Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniques
Abstract Recently, the use and management of water resources have become a critical issue, especially in arid and semi-arid surroundings. In such areas, the importance of mapping groundwater potential zones is unmeasurable since water is a critical human resource. Focused on the semi-arid region of...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76989-4 |
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| author | Mohamed A. Atalla Ali Shebl Bojan Ðurin Nikola Kranjčić Wael M. AlMetwaly |
| author_facet | Mohamed A. Atalla Ali Shebl Bojan Ðurin Nikola Kranjčić Wael M. AlMetwaly |
| author_sort | Mohamed A. Atalla |
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| description | Abstract Recently, the use and management of water resources have become a critical issue, especially in arid and semi-arid surroundings. In such areas, the importance of mapping groundwater potential zones is unmeasurable since water is a critical human resource. Focused on the semi-arid region of Kuwait, our research integrates Google Earth Engine and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), offering a robust admission to identifying groundwater potential zones. To this end, thirteen criteria including geology, slope, rainfall, elevation, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), drainage density, Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), lineament density, topographic wetness index (TWI), geomorphology, and the water table were integrated to reach a wise decision through AHP-MCDM. Our findings revealed that Kuwait’s groundwater potential zones are extremely well suited to the country’s north and east. Appropriate potential zones with high and moderate degrees encompass 12% and 37%, respectively, while extremely high suitability is less than 1.5%. These findings are based on the input data (mainly rainfall, NDVI, NDWI, and LST). The likelihood of groundwater potential is higher in the lower regions of the country. Over 7500 km2—nearly 50% of the total area—are classified as low potential. Furthermore, Our research shows that combining more factors can increase precision while ensuring the stability of the detection process of GWPZs. Around 242 km2 as promising targets for future groundwater exploitation within Kuwait. Rigorously validated through on-site field observations and corroborated by maps showing the distribution of productive groundwater wells in Kuwait, our results exhibit a considered alignment. It is recommended that we extend the application of our methodology beyond the borders of the studied terrain and urge decision-makers to consider our findings in their strategic planning processes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eff521e3aee94bd48f99c95887afa1a3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-eff521e3aee94bd48f99c95887afa1a32024-12-08T12:30:56ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114112310.1038/s41598-024-76989-4Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniquesMohamed A. Atalla0Ali Shebl1Bojan Ðurin2Nikola Kranjčić3Wael M. AlMetwaly4Department of Geography, and Survey, Higher Institute for Literary Studies in King MarioutDepartment of Mineralogy and Geology, University of DebrecenDepartment of Civil Engineering, University NorthDepartment of Geodesy and Geomatics, University NorthDepartment of Geography and GIS, Faculty of African postgraduate Studies, Cairo UniversityAbstract Recently, the use and management of water resources have become a critical issue, especially in arid and semi-arid surroundings. In such areas, the importance of mapping groundwater potential zones is unmeasurable since water is a critical human resource. Focused on the semi-arid region of Kuwait, our research integrates Google Earth Engine and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), offering a robust admission to identifying groundwater potential zones. To this end, thirteen criteria including geology, slope, rainfall, elevation, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), drainage density, Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), lineament density, topographic wetness index (TWI), geomorphology, and the water table were integrated to reach a wise decision through AHP-MCDM. Our findings revealed that Kuwait’s groundwater potential zones are extremely well suited to the country’s north and east. Appropriate potential zones with high and moderate degrees encompass 12% and 37%, respectively, while extremely high suitability is less than 1.5%. These findings are based on the input data (mainly rainfall, NDVI, NDWI, and LST). The likelihood of groundwater potential is higher in the lower regions of the country. Over 7500 km2—nearly 50% of the total area—are classified as low potential. Furthermore, Our research shows that combining more factors can increase precision while ensuring the stability of the detection process of GWPZs. Around 242 km2 as promising targets for future groundwater exploitation within Kuwait. Rigorously validated through on-site field observations and corroborated by maps showing the distribution of productive groundwater wells in Kuwait, our results exhibit a considered alignment. It is recommended that we extend the application of our methodology beyond the borders of the studied terrain and urge decision-makers to consider our findings in their strategic planning processes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76989-4Semi-arid regionGroundwater potentialGoogle Earth EngineMulticriteria decisionKuwait |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed A. Atalla Ali Shebl Bojan Ðurin Nikola Kranjčić Wael M. AlMetwaly Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniques Scientific Reports Semi-arid region Groundwater potential Google Earth Engine Multicriteria decision Kuwait |
| title | Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniques |
| title_full | Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniques |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniques |
| title_short | Assessment of groundwater potential zones in Kuwait’s semi-arid region: a hybrid approach of multi-criteria decision making, Google earth engine, and geospatial techniques |
| title_sort | assessment of groundwater potential zones in kuwait s semi arid region a hybrid approach of multi criteria decision making google earth engine and geospatial techniques |
| topic | Semi-arid region Groundwater potential Google Earth Engine Multicriteria decision Kuwait |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76989-4 |
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