An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution

Groundwater is a crucial natural resource for regular socio-economic function. Groundwater vulnerability to pollution can be assessed through Geographical Information System (GIS)-based qualitative methods. GIS-based tools, dedicated to the assessment of groundwater vulnerability, usually present se...

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Main Authors: Lia Duarte, Jorge Espinha Marques, Ana Cláudia Teodoro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
Series:Environments
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/7/86
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spelling doaj-3aad2bc0e63a428e97ef088942f97c2b2020-11-25T02:47:37ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982019-07-01678610.3390/environments6070086environments6070086An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to PollutionLia Duarte0Jorge Espinha Marques1Ana Cláudia Teodoro2Department of Geosciences, Environment and Land Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Geosciences, Environment and Land Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Geosciences, Environment and Land Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalGroundwater is a crucial natural resource for regular socio-economic function. Groundwater vulnerability to pollution can be assessed through Geographical Information System (GIS)-based qualitative methods. GIS-based tools, dedicated to the assessment of groundwater vulnerability, usually present several limitations, such as high cost, unavailable code, and a lack of functionality concerning the flexible application of vulnerability indices and vulnerability map comparison. The objective of this work was to create a new GIS-based open source application for groundwater vulnerability assessment, <i>GVTool</i>, developed using QGIS software, with the capability of creating and comparing groundwater vulnerability maps considering four different methods: DRASTIC, GOD, SINTACS, and Susceptibility Index (SI). This application incorporates features from a previous tool, <i>DRASTIC Model</i>, and new functionalities were included, namely three additional vulnerability assessment methods, map comparative analysis, map statistics, and index interval reclassification and symbology definition. The <i>GVTool</i> functionalities and capabilities are illustrated through a groundwater vulnerability assessment in Serra da Estrela mountain (Central Portugal). <i>GVTool</i> is mostly useful in integrated assessments, helping to verify if the groundwater vulnerability maps are accurate and to decide which is the most suitable method or the combination of methods to express groundwater vulnerability to pollution in a specific area.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/7/86QGISwater resourcesvulnerability index
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Lia Duarte
Jorge Espinha Marques
Ana Cláudia Teodoro
spellingShingle Lia Duarte
Jorge Espinha Marques
Ana Cláudia Teodoro
An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution
Environments
QGIS
water resources
vulnerability index
author_facet Lia Duarte
Jorge Espinha Marques
Ana Cláudia Teodoro
author_sort Lia Duarte
title An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution
title_short An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution
title_full An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution
title_fullStr An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution
title_full_unstemmed An Open Source GIS-Based Application for the Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution
title_sort open source gis-based application for the assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution
publisher MDPI AG
series Environments
issn 2076-3298
publishDate 2019-07-01
description Groundwater is a crucial natural resource for regular socio-economic function. Groundwater vulnerability to pollution can be assessed through Geographical Information System (GIS)-based qualitative methods. GIS-based tools, dedicated to the assessment of groundwater vulnerability, usually present several limitations, such as high cost, unavailable code, and a lack of functionality concerning the flexible application of vulnerability indices and vulnerability map comparison. The objective of this work was to create a new GIS-based open source application for groundwater vulnerability assessment, <i>GVTool</i>, developed using QGIS software, with the capability of creating and comparing groundwater vulnerability maps considering four different methods: DRASTIC, GOD, SINTACS, and Susceptibility Index (SI). This application incorporates features from a previous tool, <i>DRASTIC Model</i>, and new functionalities were included, namely three additional vulnerability assessment methods, map comparative analysis, map statistics, and index interval reclassification and symbology definition. The <i>GVTool</i> functionalities and capabilities are illustrated through a groundwater vulnerability assessment in Serra da Estrela mountain (Central Portugal). <i>GVTool</i> is mostly useful in integrated assessments, helping to verify if the groundwater vulnerability maps are accurate and to decide which is the most suitable method or the combination of methods to express groundwater vulnerability to pollution in a specific area.
topic QGIS
water resources
vulnerability index
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/7/86
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