Groundwater potential zones delineation in Oued Zdin basin using GIS, RS and hierarchical analysis process

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge, particularly in regions with limited rainfall such as Algeria, where groundwater plays a crucial role in supporting both daily life and economic activities. This research aims to evaluate the groundwater potential in the Oued Zdin basin in northern Algeria by utilizing advanced geomatics methods, particularly the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Through the integration of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the study incorporates multiple datasets, including rainfall patterns, topography, geology, drainage networks, land use, and hydrological data to assess areas with high groundwater potential. By applying AHP, the study assigns relative importance to these factors, creating a groundwater potential map that classifies the region into very high, high, low, and poor potential zones. The results indicate that 7% of the basin has very high potential for groundwater recharge, 33% has high potential, while 56% is categorized as low potential, and 4% falls under poor potential. The accuracy of the results is validated through comparison with existing well data, which aligns with the identified high-potential zones. The research demonstrates that combining GIS, RS, and AHP is an effective approach for mapping groundwater potential, offering valuable insights for sustainable water resource management in areas experiencing water scarcity. This methodology presents a scalable model that can be applied to similar regions facing groundwater challenges.