An Analysis of Ujjani Reservoir in Solapur, Maharashtra, India, Using Mathematical Modeling and Satellite Remote Sensing Techniques for Sedimentation Studies

Abstract

The reservoir's storage capacity steadily decreases due to sedimentation. The reservoir life can be preserved by monitoring sedimentation and implementing appropriate management measures. The Ujjani dam was built for power generating, irrigation, and water delivery systems. It is located in the drought-prone Solapur district, due to which Ujjani is an important initiative for the region's economy and society. In the present study, the Ujjani reservoir's sedimentation is evaluated for monitoring purposes. In order to estimate sedimentation, two methods are used in present study: mathematical modeling with HEC RAS and the Satellite Remote Sensing Technique (SRST).

The Satellite Remote Sensing technique is gaining popularity over traditional hydrographic surveys due to advantages such as cheap cost, time savings, reduced labor requirements, accuracy in estimation, and the possibility to carry out previous surveys. ARC-GIS software was used to identify the water spread areas at various reservoir levels based on satellite pictures of Ujjani Reservoir. We used the prismoidal formula to compute the volume between two water levels. The original volume of the reservoir during impoundment was compared to the current volume of the reservoir. This demonstrated the volume loss brought on by sedimentation.

With the development of new computer technology, engineers may now use computer simulations and modeling to solve hydraulic problems and sediment transport equations. By utilizing the ever-increasing processing power, numerical modeling has not only shortened computation times but also enhanced the process of testing the impacts of various input variable sets. For Ujjani Reservoir, a mathematical model was created using the HEC RAS program. Sediment volume change profiles were obtained by running this sediment model for quasi-unsteady flow.There is a fair degree of consistency between the sedimentation volumes determined by the two approaches. Additionally, a comparison is made with the earlier hydrographic surveys. At the conclusion of the study, limitations and future directions are also covered.