Author(s)

Maman Sani Abdou Babaye^1*, Karimou Dia Hantchi¹, Ibrahim Wagani¹, Boukari Issoufou Ousmane², Issoufou Sandao²

¹Department of Geology, UMR SERMUG, Faculty of Science and Techniques, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University, Maradi, Niger.
²Department of Geology, Faculty of Science and Techniques, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger.

In the basement of southwestern Niger, weathering and fractured zones concentrate most of the groundwater. This study focuses on fractured media and aims to identify areas of productivity in this aquifer to improve the region’s water coverage. The cartographic approach developed made it possible to establish synthetic maps based on multi-criteria analysis. The hydrogeological parameters selected include fracturing data, drainage system, slope and piezometric level as well as shallow and deep lithology. The choice of these criteria is based on their physical meaning but also on the availability of data. The integration of all the criteria in a GIS allowed to generate maps of recharge and potential productivity of fractured aquifers in the area. The validation of these thematic maps with independent data confirms their utility as reference standards for accessibility for future resource exploitation. Like any spatialization tool, potential recharge maps will provide valuable information about areas where infiltration is more important, and help control and manage risk zoning. The upward evacuation effect is even more prominent along the lineaments, faults or fractures: thus, to avoid possible pollution and to locate the future hydraulic structures, the analysis of the potential recharge zones remains necessary. The potential productivity index map, in addition to the very punctual sites identified by the fracturing study, made it possible to define areas of high potential productivity.

Multi-Criteria Analysis, Fissured Aquifers, Productivity, Groundwater Potential, Niger

Babaye, M. , Hantchi, K. , Wagani, I. , Ousmane, B. and Sandao, I. (2021) Multi-Criteria Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS: Insight into Groundwater Potential of the Fissured Aquifers in the Liptako Socle (Southwestern Niger). Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 13, 881-899. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2021.1311047.