Determining prospective zones for groundwater recharge using remote sensing, GIS, and AHP modelling techniques: an investigation of the Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Groundwater resources are used more frequently for industrial, agricultural, and domestic applications due to the quickening rate of population growth and industrialization. The primary goal of this study is to create a groundwater recharge potential zone map of the Mandi district in northern India using Weighted Overlay Index (WOI) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Nine thematic maps were overlaid to create the groundwater potential zone map (GPZs): soil texture, slope, land use/cover, geology, drainage density, rainfall, lineament density, geomorphology, and lithology. The significance of each parameter was evaluated according to its effect on groundwater levels; geomorphology, geology, landuse/cover, and lithology were given the most weight. According to the findings, the groundwater recharge potential was very good in 513.5 km² (13%) of the study area, good in 1027 km² (26%), moderate in 1581 km² (40%), and poor in 829.5 km² (21%). Based on the results of the spatial modelling ROC (Receiver Operating characteristics) Curve Method, the AHP-based GPZs map had an excellent correlation with the locations of the wells (AUC = 80.5%), proving that the AHP-GIS rating approach is accurate. The results can aid in the efficient planning and management of the development of groundwater resources.