Use of GIS, Remote Sensing and Analytical Hierarchy Process for Groundwater Potential Assessment in an Arid Region – A Case Study

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate the groundwater potentiality in the arid region "Telmzoun" located in the south of Morocco using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model of multi-criteria analysis in conjunction with geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques. The used methodology to generate the groundwater potential map starts with the preparation of thematic layers of different factors influencing the existence of groundwater, such as precipitation, lithology, geomorphology, lineament density, drainage density, slope, in addition to the proximity of the hydrographic network. Groundwater potential map was prepared using relative weights derived from the AHP. The results were mapped on ArcGIS 10.2 and validated using the existing borehole data and the ROC curve. The accuracy of the generated map reached over 70%. It represents five classes of groundwater potential that are as follows: very high potential areas consisting of 10.5% (2.14 km 2 ), high potential representing a rate of 27.2% (5.53 km 2 ), moderate potential areas consisting of 30% (6.06 km 2 ), low potential 20.5% (4.17 km 2 ) and very low potential areas showing a rate of 11.8% (2.40 km 2 ) of the total study area. The results obtained are satisfactory and consist of a guide map to be used effectively in direct future groundwater exploration campaigns and to minimize various field costs.

Investigating machine learning and ensemble learning models in groundwater potential mapping in arid region: case study from Tan-Tan water-scarce region, Morocco

“…The region climate is arid with De Martonne aridity index values between 2.7 and 3.5, as well as a minimum and maximum temperatures of 9.6 and 29.6 • C, respectively. The average annual rainfall in Tan-Tan region is around 90 mm (Jari et al, 2022). The land in this region is mainly used for industrial and residential purposes, the study area covers most of urbanized regions within the Tan-Tan province, as well as for subsistence farming and the planting of cacti.…”

“…Lithology plays a crucial role in the permeability of aquifers (Jari et al, 2022) and geological faults increase the infiltration of rainwater due to the presence of highly permeable weathered materials. Faults can act as productive underground reservoirs by inducing the formation of an alteration zone around them (Jari et al, 2022).…”

“…Lithology plays a crucial role in the permeability of aquifers (Jari et al, 2022) and geological faults increase the infiltration of rainwater due to the presence of highly permeable weathered materials. Faults can act as productive underground reservoirs by inducing the formation of an alteration zone around them (Jari et al, 2022). Accurate mapping of faults and surrounding areas is essential to identify potentially productive regions and discover new reservoirs in fractured zones (Jari et al, 2022).…”

“…Faults can act as productive underground reservoirs by inducing the formation of an alteration zone around them (Jari et al, 2022). Accurate mapping of faults and surrounding areas is essential to identify potentially productive regions and discover new reservoirs in fractured zones (Jari et al, 2022). Lineaments are linear or curvilinear geological structures associated with various geomorphological or tectonic features (Adiri et al, 2017;Hajaj et al, 2022).…”

“…In general, high TWI values favor increased groundwater potential. Elevation and slope factors generally have a negative impact on groundwater potential, since in flat, low-lying areas rainwater has more time to infiltrate and recharge groundwater reserves (Jari et al, 2022).…”