A Review of IRS-1C Applications in Urban and Regional Studies, and Infrastructure Planning

The multifaceted data from Indian remote sensing satellite (IRS)-1C with Panchromatic (PAN, 5.8 m, 0.50–0.75 μm), Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor-III (LISS-III, 23.5 m, four multi-spectral bands) and Wide Field Sensor (WiFS, 188 m, red and near-infrared bands) sensors onboard, along with stereo imaging and 5-day revisit capability have been effectively utilised for mapping, monitoring, planning and development of urban and regional areas. It made possible to explore urban and regional areas either independently or in combination with other remote sensing data for base map preparation, land use survey and planning, growth modelling, environment and hazards analysis, utilities and infrastructure planning, etc. This review article articulates the scale and mapping potential of IRS-1C data for urban and regional areas, data fusion methods and information retrieval based on visual or digital image processing techniques, including advanced classifiers. It recapitulates the application potential demonstrated in last 25 years in urban and regional studies, and for infrastructure planning.