Assessment of groundwater potential in the Ait Abdellah area by using remote sensing and GIS

Abstract

This study assesses groundwater potential in the Ait Abdellah region (Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco) using Remote Sensing and GIS integrated with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Ten factors, including lineament and drainage densities, slope, and permeability, were weighted to produce a groundwater potential map validated by the ROC curve (AUC = 80%). Results identify zones of high potential correlated with structural and lithological features, providing a valuable decision-support tool for sustainable water resource management in arid regions. The methodology offers an efficient, replicable framework for hydrogeological assessment in similar hard rock terrains.