Prioritization of sub-basins based on geomorphology and morphometricanalysis using remote sensing and geographic informationsystem (GIS) techniques

This study proposes to introduce the remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques in mapping the groundwater potential zones. Remote sensing and GIS techniques have been used to map the groundwater potential zones in Salem Chalk Hills, Tamil Nadu, India. Charnockites and fissile hornblende biotite gneiss are the major rock types in this region. Dunites and peridodites are the ultramafic rocks which cut across the foliation planes of the gneisses and are highly weathered. It comprises magnesite and chromite deposits which are excavated by five mining companies by adopting bench mining. The thickness of weathered and fracture zone varies from 2.2 to 50 m in gneissic formation and 5.8 to 55 m in charnockite. At the contacts of gneiss and charnockite, the thickness ranges from 9.0 to 90.8 m favoring good groundwater potential. The mine lease area is underlined by fractured and sheared hornblende biotite gneiss where groundwater potential is good. Water catchment tanks in this area of 5 km radius are small to moderate in size and are only seasonal. They remain dry during summer seasons. As perennial water resources are remote, the domestic and agricultural activities in this region depend mainly upon the groundwater resources. The mines are located in gently slope area, and accumulation of water is not observed except in mine pits even during the monsoon period. Therefore, it is essential to map the groundwater potential zones for proper management of the aquifer system. Satellite imageries were also used to extract lineaments, hydrogeomorphic landforms, drainage patterns, and land use, which are the major controlling factors for the occurrence of groundwater. Various thematic layers pertaining to groundwater existence such as geology, geomorphology, land use/land cover, lineament, lineament density, drainage, drainage density, slope, and soil were generated using GIS tools. By integrating all the above thematic layers based on the ranks and weightages, eventually groundwater potential zones were demarcated. The study indicates that groundwater potential is good to high in 22 villages and moderate in 13 villages. The good to high potential zone occupies an area of 128 km2 and moderate potential zone occupies an area of 77 km2. Groundwater occurrence is poor in five villages which need artificial recharge to augment groundwater.

Proper use and replenishment of groundwater can help solve various problems, making it crucial to have a scientific understanding of its management. For effective management of groundwater systems and to preserve water quality, it is essential to identify the potential zones for groundwater recharge. Geographic Information System (GIS) methods and remote sensing technologies are utilized to identify areas with potential for groundwater. The integration of remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) techniques is employed in this study to develop a standardized methodology for assessing groundwater potential. Groundwater potential map of the Gadilam river basin is generated using GIS technologies. The precise data is generated using satellite imagery and Survey of India (SOI) toposheets at a scale of 1:50,000. This data is utilized to identify parameters relevant to determining groundwater potential zones, including rainfall, geological structure, soil characteristics, slope, drainage density, geomorphic units, lineament density, and land use/land cover. It is then integrated with a weighted overlay in ArcGIS. Weight factors are established for the various geomorphic units based on their ability to store groundwater. This process is repeated for each subsequent level, and the resulting layers are reclassified. In weighted overlay analysis, different thematic layers are assigned a theme weight and class rank. The findings were validated through fieldwork. The resulting map was categorized into three levels: Poor, Moderate, and Excellent. The application of the suggested methodology to the Gadilam river basin is demonstrated. This study will be helpful for useful groundwater management for different area.

Study of drainage and basin is important to understand the character of any basin geometry for implication of conservation of natural resources. Remote sensing and GIS is valuable tool and widely used in recent research for geometric analysis of basin. SRTM data was used to delineate the drainage network as well as sub-basin boundary; digital elevation model, aspect grid and slope map were prepared using SRTM data. Morphometric parameters (linear, areal and relief) has been analysed with the help of ArcGIS 10.2. in this analysis mean RB varies from 2.31–3.97, elongation ratio is 0.63–0.9 and relief ratio is 0.033 to 0.06; indicates that the area is highly structural controlled, steep ground slope, high drainage density and sub-dendritic to sub-parallel nature. These studies are very useful for understanding the structural control and inequalities in the rock hardness for the Ataq region.

