TNSWA1/335/2025

Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission

Advanced Drone-Based Mapping & GIS Analysis of Ramsar Sites

12 Month Mission

4 Ramsar Wetlands

55,495 Hectares

About the Mission

Pioneering Wetland Conservation Through Technology

The Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission represents a comprehensive initiative led by the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority to conduct advanced drone-based mapping, bathymetric surveys, and GIS analysis of Ramsar-designated wetland sites across the state.

This groundbreaking 12-month project brings together state-of-the-art technologies including RGB drones, LiDAR scanning, hyperspectral imaging, and bathymetric survey equipment to create the most comprehensive wetland database in Tamil Nadu's history.

39,690

Hectares Drone Survey

15,805

Hectares Bathymetric

Islands Surveyed

Major Wetland Sites

Our Work

In the Field

Capturing comprehensive wetland data through advanced surveying technologies and expert field teams.

Field Survey Operations

Expert teams conducting on-site surveys

Drone Data Collection

RGB and hyperspectral imaging in progress

Bathymetric Surveys

Underwater terrain mapping equipment

LiDAR Scanning

High-precision elevation data capture

GIS Analysis

Advanced spatial data processing

Team Collaboration

Multi-disciplinary wetland assessment

Technology

Advanced Survey Technologies

State-of-the-art equipment delivering precision data for comprehensive wetland analysis.

RGB Drone Imaging

High-Resolution Multispectral Topographic Mapping

Professional drone systems with multispectral cameras capturing high-resolution imagery with 5-7 Ground Control Points per square kilometer for exceptional accuracy.

Orthomosaic maps & aerial imagery (GeoTIFF, KML)

Vegetation indices (NDVI, NDWI, Mangrove Index)

Land use classification with 300m buffer zones

LiDAR Scanning

Advanced 3D Elevation & Terrain Modeling

Cutting-edge LiDAR technology generating Digital Elevation Models (DEM), Digital Surface Models (DSM), and Digital Terrain Models (DTM) with precision positioning.

High-resolution 3D point clouds (LAS, LAZ)

Hydrological & wetland feature analysis

Underwater terrain modeling & mudflat mapping

Hyperspectral Analysis

Multi-Band Spectral Data for Biodiversity Mapping

Advanced hyperspectral imaging systems capturing detailed spectral signatures for comprehensive biodiversity assessment and habitat mapping using machine learning techniques.

Invasive species detection & monitoring (ML-based)

Vegetation health & biomass estimation

Flora, fauna & mangrove extent mapping

Bathymetric Survey

Multi-Beam Underwater Terrain Mapping

Industry-standard multi-beam surveying, bottom profilers, and acoustic doppler current profilers for accurate underwater terrain modeling and stream-flow analysis.

Water depth mapping & wetland bed elevation

Sedimentation & erosion analysis (depth-wise)

Coral reef patterns & seagrass root subsurface profiling

Project Coverage

Four Major Wetland Sites

Comprehensive surveys across Tamil Nadu's most significant Ramsar-designated wetland ecosystems.

Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve

Ramanathapuram District

928 ha Drone

7,755 ha Bathymetric

Covering 20 islands including Krusadai, Muyal, and Nallatanni, this marine biosphere represents one of the most biodiverse areas with comprehensive coral reef and seagrass studies.

Special Focus:

• Coral reef pattern mapping & subsurface profiling
• Seagrass distribution zones & root analysis
• Marine biodiversity & seaweed potential zones

Point Calimere Wildlife & Bird Sanctuary

Nagapattinam & Tiruvarur Districts

38,500 ha Drone

8,324 ha Bathymetric

The largest survey area in the mission, this critical habitat supports migratory birds and requires extensive seasonal monitoring for conservation planning.

Special Focus:

• Migratory bird habitat characterization
• Seasonal wetland variation analysis
• Seagrass studies & coastal ecosystem mapping

Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary

Ramanathapuram District

230 ha Coverage

An important bird sanctuary requiring detailed biodiversity assessment, habitat mapping, and vegetation analysis for avian conservation efforts.

