Modelling of ground water recharge-potential in the hard-rock Aravalli terrain, India: a GIS approach

Modelling of ground water recharge-potential in hard-rock areas principally aims at water-resource evaluation. Various techniques are available to assess recharge-potential, and their capability in estimating recharge is also variable. However, the water level fluctuation method is found capable in computing actual ground water recharge. Demarcation of ground water recharge-potential zones in arid and semi-arid regions is of great importance for human survival and sustainable development. Remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques have been widely used by numerous researchers for qualitative assessment of ground water potential of a basin or terrain. In the present study, a GIS-based water table fluctuation method has been attempted for quantitative modelling of ground water recharge of the hard-rock Aravalli terrain. This GIS-based model is further used to evaluate recharge-potential of the terrain by integrated assessment of infiltration capacity, normal rainfall, and its cumulative frequency.