Title: Development of a GIS-based decision support tool and assessment of Nile River water quality

Authors: Amgad Elmahdi, Assem Afify, Alaa Abdin

Addresses: CSIRO, Land and Water, Adelaide, PMB 2 Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. ' Strategic Research Unit, National Water Research Center, NWRC Admin. Bldg., P.O. Box 6, El-Kanater 13621, Qalyoubia, Egypt. ' Strategic Research Unit, National Water Research Center, NWRC Admin. Bldg., P.O. Box 6, El-Kanater 13621, Qalyoubia, Egypt

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to develop and present a GIS-based and software tool capable of data management, data visualisation, and data analysis. The developed software is proved to be a good tool in the initial assessment of the quality status of the Nile river water quality. In addition a Graphical User Interface (GUI) was fully designed and implemented to make the GIS tool very easy and handy for the decision maker. Spatial analysis and visualisation of water quality data can be easily presented through the interface. It is concluded that water quality along the main stem is much better than the quality along the two main branches, where more violations are observed.

Keywords: water quality; GIS; heavy metals; water assessment; water management; geographic information systems; Nile; data management; data visualisation; data analysis; river water; spatial analysis; graphical user interface; GUI; Egypt.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2008.018147

International Journal of Water, 2008 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.55 - 68

Published online: 04 May 2008 *

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