Special Focus:

• Bird habitat characterization & nesting zones
• Vegetation health & biomass analysis
• Water level & hydrological monitoring

Therthangal Bird Sanctuary

Ramanathapuram District

29 ha Coverage

A compact but ecologically significant sanctuary requiring high-precision intensive mapping and detailed biodiversity density analysis.

Special Focus:

• Intensive area mapping with high GCP density
• Biodiversity density & species richness analysis
• Compact wetland ecosystem characterization

Survey Schedule

Dual Seasonal Approach

Capturing wetland dynamics across pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods for comprehensive analysis.

Phase 1: Pre-Monsoon Survey

August - September Period

Initial comprehensive drone, LiDAR, hyperspectral, and bathymetric surveys conducted across all four wetland sites. Establishes baseline data for seasonal comparison.

Phase 2: Data Processing & Analysis

Continuous Processing

Advanced GIS analysis, machine learning-based species detection, SWAT hydrological modeling, and comprehensive report generation from pre-monsoon data.

Phase 3: Post-Monsoon Survey

January - February Period

Repeat comprehensive surveys to capture seasonal variations, monsoon impact, sedimentation changes, and biodiversity shifts across all wetland sites.

Phase 4: Final Analysis & Reporting

Comprehensive Documentation

Final reports covering both seasons with high-quality images, comparative analysis, 10 hardcover copies per site (A3, 160 GSM), and complete data delivery.

Deliverables

Comprehensive Data Outputs

Industry-standard formats for seamless integration with existing GIS workflows and analysis tools.

Point Cloud Data

.las, .laz

Ortho-Mosaic Maps

.tiff, .ecw

3D Terrain Models

.obj, .tiff (DEM/DSM/DTM)

GIS Layers

.shp, .dwg, .pdf

Bathymetric Maps

Depth & Elevation Data

Index Maps

NDWI, NDVI, Mangrove Index

Processing Reports

.pdf - Flight Details & Metadata

Comprehensive Reports

A3 Hardcover, 160 GSM, 10 Copies

Data Delivery

Physical Storage

All raw and processed data provided on HDD/SSD drives

Server Deployment

Deployment onto Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission local server

Complete Inventory

Proper metadata and data inventory documentation

GIS Analysis

Advanced Spatial Analysis

Comprehensive GIS analysis with minimum 300-meter buffer zones around each wetland site.

📊

Index Mapping

NDWI, NDVI, and Mangrove Index creation using multispectral data

🗺️

Land Classification

300m buffer zone land use and land cover analysis

🌊

Sedimentation Analysis

Pre/post-monsoon comparison for silt and sludge deposits

💧

Hydrological Modeling

SWAT model for water levels, flow rates, and risk assessment

🔬

Invasive Species

Machine learning-based detection and monitoring

🌿

Biodiversity Mapping

Flora, fauna surveys and vegetation health analysis

📍

Boundary Demarcation

Cadastral data integration with Survey of India control points

🐠

Marine Ecosystems

Coral reef patterns and seagrass distribution mapping

Technical Excellence

Survey Standards

5-7 Ground Control Points per square kilometer
CORS network and DGPS base station establishment
Alignment with Survey of India control points
DGPS observation: 48 hrs base, 15 min rover

Legal Compliance

Cadastral data integration from authorized sources
Survey numbers and sub-division mapping
300-meter buffer zone boundary demarcation
National geodetic standards compliance

Mission Impact

Empowering Scientific Wetland Management

This mission empowers the scientific management, preservation, and sustainable use of Tamil Nadu's globally significant wetlands through modern geospatial approaches and transparent reporting.

Scientific Conservation

Evidence-based wetland management using comprehensive geospatial data

Ramsar Site Protection

Advanced monitoring of internationally recognized wetland ecosystems

Stakeholder Transparency

Secure data delivery and accessible reporting for all partners

Sustainable Future

Long-term biodiversity preservation and ecosystem health monitoring