Identifying the most suitable locations for watershed constructions in humid and semi-humid areas using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kashan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kashan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kashan, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran

10.22034/hyd.2025.68534.1810

Abstract

Locating watershed constructions traditionally and based on field visits requires a lot of money and time. In this study, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach was used to identify suitable locations for implementing watershed constructions. Three watersheds of Aqevlar Talesh, Masouleh Fouman, and Totkabon Rudbar in Gilan Province were selected for the study. Then, using expert opinions, 21 criteria affecting the location of watershed constructions were identified in 8 general categories and compared binary, and final maps were prepared with three classes of no potential, medium potential, and high potential for the construction of structures. The results showed that the criteria of discharge, precipitation, runoff height, and slope are of great importance in locating suitable areas for constructing structures. The accuracy of this method was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) for the Aqevlar, Masouleh and Totkabon basins was 0.945, 0.958 and 0.788, respectively. Comparing the location of the structures with the research results showed that 90 and 99.5 percent of the Masonry wall and gabion structures were located in the medium and high potential classes of the maps obtained from this method, respectively, which confirms the accuracy of this method in determining the appropriate location for the construction of watershed constructions. Therefore, it is recommended that the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization of the country use this model systematically for locating watershed constructions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

References   
Agoramoorthy, G., Chaudhary, S., & Hsu, M.J. (2008). The check-dam route to mitigate India’s water shortages. Nat Resour J, 48(3), 565-583.
Akbarpoor, A., Khashei Siuki, A., Keshavarz, A., & Forooghifar, H. (2016). Determination of the appropriate sites to rain water harvesting using analysis hierarchical process (AHP). J Watershed Manage Res, 6(12), 65-74. (In Persion).
Arabameri, A. Yamani, M. Pradhan, B. Melesse, A. Shirani, K., & Bui, D. T. (2019). Novel ensembles of COPRAS multi-criteria decision-making with logistic regression, boosted regression tree, and random forest for spatial prediction of gully erosion susceptibility. Science of the Total Environment, 688, 903-916.
Baghelani, M., Rostami, N., & Tavakoli, M. (2021). The site selection of check dams using fuzzy AHP method in urban watersheds Ilam city watershed. Iranian Journal of Watershed Management Science and Engineering, 14(50), 68-72. (In Persion).
Chezgi, J., Arab Khazaeli, E., & Heshmat Pour, A. (2020). Suitable site selecting of the underground dam construction for water resources management in arid and semi-arid lands. Desert Management, 8(15), 73-84. (In Persion).
Dabiri, R., Abghari, H., & Ghorbani, A. (2024). Locating remediation and restoration operations with MCDM and AHP and ANP methods (case study: Saqezchi-Chay watershed in Namin city). Arid Regions Geographic Studies, 15(55), 71-91. (In Persion).
Dahmardeh Ghaleno, M.R., Mirzaei, Gh. & Alvandi, E. (2021). The Choice of Location of Underground Dams Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods TOPSIS and GIS in the Eastern Part of the Watershed of Gorganroud. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 22 (7), 463-471. (In Persion).
Dehghan, M., Azari, M., & Sepehr, A. (2019). Providing a GIS-based decision support system for locating water and soil conservation measures (case study: Kakhak watershed), Quarterly Journal of Geography and Environmental Hazards, 8(1), 65-82. (In Persion).
Dos Anjos Luís, A. Cabral, P. (2021). Small dams/reservoirs site location analysis in a semi-arid region of Mozambique. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 9(3), 381-393.
Emamgholi, M., Khosravi, K., & Sedaii, N. (2015). Suitable site selections for gabion check dams construction using analytical hierarchy process and decision making methods. Journal of Soil Environment, 1(1), 35-44.
 Eshaghi, S.R., Rezaei, R., Hejazi, S.Y., Shiri, N. & Ghadimi. S.A. (2014). Analyzing the Factors Affecting on Rural People’s Participation in the Projects of Natural Resources Conservation. Iranian Journal Of Agricultural Economics and Development Research. 44 (3), 463-471. (In Persion).
Eslaminezhad, S.A., Eftekhari, M., Akbari, M., Bayat, H. & Barghi, W. (2022). Using Boosted Regression Tree, Logistic Model Tree, and Random Forest Algorithms to Evaluate the Groundwater Potential. Watershed Management Research. 35 (3), 44-59. (In Persion).
Ettazarini, S. (2021). GIS-based land suitability assessment for check dam site location, using topography and drainage information: a case study from Morocco. Environmental Earth Sciences, 80(17), 1-17.
Ghasemian, B., Shahabi, H., Shirzadi, A., Al-Ansari, N., Jaafari, A., Kress, V. R., ... & Ahmad, A. (2022). A robust deep-learning model for landslide susceptibility mapping: A case study of Kurdistan Province, Iran. Sensors, 22(4), 1573.
Hagos, Y.G., Andualem, T.G., Mengie, M.A., Ayele, W.T., & Malede, D.A. (2022). Suitable dam site identification using GIS-based MCDA: a case study of Chemoga watershed, Ethiopia. Applied Water Science, 12(4), 69.
 