Due to complex and erratic nature of groundwater occurrences in crystalline basement terrains, groundwater development in form of boreholes/wells without the necessary pre-drilling hydrogeological investigations usually results in failure. Therefore, there is the need for adequate characterization of aquifers and delineation of groundwater potential zones in such crystalline basement setting. This study employed the integration of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) techniques to delineate groundwater potential zones in crystalline basement terrain of SW-Nigeria and validation of the result with existing borehole/well yield data. The study approach involved integration of nine different thematic layers (geology, rainfall geomorphology, soil, drainage density, lineament density, landuse, slope and drainage proximity) based on weights assignment and normalization with respect to the relative contribution of the different themes to groundwater occurrence using Saaty's analytic hierarchy approach. Following weigh normalization and ranking, the thematic maps were integrated using ArcGIS 10.0 software to generate the overall groundwater potential map for the study area. The result revealed that the study area can be categorized into three different groundwater potential zones: high, medium and low. Greater portion of the study area (84,121.8 km2) representing about 78 % of the total area, fall within the medium groundwater potential zone which are generally underlain by medium-porphyritic granite, biotite-hornblende granite and granite gneiss bedrock settings. About 18,239.7 km2 (17 %) fall under high groundwater potential zone which are characterized by weathered/fractured quartzite, quartz-schist, amphibolite schist and phyllite bedrock settings. However, areas of low groundwater potentials constitute only 3 % (3,416.54 km2) of the total study area and are mostly underlain by migmatite, banded and augen gneiss bedrock settings. Subsequent validation with boreholes/well yield data revealed a good correlation with respect to the observed groundwater potential zonation. Wells/boreholes with yields greater than >150 m3/day are generally characteristic of areas with high groundwater potential while those with yields of 75–150 and <75 m3/day are typical of areas with medium and low groundwater potentials, respectively. The validation clearly highlights the efficacy of the integrated MCDA, RS and GIS methods employed in this study as useful modern approach for proper groundwater resources evaluation; providing quick prospective guides for groundwater exploration and exploitation in such crystalline basement settings.

Abstract: Groundwater resources potential has been evaluated in Kurmapalli watershed, Andhra Pradesh, India using Geographic Information System (GIS) technique. It allows manipulation and analysis of individual layer of spatial data. It is used for analyzing and modeling the interrelationship between the layers. Various thematic maps have been prepared for geology, geomorphology, slope, drainage-density and lineaments of the study area using GIS technique. These thematic maps have been integrated with the help of GIS. Appropriate weightage has been assigned to various factors controlling occurrence of groundwater to assess the total groundwater potential in each segment of the study area. The results show that there are five categories of groundwater potential ranging from very good to poor. The categorizations of groundwater potential zones are in general agreement with the available yield data of the 438 existing dug wells, bore wells and tube wells. This depicts the favourable prospective zones in the study area for evaluation of groundwater potential.

Groundwater exploration using remote sensing data and a geographic information system (GIS) has become a breakthrough in the field of groundwater research, assisting in the assessment, monitoring, and conservation of groundwater resources. Groundwater is a valuable natural resource and one of the most basic requirements for human survival. Overexploitation, on the other hand, has severely reduced groundwater supplies. The ability to assess the potential zone of groundwater is critical for effective groundwater management. In this work, groundwater potential zones were assessed using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, and a composite groundwater potential map of the research region was created. This methodology was proved in the current study for a specific research region in Maharashtra. Slope, land use, drainage density, geomorphology, and lineament density were all hierarchically used and merged with weighted overlay in ArcGIS by assigning appropriate ranks to each category of these factors. Based on a knowledge-driven methodology, the weighting factor for each category is determined based on its predicted capabilities in terms of groundwater potential. The resulting groundwater potential zones were categorised into five categories: very poor, poor, moderate, good, and very good, which were validated to some extent with the CGWB field / ground database, with encouraging findings.

Groundwater represents a critical natural resource for humanity, particularly in areas with limited surface water availability. The present study was aimed to map the groundwater potential zones in the Teji River catchment using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). The catchment was selected due to its exposure to significant water stress driven by rapid population growth, agricultural expansion, and the broader impacts of global climate change. The parameters processed were on soil texture, drainage density, land-use and land-cover, rainfall, lithology, slope, topographic wetness index, and lineament density. The Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used. Each criterion was evaluated with AHP and mapped by GIS. The groundwater potential zones were categorized into four distinct classes based on their suitability: very good (12.24%), good (30.88%), moderate (36.05%), and poor (20.8%). The study confirmed that RS and GIS techniques offer enhanced accuracy in identifying groundwater potential zones. Validation results showed that approximately 81.25% of the classified groundwater boreholes corresponded accurately with the zones delineated on the generated groundwater potential map. Further validation utilizing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve gave an AUC of 0.83. The methodology, techniques, and results of the current investigation may be useful in evaluating the groundwater potential zones in similar terrains worldwide. Furthermore, the establishment of purposeful testing wells and field geophysical investigations in potential well-drilling locations is advised to enhance effective groundwater management possibilities. Graphical Abstract This graphical abstract illustrates the key processes and findings of a study on Groundwater Potential Zone Mapping using GIS and Remote Sensing, focusing on the Teji River catchment in Southwest Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. It highlights the methodology used to identify and describe potential groundwater zones within the study area. Moreover, the graphical abstract illustrates the use of AHP for multi-criteria decision-making and integration of thematic layers such as rainfall, LULC, Soil texture, topographic wetness index (TWI), lithology, drainage density, lineament density and slope for spatial analysis and classification. The abstract presents a novel approach for mapping and assessing groundwater potential, providing insights into sustainable water resource management.

