Groundwater Potential Zonation of Punjab Using GIS and Remote Sensing Tools

Water is an important resource in a variety of economic activities, from agriculture to industry. Due to its intrinsic properties, ground water has become a highly important source of water supplies in all climatic zones of Pakistan. The results of GIS-based analytical methodologies used for groundwater potential zonation in Punjab, Pakistan, are presented in this study. The goal of this research is to find areas with shallow groundwater potential. In ArcGIS software, the investigation is carried out utilizing the weighted overlay approach, fuzzy logic, and AHP analysis tools. Land use, slope, geology, geomorphology, distance to water bodies, permeability, soil, faults, drainage density, and rainfall were chosen as input layers for this study because these parameters all have an impact on groundwater to varying degrees. These input map layers were first georeferenced with UTM Zone N43, datum WGS 1984, and translated to raster form, after which they were classified according to their expected significance in groundwater zonation using the weighted overlay approach. As weighted overlay methodology is biased towards prioritizing layers, the other two studies were then used to check for chronology in the maps that had been examined and to find out the most reliable model. The maps created from the three approaches were validated through the groundwater data collected for different regions of Punjab. The AHP analysis method turned out to be the most suitable one and matched the validation map more precisely, which concluded that 3% of the regions lie in very shallow zones, 38% in shallow zones, 27% in moderate zones, 14% in deep zones, and 18% in very deep zones. Finally, the study identifies the most advantageous places in Punjab where groundwater can be found at specified depths. This information on groundwater potential will be important in identifying ideal places for water extraction and the installation of recharge wells.