Analysis of Remote Sensing&GIS Data to Investigate Regional Groundwater Potential Zones in Ambon Island, Moluccas Province, Indonesia

Ambon Island have some region that scarce water. Groundwater is one of solution that can solve this problem, but exploration of groundwater in region with scarce water resources requires the implementation some of effective tools that save time and money and minimize the risk. The increasing demand of water has brought tremendous pressure on groundwater resources. Groundwater utilize in ambon primarily for daily use activities and become the primary needs. groundwater is prime source of water. The integration between advanced techniques for groundwater exploration is necessary to protect and to manage the resources. The objective of this study was to explore and delineation groundwater potential zones in Ambon Island, Moluccas Province, Indonesia. GIS-based modelling was used to integrate remote sensing data to delineate groundwater potential zones and separate it into several area that prospect or not for groundwater exploration for community in Ambon. In the present study, Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager and Thermal Infrared Sensor, ASTER global digital elevation model generate various thematic maps, visualization, geomorphology, land use, geology, lineament density, drainage density, slope. Based on this integrated approach, the groundwater availability in the Ambon Island was classified into three categories, poor, fair, and good. The zones with high lineament density, high drainage density, low steep slope were categorized as good groundwater potential zones while areas with low lineament density, low drainage density, high steep slope as poor groundwater potential zones. The results reveal that the modelling assessment method proposed in this study is an effective tool for delineate groundwater potential zones for management of groundwater resources. The study showed that remote sensing and GIS provided efficient tools for mapping promising sites for groundwater exploration. However, the data of groundwater wells would enhanced the delineation of groundwater potential zone.