Identification of Suitable Sites for Water Harvesting Structures in Jamsholaghat Sub-basin Using GIS and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

• Published in: Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2024, Vol.52 (1), p.189-202
• Main Authors: Ray, S. K., Desai, V. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytic hierarchy process; Availability; Check dams; Dams; Decision analysis; Dikes; Drainage density; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Fresh water; Freshwater resources; Hierarchies; Infiltration rate; Land cover; Land use; Lithology; Multiple criterion; Rain; Rain water; Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry; Research Article; Soil conservation; Soil depth; Soil water; Soils; Sustainable development; Thematic mapping; Water conservation; Water harvesting; Water resources; Water shortages
• ISSN: 0255-660X; 0974-3006
• DOI: 10.1007/s12524-024-01825-1

Availability of fresh water resources in the world is one of the most important concerns for the survival of mankind. In order to meet the future demand, available fresh water resources needs to be used sustainably. Suitable soil and water conservation measures to be taken timely to avoid the consequences such as shortage of fresh water resources in near future. For this purpose, identification of suitable sites are required where excess rain water is available and surroundings are supportive for amplifying the infiltration rate. This study focuses on selecting the sites those are suitable for water harvesting structure for Jamsholaghat sub-basin. This is done by overlaying land use and land cover map, drainage density map, runoff map, slope map, lithology map, curve number map, soil depth map, hydrological soil group map and lineament density map in the ArcGIS software by considering ranks assigned to each thematic map using Analytical Hierarchy Process. For selecting the ideal location of check dams and subsurface dykes, the criteria assigned are given by Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development. For check dams, it was found that 17%, 31%, 37% and 15% of the study areas are having low, moderate, high and very high suitability, respectively. For subsurface dykes, it was found that 10%, 27%, 38% and 25% of the study areas are having low, moderate, high and very high suitability, respectively.