In the semiarid Dindigul West firka of Tamil Nadu, groundwater serves as a vital resource supporting both domestic consumption and agricultural activities across an area of approximately 127.56 km². Dindigul West Firka is experiencing gradual peri-urbanisation, with villages transforming into semi-urban settlements. The expansion of housing, roads, and public infrastructure has increased pressure on land and water resources. Small-scale industries, commercial establishments, and service activities have expanded along major roads and settlement clusters. Drainage is primarily seasonal, with small streams and tanks connected to the tributaries of the Kodaganar River, which flows near Dindigul town. Dindigul West Firka experiences a tropical semi-arid climate. Groundwater potential zones were delineated through the combined application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, and the resulting spatial patterns were validated using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation. Satellite data and ancillary maps were employed to develop thematic layers of lithology, geomorphology, lineament density, slope, soil type, land use/land cover, elevation, drainage density, NDVI, NDWI, and rainfall. Relative weightages were assigned for GIS analysis to develop a composite Groundwater Potential Zone (GWPZ). The resulting groundwater potential map is classified into three zones: high (40%), moderate (35%), and low (25%). The central and southern parts of the Firka showed higher groundwater potential due to favourable lithology, dense lineament networks, and gentle slopes. In contrast, the southwestern rocky uplands exhibited low potential. The outcome is validated in groundwater prospecting and suggests sustainable water resource management in Dindigul West Firka. Multitemporal multispectral satellite imagery was used to generate LULC maps and detect land-use changes using supervised classification and post-classification comparison techniques. Higher weights were assigned to the LULC map. Future research should integrate the study of long-term groundwater level trends, utilising high-resolution satellite data, artificial intelligence, and advanced machine-learning models to enhance the accuracy and sustainability of groundwater potential assessments.

Implementation of a hydrologic model and GIS for estimating Wadi runoff in Dernah area, Al Jabal Al Akhadar, NE Libya

In basin researches, quantitative data available from Topographical maps and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) make significant contributions to researchers in line with database created making use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Technological developments in the last 10 years, in particular, rendered GIS and Remote Sensing methods fit-for-use to achieve the objectives in geology-related applications. To identify applications of GIS in relation to basin researches, we selected the basin of the Kazandere Stream Basin of the castle located in Marmara Region as the field of study. In this study, we generated drainage network features of the basin using Arcinfo 9.2 GIS software from streams on 1/25000 scaled topographical map and from 10 m grid spaced DEM. We used Archydro Tool in line with the objectives of study. We obtained parameters in relation to stream directory analyses such as branching rate, drainage density and stream frequency of the field of study making use of topographical maps. And for DEM-related applications, we obtained information about sub-basins by way of Flow Accumulation and Flow Direction model. DEM's are a general source of data for field analyses and 3-dimensional applications. Such basin characteristics as basin field, sub-basin fields, water running directions, drainage networks, catchment centreoid etc., are easily generated through DEM. Stream morphometric features found using such two data sources provide reliable information on drainage characteristics of the stream basin and its lower branches. Analyses and applications conducted within the framework of database created on GIS environment indicated that GIS could be used for multi-purposes under scope of geographical researches.

This study attempts to study the morphometric characteristics of the Ghatganga basin by using Geographical information system (GIS). This analysis has shown that the relation of stream order (U) and stream number (Nu) which gives a negative linear pattern that order increases with a decreasing number of stream segment of a particular order. Different morphometric parameters such as stream length (Lu), bifurcation ratio (Rb), drainage density (D), stream frequency (Fs), texture ratio (T), elongation ratio (Re), circularity ratio (Rc), form factor ratio (Rf), relief ratio (Rh) and river profile have revealed the basin has a dendritic pattern of drainage, indicating high relief and steep ground slope with less elongated young and mature landforms in which geological structures don’t have a dominant influence on the basin.

