Integrated GIS and remote sensing-based assessment of groundwater potential using geologic and geomorphologic factors in the Guder area, West Shoa, Ethiopia

This study delineates groundwater potential zones in the Guder area, central Ethiopia, using an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework. Five key hydrogeological factors—geology, geomorphology, slope, drainage density, and lineament density—were derived from SRTM DEM, Landsat 8 imagery, and geological maps, then weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The weighted overlay analysis classified the area into five groundwater potential zones: very high (8.6%), high (22.4%), moderate (34.1%), low (25.3%), and very low (9.6%). High-potential zones are mainly associated with fractured Tarmaber basalt and pyroclastic formations, where secondary porosity and permeability enhance groundwater storage and movement. Validation using borehole yield data and ROC analysis yielded an AUC value of 0.93, indicating excellent model performance. The findings confirm that the integrated GIS–RS–MCDA approach is an effective and cost-efficient tool for groundwater exploration and sustainable water resource management.