INUNDATION MAPPING – A HAZARD STUDY BASED ON THE DECEMBER 26, 2004 TSUNAMI ALONG THE KARAIKAL COAST OF INDIA

A study of tsunami impact was undertaken along India’s Karaikal coast from Poovam in Karaikal to Nagore, Nagapatinam. An integrated approach was adopted for the preparation of thematic maps on land use, land cover and coastal geomorphology using multispectral remote sensing data. RTK GPS instruments were used for the collection of topographic data with contour intervals of 0.5m. The GIS tool was used to incorporate the elevation data, the extent of tsunami inundation and the thematic maps derived from remote sensing data. The present study highlights the most vulnerable areas of tsunami inundation and provides demarcations of suitable sites for rehabilitation.