A new study led by our partners, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and the University of Thessaly (UTH) introduces a novel tool for mapping groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs), offering vital insights for sustainable aquifer management in the face of climate variability and increasing water demands.
Published in the journal Groundwater for Sustainable Development, the study presents a novel Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methodology that eliminates the biases of expert-driven models by incorporating objective weighting techniques. Researchers applied this method to the agriculturally rich Chania Plain in Crete, Greece—a region known for its springs and complex hydrology.
The methodology leverages 11 carefully selected geospatial and environmental criteria, integrating remote sensing data with advanced spatial analysis tools. Among the four objective weighting techniques tested, the CRITIC (Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation) method emerged as the most reliable in identifying areas with high GDE potential.
Validation against known spring locations confirmed the model’s accuracy, with up to 85% of spring sites correctly identified as high or very high GDE zones in wet years. The study also revealed temporal shifts in GDE distribution between wet and dry years, underscoring the importance of continuous monitoring amid changing climate patterns.
Lead author Despoina Charchousi emphasized the model’s practical benefits: “By combining objective statistical methods with easily accessible spatial data, we provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for mapping GDEs—critical ecosystems that often go undocumented and underprotected.”
The research, partly funded by our NEXOGENESIS project, offers a transferable framework for other regions where data scarcity hinders environmental planning. It is expected to significantly influence both ecological conservation efforts and water resource policy, especially in Mediterranean and semi-arid regions.
For full access to the study, visit: here.