Evaluation of groundwater resources using remote sensing and GIS techniques within Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria

Abstract

This study combines Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to delineate groundwater potential zones within Kwara State University (KWASU) and its surrounding environment. This approach involves the systematic integration and spatial overlay of eight thematic layers, namely rainfall, land use/land cover (LULC), slope, elevation, drainage network, drainage density, lineament, and lineament density, each selected for its influence on groundwater occurrence and recharge potential. The AHP was applied to assign weights and prioritise these factors through pairwise comparisons, ensuring an objective evaluation based on their relative importance to groundwater distribution. The results reveal that the KWASU campus and its environs are characterised by favourable hydrogeological conditions, including relatively high annual rainfall of approximately 1430 mm, flat to gently sloping terrain with elevations below 300 m, and land cover primarily consisting of cropland, vegetation, and rangeland. It also exhibits a dendritic drainage pattern, moderate to good drainage density, and low lineament density, all of which support groundwater recharge potential. The final groundwater potential map categorises the area as predominantly excellent to good in terms of groundwater prospects, highlighting its suitability for sustainable groundwater development, while the north-central region indicates very poor groundwater potential zones. These findings provide valuable insights for informed groundwater resource management and land-use planning in the area and further recommend detailed geophysical and hydrogeological field investigations to validate the model outputs and enhance groundwater exploration efforts within KWASU.