Systematic analysis of the Environment of Esfarayen plain aquifer using Buckley Fuzzy AHP

Increasing water consumption along with the arid climate of Iran, has caused increasing pressure on groundwater resources and has made attention to strategic planning of water resources as a necessity. In this research, the strategic planning process of Esfarayen plain aquifer, which is one of the plains of the central desert basin of Iran, has been studied. For this purpose, a SWOT analysis was performed for the plain and its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified. These factors were systematically analyzed using Buckley Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and based on this analysis, the prior type of strategies were proposed. In SWOT analysis, five factors were identified for each group of strengths and weaknesses and seven factors were identified for each group of opportunities and threats. The results of systematic analysis of SWOT factors showed that the share of two groups of opportunities and weaknesses in higher priority factors was more than the two groups of strengths and threats, so that the share of opportunities, weaknesses, threats and strengths in the first half of the list of factors was 71, 60, 43 and 20 percent of the factors in these groups, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that in selecting appropriate strategies for the future of groundwater in Esfarayen plain, priority should be given to WO strategies. Strategies that try to improve and eliminate weaknesses within the system by using the opportunities available in the external environment.