Application of UAV based High Resolution DEM for Flood Management – Case of Mata-no-Madh, Kachchh, Gujarat India

Abstract. Mata-no-Madh, a culturally significant village in the Lakhpat Sub-District of Kachchh, Gujarat, has experienced recurrent flooding in recent years. These events have disrupted daily life, damaged temple precincts, and exposed critical gaps in the village’s drainage infrastructure — highlighting the urgent need for a strategic and data-driven intervention. To address this, a comprehensive geospatial assessment was undertaken using open-source tools, satellite datasets and UAV based survey. The watershed and catchment areas were delineated using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, while terrain features such as contours, drainage patterns, and hillshade models were generated to understand runoff behavior. ISRO’s BHUVAN portal was employed to enhance elevation accuracy and validate hydrological parameters. Advanced 2D and 3D visualizations were created to support planning and decision-making. A UAV-based photogrammetry survey provided high-resolution DEMs and updated land use classifications, resolving ambiguities around land ownership and enabling precise site selection. Based on this refined spatial analysis, a suitable location was identified for a flood mitigation and water retention structure — a Water Recharge Tank. The design was aligned with IS: 6966 (Part-1):1989 standards and the Government of Gujarat’s check dam guidelines, ensuring regulatory compliance and technical feasibility. This rapid, data-centric approach enabled timely intervention and has since become a replicable model for similar flood resilience projects in the region, including Kamala Sarovar and Taliyari. The initiative demonstrates the transformative potential of geospatial technologies in climate-adaptive infrastructure planning and rural water management.