Groundwater Exploration using Remote Sensing and GIS

Published on 02 Jul 2021. Written by Reddy Shekar

The need for groundwater is an important thing for the existence of human society. Because groundwater is one of the major resources of drinking water in both urban and semi-urban areas.

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From the past decades, the availability rate of groundwater is decreasing due to the increase in population growth. Also, the exploration of groundwater is becoming more difficult and expensive. Groundwater exploration can be achieved easily and in low-cost using modern technologies like Remote Sensing and GIS.

In arid and semi-arid regions the rainfall will not be same in all areas. In such areas, the groundwater is a key resource of water for different needs such as domestic, agriculture and industrial, etc…. There are different methods available to find the location of groundwater below the ground, are as follows:

1. Geomorphological method
2. Remote Sensing method
3. Geological method
4. Hydrometeorological method
5. Hydrogeochemical method

About Remote Sensing:

Remote Sensing is the art of collecting geographical information about objects without making any physical contact with them. In other words, it is the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area, by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance from the targeted area. Special cameras install in airplanes and satellites collect the images of areas on the Earth. With the help of this data (images), geologists analyze things about the area.

This method is best suited for groundwater exploration over large areas. Because remote sensing produces a hydrological mapping of large and inaccessible areas at a faster pace. With the help of the GIS method, collected data will process into the detailed mapping. So, to get the accurate details of groundwater development.

Remote Sensing process involves the following elements:

1. Energy Source: the first need for remote sensing is an energy source which gives electromagnetic energy.
2. Radiation and Atmosphere: as the energy release from its source (sensor) to make contact with the target. It will come in contact with and interact with the atmosphere it passes through. This interaction will repeat for the second time, as the energy travels from the target to the sensor.
3. Recording of energy by the sensor: after the energy reflected back from the target. The sensor detects and records the electromagnetic radiation.
4. Transmission, reception, and processing: after the energy recorded by the sensor, will send into electronic form. Which have the ability to receive and process the data into information (image).
5. Interpretation and analysis: with the help of GIS technology, the data will process into a geological map. For the better interpretation and analysis of geological data about the targeted area.

Benefits:

1. Best suitable for the large area.
2. No human resources required to collect the data.
3. The results/data obtained from the remote sensing are more accurate compared to other conventional techniques.
4. Remotely sensed data is easy to process, analyze and interpret.
5. This method is comparatively cheap in cost.

Conclusion: With the help of Remote Sensing and GIS technologies, we can control huge demand for water by locating the groundwater position at a much faster pace and in an economical way.

Kit required to develop Groundwater Exploration using Remote Sensing and GIS:

• Remote sensing

Technologies you will learn by working on Groundwater Exploration using Remote Sensing and GIS:

• Groundwater
• Rremote sensing
• GIS

Any Questions?