The site selection for water well drilling using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in GIS

Existence of more than 600,000 water wells in the alluvial aquifers and rock formations in Iran
indicates the importance of groundwater resources in this country for various purposes (such as
agricultural, drinking, sanitation and industrial). Extraction of considerable amounts of water
from wells indicates that groundwater resources play an important role in development of
infrastructures in the country. Although part of the groundwater appears naturally on the ground
in different forms such as springs, seeps or qanats, but the major part of the consumed water
resources is supplied by deep and semi-deep wells. The objective of this research, under the title
of “site selection for water well drilling using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in GIS“, case
study of Semnan plain, is to find the best site for drilling a water well. First, effective parameters
in site selection of water wells were identified. These items are Boundary Wells, Cost,
Hydroclimatology, Hydrogeochem, Hydrogeology, Lithology and Pumping. The data layers
were added in ArcGIS. Then, weights were given to parameters, by using AHP and Fuzzy AHP.
The site-selection analysis was done by combining the obtained weights and the data layers in
GIS. By combining the weights and data layers, site selection map was prepared. Based on the
results, eight areas by AHP and twelve areas by Fuzzy AHP methods were recognized as quiet
suitable for water wells. The selected areas with Fuzzy AHP method contained the areas by AHP
method, because the weights which were obtained by these two methods are almost the same.
Meanwhile, vaster areas were determined by Fuzzy AHP method because of more flexibility and
larger domain of Fuzzy AHP method with respect to AHP method. The final site selection was
performed according to limited factors. Hajiabad ,Khourian and Darjazin were the selected
locations.

The site selection for water well drilling using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in GIS Keywords:

Site selection , AHP , Fuzzy AHP , Semnan plain