A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1993

This study was designed to use geographical information system (GIS) for the planning and management of groundwater resource. Lahore aquifer which is a part of Indo-Gengatic alluvial plain of Pakistan, was selected for the study. A vector-based GIS, ARC/INFO, was used to accomplish the study. The whole model area of about 37km by 30km was divided into grids of various dimensions. Four variables were selected for the preparation of input coverages. These include annual abstraction and recharge from each grid/polygon, permeability of soil and initial depth to water table at the beginning of each year. A GIS model was prepared by setting the logical criteria by selecting relative weights and internal scores for each variable. Nine different runs were designed to calibrate and verify the GIS model(logical criteria). A period of nine years from 1979-87 was selected for the calibration and verification. Run 3 was found as the closest run and the criteria used was accepted as the suitable criteria for the Lahore Aquifer. Finally the selected criteria was used to find the most suitable area for wellfield in the project area to accommodate the increasing demand of water. The groundwater abstraction of 16.79 m3/s was increased to 32.48 m3/s. Four runs were designed by shifting wellfield to south-east, south-west, east and north-west in Run1, Run2, Run3 and Run4 respectively. By overlay analysis it was found that the wellfield location in southwest would effect the minimum area. This study also provided a GIS database which by simple manipulation can be used for further spatial analysis and evaluation.