Identifying areas with underground water potential using multi-criteria decision-making models, AHP and ANP (case study: Naiband-Tabas Plain)

Groundwater becomes an important resource in semi-arid and arid regions and areas where access to surface water is limited. In recent years, due to the growth of industrialization, increase in population and change in lifestyle and consumption patterns, it is globally significant. Currently, groundwater accounts for about 34% of the world's total annual water supply and is one of the most important sources of fresh water. Water collection is one of the most important and vital parts of implementing infrastructure and economic projects, which entails a lot of costs, therefore, the evaluation of this matter is for the management of sustainable systems. Groundwater is very important. In this research, influential factors including land slope, geomorphology, soil, fault, land cover, rainfall, depth of underground water, watercourse density and proximity to surface water are used. A questionnaire with the title of comparing two criteria was designed to obtain the opinions of elites and design. In the following, AHP and ANP models are used to calculate the normal weight of underground water potential. At the end, the final map was prepared in the Arc map 10.8 environment. Using AHP and ANP methods, the area was divided into 5 parts: very good, good, medium, poor and very poor. The results of two methods showed that the rainfall factor is the most important factor in determining the potential of underground water. Finally, the information of 10 wells, 3 aqueducts and 3 springs in Nayband area was used to evaluate the validity of the obtained map of underground water potential.