Delineation of Prospecting Zones of Groundwater Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS): A case Study of Solani River Basin

Abstract

Initial delineation of prospecting zones of groundwater was conducted in the present study using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. It has been preparing an integrated geographic database of spatial and non-spatial data for the study area. The spatial data were generated by using image processing software (Erdas 8.3) and GIS software (Arc view 3.3) enhanced by real frequent field visits of the study area. These data include: surface features which give a direct and indirect indicators of the existence of groundwater and affect to the groundwater movement such as hydrogeomorphological, drainage density, slope, landuse and soil maps. The non spatial data were derived primarily from real views during field visits to the study area and from the existing writing or previous studies. All the data generated were saved in the GIS databank for the purpose of digitization, computational and generate the best possible output results to determine the extent of possible areas where the water that exists for the purpose of prospecting. Results showed that more areas could be have very good categories of prospect zones are the southern parts of the study area, which covers about 375 Km2 while the northern areas, which covers about 164 Km2 of the study area are grouped as runoff zone. Accordingly the possibilities of the presence of groundwater are poor to negligible in this zone. The current study demonstrated that a remote sensing and GIS technique are very effective tools that can give the initial predictions on the presence or probability of the presence of ground water in areas which have the same considered geological deposits for the study area.