GIS and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process to delineate groundwater potential zones in southern parts of India

Groundwater assumes a pivotal role in fostering ecological habitats, sustaining environmental resilience, and fostering socio-economic advancement within a region. To address the escalating population's growing need for groundwater, the scientific community underscores the importance of pinpointing areas with the potential for groundwater availability. The depletion of groundwater stands out as a paramount concern for both users and policymakers alike. The identification of groundwater potential across a spectrum ranging from low to high is imperative for effectively strategizing the utilization of available groundwater resources. In Sevathur region within the Pambar sub -basin (SPB), this study leveraged a combination of advanced technologies, including GIS, remote sensing, and ground data collection. Thematic layers were meticulously crafted for ten influential factors encompassing geology, geomorphology, soil, drainage density, slope, lineament density, rainfall, land use/land cover, lithology, roughness index, and topographic position index. Subsequently, these layers were integrated into the GIS environment. Employing a Multi -Criteria Decision -Making (MCDM) technique, specifically the fuzzy-AHP, each layer received a judicious weighting. The culmination of this process was the creation of a comprehensive groundwater potential map through weighted overlay analysis. The map delineated five distinct classes-varying from very low to very high potential. Notably, the results demonstrated a remarkable 83% accuracy when compared against actual water yield data obtained from the field. Integration of Fuzzy-AHP into GIS-RS mapping proves to be an invaluable tool for exploration of groundwater potential within this particular global locale.