Potential detection of water resources in karst formations using APLIS model and modification with AHP and TOPSIS

摘要

Population growth and water shortage in Iran have highlighted the importance of studies on karst. However, in developing countries such as Iran, studies on the karst region including the construction of piezometric wells, exploratory boreholes, qualitative sampling and tracing tests are performed infrequently due to the huge costs. Hence, it is necessary to conduct karst studies in regions with a high potential of recharge using the map of groundwater recharge potential. In addition, determining and estimating the potential of these resources for management planning is vital in water shortage conditions. In this study, the potential detection of water resources in karst formations using ranking methods is investigated. First, APLIS weighting model was used in Javanroud, Kermanshah region, as the main method of and the basis of this research. Then, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and TOPSIS techniques were used to modify the weight of the APLIS model and lastly, the three final maps of APLIS, AHP and TOPSIS were matched and compared with maps of spring and fault. Thus, the TOPSIS method, despite five springs with discharge of 38 m$^{3}$/s and four faults with length of 8869 m in a region with very high recharge, was selected as the best method. The results obtained enable us to select the best region for geophysical operation that requires the least amount of time along with the lowest cost.