Exploring the Potential of GIS: Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis of Groundwater Quality and Quantity over Parts of YSR District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Groundwater is one of the important sources on which life on terrestrial habitat survived since centuries. Though impervious to pollutants of the air or any surface phenomena, this precious water source is prone to be affected by its major stakeholders such as humans. Knowingly and by virtue of education and exposure to this fact, humans are changing for a better now and future. Nevertheless, how to know the status of the groundwater prospectus? Moreover, where should we concentrate? In both space and time dimensions is a million dollar question. Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis provides us an opportunity to understand and prepare maps to serve the agencies to act appropriately as far as groundwater quality and quantity is concerned. Through this part of the research, an attempt has been made to study the spatial distribution of groundwater quality and quantity using GIS banked with geostatistics as effective tools. Data was collected all over parts of YSR district and the spatial structure was developed. The key parameters such as TDS, TH, Na, Mg, SAR, EC, pH etc were analyzed. After systematic analysis, the prediction maps were prepared.

Keywords: geostatistics, GIS, groundwater, interpolation, prediction maps