Probabilistic frequency ratio model for groundwater potential mapping in Al Jaww plain, UAE

The United Arab Emirates, as a part of the Arabian Peninsula, is among the driest countries on earth. This study aims to map and explore new groundwater reservoirs in Al Jaaw Plain, UAE. To map new groundwater reservoirs, a probability frequency ration model was modified. Two sets of remote sensing data were used to generate hydrological, topographical and geological parameters. There are six parameters were chosen based on their level of contribution toward groundwater potentiality. These parameters are lithological unites, lineaments, drainage network, topographic slope, altitude and topographic curvature. Groundwater potentiality was spatially analyzed using groundwater well locations employing the probability frequency ratio model by superimposing groundwater wells over the computed map in GIS. The results shows that the very high potential zones of groundwater are occupied by 96.72 km² (7.46 %) of the total area. Hydrological map and groundwater wells locations were used to validate the resultant map. The accuracy of the map was 87.67 %. The obtained map can be used in groundwater exportation and land development.