Suitability maps for managed aquifer recharge: a review of multi-criteria decision analysis studies

Suitability maps for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) sites hold a strong potential for integration into sustainable groundwater management plans. An uprising method to identify sites suitable for MAR implementation is geographic information system (GIS)-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). There are no guidelines or a common understanding on how suitability mapping should be conducted, and there is considerable variability as to what factors are assessed and how they are weighted. To increase knowledge on GIS-MCDA, a database has been built based on 63 studies applying GIS-MCDA in the context of MAR site selection. Information on the criteria, assigned weights, and methodologies has been retrieved from the documents. Statistical analysis of the database depicts the current state of art for suitability mapping methodologies as well as specific information for the different recharge methods. We further incorporated the compiled information into a web-based query tool that makes the information easily accessible and the utilization of the database more user friendly. This review as well as the created web-tool will help planners of MAR sites to engage in the MCDA in a more structured way by referring to previously conducted studies and by finding information suitable for their specific project. The application potential of suitability maps is discussed along with the shortcomings of this methodology.

[1]  R. Gil,et al.  Economic Assessment of Opportunities for Managed Aquifer Recharge Techniques in Spain Using an Advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) , 2014 .

[2]  N. Chandrasekar,et al.  Delineation of groundwater potential zones in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, using remote sensing, GIS and MIF techniques , 2012 .

[3]  D. Ramakrishnan,et al.  SCS-CN and GIS-based approach for identifying potential water harvesting sites in the Kali Watershed, Mahi River Basin, India , 2009 .

[4]  Martin Sauter,et al.  An integrated study of spatial multicriteria analysis and mathematical modelling for managed aquifer recharge site suitability mapping and site ranking at Northern Gaza coastal aquifer. , 2013, Journal of environmental management.

[5]  Afshin Honarbakhsh,et al.  Application of Spatial Analysis Techniques to Select the Most Suitable Areas for Flood Spreading , 2013, Water Resources Management.

[6]  H. Jafari,et al.  Site selection for managed aquifer recharge using fuzzy rules: integrating geographical information system (GIS) tools and multi-criteria decision making , 2012, Hydrogeology Journal.

[7]  F. Landerer,et al.  Accuracy of scaled GRACE terrestrial water storage estimates , 2012 .

[8]  T. Saaty,et al.  The Analytic Hierarchy Process , 1985 .

[9]  K. Elangovan,et al.  Identification of Artificial Recharge Sites for Noyyal River Basin Using GIS and Remote Sensing , 2017, Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing.

[10]  Jacek Malczewski,et al.  GIS and Multicriteria Decision Analysis , 1999 .

[11]  Mohamad Hamzeh,et al.  Determining the most suitable areas for artificial groundwater recharge via an integrated PROMETHEE II-AHP method in GIS environment (case study: Garabaygan Basin, Iran) , 2012, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.

[12]  Makram Anane,et al.  Ranking suitable sites for Soil Aquifer Treatment in Jerba Island (Tunisia) using remote sensing, GIS and AHP-multicriteria decision analysis , 2008 .

[13]  V. Chowdary,et al.  Groundwater management and development by integrated remote sensing and geographic information systems: prospects and constraints , 2007 .

[14]  Jean Pierre Brans,et al.  HOW TO SELECT AND HOW TO RANK PROJECTS: THE PROMETHEE METHOD , 1986 .

[15]  Davide Geneletti,et al.  Multi‐criteria decision analysis for nature conservation: A review of 20 years of applications , 2018 .

[16]  V. Lakshmi.  Beyond GRACE: Using Satellite Data for Groundwater Investigations , 2016, Ground water.

[17]  Balamurugan Guru,et al.  Frequency ratio model for groundwater potential mapping and its sustainable management in cold desert, India , 2017 .

[18]  Jacek Malczewski,et al.  GIS‐based multicriteria decision analysis: a survey of the literature , 2006, Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci..

[19]  M. Ahmadi,et al.  Multi-criteria analysis of site selection for groundwater recharge with treated municipal wastewater. , 2017, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research.

[20]  Catalin Stefan,et al.  Web-based global inventory of managed aquifer recharge applications , 2018, Sustainable Water Resources Management.

[21]  K. S. Kumar,et al.  Artificial Groundwater Recharge Zones Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study in Indian Punjab , 2013, Environmental Management.

[22]  A. Fisher,et al.  Coupling distributed stormwater collection and managed aquifer recharge: Field application and implications. , 2017, Journal of environmental management.

[23]  T. Syed,et al.  Characterization of groundwater potential and artificial recharge sites in Bokaro District, Jharkhand (India), using remote sensing and GIS-based techniques , 2015, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[24]  V. M. Chowdary,et al.  Multi-criteria analysis and GIS modeling for identifying prospective water harvesting and artificial recharge sites for sustainable water supply , 2017 .

