Predicting Groundwater Capture Zone Characteristics Using Fuzzy Inference System(FIS), Case study: Abarkooh Aquife

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of earth Sciences, Shiraz university, Iran

2 Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

Abstract

Groundwater is a vital resource for human water supply, making the study of well capture zones critical, particularly for anthropogenic water sources and water quality management. Capture zones, also known as wellhead protection areas, are influenced by numerous factors, including pumping rate, hydraulic conductivity, groundwater gradient, and other hydrogeological parameters. Various methods exist for calculating capture zones, ranging from analytical approaches to advanced numerical models, and these methods continue to evolve. This research introduces, for the first time, the application of a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) to predict both the size and elongation of capture zones. Key input parameters include annual well discharge (measured in million cubic meters, MCM), hydraulic conductivity, groundwater gradient, and aquifer thickness. Results from the WhAEM software were used as target values to validate the FIS predictions. The findings reveal strong correlations between the FIS predictions and the WhAEM results, with correlation
coefficients (R) of 0.92 for capture zone size and 0.73 for elongation coefficient. These results underscore the effectiveness of fuzzy logic in accurately predicting critical hydrogeological parameters, offering a robust alternative method for capture zone analysis. These results underscore the effectiveness of fuzzy logic in accurately predicting critical hydrogeological parameters, offering a robust alternative method for capture zone analysis.

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Article Title [Persian]

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 April 2025
  • Receive Date: 23 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 06 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 05 April 2025