Geophysical Characterization of Aquifer Potential Regions Using Multi–Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) Process: A Case Study of Gabasawa and its Environs Kano State, Nigeria
Abstract
The study aims to determine the aquifer characteristics of Gabasawa and its environs using multi-criteria decision analysis to provide sufficient information on groundwater potential zones. Magnetic, elevation, and electromagnetic data were acquired using Magneto-meter and Audio Magnetotelluric device. The acquired data were reduced and modelled using Surfer 25.0 and Oasis Montaj 8.4. Source Parameter Imaging was used to calculate depth around the area. Deeper depths with values ranging from 42.0 to 120.1m were isolated for groundwater exploitation. Slope was deduced from the elevation grid. Centre for Exploration and Target Analysis was used to obtain magnetic and Elevation Lineaments. The lineaments were joined to form lineament intersections. Predominant lineaments were observed in North-East and South-west locations; this showed a a tendency for surface water and groundwater accumulation. These lineaments and intersections were transformed into lineament density grids. These lineament densities, coupled with source parameter imaging, elevation, and slope , were resampled and reclassified into thematic layers. Multi-criteria decision analysis was used to calculate the weight of each thematic layer. The sum of the products of the thematic layer and their respective weight were obtained using the weight overlay menu of ArcGIS 10.8, leading to the development of groundwater potential zones map. The groundwater potential zones map was classified into five regions of very high, high, moderate, low, and very low groundwater potential zones with area coverage of 0.4041km2, 2.1772 km2, 2.8962 km2, 1.9562 km2, and 0.0024 km2 , respectively. Electromagnetic data analysis revealed the area to be underlain by four lithological layers: topsoil, silty sand, laterite, gravels, and sandstone, with the fourth layer inferred as the aquifer zone. The groundwater potential zones were validated using existing hydrogeological data and aquifers delineated from interpreted Electromagnetic data. It was observed that 92.86% of the plotted points and zones falls within regions ranging from very high to moderate groundwater potential zones.
About this article
Keywords
- Aquifer
- Groundwater Potential
- Ground Magnetic
- Elevation
- Electromagnetic
- Lineament
- Slope
- Source Parameter Imaging
References
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