Geographic Information System Environment Research Articles

Soil erosion risk in the Mocache Canton applying multicriteria analysis and geographic information systems

Soil erosion is one of the main and most widespread types of soil degradation, determined by environmental and anthropogenic factors, which significantly impact the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, favoring its degradation. Consequently, through this research we sought to evaluate the risk of soil erosion in the canton of Mocache through the application of multicriteria analysis techniques and the use of geographic information systems (GIS). The CORINE model included several criteria for the zoning of potential and actual erosion risk, including erosivity, defined by the Modified Fournier Index (MFI) and the Bagnouls-Gaussen Aridity Index (BGI); erodibility, composed of soil texture, stoniness and depth; soil occupation; slope-orientation; and vegetation cover, through the estimation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). An expert consultation supported by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to define the contribution of each criterion to erosion risk. The resulting layers were combined using a weighted relationship (map algebra) within the GIS environment. It was obtained that slope-orientation and erosivity explain a large part of the erosion risk, with a weighting of 42.46% and 27.48% in order, according to the expert evaluation and the AHP. The high erosivity was contributed by the predominant climatic factors: intense precipitation and high temperatures. In addition, it was found that the potentialand current erosion risk represent 13.1% (7,244 ha) and 10.7% (5,905 ha) of the territorial extension. It is concluded that physical-natural, meteorological factors and anthropogenic activities contribute to the risk of potential and current soil erosion in Mocache canton

A Methodological Benchmark in Determining the Urban Growth: Spatiotemporal Projections for Eskişehir, Türkiye

Urban growth changes spatial uses over time due to different dynamics. These processes cause many physical, environmental, and socioeconomic problems, such as climate change, pollution, and population-related events. Therefore, it is essential to predict future urban expansion to produce effective policies in sustainable urban planning and make long-term plans. Many models, such as dynamic, statistical, and Cellular Automata and Markov Chain (CA-MC) models, are used in geographic information system (GIS) environments to meet the high-performance requirements of land use modeling. This study estimated the growth of settled areas in Eskişehir city center using models developed using two different methods. In this context, settled areas in the city center were examined within the scope of 1990–2018, and the growth areas of settled areas in 2046 were predicted using the CA-Markov method in Model 1: Quantum GIS (QGIS) MOLUSCE plugin and Model 2: IDRISI Selva. While settled areas are continuously increasing, other urban areas are decreasing. Model 1 predicts an increase of 1195 ha in settled areas by 2046, while Model 2 predicts an increase of 45,022 ha. At the same time, it is concluded that settled areas will grow in a central location in Model 1, while they will spread in an east-west extension in Model 2. The study results show that QGIS-based modeling predicts more limited spatial growth than IDRISI Selva. The research interprets growth in terms of the staging of urban services, the population size of neighboring cities, distances, and income levels based on the internal and external dynamics of the city.

USING THE GEOSPATIAL MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS MODEL AND METHODS FOR SOIL DEGRADATION RISK MAPPING

Modern methods of spatial analysis and modeling are increasingly being combined with decision-making methods and fuzzy set theory. The latter are actively integrated into the environment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), such as well-known ones like ArcGIS or QGIS, in the form of separate tools, plugins, or Python scripts. Decision-making methods allow structuring the problem in geographical space, as well as taking into account the knowledge and judgments of experts and the preferences of the decision-maker in determining the priorities of alternative solutions. This paper provides a description of a geospatial multi-criteria decision analysis model, which allows addressing a wide range of ecological and socio-economic issues. An example of applying this model to map soil degradation risk in Ukraine is presented in the paper. According to the object-spatial approach, the properties of a territory are determined as the result of the action (impact) of a set of objects (processes) belonging to this territory. The territory is represented as a two-dimensional discrete grid, each point of which (local area) is an alternative. The set of local areas of the territory constitutes the set of alternatives. The representation of the territory model as a system of objects and relationships between them allows justifying the choice of a set of criteria (factors) for assessing soil degradation risk. Each criterion is a separate raster layer of the map. To build a hierarchical decision-making structure and calculate the importance coefficients of the criteria, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used. To account for uncertainty in assessments and judgments of experts at the stages of standardization of alternative attributes by different criteria and aggregation of their assessments, expert membership functions for fuzzy sets and fuzzy quantifiers are applied. The particular feature of the proposed multi-criteria decision analysis model is its low computational complexity and ease of integration into the GIS environment.

