Spatiotemporal assessment of groundwater discharge using remote sensing and GIS techniques in the upper Berg River catchment, South Africa.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the natural groundwater discharge processes in the Upper Berg River catchment using a combination of remote sensing, GIS techniques, and field-based ground truthing. The main objectives of this study are: 1)To review the broader use of RS and GIS methods in relation to groundwater discharge (Chapter2). 2) To determine and interpret surface indicators of groundwater discharge in the study area. 3) To determine and assess key subsurface factors driving groundwater discharge. 4) To evaluate and validate the accuracy of Remote Sensing and GIS-derived groundwater discharge zones through field-based ground truthing investigations. . The methodology involved assessing surface indicators such as vegetation variability, topographic wetness index, profile curvature, and flow direction using Landsat imagery and DEM data. Subsurface factors including fracture density, hydraulic pressure systems, and the relationship between hydraulic head and terrain slope were analyzed through geospatial and statistical methods.