Evaluation of Land Utilization for Regional Development – a Gis Approach

In the present study, an attempt was made to develop a conceptual land use strategy for regional development in four provinces of northeast border region of Thailand. A detailed GIS analysis was done to create comprehensive database including land use, soil suitability, socio-economic data, rainfall, etc. The current land use was studied using GIS, satellite remote sensing, field observation and published records. In the current land use it was found that about 43% of the total land was used as farmland, 26% was forest and 31% was other land use. About 7% of total land was grassland, which was found barren and unused in dry season along with the 43% paddy area. The developed GIS database helped in investigating the nonuniformity in the socio-economic status in the region. It was found that the traditional agriculture practice was neither helping to upgrade the socio-economic status nor utilizing the land at its best. Only few districts were found at relatively good socio -economic status performing proper crop cultivation. Cash crops growing area secured moderate economic status but the same area was also showing comparatively high job less percentage. The relation of land use and socio-economic status showed that the land has been utilized in less productive manner. While the present farmland was underutilized, deforestation was observed for increasing the agricultural production. It is found that, a multi layer GIS analysis makes it easy to develop a framework for the optimum use of land area could increase the production yield preserving the environmental condition