Assessing Multi-Decadal Landmass Changes and River Bank Erosion in the Char Areas of Majuli River Island of Assam, India

Majuli, the biggest populated river island, which is bordered to the north by the Subansiri River and to the south by the powerful Brahmaputra River. Since ancient times, the island has been continuously eroding, which is cause for serious concern. The current method uses Remote Sensing (RS) satellite imagery covering the years 1976 to 2024 and Survey of India (SOI) toposheets to study the erosion–deposition processes in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The observation has revealed a dramatic change in reduction of land area of the Majuli Island. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the long-term changes in landmass and erosion patterns in the char areas of Majuli Island, highlighting both the environmental challenges and the socio-economic implications for local communities. It is evident that the erosion rate on the island mass was significantly higher than that of the depositional processes.

Environmental vulnerability applied to the territorial planning of a tropical semiarid basin.

Tropical semiarid regions are naturally prone to environmental damage. Human activity can worsen this situation. To understand how human actions affect the ecosystem, plan land use effectively, and establish targeted management practices, assessing environmental vulnerability is crucial. This study focuses on a sub-basin receiving water transfers from the São Francisco River in Brazil's semiarid region. Here, we map and evaluate how land use and occupation alter natural vulnerability. We also propose zoning strategies to support water resource management and implement sustainable development policies in the region. To achieve this, we conducted an integrated analysis of physical factors (soil types, geology, climate, vegetation, and landforms) and spatial land-use data using geographic information systems (GIS) and map algebra techniques. Map algebra allowed us to combine these various datasets within the GIS environment, enabling the creation of maps that synthesize both natural and environmental vulnerability across the study area. Following analysis of these vulnerability maps, our findings reveal a high level of vulnerability. The areas with high to very high degrees of natural vulnerability coincide with the places that have high slopes, high altitudes, Lithic Neosols, and thick vegetation. Furthermore, the interaction between environmental factors and human activity exacerbates vulnerability. Based on the environmental vulnerability assessment, we defined four environmental management zones. These zones require distinct protection measures and management approaches. As a method to potentially improve the basin's vulnerability scenario, soil conservation measures are recommended. This approach is highly relevant for managing land in tropical semiarid regions and, with adaptations to specific regional factors, can be applied globally.

Effective Use of Catastrophe Multicriteria Decision Analysis in Delineating Groundwater Recharge Potential Zones

Multicriteria decision analysis based on Thom’s [1] Catastrophe Theory (CT) has been applied extensively in solving various social, physical and natural sciences problems. It has become a key tool for identifying the groundwater potentiality of an area with a Geographic Information System (GIS). This paper aimed to apply catastrophe theory effectively by utilizing the standardization formulae suggested by Li et al. [2] and the modified formulae provided by Hongwei Zhu [3]. Depending on the nature of a hydrogeological parameter, CT formulae were chosen to ensure that the least important features also get attention during standardization using Hongwei Zhu's formulae where applicable, which were not possible using Li’s formulae. The standardized values of the features of all the themes obtained using four formulae were sorted in ascending order to estimate the normalized values to ensure that no normalized value of a feature exceeds the others having very close but lower standardized values. The effective use of CT technique was employed in a GIS environment to delineate groundwater recharge potential zones of the middle-west part of Kushtia district, Bangladesh, by integrating influential recharge factors, such as land type, slope, drainage density, distance from surface water bodies, soil permeability, surface clay thickness, rainfall, topographic ruggedness index, topographic curvature index, topographic wetness index and topographic position index. The groundwater recharge potential zones were classified as very good (28.76%), good (32.17%), and moderately good (39.05%) for effective CT technique. But in case of the improper use of CT covering area were 17.24%, 54.05% and 28.71% respectively, and the respective most sensitive factors are rainfall and drainage density. Finally, recharge potential zones were validated using groundwater recharge data with a determinant coefficient of 0.92 and 0.84 for effective and improper use of CT technique respectively.