[25]  S. H. Tabatabaei,et al.  Application of digital techniques to identify aquifer artificial recharge sites in GIS environment , 2013, Int. J. Digit. Earth.

[26]  Zainab Banoo Ahani Amineh,et al.  Integrating Spatial Multi Criteria Decision Making (SMCDM) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for delineation of the most suitable areas for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) , 2017 .

[27]  Marco Cinelli,et al.  Analysis of the potentials of multi criteria decision analysis methods to conduct sustainability assessment , 2014 .

[28]  R. Agarwal,et al.  Remote Sensing and GIS Based Approach for Identification of Artificial Recharge Sites , 2013, Water Resources Management.

[29]  Ali Noroozi,et al.  Integrating GIS and DSS for identification of suitable areas for artificial recharge, case study Meimeh Basin, Isfahan, Iran , 2005 .

[30]  Arash Malekian,et al.  Application of GIS techniques to determine areas most suitable for artificial groundwater recharge in a coastal aquifer in southern Iran , 2007 .

[31]  N. S. Magesh,et al.  Application of remote sensing and GIS for delineating groundwater recharge potential zones of Kovilpatti Municipality, Tamil Nadu using IF technique , 2016, Earth Science Informatics.

[32]  Makram Anane,et al.  Geospatial and AHP-multicriteria analyses to locate and rank suitable sites for groundwater recharge with reclaimed water , 2015 .

[33]  L. Schneider,et al.  Application of a GIS Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for the Identification of Intrinsic Suitable Sites in Costa Rica for the Application of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) through Spreading Methods , 2016 .

[34]  M. Koch,et al.  Integrating Spatial Multi Criteria Decision Making (SMCDM) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for determining the most suitable areas for artificial groundwater recharge , 2016 .

[35]  I. Ilia,et al.  Multi-criteria Decision Support System (DSS) for optimal locations of Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) facilities. , 2017, The Science of the total environment.

[36]  Mohamed Nour El Din,et al.  APPLICATION OF THE OVERLAY WEIGHTED MODEL AND BOOLEAN LOGIC TO DETERMINE THE BEST LOCATIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE OF GROUNDWATER , 2011 .

[37]  Arun K. Saraf,et al.  Delineation of groundwater recharge sites using integrated remote sensing and GIS in Jammu district, India , 2007 .

[38]  P. Dillon.  Future management of aquifer recharge , 2005 .

[39]  M. Mul,et al.  Assessing land suitability for aquifer storage and recharge in northern Ghana using remote sensing and GIS multi-criteria decision analysis technique , 2017, Modeling Earth Systems and Environment.

[40]  Victor Cavaleiro,et al.  Application of GIS-based multi-criteria analysis for site selection of aquifer recharge with reclaimed water , 2011 .

[41]  Mark Horan,et al.  A GIS-based approach for identifying potential runoff harvesting sites in the Thukela River basin, South Africa , 2007 .

[42]  Chadi Abdallah,et al.  Use of remote sensing and GIS to determine recharge potential zones: the case of Occidental Lebanon , 2006 .

[43]  V. Jayaraman,et al.  An approach to demarcate ground water potential zones through remote sensing and a geographical information system , 1996 .

[44]  K. Schelkes,et al.  Spatial multi-criteria analysis for selecting potential sites for aquifer recharge via harvesting and infiltration of surface runoff in north Jordan , 2016, Hydrogeology Journal.

[45]  G. Mohan,et al.  A GIS based hydrogeomorphic approach for identification of site-specific artificial-recharge techniques in the Deccan Volcanic Province , 2005 .

[46]  J. Tarhouni,et al.  GIS-based multi-criteria analysis for potential wastewater aquifer recharge sites , 2007 .

[47]  Ulla Mörtberg,et al.  A Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis Approach for Locating Suitable Sites for Construction of Subsurface Dams in Northern Pakistan , 2014, Water Resources Management.

[48]  V. M. Chowdary,et al.  Delineation of groundwater recharge zones and identification of artificial recharge sites in West Medinipur district, West Bengal, using RS, GIS and MCDM techniques , 2009 .

[49]  Arun K. Saraf,et al.  Integrated remote sensing and GIS for groundwater exploration and identification of artificial recharge sites , 1998 .

[50]  T. Russo,et al.  Assessment of Managed Aquifer Recharge Site Suitability Using a GIS and Modeling , 2015, Ground water.

[51]  Ali Asghar Alesheikh,et al.  Land assessment for flood spreading site selection using geospatial information system , 2008 .

[52]  Martin Sauter,et al.  A new spatial multi-criteria decision support tool for site selection for implementation of managed aquifer recharge. , 2012, Journal of environmental management.

[53]  S. Saidi,et al.  GIS-based multi-criteria analysis and vulnerability method for the potential groundwater recharge delineation, case study of Manouba phreatic aquifer, NE Tunisia , 2017, Environmental Earth Sciences.