Delineation of a Groundwater Potential Zone Map for the Kızılırmak Delta by Using Remote-Sensing-Based Geospatial and Analytical Hierarchy Processes

Abstract

Locating prospective groundwater recharge zones is essential for managing and planning groundwater resources. Therefore, spatial modeling of groundwater distribution is a significant undertaking that would aid groundwater’s subsequent conservation and management. The current study employs geographic information systems (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) based on multi-criteria analysis to identify groundwater potential zones (GPZ). The AHP technique was utilized to analyze and generate the geo-environmental factor parameters, which included drainage density, lineament density, precipitation, slope, soil texture, land use/land cover, groundwater level, and geology. Each factor is weighted according to its characteristics and effects on water potential in this process. Finally, the weighted overlay method was applied in a GIS environment to gather the weighted variables and locate the map of the GPZ. The proposed GPZ map is divided into four different groundwater potential zones: poor, moderate, high, and very high. Consequently, according to the results, 38% of the basin has very high groundwater potential, 19% has high potential, 39% has moderate potential, and 4% has poor potential from the spatial distribution of the potential regions. Therefore, the study’s conclusions can be used to sustain groundwater resources by identifying areas with high groundwater potential.