Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling

Groundwater development across much of sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by a lack of knowledge on the suitability of aquifers for borehole construction. The main objective of this study was to map groundwater potential at the country-scale for Ghana to identify locations for developing new supplies...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gumma, Murali K., Pavelic, Paul
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34735
_version_ 1855528713435742208
author Gumma, Murali K.
Pavelic, Paul
author_browse Gumma, Murali K.
Pavelic, Paul
author_facet Gumma, Murali K.
Pavelic, Paul
author_sort Gumma, Murali K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Groundwater development across much of sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by a lack of knowledge on the suitability of aquifers for borehole construction. The main objective of this study was to map groundwater potential at the country-scale for Ghana to identify locations for developing new supplies that could be used for a range of purposes. Groundwater potential zones were delineated using remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) techniques drawing from a database that includes climate, geology, and satellite data. Subjective scores and weights were assigned to each of seven key spatial data layers and integrated to identify groundwater potential according to five categories ranging from very good to very poor derived from the total percentage score. From this analysis, areas of very good groundwater potential are estimated to cover 689,680 ha (2.9 % of the country), good potential 5,158,955 ha (21.6 %), moderate potential 10,898,140 ha (45.6 %), and poor/very poor potential 7,167,713 ha (30 %). The results were independently tested against borehole yield data (2,650 measurements) which conformed to the anticipated trend between groundwater potential and borehole yield. The satisfactory delineation of groundwater potential zones through spatial modeling suggests that groundwater development should first focus on areas of the highest potential. This study demonstrates the importance of remote sensing and GIS techniques in mapping groundwater potential at the country-scale and suggests that similar methods could be applied across other African countries and regions.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace34735
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher Springer
publisherStr Springer
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace347352024-03-23T09:09:03Z Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling Gumma, Murali K. Pavelic, Paul water resources groundwater cartography geographical information systems remote sensing databases decision making spatial database trends agriculture climate groundwater potential groundwater development gis models aquifers rain geomorphology drainage systems land use soils Groundwater development across much of sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by a lack of knowledge on the suitability of aquifers for borehole construction. The main objective of this study was to map groundwater potential at the country-scale for Ghana to identify locations for developing new supplies that could be used for a range of purposes. Groundwater potential zones were delineated using remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) techniques drawing from a database that includes climate, geology, and satellite data. Subjective scores and weights were assigned to each of seven key spatial data layers and integrated to identify groundwater potential according to five categories ranging from very good to very poor derived from the total percentage score. From this analysis, areas of very good groundwater potential are estimated to cover 689,680 ha (2.9 % of the country), good potential 5,158,955 ha (21.6 %), moderate potential 10,898,140 ha (45.6 %), and poor/very poor potential 7,167,713 ha (30 %). The results were independently tested against borehole yield data (2,650 measurements) which conformed to the anticipated trend between groundwater potential and borehole yield. The satisfactory delineation of groundwater potential zones through spatial modeling suggests that groundwater development should first focus on areas of the highest potential. This study demonstrates the importance of remote sensing and GIS techniques in mapping groundwater potential at the country-scale and suggests that similar methods could be applied across other African countries and regions. 2013-04 2013-11-21T08:41:27Z 2014-02-02T16:39:50Z 2013-11-21T08:41:27Z 2014-02-02T16:39:50Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34735 en Limited Access Springer Gumma, M.K., Pavelic, P. Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling. Environ Monit Assess 185, 3561–3579 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2810-y
spellingShingle water resources
groundwater
cartography
geographical information systems
remote sensing
databases
decision making
spatial database
trends
agriculture
climate
groundwater potential
groundwater development
gis
models
aquifers
rain
geomorphology
drainage systems
land use
soils
Gumma, Murali K.
Pavelic, Paul
Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling
title Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling
title_full Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling
title_fullStr Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling
title_full_unstemmed Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling
title_short Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling
title_sort mapping of groundwater potential zones across ghana using remote sensing geographic information systems and spatial modeling
topic water resources
groundwater
cartography
geographical information systems
remote sensing
databases
decision making
spatial database
trends
agriculture
climate
groundwater potential
groundwater development
gis
models
aquifers
rain
geomorphology
drainage systems
land use
soils
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34735
work_keys_str_mv AT gummamuralik mappingofgroundwaterpotentialzonesacrossghanausingremotesensinggeographicinformationsystemsandspatialmodeling
AT pavelicpaul mappingofgroundwaterpotentialzonesacrossghanausingremotesensinggeographicinformationsystemsandspatialmodeling