Assessing drought in Turkish basins through satellite observations

AbstractDrought occurs when there is a sustained decrease in rainfall over an extended period, impacting the socio‐cultural and environmental aspects of humans and other living beings. The geographic distribution and timing of droughts play a crucial role in drought management and mitigation strategies. Identifying and predicting the onset of droughts in specific regions, especially in watershed areas, is a primary concern in the field of hydrology. This study focuses on how the spatiotemporal patterns of drought are developing in Turkish Basins using detailed data on Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS), precipitation, and temperature at the pixel level. GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment), PERSIANN (Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks), and WorldClim (World Climate) data sets are employed to assess long‐term changes of drought on a basin‐scale. Spatial analyses are conducted in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment for the derivation of basinal monthly mean, minimum, and maximum statistics of TWS, precipitation, and temperature anomalies within Turkish Basins. Time series analyses are implemented to investigate the temporal evolution of droughts in these basins, for the basinal monthly mean, minimum, and maximum statistics obtained. The Mann–Kendall trend test and Pettitt change point detection tests are used to assess the statistical significance of the calculated trends and to expose the existence of any change point therein, respectively. The findings of the study indicate that Turkiye faces a significant risk of drought development in nearly all its basins, particularly after 2016. The GRACE dataset provides realistic insights into the temporal behaviour of hydrological droughts. PERSIANN is effective in identifying years with extreme meteorological conditions, and the standardized precipitation index (SPI) shows similar effectiveness, while they are ineffective in exposing significant trends due to the nature of the precipitation data. WorldClim data proves insufficient for modelling the temporal behaviour of droughts in these basins.

Groundwater perspective zone mapping coupled with remote sensing, GIS, AHP, and MIF models: a case study of the Gorezen watershed, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) utilizing multi-influencing factor, geographical information system (GIS)-based analytical hierarchy processes (AHPs), and remote sensing in the Gorezen watershed, Ethiopia. Weighted overlay analysis was used in this study to integrate nine thematic layers. The Gorezen watershed is primarily covered by regions with roughly low groundwater potential, according to the results, which were linked to the kinds of geology and geomorphological settings. Receiver operating characteristic curves and samples of observed groundwater well-yielded data were used to validate the GWPZ map. Additionally, field observations confirmed that a high degree of agreement was obtained. The cross-validation results show that AHP is a lot more successful approach (accuracy 0.87) for obtaining groundwater potential maps. Thus, it is acceptable to identify the GWPZs utilizing integrated methodologies that combine two multi-criteria decision analysis techniques with the aid of a GIS environment.

Characterization and Mapping of the Potential Area of Oil Palm Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in a Geographic Information Systems Environment

This study presents a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) spatial model to assess land suitability for oil palm (OP) cultivation in rainfed conditions. Initially, twelve parameters, viz., rainfall, number of rainy days, mean temperature, RH, ground water level, soil pH, salinity, soil depth, surface texture, stoniness, slope, and drainage, were selected for assessing OP suitability in one of the states (Kerala). However, subsequent ground verification revealed significant discrepancies, which prompted refining the model by focusing on key parameters with greater accuracy and relevance. Accordingly, only five the most critical parameters affecting OP cultivation under rainfed conditions were selected through the rank sum method, and weights were assigned ac-cording to their significance. This study was aimed at creating a comprehensive tool for informed decision making in agricultural planning. District-level spatial data from reliable sources were utilized for Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Thematic rasters, representing key factors influencing land suitability, were created in a GIS. Utilizing MCDA techniques, a digital suitability map was generated in ArcGIS 10.3, delineating three distinct classes over an extensive area of 10.5 million hectares. Further, with an aim to focus on actual locations that can be readily planted with oil palm, the suitable locations identified were restricted to eight selected land use/land cover (LULC) classes. This strategic limitation aimed to facilitate the expansion of OP cultivation exclusively to areas deemed most suitable based on the identified criteria. The validation of this developed model involved comparing the suitability map generated with the performance of existing oil palm plantations across diverse locations. The reasonable similarity between the model’s predictions and real-world plantation outcomes validated the effectiveness of this MCDA spatial model. This model not only helps identify suitable locations for rainfed oil palm cultivation but also serves as a valuable tool for strategic decision making in agricultural land use planning.

Groundwater Potential Zone Assessment Using Remote Sensing, Geographical Information System (GIS), and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Techniques in Fogera Woreda, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to know the groundwater potential zones in Fogera Woreda, south Gondar zone, Ethiopia. Through the utilization of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), remote sensing, and geographic information system (GIS), the study identified groundwater potential zones. Ten thematic layers were analyzed to delineate the groundwater potential zones, including land use and land cover (LULC), topographic wetness index (TWI), drainage density, lineament density, geology, slope, rainfall, elevation, and soil texture. By determining the relative importance of each thematic layer through AHP and combining all thematic layers through overlay analysis in a GIS environment, the study revealed a spatial variation in the distribution of groundwater potential zones. The results showed that excellent groundwater potentials cover 2.02% of the study area, moderate groundwater potentials cover 45.54%, poor groundwater potentials cover 51.2%, and extremely poor groundwater potentials cover 1.24% of the study area. The study provides valuable information that can be used for decision-making processes and the development of appropriate groundwater management strategies in the region.

