Geospatial Dimensions For Groundwater Management

A detailed approach to Geospatial Applications for comprehensive management of Groundwater

BY

Sangeeta DeogawankaIndependent Journalist, Conservationist

Business & Social Consultant

As natural resources diminish, focus shifts to Groundwater, the primary water resource

Conservation Judicious / optimal use Identification of potential aquifers Devising of drought contingency plans Undertaking of integrated GW Mgt. in tandem with

other deptts., Municipalities, Regional HQs., etc.

APPROACH TO GROUNDWATER

Undergoing a paradigm shift from

Quantitative Qualitative

Broad-based aquifer Localised thematic information mapping [modelled towards native problem resolution & vulnerability assessment]

Traditional mindset / tools Cross - platform dimension [integrating hybrid cloud, community, social media, GIS platform, computing, statistical probability models]

Why Map Groundwater?Primary Reasons: Understand usage trends Analyse patterns of GW.

data Tap good aquifers Ensure lasting supplies for real time GW analysis

/ on – site decision making

Secondary Reasons: Analyse the spatial,

temporal & vectoral aspects of GW. data

Apply the same for planning

Apply the same for integrated GW .Management

Apply for GW. Remedial Management

A COMPLETE STEP-WISE APPROACH TO GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS FOR GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT

MASTER TABLE

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATION for

GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT

GROUNDWATER DATA MONITORING

GROUNDWATER DATA MODELLING

GW DATA Monitoring involves

MAPPING THE AQUIFER SYSTEM /GW RESERVOIR THROUGH REMOTE SENSING

MEASURING THE GW PARAMETERS

RECORDING OF LOCATIONAL DATA

GW Parameters – ground to water level, salinity, temperature, GW chemistry, drawdown

Locational Data – Surface discharge, topography, geologic data, no. of tubewells

GW DATA MONITORING

THE GEOSPATIAL APPROACH

APPLICATION OF GPS DATA LOGGERS& AQUAMETERS

GPS DATA LOGGERSCost effective & reliable

Used for measurement of water levels, temperature, conductivity

Applicationsurban water supplies, salt water intrusion, brine storage

thermal profiling, contaminant monitoring

APPLICATION OF GPS AQUAMETERSAllow simultaneous measurement of 40 parameters, accurate GPS data,

allow overlay with map reading & satellite imagery

ApplicationsContaminant monitoring, Engg. Services, GW analysis

APPLICATION OF PARTICIPATORY GIS

Using Community, Public (PPGIS)

Social media, Crowdsourcing

Applications / Examples

Arghyam initiative in Kerala for GW levels mapping

New Delhi municipality usage of Facebook for contaminant monitoring

Arsenic monitoring in Bangladesh using PPGIS

APPLICATION OF GEOPHYSICAL TECHNIQUES

Provide hi resolution information over large aquifersTime & labour saving technique

ApplicationsSaltwater intrusions, submarine GW dischargeArtificial recharge, aquifer storage & recovery

USE Surface, Borehole and Airborne methods in GW studies

Borehole Logging – subtle GW flow conditions

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – a broadband impulse radar system with high soil penetrating capacity

USED for hydrological modelling, measure moisture content of soils, water table maps, define geometry of aquifers,

BEST application is in electrically resistive mediums of dry, porous, sandy soils, & where numerous subsystems of GW flow

APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING (RS)

Provide Imagery & satellite data –

with high spatial, spectral, radiometric resolution

Applications

High resolution requirements, mapping large terrains,

For multi-temporal analysis for spatially distributed data

For analysis in multi-thematic data format / raster GW data models

Microwave Remote Sensing (MRS)An advanced RS technique to map spatial domain of surface soil moisture

