Mapping Groundwater Potential Zones Using Analytical Hierarchical Process and Multicriteria Evaluation in the Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Exploring alternative freshwater resources other than those surrounding the Nile is critical to disperse Egypt’s population uninhabited desert areas. This study aims locate groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) in water-scarce between Qina and Safga-Bir Queh regions build wells, thereby attracting supporting people’s demand for water, food, urban development. Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) analytical hierarchical process (AHP) techniques based on remote sensing (RS) Geographic Information System (GIS) were used map GWPZs. The outcome of GWPZs was divided into six different classes. High very-high aquifer recharge potentials localized middle western parts, spanning 19.3% 17% (16.4% 15.7%) by MCE (AHP). Low very low distributed randomly eastern part over an area 29% 14.3% (26.9% 6.1%) Validation has been undertaken collected Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) with calculated GWPZs, indicating that highest lowest TDS concentrations most aquifers are correlated high potential, respectively. promising can be applied anywhere similar setups prospect management.