WEIGHTING OF WATER RESOURCES VULNERABILITY INDICATORS USING ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS AND GIS IN THE FEZ-MEKNES BASIN, MOROCCO

Abstract

This study analyzes and explores the associated problems with weighting, aggregating variables and combining groups of parameters that control the water resources vulnerability. The Fez-Meknes basin suffers from overexploitation and the groundwater level continue to decline. The assessment of territorial vulnerability to water scarcity and climate variability is a necessity to spatially delimit the areas likely to be affected. The vulnerability factors of water resources do not have equal impacts of vulnerability. The aim of this research is to identify, with experts in water resources management and the literature, a set of relevant factors and determine the relative contribution of each factor in the vulnerability assessment. To achieve this goal, we have developed a model that combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, geographic information systems, and expert opinions to define and weigh the vulnerability factors of water resources in the Fez-Meknes basin. The study finding indicate that 21 indicators, categorized into 4 dimensions (Water Resources, Demographic-Socioeconomic, Infrastructure, and Environment), are likely to impact the state of water resources in the study area. The factor groups of Water Resources and Demographic-Socioeconomic have the highest values at 0.47 and 0.28, respectively. Meanwhile, the Infrastructure and Environment factors have the lowest values at 0.16 and 0.10, respectively.