With temporal dynamics

Applications

GW Recharge & hydrological studies

WHAT IS GROUNDWATER DATA APPLICATION

GW DATA MAPPING

Synchronisation of

basic Groundwater Data, using established

mapping methods for presentations &

analysis

GW DATA MODELLING

Advanced application of Groundwater Data for

Statistical & GIS Modelling in a cross-platform interface / in

multiple layers

FIRST APPROACH TO GW DATA APPLICATION

GROUNDWATER DATA

MAPPING

MAPPING METHODS

MAPPING PRESENTATION

REMOTE SENSING (RS)

GROUNDWATER MAPPING METHODS

Hydrogeologic Complex & Setting Methods (applied to small & medium scale mapping) Parametric System (mapping of GW parameters in usable format) Index & Analogical relations (used to consider properties of overlying layers &

contaminants, like transport equations) Mathematical Equations (flow & transport models that integrate multiple input data) Statistical Methods (applied for small to medium scale mapping, with 3 tier method

of selecting GW influencing factors, mapping spatial distribution & concentration of contaminants, & finally establish a statistical algorithm for mapping GW vulnerability

GROUNDWATER MAPPING PRESENTATION

VISUAL DIAGRAMS & MAPSOrganised in visible formats as grids,

charts, graphs & geo-referenced maps – to allow cross overlay +

computation of data modelsThematic, Vector/ Raster, Mash-ups,

OR continuous data set of raster maps

GW maps well location maps plotted in GIS

platform, Digital Elevation Models for spatial

pattern analysis, land use maps, piezometric level maps,

Raterised GW elevation maps (map seasonal & long term trends)

DESK TOP & CUSTOMISED SOFTWARE

Ready to use Customised Software that allow that allow multi-layered

cross platform mapping for study & problem resouluion

(Arc GIS Desktop/ SURFER)

Data Visulaization SoftwareAllow interactive animation & graphical

designs Application – high impact reports

GW Monitoring Software(Driver Office, Driver Pocket)

Support managing of data loggersApplications – Public Water Agencies &

Consultants

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS IN GROUNDWATER DATA MODELLING

GEOSTATISTICAL MODELLING applies GW Data for diverse appications Space-time intelligence software – to map arsenic variability Parameter Estimation & Statistical Software – model risk analysis, natural resource management

CONCEPTUAL MODELLING Applications like Hydro GeoAnalyst & Hydro GeoBuidler are applied for GW

Data Management; Hydro GeoBuilder works well with FEFLOW & MODFLOW models

Data Contouring & Modeling Software – SURFER, GRAPHER, GW CONTOUR, ARCHYDRO GROUNDWATER are applied to first level GW analytics

ADVANCED GW DATA MODELLING Work as both simple contouring / finite difference flow & transport models.

Natural Attenuation & Remediation Optimization Models (Hydro GeoAnalyst) support removal of GW contaminants; Unsaturated Zone Models are applied to projects; Borehole Geology Logging Models (LogPlot7) applied in geophysical

env.; Pumping & Slug Tests Analysis Software(AquiferTest) for analysis of hydraulic properties of aquifer

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS IN URBAN GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT

• Basic Maps – to understand parameters of city GW• GIS Mapping & modelling Tools – applied to StormWater

Management & Flood Controls, design Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Recharge of depleted zones, predict soil subsidence probabilities, devise civic & water engineering solutions through analytic models, urban waste water management, for GW quality assessment, and risk mapping with respect to seepage, contamination

INTEGRATED GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENTApplies various mapping, monitoring and modelling methods to work in a

cross platform interface that allows for various Departments to wor for a common solution and remediation to GroundWater

CASE STUDY OF MULBAGAL, KARNATAKA

Whereas previous data had suggested an alarming GW depeltion in this area, the application of GIS by ARGHYAM inferred

1. There was no alarming depletion

as pumping rate was offset by recharge

2. Portion of recharge was lost to horizontal lateral flow

in aquifer topography

Various inferences made have helped the Municipality to undertake GW Management decisions for a uniform GW availability

MULBAGAL GW MAPillustrating differences in Groundwater levels