Integration of remote sensing, aeromagnetic, and DC resistivity datasets for structural lineament analysis and groundwater potential mapping using AHP method in Wadi El-Madamud area, Egypt

Abstract In semi-arid regions like Wadi El-Madamud, Egypt, sustainable groundwater management is hindered by the intricate interplay of structural, lithological, and climatic controls on aquifer recharge and storage. Despite the hydrogeological importance of the Plio-Pleistocene aquifer, integrated assessments for delineating groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) remain limited. This study bridges this gap through a multi-source, GIS-based approach combining conventional (geology, soil, rainfall), remote sensing (Sentinel-2 for LULC, Landsat 8–9 for NDVI, ASTER-GDEM for topography), and geophysical data (aeromagnetic and DC resistivity) within an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) framework. Ten thematic layers—geology, soil, slope, elevation, drainage density, lineament density, rainfall, topographic wetness index (TWI), LULC, and NDVI—were integrated using AHP-weighted overlay (consistency ratio = 0.05). The region’s stratigraphy spans Cretaceous to Holocene, with soils (Lithosols, Calcaric Fluvisols, Eutric Regosols, Calcic Yermosols) exhibiting differential infiltration and retention. GWPZ mapping classified the area into five categories: excellent (0.16%), good (25.54%), moderate (21.01%), fair (52.17%), and poor (1.12%), with high-potential zones localized along the Nile Valley fringe due to permeable Quaternary–Holocene sediments, Calcaric Fluvisols, and favorable topography. Model accuracy was validated using hydrochemical data from 15 wells, revealing a fresh to slightly saline gradient (TDS: 366–1541 mg/L), and ROC-AUC of 0.72. Aeromagnetic analysis identified dominant structural trends (N–S, E–W, NE–SW, NW–SE) and basement depths (100–1250 m), while DC resistivity (31 VES points, Schlumberger array, AB ≤ 1000 m) revealed a four-layer subsurface: consolidated wadi deposits (> 1000 Ω·m), saturated sand aquifer (≤ 100 Ω m, 25–85 m thick, 15–40 m depth), dry compacted sand (10 3 –10 4 Ω m), and Thebes Formation limestone (10 4 –10 5 Ω m). The study recommends cross-validation with MIF and Fuzzy AHP and prioritizes drilling in north-central, southwestern, and northeastern zones. By integrating surface and subsurface datasets, this work advances hydrogeological modeling in structurally complex terrains and provides a replicable framework for groundwater exploration in arid and semi-arid regions.