Modeling groundwater vulnerability to pollution using Optimized DRASTIC model

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2014-01, Vol.20 (1), p.12002-29
• Main Authors: Mogaji, Kehinde Anthony, Lim, Hwee San, Abdullar, Khiruddin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Algorithms; Analytic hierarchy process; Assessments; Decision analysis; Decision making; Decision support systems; Effectiveness; Groundwater; Groundwater pollution; Manganese; Mathematical models; Model accuracy; Parameters; Pollution abatement; Predictions; Spatial analysis
• ISSN: 1755-1315; 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/20/1/012002

The prediction accuracy of the conventional DRASTIC model (CDM) algorithm for groundwater vulnerability assessment is severely limited by the inherent subjectivity and uncertainty in the integration of data obtained from various sources. This study attempts to overcome these problems by exploring the potential of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique as a decision support model to optimize the CDM algorithm. Results show that more than 50 % of the area belongs to both moderate and high vulnerable zones on the account of the spatial analysis of the produced ODM-based groundwater vulnerability prediction map (GVPM). The comparative results, indicated that the ODM-based produced GVPM is more reliable than the CDM - based produced GVPM in the study area. The study established the efficacy of AHP as a spatial decision support technique in enhancing environmental decision making with particular reference to future groundwater vulnerability assessment.