April 18, 2023
Hybrid GIS Technology for Groundwater Resource Management in India
Prabir Kumar Mukherjee
CONFIDENTIAL- 2 -
Agenda
Introduction
Need for Groundwater Resource Management
GIS in Groundwater Resource Management
Improved Technology - GIT
Business Benefits
CONFIDENTIAL- 3 -
Introduction
• Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource,
essential to sustain life, development and the
environment
• Water development and management should be
based on a participatory approach, involving
users, planners and policymakers at all levels
• Women play a central part in the provision,
management and safeguarding of water
• Water has an economic value in all its competing
uses and should be recognized as an economic
good
‘pragmatic but principled approach thatrespects the concepts of economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability
but recognizes that management can beintensely political and that reform requires prioritised, sequenced, practical and patient
interventions’.
Reference: GWMate Briefing Note
‘pragmatic but principled approach thatrespects the concepts of economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability
but recognizes that management can beintensely political and that reform requires prioritised, sequenced, practical and patient
interventions’.
Reference: GWMate Briefing Note
CONFIDENTIAL- 4 -
Need for Groundwater Resource Management
• 2000 million people, innumerable farmers and many industrial premises depend on groundwater
• Accelerated development has resulted in great social and economic benefits, providing low-cost,
drought-reliable high-quality water supplies
• Management and protection of groundwater has been seriously neglected, potentially endangering the
resource
• The sustainability of groundwater is linked to policy issues influencing water and land use, and
represents one of the major global challenges in natural resource management
• There is a need to integrate groundwater and surface water management to ensure better overall water
management and allocation
CONFIDENTIAL- 5 -
Need for Groundwater Resource Management
Millions of m3 pumped every year• Monitored? Why? Who? How? Use? quantity / quality
100’s of thousands of users• Controlled? Registered?
10’s of thousands of wells / boreholes• Registered? Maintained? Monitored? • Have the information Stored on location, abstraction, water levels, water quality, formation etc.?
1000’s of sources of pollution• Location, nature & quantity of pollutants? aquifer vulnerability?
100’s of drillers / consultants• Registered? Development & drilling data recorded & submitted?
Many governing departments /institutions • Joint management ? Coordination / cooperation?
Source (AGW)
CONFIDENTIAL- 6 -
Approaches of Groundwater Resource Management
Human BenefitsEconomic Benefits Environmental Benefits
Aquifer Storage
(groundwater resource)
SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER DEVELOPMENT
Artificial Recharge
(irrigation losses, wastewater returns)
Natural Recharge
(excess rainfall, surface water
seepage)
Indirect Recharge
(aquitard leakage, cross-formational
flow)
Water for development
Groundwater abstraction
(agriculture & Industry)
Water for the Environment
Groundwater discharge
(Springs, surface water, wetlands, coastal zone)
Water for People
Groundwater supply
(drinking water & Sanitation and
livelihood)
CONFIDENTIAL- 7 -
Approaches of Groundwater Resource Management
Unrestricted Demand
+Unregulated Resources
Water and land-use
behaviour worsen
Dissatisfaction of water-
users increases
Aquifer system/
groundwater resources impacted
Quality and quantity
deteriorated
Reliable supply reducing with increasing cost
Management function
Enabling Environment
Acceptable demand + contaminant load
Aquifer system/
groundwater resources protected
Quality and quantity stabilize
Secure supply at reasonable cost
MonitoringResource Evaluation
Resource Allocation
Pollution control
Economic valuation
Policy framework
Regulatory Framework
Definition of Water Rights
Stakeholder Participation
Decentralised Administrative
setup
Without IWRMWith IWRM
CONFIDENTIAL- 8 -
Evolution of GIS in Groundwater Study
Multimedia Mapping
--2000 ‘s
4D GIS (XYZ and Time)
--Future Perception
In 1970 - Computer MappingDuring this period most GIS analysis were limited to Manual Processing of spatial data. This period saw computer mapping automate map drafting. The points, lines and areas defining geographic features on a map are represented as an organized set of X, Y coordinates.
In 1980 – Spatial Database ManagementSpatial database management systems were developed that linked computer mapping capabilities with traditional database management capabilities. Increasing demands for mapped data focused attention on data availability, accuracy and standards, as well as data structure issues.
