Optimizing Groundwater Exploration Using Geomorphic and Lineament Analysis in Urban Area - Tiruchirappalli West: A Geospatial Approach

Abstract

Groundwater is a vital resource for domestic and irrigation needs in rapidly urbanising regions such as Tiruchirappalli West in Tamil Nadu. This study aimed to delineate groundwater potential zones using an integrated Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) approach. Multiple thematic layers, including drainage density, lineament density, land use/land cover (LULC), and spectral indices, such as the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalised difference water index (NDWI), were generated from Resources at LISS-IV satellite data and ancillary sources. These layers were integrated using the Weighted Overlay Method to compute the Groundwater Potential Index (GWPI). The results classified the study area into three groundwater potential zones: high (33%), moderate (43%), and low (24%). High potential zones were primarily associated with high lineament density, low drainage density, and favourable surface moisture conditions, as indicated by the NDVI and NDWI. Validation using well-yield data through Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation showed a strong spatial agreement with the predicted zones, confirming the reliability of the model. This study demonstrates that the integration of RS–GIS techniques provides an effective framework for groundwater assessment and supports sustainable groundwater management and artificial recharge planning in urban environments.