Tauqueer Ahmad

Bio: Tauqueer Ahmad is an academic researcher from Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute. The author has contributed to research in topics: Drip irrigation & Agriculture. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 27 publications receiving 465 citations.

Development of a GIS Interface for Estimation of Runoff from Watersheds

Abstract: Development of accurate surface runoff estimation techniques from ungauged watersheds is relevant in Indian condition due to the non-availability of hydrologic gauging stations in majority of watersheds. Besides this, the high budgetary requirements for installation of gauging stations are another limiting factor in India, which leads to the use of surface runoff estimation techniques for ungauged watersheds. Natural Resources Conservation Services Curve Number (NRCS-CN) method is one of the most widely used methods for quick and accurate estimation of surface runoff from ungauged watershed. Also, the coupling of NRCS-CN techniques with the advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities automates the process of runoff prediction in timely and efficient manner. Keeping view of this, a GIS interface was developed using the in-built macro programming language, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) of ArcGIS® tool to estimate the surface runoff by adopting NRCS-CN technique and its three modifications. The developed interface named as Interface for Surface Runoff Estimation using Curve Number techniques (ISRE-CN), was validated using the recorded data for the periods from 1993 to 2001 of a gauged watershed, Banha in the Upper Damodar Valley in Jharkhand, India. The observed runoff depths for different rainfall events in this study watershed was compared with the predicted values of NRCS-CN methods and its three modifications using statistical significance tests. It was revealed that using all the rainfall data for different AMC conditions, the modified CN I performed the best [R2 (coefficient of determination) = 0.92; E (model efficiency) = 0.89) followed by modified CN III method (R2 = 0.88; E = 0.87), while the modified CN II (R2 = 0.42; E = 0.36) failed to predict accurately the surface runoff from Banha watershed. Moreover, under AMC based estimations, the modified CN I method also performed best (R2 = 0.95; E = 0.95) for AMC II condition, while the modified CN II performed the worst in all the AMC conditions. However, the developed Interface in ArcGIS® needs to be tested in other watershed systems for wider applicability of the modified CN methods.

Groundwater Recharge Zone Mapping Using GIS-Based Multi-criteria Analysis: A Case Study in Central Tunisia (Maknassy Basin)

Abstract: The groundwater recharge zone mapping often requires a large amount of spatial information and criteria. Geographic information systems are capable of managing large amount of spatially related information, providing the ability to integrate multiple layers of information for multi-criteria analysis. To show the capabilities of GIS techniques for mapping groundwater refill zone in arid area, a study was carried out in the Maknassy basin located in Central Tunisia. This evaluation incorporates historic rainfall data analysis, watershed drainage density, surficial geology and aquifer boundary conditions. The study basin is categorized according to the previous criteria. Multi-criteria analysis is performed to evaluate suitability to the groundwater recharge for each factor, according to its associated weight. The thematic layers were integrated with one another using the weighted aggregation method to derive the groundwater recharge map. The results demonstrated that the GIS methodology has good functionality for mapping groundwater recharge zone.