Assessing geomorphological changes in coastal lagoon inlet using geospatial tools: A case study Moulay Bousselham lagoon, Morocco

Coastal monitoring is crucial for coastal management and both sustainable progress and environmental protection. This study aims to assess the morphodynamic changes undergone by an inlet, sandpits, and adjacent beaches of Moulay Bousselham lagoon (Morocco Atlantic coast), considered a RAMSAR site of significant biodiversity. Firstly, a Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) is applied to monitor shoreline evolution between 1949 and 2021, based on the End Point Rate (EPR) and Linear Regression Rate (LRR) methods, with the study area divided into south and north sides. Secondly, we mapped sandpit areas in the lagoon using recent satellite images and historical aerial photos covering a period of 75 years (1949–2024) within a GIS (Geographic Information System) environment. As a result, the average annual accretion rates on the north side, comprising 735 transects (1.45 km length), are +3.23 m/year (EPR) and +3.26 m/year (LRR). Additionally, the accretion phenomenon is observed in 117 transects, while erosion is recorded in 618 transects with −0.73 m/year and −0.81 m/year for EPR and LRR methods, respectively. The south side, comprising 1085 transects (2.46 km length), shows average annual erosion rates of −0.99 m/year (EPR) and −0.76 m/year (LRR) concerning the south part of the entrance inlet, with 278 transects showing accretion and 807 transects indicating erosion. Moreover, flood-dominated deltas (sandpit) mapping shows significant changes in the sandpit areas at the entrance inlet and inside the lagoon, with the area of accumulation increasing from around 155662,57 m2 in 1949 to 306020,22 m2 in March 2024. Inlet width measurements reveal fluctuations over time, from 53 m in 1949 to 177 m by 1988, reflecting dynamic coastal processes. However, by March 2024, the width decreased to 30 m, indicating sediment blockage and intense siltation. This analysis revealed that these sedimentation trends are mainly controlled by southward-directed littoral transport and the change in inlet position induced by several factors, including tidal currents, wave energy and river flow, particularly during winter seasons and extreme events (marine submersions and flooding). This article will help us to understand the relationship between the evolution of the coastline and its immediate influence on sediment supply to the lagoon.

Identification of Soil Fertility Constraints of Erstwhile Warangal District, Telangana, India, using GIS for their Precise Management for Sustainable Crop Productivity

The present investigation was carried out to identify soil fertility constraints and map the fertility status of erstwhile Warangal District, Telangana, India using geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS). 241 geo-referenced surface soil samples (0-20 cm) from the study area were analyzed for their fertility parameters. Soil fertility maps were prepared for each parameter under GIS environment using Arc-GIS v 10.8.2. The soils in study area were slightly acidic to slightly alkaline in reaction (6.16 - 8.34), non saline in nature (0.14 to 1.00 dS m–1) and low to high (0.12 - 1.14%) in organic carbon (OC%) content. The soils were low in available nitrogen (136 to231 kg ha-1), low to high in available phosphorus (14.00 to 166.00 kg P2O5 ha-1) and medium to high in available potassium (199 to 997 kg K2O ha-1). The wide variation from deficient to sufficient was observed in the status of available zinc (0.13 to 2.05 mg kg-1), iron (0.09 to 11.80 mg kg-1), copper (0.14 to 2.14 mg kg-1) and manganese (0.18 to 10.30 mg kg-1). The soil fertility status in study area revealed that soil organic carbon, available nitrogen and zinc are important soil fertility constraints in the erstwhile Warangal District Telangana India. To build up organic matter, zinc content, native nitrogen and maintain nutrient balance in the soil the farmers are advised to adopt farmyard manure (FYM) and ZnSO4 application regularly.

