GIS and Remote Sensing in Watershed Planning: Applications and Innovations

Watershed management is a holistic technique for the sustainable conservation and management of natural resources such as soil, water, and vegetation that are facing tremendous pressure due to rising biotic demands. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies have become crucial techniques for monitoring, analysing, and managing these intricate ecosystems. This extensive review delves into GIS and Remote Sensing's diverse applications and innovations in watershed planning, synthesizing the results of recent studies to provide a current understanding of GIS and Remote Sensing. The paper identifies essential uses of these technologies in mapping and describing watershed ecosystems, simulating hydrological processes and forecasting events, and informing resource planning and implementation of management approaches. In addition, it explains how these technologies increase stakeholder involvement and public awareness, preparatory to more informed and efficient decision- making and supporting the sustainability and resilience of water resources. Emerging innovations such as high-resolution sensors, artificial intelligence integration, and citizen science applications are reviewed while highlighting implementation challenges and future research agendas.