Groundwater potentiality through Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS)

Nowadays the use of remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) is one of the most powerful cost effective tools to identify and discover the available groundwater resources. In this paper, Lithological Units, Lineaments, Slope, Topography, Drainage density, Vegetation and Isohyets lines have been achieved by stations and through remote sensing and GIS techniques. All layers of different classes were initialized through hierarchical analysis to potential areas of groundwater and after modeling in GIS Environment, Mahdishahr zone was classified according to the potential groundwater basins. The results show that in the 7 reviewed criteria by the expertise and Analytical Hierarchy Process, geological criterion and lineaments with the relative importance of 0.33 and 0.22, respectively, have greatest importance and priority for potentiality of groundwater in the region. Also in the studied area, Quaternary Alluvium consisted of old and new terrace and river sediments have the highest relative importance and desirability and terrace resources and the elevated old and low height new Foothill Alluvial fans are considered as good potential areas of groundwater. Shemshak Sandstone formations and Barut with a high density lineaments and Tizkouh formation with the thick layers of limestone and Barut are also good areas for groundwater