Geography in India - Selected Themes

Cover Geography in India Selected Themes Copyright Contents Foreword Preface Introduction State of the Art Survey of Research During 1998–2003 Physical Geography Population Geography Settlement Geography Regional Geography and Planning Application of Quantitative Techniques Application of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System Land Evaluation Human Development: Social Welfare and Economic Aspects Perspective Themes for the Development of Geography Physical Geography Introduction Geomorphic Evolution, Mass Wasting and Slopes Fluvial Geomorphology Coastal Geomorphology Water Resources Environmental Hazards and Issues Studies in Other Fields Within Physical Geography Climatology Biogeography Emerging Research Trends Quaternary Geomorphology Concluding Remarks and Future Trend of Research References Population Geography Introduction Growth of Population Geography Teaching of the Sub-Speciality Curriculum Development Research Trends Distribution and Density Growth of Population Vital Rates and Demographic Transition Migration Age Composition Sex Ratio Status of Women and Gender Studies Language and Literacy The Workforce and Its Structure Urbanization Rural Population Human Resource Development Ethnicity Miscellaneous Population Policy Housing Physically Challenged Population Population Pressure Map Series General Population Research Centres Research Trends—A Critique Major Landmarks Research Gaps Tasks Ahead Recommendations for Improving the Quality of Research References Settlement Geography Introduction Survey of Research in Rural Settlements Before 1998 Programmatic Settlements and Methodology Evolutionary Studies Functional Studies Studies on House Types Studies on Place Names Studies of Field Systems and Field Patterns Survey of Research in Urban Settlements Before 1998 Urban Places and Individual Settlements Urban Places as a Phenomenon of Spatial Organization Urban Places as Economic Phenomena Applied Urban Geography Approaches to Urban Settlements During the Period Between 1976–1982 Conceptual–Theoretical Frame and Methodology Policy Issues Trends of Urbanization Metropolitan Growth Study of Small Towns Rural–Urban Migration Urban Systems: Size and Hierarchy Urban Morphology Urban Functions and Functional Classification Population and Demographic Aspect Rural–Urban Fringe Survey of Research in Settlement Geography (1998–2003) Spatial Organization of Settlements (Distribution, Density and Growth) Evolution of Settlements Methodology Study of Place Names Functional Structure Morphology and Land Use Housing, Infrastructure, Finance and Management Hierarchy and Centrality Rural–Urban Fringe Urban Environment Specific Case Studies Regional Studies Future Areas of Research References Regional Geography Introduction Major Themes Regionalization Regional Analysis Research Frontiers in Regional Geography References Regional Planning Introduction Emergence of the Regional Planning as a Subfield Major Areas of Contribution Conceptual and Theoretical Issues Regions, Regionalization and Regional Methodology Regional Development and Disparities Infrastructural Planning Tribal Development Environmental Issues and Disaster Management Gender Bias Watershed Management Metropolitan Region Planning Rural Area Development Sectoral Planning Human Settlement System and Growth Centre Planning Sustainable Development Planning Conclusion Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System Introduction Historical Development of RS and GIS Activity National Remote Sensing and GIS Database Development National Information Network System Development Natural Resource Data Management System National Natural Resource Management System National (Natural) Resource Information System Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development (Department of Space) RS and GIS Teaching and Training Infrastructure RS and GIS Research Trends in India (1998–2003) Bio-Physical Dimensions Socio-economic Dimensions Thrust Areas for Remote Sensing and GIS Development Need for Training Concluding Remarks References Remote Sensing and GIS: Development and Applications Preamble Introduction The 1980s The 1990s Earth Observation Systems and Applications Integrated Resource Management Watershed Development National (Natural) Resources Information System Information Gaps Earth Observation System—Emerging Trends Analytical Techniques Efforts Towards Training and Education in RS and GIS The Global Scenario The Indian Scenario Government Initiatives for Capacity Building in RS and GIS NRSA and the Department of Space Indian Institute of Remote Sensing Conclusion References Analytical Techniquesin Geography Introduction Analytical Techniques in Geography The Indian Scene Early Part of the 20th Century Progress up to 1990s Current State of Development Gaps in Development Prospects Tasks Ahead Rererences About the Editor and Contributors The Editor The Contributors Index Geography in India is the fifth ICSSR survey of research on the subject and discusses its priority research areas as identified by the Council, namely, physical geography, population and settlement geography, regional geography and regional planning, remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS), and analytical techniques with special reference to quantitative techniques in geography. The chapters critically analyse past research as well as emergent fields of specialization, and suggest areas where further research can prove beneficial. In addition, the introduction and thematic discussions showcase the gradual shift from largely qualitative, regional studies to systematic and quantitative geography, and document the growing number of interdisciplinary studies with space as a common theme. The contributors have also taken note of the progress in geography overseas and the access to new technology for the development of analytical techniques in the field