Predicting Meander Migration
of the Barak River by Empirical
and Time Sequence Methods
Wajahat Annayat and Briti Sundar Sil
Abstract Common phenomena associated with the alluvial river is its ‘meandering’.
Lateral migration of the Barak River creates geomorphic hazards in Assam, India.
Predicting and preventing this migration are both difficult and necessary. In this
article, we have tried to describe and evaluate the empirical approach and time
sequence maps to predict meander migration. An empirical approach is based on
correlations, while as, for a given meander, earlier observed movement is used in
case of sequence method to predict the future migration. In this study, 12 meandering reaches of the Barak River are considered using multiperiod Landsat remote
sensing images. In order to evaluate the accuracy of these methods, both predicted
migrations, as well as measured migration, are compared. Results show that empirical methods are not precise and accurate, though some of the empirical methods are
conservative, and some are unconservative. More accurate, precise information on
the meandering movement is given by time sequence method to predict the radius of
the best-fit circle of the future meander location.
Keywords Meandering channel · Barak River · Landsat images · Remote
sensing · Empirical and time sequence method
1 Introduction
The river is a part of the hydrological cycle. On this globe, the main water source
for life is a river which plays a significant role in the development of human civilization. The most significant geomorphic system which is considered to be active
on the earth’s surface is river and its processes [1]. In varying environmental conditions, morphology of river is changing over both spatial and temporal scales due
to erosion and deposition of the river bank. Various processes that control the
morphology of river includes channel dynamics, discharge, runoff, sediment supply
and vegetation cover [2]. Successful and sustainable management of a river requires
W. Annayat (B) · B. S. Sil
Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Silchar, Silchar 788010, India
e-mail: Wajahatannayat123@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
C. Bhuiyan et al. (eds.), Water Security and Sustainability,
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 115,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9805-0_11
113
of the Barak River by Empirical
and Time Sequence Methods
Wajahat Annayat and Briti Sundar Sil
Abstract Common phenomena associated with the alluvial river is its ‘meandering’.
Lateral migration of the Barak River creates geomorphic hazards in Assam, India.
Predicting and preventing this migration are both difficult and necessary. In this
article, we have tried to describe and evaluate the empirical approach and time
sequence maps to predict meander migration. An empirical approach is based on
correlations, while as, for a given meander, earlier observed movement is used in
case of sequence method to predict the future migration. In this study, 12 meandering reaches of the Barak River are considered using multiperiod Landsat remote
sensing images. In order to evaluate the accuracy of these methods, both predicted
migrations, as well as measured migration, are compared. Results show that empirical methods are not precise and accurate, though some of the empirical methods are
conservative, and some are unconservative. More accurate, precise information on
the meandering movement is given by time sequence method to predict the radius of
the best-fit circle of the future meander location.
Keywords Meandering channel · Barak River · Landsat images · Remote
sensing · Empirical and time sequence method
1 Introduction
The river is a part of the hydrological cycle. On this globe, the main water source
for life is a river which plays a significant role in the development of human civilization. The most significant geomorphic system which is considered to be active
on the earth’s surface is river and its processes [1]. In varying environmental conditions, morphology of river is changing over both spatial and temporal scales due
to erosion and deposition of the river bank. Various processes that control the
morphology of river includes channel dynamics, discharge, runoff, sediment supply
and vegetation cover [2]. Successful and sustainable management of a river requires
W. Annayat (B) · B. S. Sil
Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Silchar, Silchar 788010, India
e-mail: Wajahatannayat123@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
C. Bhuiyan et al. (eds.), Water Security and Sustainability,
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 115,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9805-0_11
113