Groundwater potential modelling in a soft rock area using a GIS

A Geographical Information System (GIS) integration tool is proposed to dem arcate the groundwater potential zone in a soft rock area using seven hydro geologic themes: lithology, geomorphology, soil, net recharge, drainage den sity, slope and surface water bodies. Except for net recharge and slope, th e other five themes are derived from remote sensing data. IRS-1B LISS-II da ta was used for a 631 km(2) area in Midnapur District, West Bengal, India. While slope was calculated using topographic sheets, net recharge was obtai ned from annual water table fluctuation data. Each feature of all the thema tic maps was evaluated according to its relative importance in the predicti on of groundwater potential. The evolved GIS-based model of the study area was found to be in strong agreement with available borehole and pumping tes t data.