This paper aims to identify the groundwater-potential zones in coastal zones of the Cuddalore district by integrating remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques. The thematic layers such as geomorphology, landuse/land cover, lineament density, geology, soil, drainage density, rainfall, and slope are considered for the identification of groundwater-potential zones. The groundwater-potential zones are categorized into five zones as ‘very good’, ‘good’, ‘moderate’, ‘poor’, and ‘very poor’. From the study, it is observed that the rainwater/surface water infiltration to the aquifer is high in the eastern region due to flat topography, and thus, these zones possess ‘very good’ and ‘good’ groundwater-potential zones. The groundwater potential in the central region of the study area possesses moderate infiltration capacity, which is suitable for agricultural practices. Moreover, it is also observed that the groundwater potential is ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ in the northwest region due to steep slopes in which suitable recharge structures should be constructed in these zones to harvest the rainwater. Eventually, the obtained results are validated with existing bore wells in the study area, and it reveals that a GIS-based integrated method is an effective tool for the exploration of groundwater resources with high accuracy.

The examination of morphometric parameters through quantitative analysis proves highly valuable in assessing river basins, prioritizing watersheds for soil and water conservation, and natural resources management. In this study, an in-depth analysis of the Dachigam Catchment has been conducted, focusing on the quantification of various morphometric parameters. The research employs Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to assess morphometric parameters in the micro-watersheds of the Dachigam Catchment. Linear and areal morphometric parameters were systematically derived and tabulated based on linear and shape characteristics of drainage channels, utilizing GIS and topographical maps (scale 1:50,000). The morphometric analysis conducted in the Dachigam catchment indicates that the basin has an elongated shape, suggesting that peak discharges would generally exhibit a flat profile and take time to rise. The drainage network within the basin is predominantly of the dendritic type, signifying a degree of homogeneity in texture. The slope analysis shows that the Dachigam watershed has a significant amount of steep terrain, ranging from 0 to 74.63%. The majority of the area falls within the 24 to 35% slope range. Examination of the aspect indicates that slopes oriented towards the south and southwest are the most prevalent in the basin. The watershed's mean bifurcation ratio is 1.71. This low ratio suggests that the watershed hasn't experienced significant distortion. In contrast, high bifurcation ratios exceeding 5 typically indicate distorted drainage patterns. The research illustrates how remote sensing and GIS methods can effectively analyze watershed morphometrics. These techniques offer valuable insights for planners and decision-makers involved in watershed-level planning and drainage basin management.

The growing demand for freshwater for domestic and industrial purposes is a current challenge in the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority area. Consequently, there is heavy demand for groundwater resources to meet this need. This challenge has worsened due to the non-incorporation of integrated methods in groundwater exploration campaigns. Innovative scientific principles and quantitative assessment of groundwater resources are required for sustainable and proper management of the resources. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to exploit the potential application of remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques in mapping groundwater potential zones. To achieve this, seven factors deemed to have significant control over the occurrence and movement of groundwater viz. geology, lineament density, slope, drainage density, rainfall, land-use/land cover, and soil class were produced. These factors were assigned weights and normalized with respect to their relative contributions to groundwater occurrence using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This resulted in groundwater potential zones that have been classified into four: Very good, Good, Moderate and Poor representing 7%, 27%, 43%, and 23% respectively. This result represents groundwater potential in the area and should be used as a preliminary reference in selecting prospective sites for detailed groundwater resource exploitation

Groundwater is a vital resource for meeting domestic and agricultural water requirements in the semiarid region of Vathalagundu Firka, Nilakottai Taluk, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, encompassing an area of approximately 64.07 km². This study aims to delineate groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) using an integrated Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) approach. The methodology involved the preparation of thematic layers, including lithology, lineament density, land use/land cover, geomorphology, drainage density, and rainfall, derived from satellite imagery and ancillary data. These layers were assigned weights based on their relative hydrogeological importance and integrated using a Multicriterial Weighted Overlay Index (MWOI) model. Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation was applied to generate spatial groundwater potential maps. The resulting groundwater potential zonation classified the study area into high-, moderate-, and low-potential zones. The analysis reveals considerable spatial variation, with moderate groundwater potential zones occupying 70.23% of the area, followed by high potential zones covering 1.56% while low potential zones are limited to 28.09%. High-potential zones are mainly associated with weathered and fractured formations, gentle slopes, low drainage density, and favourable land-use conditions, whereas low-potential zones correspond to areas characterized by steep slopes, high runoff, and relatively impermeable lithological units. The GWPZ map was validated using existing well yield data and field observations, which showed strong agreement between the predicted zones and observed groundwater conditions, confirming the study’s findings. This study clearly identified poor groundwater potential zones for future water recharge domains. The study demonstrates that RS–GIS, integrated with the MWOI model, is an effective tool for assessing groundwater potential. Future research may focus on incorporating time-series groundwater level data, machine learning techniques, and climate variability analyses to improve prediction accuracy and support sustainable groundwater management and artificial recharge planning.