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Efficiency and Capability of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) : A Powerful Tool For Sustainable Groundwater Management
Efficiency and Capability of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) : A Powerful Tool For Sustainable Groundwater Management
ISSN No:-2456-2165
DOI:- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7845332
Abstract:- In this review paper, the potential of remote recent years, posing a severe threat to the sustainability of
sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) water resources.
for sustainable groundwater management and
development is explored. Recent literature on the use of Overexploitation of groundwater resources has led to a
RS and GIS in groundwater resource management is decline in water tables and groundwater quality, resulting in
analyzed, evaluating the efficiency and capability of the degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity loss.
these technologies throughout various stages of Additionally, it has caused land subsidence, seawater
groundwater management. Challenges and limitations intrusion, and land degradation, among other problems.
associated with their use are also highlighted, with Depletion of groundwater resources is a significant
potential solutions proposed to overcome them. environmental, social, and economic issue in many regions
Ultimately, the review concludes that RS and GIS are worldwide [4-5].
powerful tools for sustainable groundwater management
and development, with significant benefits in terms of Efficient monitoring and management of groundwater
cost-effectiveness, accuracy, and time-efficiency. resources are crucial to ensure their sustainability. However,
However, more research is needed to improve their conventional methods of groundwater management, such as
integration in groundwater management and address drilling wells and measuring water levels, are time-
current limitations. Overall, this review offers valuable consuming and expensive, providing only limited
insights into the potential of RS and GIS in sustainable information on groundwater resources. Moreover, these
groundwater management and development. methods do not consider the spatial and temporal variability
of groundwater systems [1,5].
Keywords:- Remote Sensing (RS); Geographic Information
Systems (GIS); Groundwater Management; Groundwater In recent years, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic
Potential; Efficiency; Capability of RS and GIS; Scale and Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as powerful tools
Resolution Effects; Groundwater Vulnerability. for sustainable groundwater management and development.
RS refers to the collection of data about the Earth's surface
I. INTRODUCTION from a distance, using sensors on satellites, airplanes, or
drones. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), on the other
Groundwater resources are essential to meet the hand, refers to the computer-based processing, analysis, and
growing demand for water caused by population growth, visualization of spatial data. Together, RS and Geographic
urbanization, and industrialization. Groundwater is the Information Systems (GIS) offer a powerful means of
primary source of water for various purposes, including analyzing and visualizing spatial data related to groundwater
domestic, agricultural, and industrial use, in many regions resources, aiding in decision-making for groundwater
worldwide [1-3]. However, the overexploitation of management and development.
groundwater resources has become a significant concern in
Aircraft and drones are also used for remote sensing, To produce digital maps and other geographical
and they can provide higher resolution images than illustrations, GIS technology employs software, hardware,
satellites. Aircraft can fly at lower altitudes and collect data and data. The software provides a foundation for the
at specific times and locations, while drones can provide analysis and visualization of spatial data, while the hardware
even higher resolution images and collect data in areas that delivers the computing power and storage space essential
are inaccessible or dangerous for aircraft. for managing huge datasets. The data utilized in Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) systems may originate from
Various techniques such as image processing, machine various sources such as GPS data, aerial photography,
learning, and data fusion are used to process and analyze satellite imagery, or field observations. This data is
remote sensing data. Image processing involves improving frequently merged with other types of data like climate data,
the quality of the images and extracting useful information land use data, or demographic data, to offer a
from them. Machine learning techniques are used to classify comprehensive depiction of a particular location.
the images and identify patterns in the data. Data fusion
Listed below are Several Essential Elements of Remote VI. GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL ZONES
Sensing:
Groundwater is a vital natural resource that plays a
Platform: This pertains to the airborne or satellite crucial role in meeting the domestic, agricultural, and
equipment utilized in data collection. industrial water needs. However, the availability of
Sensor: This refers to the instrument or camera used for groundwater varies significantly in different regions,
obtaining data. making it necessary to identify the potential groundwater
Resolution: This pertains to the level of detail presented zones for sustainable management and utilization of this
in the data, ranging from low to very high resolution. resource. This is where remote sensing (RS) and geographic
Spectral bands: This refers to the range of wavelengths information system (GIS) come into play. The integration of
that the sensor can detect. these technologies has emerged as a powerful tool for
Radiometric resolution: This pertains to the sensitivity identifying groundwater potential zones, which can aid in
of the sensor to changes in color or brightness. efficient groundwater management.