Agricultural land suitability analysis in Manipur, India using GIS and AHP

This article aims to identify potential sites for agricultural use in the state of Manipur of north east India by employing the analytic hierarchy process in a geographic information system environment in conjunction with the use of remote sensing and soil data. Within the analytic hierarchy process, each terrain variable underwent a pairwise comparison and criteria weights were assigned according to their relative importance. Eight variables were selected and used in land suitability analysis for agriculture. It was found that Manipur had 57% (12,660 km2) of its total geographical area suitable for agriculture. However, 8126 km2 (37%) and 1374 km2 (6%) of the total geographical area was currently and permanently unsuitable land respectively. The distribution of suitable land varied greatly, with highly, moderately and marginally suitable land covering only 8%, 16% and 33% respectively of the total geographical area. The highly suitable agricultural land is predominantly concentrated in the Imphal valley (70%), though 90% of moderately suitable and 96% of marginally suitable land also exist in the hills. The hilly areas constitute 96% and 97% respectively of currently unsuitable and permanently unsuitable land in the state. Suitable land comprises of land with low to medium altitude, gentle to moderate slopes, soil of fine or acceptable quality, and with minimal flood risk. Unsuitable lands tend to be diametrically opposite to these attributes with steep hill slopes. The nature of distribution of land suitability types influences the agricultural pattern in Manipur. Agriculture in the hill areas comprises mainly of shifting cultivation on hill slopes, whereas in the valley region it is irrigated and permanent. This analysis of Manipur has a wider applicability since the shifting cultivation-irrigated agriculture combination is similar to that which exists across much of the highlands of South East Asia.

A Usable Encryption Solution for File-Based Geospatial Data within a Database File System

Developing a security solution for spatial files within today’s enterprise Geographical Information System (GIS) that is also usable presents a multifaceted challenge. These files exist in “data silos” of different file server types, resulting in limited collaboration and increased vulnerability. While cloud-based data storage offers many benefits, the associated security concerns have limited its uptake in GIS, making it crucial to explore comparable alternative security solutions that can be deployed on-premise and are also usable. This paper introduces a reasonably usable security solution for spatial files within collaborative enterprise GIS. We explore a Database File System (DBFS) as a potential repository to consolidate and manage spatial files based on its enterprise document management capabilities and security features inherited from the underlying legacy DBMS. These files are protected using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm with practical encryption times of 8 MB per second. The final part focuses on an automated encryption solution with schemes for single- and multi-user files that is compatible with various GIS programs and protocol services. Usability testing is carried out to assess the solution’s usability and focuses on effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction, with the results demonstrating its usability based on the minimal changes it makes to how users work in a collaborative enterprise GIS environment. The solution furnishes a viable means for consolidating and protecting spatial files with various formats at the storage layer within enterprise GIS.

Prioritization of soil erosion-prone sub-watersheds using geomorphometric and statistical-based weighted sum priority approach in the middle Omo-Gibe River basin, Southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Soil erosion, a major factor contributing to land degradation, poses significant environmental challenges across sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. This study identifies erosion-prone sub-watersheds in southern Ethiopia's middle Omo-Gibe River basin using digital elevation model data, analyzed using a geomorphometric and statistically weighted sum priority approach in a Geographic Information System environment. Additionally, hypsometric analysis, lithology, land use/cover analysis, and field observations were integrated to enhance methodological reliability in assessing soil erosion patterns and subsequent land degradation in the basin. Results highlight sub-watersheds with varying degrees of erosion sensitivity, emphasizing morphometric parameters and landscape characteristics. Furthermore, hypsometric analysis confirms a moderate to high susceptibility of sub-watersheds to soil erosion. Moreover, half of the river basin consists of shrubland, encompassing scrubs, range lands, and small wooded areas. These are less efficient in mitigating erosion compared to forests, especially in the face of significant summer rainfall and ensuing runoff. Statistical prioritization identified 19 sub-watersheds, covering 43% of the basin's total area, as highly prone to soil erosion and land degradation. The study's findings are valuable for Ethiopian watershed management decision-makers, enabling informed resource allocation and targeted interventions to control soil erosion and protect water resources by utilizing the outputs of this study.

Estimating groundwater resources in an equatorial forested basin using geographic information system and remote sensing techniques (case of Nyong, South Cameroon)

ABSTRACT This article aims to produce a groundwater potential zone (GWPZ) map of the Nyong basin using an integrated analytical hierarchy process driven in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. For this, seven parameters (rainfall, geology, slopes, drainage density, land use and land cover, lineament density, and soil) known to influence the availability of groundwater were considered. The results obtained show that the Eastern part of the basin holds the largest quantities of groundwater. The produced map shows that this region includes high and very high GWPZs (yield > 6 l/s). It is essentially characterized by abundant rainfall (on average 135–136 and 131–134 mm), low slopes, significant drainage and lineament densities, and significant forest cover. On the other hand, the opposite region (west), which includes the low and very low GWPZs, is characterized by less abundant precipitation (on average 121–125 and 125–128 mm), significant slopes, lower drainage and lineament densities, and greater impervious areas. With a success rate of 80%, confidence deserves to be placed in the GWPZs map produced. It can be considered in water supply projects in this basin. Such work has never been done in this basin before.

