Mapping Groundwater Potential Zones in the Widyan Basin, Al Qassim, KSA: Analytical Hierarchy Process-Based Analysis Using Sentinel-2, ASTER-DEM, and Conventional Data
Ragab A. El Sherbini,
No information about this author
Hosni Ghazala,
No information about this author
Mohammed A. Ahmed
No information about this author
et al.
Remote Sensing,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
17(5), P. 766 - 766
Published: Feb. 22, 2025
Groundwater
availability
in
semi-arid
regions
like
the
Widyan
Basin,
Kingdom
of
Saudi
Arabia
(KSA),
is
a
critical
challenge
due
to
climatic,
topographic,
and
hydrological
variations.
The
accurate
identification
groundwater
zones
essential
for
sustainable
development.
Therefore,
this
study
combines
remote-sensing
datasets
(Sentinel-2
ASTER-DEM)
with
conventional
data
using
Geographic
Information
System
(GIS)
analytical
hierarchy
process
(AHP)
techniques
delineate
potential
(GWPZs).
basin’s
geology
includes
Pre-Cambrian
rock
units
Arabian
Shield
southwest
Cambrian–Ordovician
northeast,
Saq
Formation
serving
as
main
aquifer.
Six
soil
types
were
identified:
Haplic
Calcic
Yermosols,
Calcaric
Regosols,
Cambic
Arenosols,
Orthic
Solonchaks,
Lithosols.
topography
varies
from
steep
areas
northwest
nearly
flat
terrain
northeast.
Hydrologically,
basin
divided
into
28
sub-basins
four
stream
orders.
Using
GIS-based
AHP
weighted
overlay
methods,
GWPZs
mapped,
achieving
model
consistency
ratio
0.0956.
categorized
excellent
(15.21%),
good
(40.85%),
fair
(43.94%),
poor
(0%).
GWPZ
was
validated
by
analyzing
48
water
wells
distributed
area.
These
range
fresh
primary
saline
water,
depths
varying
between
13.98
130
m.
Nine
wells—with
an
average
total
dissolved
solids
(TDS)
value
597.2
mg/L—fall
within
zone,
twenty-one
are
fifteen
classified
remaining
fall
TDS
values
reaching
up
2177
mg/L.
results
indicate
that
central
zone
area
suitable
drilling
new
wells.
Language: Английский
Mapping the groundwater potential zones in mountainous areas of Southern China using GIS, AHP, and fuzzy AHP
Scientific Reports,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: May 17, 2025
Rapid
identification
of
groundwater
sources
is
crucial
for
emergency
water
supplies.
Yudu
County
(YDC)
in
Southern
China
serves
as
a
case
study
due
to
its
typical
mountainous
terrain
and
pressing
demands.
To
address
the
limitations
conventional
mapping
methods
large-scale
areas
with
sparse
data,
this
integrates
remote
sensing
(RS),
geographic
information
systems
(GIS),
multi-criteria
decision
analysis
(MCDA)
techniques
delineate
potential
zones
(GWPZs)
YDC.
Following
series
correlation
tests,
seven
assessment
indicators
were
selected
from
various
influencing
factors,
including
two
innovative
ones:
terrestrial
storage
change
(TWSC)
spring
flow.
The
analytic
hierarchy
process
(AHP)
fuzzy
AHP
(FAHP)
models
employed
calculate
factor
weights,
GWPZ
maps
generated
using
weighted
overlay
GIS.
model
performance
was
validated
borewell
receiver
operating
characteristic
(ROC)
curves,
yield
prediction
models.
Additionally,
four
enrichment
types
their
spatial
distribution
identified
by
field
investigations
assessments.
Results
indicated
remarkable
similarity
between
GWPZs
delineated
FAHP,
categorized
into
five
classes:
very
high
(13.92%
14.33%
FAHP),
(26.29
27.55%),
medium
(29.33
28.14%),
low
(20.66
21.50%),
(9.80
8.48%).
area
under
curve
(AUC)
FAHP
85.09%,
slightly
higher
than
84.41%
AHP,
while
coefficient
(R2
improved
0.747
0.817
FAHP.
These
findings
confirmed
reliability
combining
GIS
MCDA
GWPZs,
demonstrating
an
advantage
over
AHP.
proposed
methodology
resulting
significantly
enhance
sustainable
resource
management
development
YDC,
offering
practical
framework
rapid
disaster
response,
well
long-term
security
planning
similar
environments.
Language: Английский