Determining Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones in the North Gujarat Region of Gujarat State Using Techniques of Geoinformatics and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
Sonal Baria *
Junagadh Agricultural University, Targhadia, India.
H.D. Rank
College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
B.B. Limbasiya
Polytechnic in Agricultural Engineering, Junagadh Agricultural University, Targhadia, India.
Akansha Gritesh
Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
R.M. Satasiya
Polytechnic in Agricultural Engineering, Junagadh Agricultural University, Targhadia, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The rapid increase in population and industrialization has significantly raised the consumption of groundwater resources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. This study aims to develop groundwater recharge potential zone maps to assist in the construction of artificial recharge structures in the North Gujarat Region of Gujarat, India. An integrated approach of remote sensing (RS), geographical information system (GIS), and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) were used to achieve this goal. Influencing factors of groundwater availability included geology, soil, lineament density, slope, rainfall, land use/land cover, geomorphology, and drainage density, were analyzed to delineate potential groundwater recharge zones. each influencing parameter was determined by using Saaty's Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, and sub-parameters were ranked according to the AHP scale. A weighted overlay analysis tool in ArcGIS software was employed to map the groundwater recharge potential zones in the North Gujarat region. The classified results of the recharge potential area in the study area consist of excellent (9.93%), good (27.90%), moderate (17.58%), poor (3.92%), and very poor (0.92%) These findings provide valuable insights for effectively planning and managing groundwater resource development in the region.
Keywords: Potential groundwater recharge zones, groundwater recharge, analytical hierarchy process, geographical information system, remote sensing, North Gujarat Region