Remote Sensing Study of Chilas Segment (Diamer-Bhasha Region) along the Main Mantle Thrust in Northern Pakistan

The objective of this research is to categorize the geo-morphometry of a topographic region or a basin using SRTM radar data and geospatial technologies. The investigation is performed in a conventional way to compute geo-morphometric indices that were particularized through geospatial examination in GIS platforms. The geo-morphometric results and their classification were the drainage density (DD), total relative relief (TRR), surface roughness (SR), slope map, profile convexity (PrC), plane convexity (PlC), longitudinal convexity and aspect map. The combined investigation of these geomorphometric variables conclude that the study site has low vulnerability to inundation that is suitable for the Diamer Bhasha dam-site but the geomorphology of the TRR, active nature of the MMT and geological structure in the Chilas segment of the study area upstream of the dam site favors the active erosion which may reduce the age of the dam reservoir and enhance the life-span of Tarbella dam down-stream.