Geological mapping of the Vindhyan and Deccan Trap terrain around Jhalawar was accomplished by aerial photointerpretation
with limited field checks in parts, by conventional field mapping for part of the area and also by interpretation of LANDSAT
imagery. A comparative assessment of the data producing capability and accuracy of these methods is made from the case study.
Major geological formations comprising Semri, Kaimur, Rewa and Bhander groups of Vindhyan supergroup, Deccan Trap and recent
fluvial sediments are equally interpretable from all three level (i.e. ground, air and space) surveillance data. All the members
and units are mappable on air photos and on ground but not on the LANSAT imagery. It is difficult to plot all the flows and
flow units of Deccan Trap on a topographic base map during conventional field mapping but these are more or less separable
on aerial photos. Structural trends are decipherable by photointerpretation but lineaments are well depicted on LANDSAT imagery.
Physical and petrological characters of rocks can, however, only be studied in situ and by laboratory analysis of samples.
Aerial photointerpretation techniques can be applied for geological mapping of Vindhyan and Deccan Trap terrain with high
degree of confidence and reasonable accurate maps can be generated. LANDSAT imagery are useful for generation of small scale
reconnalssance and lineament pattern maps. The best system of mapping such terrain would be photointerpretation with limited
field check and collection of essential groundtruth and specimens for laboratory analysis along selected traverses thus minimising
the time and cost of survey.