Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making

<p>Groundwater resources in arid regions play a vital role in meeting water demands; however, they are facing rapid depletion due to unsustainable exploitation practices, exacerbated by climate change. Floods can present a unique opportunity for restoring groundwater levels and mitigating salt...

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Main Author: Sarra Aloui (17337901) (author)
Other Authors: Adel Zghibi (17337910) (author), Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504) (author), Adel Elomri (8984063) (author), Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268) (author)
Published: 2024
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author Sarra Aloui (17337901)
author2 Adel Zghibi (17337910)
Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)
Adel Elomri (8984063)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author_facet Sarra Aloui (17337901)
Adel Zghibi (17337910)
Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)
Adel Elomri (8984063)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Sarra Aloui (17337901)
Adel Zghibi (17337910)
Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)
Adel Elomri (8984063)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101137
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Identifying_suitable_zones_for_integrated_aquifer_recharge_and_flood_control_in_arid_Qatar_using_GIS-based_multi-criteria_decision-making/25480039
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Engineering
Environmental engineering
Groundwater recharge
Flood susceptibility
Analytic hierarchy process (AHP)
Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)
Geographic information system (GIS)
Qatar
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p>Groundwater resources in arid regions play a vital role in meeting water demands; however, they are facing rapid depletion due to unsustainable exploitation practices, exacerbated by climate change. Floods can present a unique opportunity for restoring groundwater levels and mitigating saltwater intrusion into aquifers. The use of properly managed floodwater for aquifer recharge offers a dual advantage by maximizing the potential of floods as a valuable water resource, while minimizing their negative impacts. In this work, we applied a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method, namely the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to delineate flood susceptible zones and groundwater recharge zones in Qatar, considering several influential topographical, hydrological, environmental, and anthropological criteria. The maps of flood susceptibility and groundwater recharge potential were validated using recent flooding events and existing recharge wells data, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was conducted on both variables to further assess their accuracy. The overlay analysis of the two validated maps suggests that approximately 64% of the Qatar peninsula presents medium to excellent suitability for aquifer recharge using floodwater. The areas best suited for floodwater-based recharge intervention are the northern and coastal regions of the peninsula, while the urban areas and southwestern area are less suitable. This study provides decision-makers with spatially explicit information on areas in Qatar that can be targeted for aquifer recharge projects using floodwater as well as recommendations on technical, economic, and regulatory considerations that require additional investigation. The approach employed can be effectively applied in similar flood-prone arid regions and is adaptable to diverse contexts.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Groundwater for Sustainable Development<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101137" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101137</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_9bf12af5804571d7fadb7e530a917d6b
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101137
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/25480039
publishDate 2024
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
repository.name.fl_str_mv
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-makingSarra Aloui (17337901)Adel Zghibi (17337910)Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)Adel Elomri (8984063)Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)EngineeringEnvironmental engineeringGroundwater rechargeFlood susceptibilityAnalytic hierarchy process (AHP)Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)Geographic information system (GIS)Qatar<p>Groundwater resources in arid regions play a vital role in meeting water demands; however, they are facing rapid depletion due to unsustainable exploitation practices, exacerbated by climate change. Floods can present a unique opportunity for restoring groundwater levels and mitigating saltwater intrusion into aquifers. The use of properly managed floodwater for aquifer recharge offers a dual advantage by maximizing the potential of floods as a valuable water resource, while minimizing their negative impacts. In this work, we applied a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method, namely the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to delineate flood susceptible zones and groundwater recharge zones in Qatar, considering several influential topographical, hydrological, environmental, and anthropological criteria. The maps of flood susceptibility and groundwater recharge potential were validated using recent flooding events and existing recharge wells data, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was conducted on both variables to further assess their accuracy. The overlay analysis of the two validated maps suggests that approximately 64% of the Qatar peninsula presents medium to excellent suitability for aquifer recharge using floodwater. The areas best suited for floodwater-based recharge intervention are the northern and coastal regions of the peninsula, while the urban areas and southwestern area are less suitable. This study provides decision-makers with spatially explicit information on areas in Qatar that can be targeted for aquifer recharge projects using floodwater as well as recommendations on technical, economic, and regulatory considerations that require additional investigation. The approach employed can be effectively applied in similar flood-prone arid regions and is adaptable to diverse contexts.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Groundwater for Sustainable Development<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101137" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101137</a></p>2024-05-01T00:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101137https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Identifying_suitable_zones_for_integrated_aquifer_recharge_and_flood_control_in_arid_Qatar_using_GIS-based_multi-criteria_decision-making/25480039CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/254800392024-05-01T00:00:00Z
spellingShingle Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
Sarra Aloui (17337901)
Engineering
Environmental engineering
Groundwater recharge
Flood susceptibility
Analytic hierarchy process (AHP)
Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)
Geographic information system (GIS)
Qatar
status_str publishedVersion
title Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
title_full Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
title_fullStr Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
title_full_unstemmed Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
title_short Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
title_sort Identifying suitable zones for integrated aquifer recharge and flood control in arid Qatar using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making
topic Engineering
Environmental engineering
Groundwater recharge
Flood susceptibility
Analytic hierarchy process (AHP)
Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)
Geographic information system (GIS)
Qatar