Sustainable Groundwater Potential Zoning with Integrating GIS, Remote Sensing, and AHP Model: A Case from North-Central Bangladesh

Abstract

Groundwater is one of the most valuable natural resources, and the most dependable source of fresh water. For sustainable groundwater management, the present study aimed to model groundwater potential zones in the north–central region of Bangladesh using GIS, remote sensing, and the analytical hierarchy process. The present study included eight thematic layers: lineament density, geomorphology, soil types, slope, land use/land cover, drainage density, elevation, and rainfall features to delineate a groundwater potential zone of the area. Integration of the eight thematic layers was performed through weighted overlay analysis, which assisted in delineating groundwater potential zones. This simple and systematic method successfully provides a satisfactory result concerning the delineation of groundwater potential zones. The study resulted in a groundwater potential zone map, which identifies about 11.51% of the study area as being under a very high groundwater potential zone, covering an area of 504.09 km2. The AHP analysis shows that the physiographical parameters, such as lineament density, slope, and drainage density, and meteorological factors such as annual rainfall, have greater influence over groundwater potentiality. The result obtained from the weighted overlay analysis was verified with actual well yield and groundwater depth data, which show a significant positive correlation. The outcome of the study will help in taking effective measures to ensure sustainable use and extraction of groundwater in this region.

Fusion of Remote Sensing Data Using GIS-Based AHP-Weighted Overlay Techniques for Groundwater Sustainability in Arid Regions

“…It is worth noting that these zones are mostly coincident with drainage lines and areas of fine deposits (Figure 5). Hence, areas with high lineament density facilitated water infiltration and penetration [75], and therefore water accumulation and the prospective for groundwater potential and vice versa [2,29,53,57]; it was depicted in the GWPZs of the study area that the majority of areas of high to very high prospective zones are consistent with high lineament density. More than 30% of the basin is characterized by high lineament density, which favors the circulation of the precipitated water into the strata below, particularly the northeastern and southwestern parts.…”

“…The high altitudes of up to 1260 m (a.s.l) and geomorphic features of Wadi El-Tarfa promote rainfall as precipitation is driven by topography; it was shaped by the uplift which is caused due to subsurface convection processes in the areas northwest of the Gulf of Suez [74]. Although areas of high altitudes received high precipitation and runoff, areas of low altitudes in the downstream (25.45%) allow for water infiltration and accumulation [2,32,53,54,75] as most of these areas are classified as having high to very high potentiality (Figure 12a). Characterizing certain low elevations that are surrounded by high relief, called "depressions", they are highly predicted areas for harvesting surface water accumulation during heavy storms as the water of drainage networks tends to accumulate at lower elevations of the downstream of W. El-Tarfa versus higher elevations [53,54].…”

Future groundwater potential mapping using machine learning algorithms and climate change scenarios in Bangladesh

“…Groundwater potential zone modeling is critical for sustainable water resource management since it helps to allocate this key resource more efficiently for agriculture, industry, and home usage. It permits the identification of locations appropriate for groundwater extraction while preserving the resource, guaranteeing long-term growth and resilience in the face of droughts or climate change 6 , 11 , 12 . Traditional approaches for locating areas with high groundwater potential zone modeling rely heavily on expensive and time-consuming ground surveys 6 .…”

Groundwater Practices and Vulnerability at a Pocket of the Northwest Region of Bangladesh: A Study Based on Social and Hydrogeological Factors

“…In addition to over-extraction, due to the hydrogeological and climatic factors, the groundwater recharge rate is very low with respect to groundwater abstraction. Priya et al (2022) estimated the recharge potential rate to be 60 mm/year, which was determined using field observation and numerical modelling.…”