Chapter 13 - Geographic information systems and remote sensing for local development. Reservoirs positioning

Abstract

In recent decades, a critical factor that policymakers have taken into account when assessing the environment is climate change. This global natural process has already caused many problems in the natural and man-made environment. In the future, these problems are expected to multiply and become more severe. As a result, there will be much more pressure on water resources, resulting in water shortages in many more areas. The management of water, such an important resource, requires the adoption of management techniques adapted to the needs of each region and each season. It is one part of the spectrum of environmental management. It seeks an acceptable balance between the available water resources and the often-competing uses of water using technical and nontechnical means. The decline in groundwater resources, their degradation, and intensive use means that surface water exploitation projects need to be promoted. Projects that ensure the exploitation of surface water (dams, reservoirs, dams, and refineries) are more environmentally friendly and help to protect the environment, save energy, and, in some cases, generate energy from renewable sources. These projects are made even more attractive by the availability of unused water, greater protection for consumers, the possibility of multiple uses of water, and the creation of new jobs. This chapter presents a methodology for selecting suitable sites for the construction of small reservoirs to harness surface runoff. The use of primary data, such as meteorological and spatial data in a geographic information systems framework, with the integration of an appropriate hydrological model, can reveal locations/areas suitable for the construction of small reservoirs. The island of Andros (Cyclades, Greece) is the study area for this proposed methodology. Several locations on the island were examined, and, finally, three locations were selected for the construction of small reservoirs.