Title: Delineation of infiltration characteristics within a watershed through integrated spatial analysis of parameters

Authors: Varsha P. Mane; Y.B. Katpatal

Addresses: GSDA, Aurangabad (MS), India ' Department of Civil Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur (MS), India

Abstract: Maharashtra state in India is a hard rock terrain with water scarcity being the most important issue. It is 80% covered by volcanic Deccan basalt and 20% by metamorphic rocks. Infiltration capacity plays an important role in recharging any aquifer. The basic aim of the present study is to estimate the infiltration values using traditional methods and to develop a simple spatial model to characterise the area into different infiltration classes. Remote sensing and a geographical information system (GIS) are used to integrate contributing factors affecting infiltration. Weights are derived after field verification and the spatial model has been developed using overlay analysis involving the contributing parameters. It is observed that presence of moderately dissected plateau and deep soil cover of sandy loam has good infiltration potential in WRWB-2 watershed, while in WGK-2 watershed has moderate infiltration potential owing to the presence of exposed quartzite which shows negative response to infiltration.

Keywords: remote sensing; geographical information systems; GIS; infiltration capacity; groundwater recharge; overlay analysis; geomorphology; runoff; geology; lineaments; water level fluctuation; slopes; India; water scarcity; aquifers; spatial modelling; watersheds; hard rock terrain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2015.072153

International Journal of Water, 2015 Vol.9 No.4, pp.348 - 375

Received: 24 Jan 2014
Accepted: 28 Mar 2014
Published online: 02 Oct 2015 *

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