Revealing the plausible areas for rainwater harvesting and groundwater abstraction for the accomplishment of sustainable development purposes in arid regions

Climate changes cause droughts and storms in many places, impacting sustainable development. Water scarcity caused by climate change will be a significant obstacle to climate adaptation and sustainability. Therefore, rainfall harvesting is becoming a significant approach in arid regions that suffering from water scarcity. Such an approach allowed for capturing and holding water resources in ponds, lakes, and groundwater aquifers needed to expand agricultural, urban, and industrial activities. In this project, radar and optical remote sensing data have been integrated with climatic, hydrologic, and geological data that successfully enabled the identification of potential water accumulation zones and optimum areas for rainwater harvesting. The processing of the SRTM, Sentinel-1&2, Landsat-8, TRMM, ALOS/PALSAR, and InSAR coherence change detection (CCD) data revealed geomorphic, structural, and hydrologic properties of the catchments and rainfall intensity zones of Wadi Safag which is a significant drainage system that drains into the Red Sea, Egypt. Several factors were combined, after assigning weights to each using a GIS-based knowledge-driven methodology. The results delineated the promising areas for rainfall harvesting and groundwater potential zones (GPZs). Additionally, the results identified the optimum areas for constructing lakes and dams to store rainwater and protect the mining, industrial, and tourism areas in the studied basin. Overall, identifying the probable areas for water accumulation and groundwater abstraction is crucial for planners and decision-makers for the achievement of sustainable development in Wadi Safaga, Egypt.