Groundwater Potential Mapping Using GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques: A SWOT Analysis from Tamlouka Plain, Northeast Algeria

In semi-arid and arid regions, groundwater is crucial but fluctuates due to regional factors, usage, and climate. Climate change exacerbates these variations, affecting agriculture, wildlife, and human life, making sustainable management of freshwater resources essential. This study aims to delineate the groundwater potential area in the northeastern part of Algeria, using remote sensing (RS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Thematic layers, including rainfall, lithology, drainage density, geology, land use and land cover (LULC), and slope percentage, were generated. After that, potential groundwater areas within the study region were defined by applying weights to layers and combining them linearly. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis was used to assess GIS and RS techniques for groundwater potential estimation. Subsequently, prospective zones are classified into four categories with groundwater potential ranging from very high to very low: 30.6% (very high), 44.06% (high), 22.42% (low), and 2.9% (very low). SWOT analysis revealed that RS and GIS techniques can offer accurate, quick, and easy-to-use, data for free (not all the time) concerning groundwater potential estimation covering large areas and permitting repetitive coverage. They offer several opportunities, such as the development of specific training programs and the establishment of new legislation to safeguard groundwater resources. However, climate change, limited funding, restricted satellite data access, and inadequate legislation are key barriers to the development and implementation of RS and GIS techniques. These findings underscore the potential of RS and GIS data to support more efficient and sustainable groundwater management.