Journal of Arid Regions Geographic Studies

Journal of Arid Regions Geographic Studies

Finding the potential of groundwater resources using remote sensing and geographic information system by (FAHP) method (case study: Songhor city)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran
2 PhD Student, Physical Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Master's Degree (MSc), Faculty of Geography, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
Abstract
Aim: The present study investigates the potential of groundwater resources in Sonqor County.
Material & Method: To achieve a more precise analysis of groundwater resources, OLI sensor images from the Landsat 8 satellite were utilized to extract lineament and land cover layers. Additionally, slope and drainage network layers were derived from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), while precipitation layers were generated using data from rain gauge stations. The weight of each layer was determined using the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), and in the overlay process, high-potential groundwater zones were identified.Finding: The final analysis, conducted using fuzzy rules and the Raster Calculator operator in the ArcGIS environment, classified the study area into five groundwater potential categories: excellent, good, moderate, low, and poor. Results indicated that 16.62% of the region has excellent potential, and 27.73% has good potential, highlighting the concentration of valuable groundwater resources in specific areas. Conversely, 20.28% of the area has low potential, and 11.99% has poor potential, emphasizing the need for sustainable water resource management. This research underscores the importance of integrating remote sensing data and GIS in groundwater identification and assessment, demonstrating that this approach can reduce spatial errors and improve accuracy in groundwater exploration.Conclusion: The analysis results revealed that the Dalakhani karst basin is a high-potential area for groundwater resources. The presence of multiple springs with adequate discharge in this basin confirms the reliability of the applied methods. Furthermore, the major orientation of lineaments indicates the probable groundwater flow direction from northeast to southwest.Innovation: This study introduces a precise and innovative approach for groundwater resource identification by integrating remote sensing data and GIS with the FAHP model. Moreover, the analysis of lineaments to determine groundwater flow paths enhances the accuracy of groundwater resource exploration
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 28 April 2026

  • Receive Date 08 April 2025
  • Revise Date 02 July 2025
  • Accept Date 03 July 2025
  • Publish Date 28 April 2026