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...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-07-01
|
Series: | Environments |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/7/86 |
id |
doaj-3aad2bc0e63a428e97ef088942f97c2b |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT liaduarte anopensourcegisbasedapplicationfortheassessmentofgroundwatervulnerabilitytopollution AT jorgeespinhamarques anopensourcegisbasedapplicationfortheassessmentofgroundwatervulnerabilitytopollution AT anaclaudiateodoro anopensourcegisbasedapplicationfortheassessmentofgroundwatervulnerabilitytopollution AT liaduarte opensourcegisbasedapplicationfortheassessmentofgroundwatervulnerabilitytopollution AT jorgeespinhamarques opensourcegisbasedapplicationfortheassessmentofgroundwatervulnerabilitytopollution AT anaclaudiateodoro opensourcegisbasedapplicationfortheassessmentofgroundwatervulnerabilitytopollution |
_version_ |
1724752536355733504 |