Application of an Automated and Enhanced Dataset Index for Agricultural Leaching Assessment in Coastal Areas: Insights from the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas

Assessing groundwater vulnerability is a tenet of sustainable groundwater management. As a result, developing new practical approaches is an ongoing task that needs to be improved over time, considering growing knowledge and getting new evidence regarding groundwater contamination and risk. In this regard, the DATASET project (Groundwater salinization and pollution assessment tool: a holistic approach for coastal areas) aims to introduce an innovative framework for evaluating groundwater vulnerability and risk related to agricultural products and to salinization phenomenon in coastal aquifers.  The proposed methodology integrates the most relevant influencing factors identified in literature, including ground elevation (slope), hydraulic conductivity, soil texture (clay/sand/silt composition), depth to groundwater, vertical and lateral recharge, hydraulic resistance, and pollution probability. These parameters are systematically incorporated into a flexible assessment framework supported by an open-access database. To enhance applicability, the approach introduces two complementary levels of implementation. The first, the Automatic Dataset Index (ADI), relies solely on freely available open-source data to provide an initial assessment of aquifer vulnerability, with a focus on specific pressures such as agricultural pollution and salinization. The second, the Improved Dataset Index (IDI), allows users to incorporate local knowledge and modify parameters, thereby improving accuracy and tailoring the assessment to site-specific conditions. Case studies conducted in Morocco, Italy, and Poland illustrate the robustness of the approach, demonstrating its ability to identify agricultural pollution hotspots and areas at risk of salt accumulation with high reliability. The results highlight the adaptability of the framework across different hydrogeological and climatic contexts. Overall, this methodology offers a practical and scalable tool for the evaluation and management of coastal aquifer systems, supporting both scientific research and decision-making for sustainable groundwater use worldwide.