Enhancing Groundwater Management Through Multi-Criterion Weighted Overlay Analysis Using Geospatial Analysis

N. Jabakumar; Gurugnanam Balasubramaniyan; Bagyaraj Murugesan; Bairavi Swaminathan; Suresh Mani

doi:10.34293/sijash.v13i4.10001

N. Jabakumar Centre for Applied Geology, The Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India
Gurugnanam Balasubramaniyan Centre for Applied Geology, The Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8775-7123
Bagyaraj Murugesan Centre for Applied Geology, The Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3076-8884
Bairavi Swaminathan Centre for Applied Geology, The Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3577-5282
Suresh Mani Jayalakshmi Engineering College, Thoppur, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34293/sijash.v13i4.10001

Keywords: Groundwater Potential, NDWI, NDDI, NDVI, GIS, Multicriteria Analysis

Abstract

In the semiarid part of the Dharmapuri district, Marandahalli Firka, Tamil Nadu, which covers an area of approximately 132 km², groundwater is important for meeting the needs of both people and farms. This study identified groundwater potential zones by combining remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) methods. This was done using inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation to generate well-yield distribution maps and confirm spatial patterns. Satellite data and other maps were used to create thematic layers that showgeology, lineament density, land use/land cover, drainage density, normalised difference vegetation index, and normalised difference water index. The multi-criteria weighted overlay index was used to assign weights to each layer so that a combined groundwater potential index (GWPI) could be demarcated. The results classified the study area into three groundwater potential zones: 49.25% of the area had low groundwater potential, 47.76% had moderate potential, and the remaining 2.98% had high groundwater potential. Field validation was conducted to find groundwater and help the Dharmapuri Marandahalli Firka manage its water resources sustainably. Future studies may incorporate long-term groundwater monitoring data and analyses of climate variability to understand temporal variations in groundwater resources. The application of advanced modelling techniques, such as machine learning, alongside groundwater quality and socioeconomic considerations, could further enhance the accuracy and sustainability of groundwater management in the study area.