New Method to Identify Potential Illegal Water Use Location by Using Remote Sensing and Neural Networks in Laguna de Aculeo, Chile

Abstract

The Aculeo lagoon basin is facing a severe drought, resulting in a restriction of water usage solely for domestic purposes, and legal sanctions for those who use water for grass irrigation. To identify illegal use of water resources, this project evaluates the health of lawns during a dry season, using multi-spectral and multitemporal satellite data. Soil indices, including NDVI, EVI, GNDVI, SAVI, NDMI, MSI, and BSI, were derived between October 2021 and April 2022. Cluster analysis was performed to evaluate the statistical distribution of healthy vegetation cover, with results available on an ArcGIS web map. The study estimates the areas and corresponding water consumption of lawns in the basin, identifying properties that have used water illegally. The cluster analysis also indicates an unusual pattern of healthy vegetation cover, suggesting that these areas may be responsible for the illegal use of water resources. The study presents tools and protocols for identifying illegal water usage in areas facing water scarcity, providing crucial information for governmental authorities to enforce legal sanctions and undertake personal inspections. Overall, the study provides an effective approach to monitoring and enforcing water usage restrictions in water-scarce areas.