In 1990 - Map Analysis / ModelingDuring this period the bulk of descriptive query operations were available in most GIS systems and attention turned to a comprehensive theory of map analysis. The spatialinformation used to represented numerically, rather than in analog way as inked lines on a map. The GIS applications were now centering towards two forms spatial statistics and spatial analysis in groundwater study.
In 2000 - Multimedia MappingIn this period, GIS systems and applications saw new trends like Data Exchange & Interoperability Standards, Development of Web Services, Enhanced Display Capabilities, 3D visualization, Integration of Global Positioning System and Remote Sensing Imagery with GIS in groundwater study.
Future Perceptions4D GIS (XYZ and time), Tomorrow’s data structures will accommodate time as a stored dimension and completely change the conventional mapping paradigm. The future also will build on the cognitive basis, as well as the databases, of GIS technology. Information systems are at a threshold that is pushing well beyond mapping, management, modeling, and multimedia to spatial reasoning and dialogue.
CONFIDENTIAL- 9 -
Concept - GIS+IT=GIT in Groundwater Resource Management
Sustainability of Planet Earth: Connections between and achieving balance among social, economic and environmental pieces of a community.
SMART Governance means: Process of decision making
in a simple, moral, accountable, responsive, and transparent manner
Hybrid Technology/Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) :
An integration of geo-spatial information science and technology into a geographic
information system (GIS) which has incredible role in SMART Governance
In groundwater management
CONFIDENTIAL- 10 -
Concept – Target Area in Groundwater Resource Management
Government Management IssuesLegislation and Regulation
Economic InstrumentsPolicy Instruments
Human Resources Management IssuesAbstraction Rights
AllocationStakeholder Participation
Capacity Building
Natural Resource Management Issues Aquifer Characterization
Recharge Water Quality
Environmental Services
TARGET of GIT
CONFIDENTIAL- 12 -
GIS Technology Improvement in Groundwater Resource Management
Desktop GIS products offer many advantages including: Advanced capabilities and powerful functionality “out of the box“ Internet connectivity is not required Performance is not dependent on bandwidth
The disadvantages of traditional desktop applications include: Licensing costs are high on a per user basis compared to web-based GIS PCs with higher specifications are required More advanced user training is required
Distributed GIS have all of the system components in the different physical locations. This could be the processing, the database, the rendering or the user interface. Examples of distributed systems are
Web-based GIS, Mobile GIS, Enterprise GIS
An Enterprise Geographical Information System satisfies the spatial information needs of an organization as a whole in an integrated manner. Enterprise GIS consists of four technological elements which are data, standards, information technology and personnel with expertise.
It is a coordinated approach that moves away from fragmented desktop GIS. The design of an enterprise GIS includes the construction of a centralized enterprise database that is
designed to be the principle resource for an entire organization.
CONFIDENTIAL- 13 -
GIS Technology Improvement Migration from Desktop to Web GIS
The traditional, ground water management methods are mainly focused on engineering measures. With the rapid development of information technology, database and GIS technology, the non-engineering measures based on scientific and logical management techniques lead to sustainable development of ground water resources.
This improves the ground water management level and increase work efficiency. Network is a good medium for sharing and spreading information. Using network technology in ground water management not only decrease constructive investment, but also predigest the operation and make it easy to use.
Using the centralized repository based on database and Web GIS technology, different business units can use the Mobile GIS and web GIS application to exchange information and data on network.
Efficient management of groundwater resources relies on a comprehensive database that represents the characteristics of the natural groundwater system as well as analysis and modeling tools to describe the impacts of decision alternatives .
CONFIDENTIAL- 15 -
Maturing Groundwater Analysis using Mobile GIS Technology
The method of data collection from field is time consuming and susceptible to errors. The recent development in mobile technology has enabled GIS information to be collected from field and update the modification directly to spatial repository in central database. This enables to add real time data to enterprise database and stakeholders can use the latest and more accurate data for analysis and decision making. Wireless connectivity, geo-services, and Web mapping applications allow field-based personnel to complete database transactions in near real time.
CONFIDENTIAL- 16 -
Spatial Data Sharing in Groundwater Information System using High Bandwidth 3G Network
3G Network
Department BDesktop Clients
LAN
Network Intranet Web Clients
3G Network
Enterprise Database
GIS Other System
Field Mobile Users
Department A
WAN
Network
Internet Web Clients
Internet Web Clients
CONFIDENTIAL- 17 -
Business Benefits
Hybrid TechnologyGIS & IT
In Groundwater Management System
Many Gaps Have Been Bridged with the Help of this Technology