GIS and AHP-based groundwater recharge potential zones in urban region: A study of Ajmer City, Rajasthan, India

• Published in: Urban climate Vol. 54; p. 101840
• Main Authors: Tiwari, Vivekanand, Kumar, Atul, Mukherjee, Mahua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Empirical Bayesian Kriging; Groundwater recharge potential zone; Groundwater table; Land use land cover; Urbanization; Urbanization; Empirical Bayesian Kriging; Land use land cover; Groundwater table; Groundwater recharge potential zone
• ISSN: 2212-0955; 2212-0955
• DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.101840

The substantial change in land use due to the physical development of the urban areas affects natural infiltration. Recognizing the complexities and challenges of groundwater recharge in the urban region is essential for future urban water security. The availability of tools and techniques to study and analyze groundwater storage and dynamics in the complex urban environment provides an opportunity to understand the gap for groundwater recharge at the urban level. The study discusses the process and application under the framework at urban levels. Techniques such as Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK), Inverse Distance Weightage (IDW) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) with Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) are applied in integration with ArcGIS for the delineation of Groundwater Recharge Potential Zone (GWRPZ) for the urban region. The city of Ajmer in Rajasthan, India, has been selected as a case study to develop the GWRPZ map to enhance the potential of groundwater recharge. In the Indian urban context, the discussion will be instrumental in formulating suitable strategies and guidelines for urban groundwater recharge, storage and management. •Delineation of Groundwater Recharge Potential Zone (GWRPZ) for the Physical Planning of Urban Area.•Nine parameters, including urban Land Use Land Cover, are used for GWRPZ for the urban region.•MCDA with Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Overlay Analysis is applied in ArcGIS for the GWRPZ.•The GWRPZs are categorized within the ranges of “Very Poor” to “Very Good” at the urban level.