Appraising groundwater potential zones using geospatial and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques in Andasa-Tul watershed, Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia

An integrated approach of remote sensing, geographic information system and multicriteria decision analysis analytical hierarchical process (AHP) were applied to delineate groundwater potential (GWP) zones in Andasa-Tul watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia with an area 1872 km2. Nine GWP influencing thematic layers comprising lithology, lineament density, geomorphology, slope, soil, drainage land use/land cover, rainfall depth level prepared from conventional satellite data used. The classes within them given scale values based on literature experts’ by using Satty’s AHP. have been via their weights/rates weighted overlay spatial function tool ArcGIS provide map. result shows that map comprises 250.8 km2 (13.4%) very good, 132.9 (7.1%) 441.8 (23.6%) moderate, 662.7 (35.4%) poor 383.8 (20.5%) zones. Validation the existing boreholes springs yield 83.8% agreement indicating good accuracy method. removal sensitivity reveals is more sensitive lithology (mean variation index, 1.92%) less geomorphology 0.59%). Similarly, single layer analysis, slope are found be effective parameters, whereas variables. generated study region can used as important guideline for locating areas further exploration, planning management resources.