Soil Erosion Risk Estimation by using Semi Empirical RUSLE model: A case study of Maniyari Basin, Chhattisgarh

Soil is the protective skin of our earth's surface, but today’s numerous population pressures on land, along with industrialization, climatic variability such as a vigorous increase in temperature, acid rain, and deforestation, definitely degrade the quality of land. It should have to evaluate the quality of the land and find out the nutrition status as well as the soil health. The present study is employed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment to predict erosion risk using the Semi-Empirical Revised Soil Loss Erosion Model (RUSLE). The physiographic soil map has been prepared by visual interpretation of the Sentinal 2 satellite image, from which the soil erodibility factor has been derived. The digital elevation model (DEM) has been prepared from a contour map and used as the base map for the topographic-related analysis. In this model, the slope length (LS) factor has been prepared from the DEM. The crop conservation and management factor (C) and support practice factor (P) factors have been derived from the LULC map. It has been found that 4.45% of the watershed comes under very high erosion, 3.50% under high erosion, 7.80% under moderate erosion, 11.37% under low erosion, and 51.36% under a very low erosion-prone zone.

Identification of appropriate sites for solar-based green hydrogen production using a combination of density-based clustering, Best-Worst Method, and Spatial GIS

Hydrogen is a relatively new source of sustainable energy resources; presently, its usage ranges from direct energy generation in mixed-cycle thermal power plants to its usage in the internal combustion engine. If the generation of hydrogen is coupled with renewable energy resources, the use of hydrocarbons can be substantially reduced in both energy generation and transportation. In this paper, we conducted a national-level assessment to identify the hydrogen generation capacity of Pakistan. The methodology used in this study is a combination of spatial multi-criteria analysis and density-based clustering in a geographical information systems environment. Based on the analysis, the national clusters capable of producing green hydrogen were identified. The results shows that the hydrogen generation capacity for Pakistan is approximately 7 million tons per year using solar photovoltaic energy. The Surab-Gwadar alignment, N-25 national highway, and Quetta-to-D-I-Khan alignment offer potential hydrogen generation sites with water resources. Most of the identified sites for the production of hydrogen in the country were found to be near the national electricity transmission networks. The Best-Worst Method was further employed to provide policymakers with a road map for prioritizing the development of these capacities based on their proximity to the national networks, their terrain suitability, and their generation capacities.

Evaluation of historical rainfall series for rainwater capture in the city of Teófilo Otoni/MG

This study aimed to evaluate the linear correlation between data from four rainfall stations for the design of a rainwater harvesting system for non-potable purposes in a municipal public school in Teófilo Otoni, MG. First, a cartographic study was carried out using a geographic information system environment in order to generate a map with the rainfall stations and the school where the collection system was designed. Next, an attempt was made to assess the availability of data present at the stations and compare them using linear regression. Finally, the design of the rainwater harvesting system for the school was carried out. The results of the linear correlation indicate that the four stations can be used in the sizing of the system. Finally, the implementation of the system can contribute to the reduction of water consumption and, consequently, financial expenses.

Groundwater Potential Zone Assessment Using Remote Sensing, Geographical Information System (GIS), and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Techniques in Fogera Woreda, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to know the groundwater potential zones in Fogera Woreda, south Gondar zone, Ethiopia. Through the utilization of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), remote sensing, and geographic information system (GIS), the study identified groundwater potential zones. Ten thematic layers were analyzed to delineate the groundwater potential zones, including land use and land cover (LULC), topographic wetness index (TWI), drainage density, lineament density, geology, slope, rainfall, elevation, and soil texture. By determining the relative importance of each thematic layer through AHP and combining all thematic layers through overlay analysis in a GIS environment, the study revealed a spatial variation in the distribution of groundwater potential zones. The results showed that excellent groundwater potentials cover 2.02% of the study area, moderate groundwater potentials cover 45.54%, poor groundwater potentials cover 51.2%, and extremely poor groundwater potentials cover 1.24% of the study area. The study provides valuable information that can be used for decision-making processes and the development of appropriate groundwater management strategies in the region.