Groundwater Exploration Using Multi Criteria Decision Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Central Nigeria ()
ABSTRACT
There
exists a growing demand for potable water resources to fill the abysmally
insufficient water needs for domestic and industrial especially in the Basement
Complex terrains of Nigeria. This situation is attributable to its complex
hydrogeologic character. The present challenge has worsened due to the
non-incorporation of integrated methods in groundwater exploration campaigns.
To effectively combat the challenge of unacceptable failure rates in drilled
water well development, there is a need for innovative scientific principles
and quantitative assessment of groundwater resources to enhance sustainable and
proper utilisation of these resources. Hence, it is the objective of this
research to exploit the potential application of remote sensing, Geographic
Information System (GIS), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques
and freely open datasets in mapping groundwater potential zones. Seven thematic
maps have been produced based on factors that are deemed to influence and
deemed to have significant control on the occurrence and movement of
groundwater. These factors are geology, lineament density, slope, drainage
density, rainfall, land-use/land cover, and soil class. Analytic Hierarchy
Process (AHP) was used to assign normalised weights to the thematic maps based
on the various relative contributions to groundwater occurrence and movement.
These thematic maps were then processed in a GIS environment using the Weighted
Overlay tool which implements the MCDA. The resulting Groundwater Potential
Zones (GPZ) of the area gave rise to Five classes viz: Very good, Good, Moderate,
Poor and Very Poor representing 19%, 8%, 14%, 47% and
13% respectively. It is recommended that the GPZ map should be used as a
reconnaissance tool for selecting prospective sites for detailed groundwater
resource exploitation.
Share and Cite:
Ejepu, J. , Jimoh, M. , Abdullahi, S. and Mba, M. (2022) Groundwater Exploration Using Multi Criteria Decision Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Central Nigeria.
International Journal of Geosciences,
13, 33-53. doi:
10.4236/ijg.2022.131003.