Hydrogeomorphological mapping as a tool in groundwater exploration

Abstract

Hydrogeomorphological maps have a useful importance in exploration hydrogeology, engineering geosciences, geotechnical engineering and planning. The role of geomorphology is decisive to correctly evaluate groundwater resources. Hard-rock hydrogeological systems commonly exhibit complex geological and morphological features. This study highlights methodological guidelines for the preparation of hydrogeomorphological maps to support groundwater conceptual modelling, as well as for hydrogeological surveys and environmental sustainability issues. Cartographic techniques can provide an accurate way of improving the knowledge on groundwater and surface water circulation and the overall functioning of aquifer systems. A comprehensive evaluation of these subjects has been completed during the preparation of hydrogeomorphological maps for the Alardo groundwater system and Touca hydromineral system, both located on Gardunha mountain in Central Portugal. Thematic maps were prepared mainly from satellite imagery analysis, topographic, geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological field surveys. This information was presented to outline the recharge potential areas and infiltration rates. The paper also contributes to hydrogeomorphological mapping design and the conceptual model of groundwater in fractured hard-rock aquifer systems.

Integrative Groundwater Studies in a Small-Scale Urban Area: Case Study from the Municipality of Penafiel (NW Portugal)

“…Evaluation of recharge and discharge used the Infiltration Potential Index in Urban Areas (IPI-Urban), for details see References [34,35]. The factors used in the IPI-Urban were based, revised, and updated from the key bibliographical sources (e.g., References [34,35,[42][43][44][45][46][47], and their relative weight/score for each factor was calculated using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP technique allowed for the comparison of factors to each other, assigning a weighting to each factor to describe the importance of each of those factors that contributed to the overall goal (e.g., References [48][49][50][51]).…”

Delineating Groundwater Vulnerability and Protection Zone Mapping in Fractured Rock Masses: Focus on the DISCO Index

“…The infiltration potential is a key parameter in some vulnerability indexes [26,40,48]. Thus, the identification and calculation of the infiltration potential zoning index was very important in this study.…”

“…This study was successfully undertaken through the combination of several major steps, where all the data collection techniques can be classified into two main categories ( Figure 2) [21,22,26,47,48]: (i) mapping data: which include topography, remote sensing, morphotectonics, structural geology, land use and climatology; (ii) field and laboratory data: which comprise rock mass geotechnics, hydrogeological inventory, and hydrogeochemical and isotopic analysis.…”

“…The fractured media parameter (Fm) was derived from the map of tectonic lineaments density, and collected into four classes, with ratings ranging from 4 to 10, depending on the tectonic lineament density [8,26,28,48,50]; • SINTACS was created for vulnerability assessments and mapping in medium and large scale maps, and the multiplier weights of normal string were used [29,30]; • SI, where the Land Use (LU) parameter was derived from land cover maps [32]; • DISCO is carried out in the vulnerable springs and in the mineral water wells related to a highly heterogeneous and fractured media aquifer [33,34].…”

Hydrolithology of the area between Tuscany, Latium and Umbria regions (Italy)

“…Researchers continuously assess hydrogeological guidelines for developing and updating the source water management plans, and providing accurate and updated cartographic support (e.g. Brown, Lloyd, & Jacobson, 1990;Desiderio, Folchi Vici D'Arcevia, Nanni, & Rusi, 2012;Teixeira, Chaminé, Carvalho, Pérez-Alberti, & Rocha, 2013). Although the assessment of the hydrogeological scenario typically integrates a large spectrum of data sources, spanning engineering prospecting and monitoring to direct field surveys, it still lacks a standard methodology for the mapping of geological units in terms of their hydrogeological properties.…”