On the contrary, Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) involves the examination and organization of Mapping groundwater potential zones using RS and
spatial data, frequently in the form of maps. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides critical
following are some of the critical components of information for groundwater exploration, selection of
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): suitable locations for drilling wells, and estimation of
groundwater availability. With RS, satellite images are used
Data input: This refers to the process of gathering and
to identify geological and hydrogeological factors that
digitizing spatial data.
influence groundwater availability. These images help
Database management: This refers to the storage,
identify surface features like topography, land use, and
organization, and retrieval of spatial data.
vegetation cover that impact groundwater recharge and
Spatial analysis: This refers to the use of GIS tools to
storage. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is then used
analyze and manipulate spatial data.
to develop a hydrological model of the study area, which
Cartography: This pertains to the creation of maps and simulates the movement of water through the hydrological
other visual representations of spatial data. cycle. Geophysical surveys can also be conducted using
Geocoding: This refers to the process of assigning various techniques to identify potential groundwater zones.
geographic coordinates to data points to accurately
locate them on a map. Multi-criteria decision analysis is another GIS-based
method that evaluates and ranks potential groundwater
V. RS AND GIS APPLICATIONS IN zones based on different criteria, such as land use,
EXPLORATION AND ASSESSMENT OF topography, soil type, and hydrogeology. The method helps
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES in identifying the most suitable areas for groundwater
exploration based on the selected criteria.
RS and GIS are useful tools for the exploration and
assessment of groundwater resources. These technologies The identification of groundwater potential zones is a
can be applied to various areas, including mapping crucial step towards sustainable groundwater management.
groundwater potential zones, monitoring changes in With the integration of RS and Geographic Information
groundwater levels, evaluating groundwater quality, Systems (GIS), we can efficiently identify potential
identifying recharge zones, and managing groundwater groundwater zones, aiding in the exploration and
resources. By mapping land use/land cover types, geological management of this valuable resource. By ensuring the
structures, and hydrological features like rivers and efficient and optimal utilization of groundwater resources,
wetlands, RS and GIS can identify areas with high potential
Groundwater evaluation studies employ various In addition to scale and resolution, other factors such
validation methods, such as visual inspection, statistical as atmospheric conditions, terrain effects, and data
analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Visual inspection involves processing methods can impact the accuracy of groundwater
comparing the model predictions with observed data using evaluation using remote sensing and GIS. Correcting for
graphs and plots to identify discrepancies and fine-tune the atmospheric conditions is crucial for removing the effects of
model [12,14]. haze and other atmospheric interferences from remote
sensing data. Terrain effects such as shading and aspect can
Statistical analysis involves quantifying the accuracy also have an impact on the accuracy of DEM-derived data.
and reliability of the model predictions by using statistical Finally, data processing methods like interpolation can
methods like correlation coefficients, mean square error, and result in errors if applied incorrectly.
root mean square error to compare the model predictions
with observed data. An understanding of the effects of scale and resolution
in remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems
Sensitivity analysis entails varying the model (GIS) is crucial for accurate groundwater evaluation.
parameters to determine the critical parameters that affect Researchers and practitioners should carefully consider the
the model's accuracy and reliability and observing the effect appropriate scale and resolution of data used, as well as
on the model predictions. accounting for other factors that may impact accuracy, to
ensure that their results are reliable and robust. This can
XII. UNDERSTANDING THE SCALE AND help inform sustainable management of groundwater
RESOLUTION EFFECTS IN REMOTE resources for present and future generations.
SENSING AND GIS
The scale and resolution effects are illustrated by
The use of remote sensing and GIS has revolutionized considering the example of a satellite image of a city. If the
the way we study and analyze the Earth's surface. Remote spatial resolution of the image is low, individual buildings
sensing involves acquiring data about the Earth's surface may not be visible, and the overall appearance of the city
from a distance, typically through sensors mounted on may be blurry. In contrast, if the spatial resolution is high,
aircraft or satellites. GIS, on the other hand, involves individual buildings may be visible, and it may be possible
analyzing and visualizing spatial data using computer-based to distinguish between different types of structures, such as
tools. These tools provide a wealth of information about the residential buildings and commercial buildings.
Earth's surface that can be used to better understand natural
disasters, urban growth, and other aspects of the planet.