 
Hajseyedalikhani, N., Saeediyan, H., & Rezaei, M. (2024). Investigating the sensitivity and accuracy of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) process in construction of underground dams in desert regions. Journal of Ecohydrology, 11(1), 125-147. (In Persion).
Hill, M.J., Braaten, R., Veitch, S.M., Lees, B.G., & Sharma, S. (2005). Multi-criteria decision analysis in spatial decision support: the ASSESS analytic hierarchy process and the role of quantitative methods and spatially explicit analysis. Environmental Modelling & Software, 20(7), 955-976.
Hossain, M.N., & Mumu, U.H. (2024). Flood susceptibility modelling of the Teesta River Basin through the AHP-MCDA process using GIS and remote sensing. Natural Hazards, 120(13), 12137-12161.
Hosseinzadeh, M.M., Panahi, R. & Tarband, T. (2021). Flood Susceptibility Zoning in the Sanghar Basin, Kermanshah Province. Journal of Ecohydrology. 7 (4), 873-889. (In Persion).
Kharazi, P., Yazdani, M.R., Ara, H., & Khazaealpour, P. (2017). Suitable site selection for groundwater dams construction using analytical hierarchy process case study: Dasht-e-Kavir watershed. Scientific- Research Quarterly of Geographical Data (SEPEHR), 26(103), 177-185. (In Persion).
López-Vicente, M., Pérez-Bielsa, C., López-Montero, T., Lambán, L.J., & Navas, A. (2014). Runoff simulation with eight different flow accumulation algorithms: Recommendations using a spatially distributed and open-source model. Environmental Modelling & Software, 62, 11-21.
Miladi, B., Maleki, A., & Ahmadi, M. (2019). Locating the construction site of underground dams using a decision support system (DSS) in the northwest of Kermanshah province. 8(1), 34-51. (In Persion).
Nouri, H., Shahedi, K., Habibnezhad Roshan, M., Kavian, A., & Faramarzi, M. (2019). Susceptibility to flooding in the Razavar watershed using analytical hierarchy process method. 8(19), 35-50. (In Persion).
Papaioannou, G., Vasiliades, L., Loukas, A. (2015). Multi-criteria analysis framework for potential flood prone areas mapping. Water Resources Management, 29(2), 399-418.
Rahimpour, T., & Rezaei Moghaddam, M. H. (2025). GIS-based MCDM Approach for Landslide Susceptibility Hazard Mapping (Case study: Mehran Roud Basin, Iran. Journal of Hydrogeomorphology, 12(44), 131-116.
Rahman, A.M., & Mustafa, N.F. (2025). Small Dam Design and Construction for Sustainable Water Resources Management: A Comprehensive Review. UHD Journal of Science and Technology, 9(1), 55-64.
Razavizadeh, S., & Shahedi, K. (2017). Combination of AHP and Topsis methods to prioritize of flooding in Taleghan sub watersheds. Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 7(4), 33-46. (In Persion).
Santoso, I., & Darsono, S. (2019). Review of criteria on multi criteria decision making (MCDM) construction of dams. Geomate Journal, 16(55), 184-194.
Shafarood Design and Structural Consulting Engineers. (2019). Detailed-implementation studies of watershed management in Aqevlar, Totkabon and Masouleh watersheds. Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Guilan Province. 36 volumes. (In Persion).
Sharifi Paichoon, M., & Moosavi, L. (2025). Analyzing the factors influencing flooding in the Hor Roud catchment areas and identifying high-risk zones using the fuzzy-TOPSIS model. Journal of Hydrogeomorphology, 12(44), 54-36. (In Persion).
Sharker, R., Islam, M.R., Hosen, M.B., Kader, Z., Aziz, M.T., Tahera-Tun-Humayra, U., ... & Roy, A. (2025). GIS-based AHP approach to flood susceptibility assessment in Tangail district, Bangladesh. Journal of Earth System Science, 134(1), 26.
Souri, M., Jafari, M., Azarnivand, H., Ghodousi, G., & Farahpour, M. (2013). Determining suitable locations for small dams using analytical hierarchy process and geographical information systems (case study: Kermanshah province). Watershed Management Researches (pajouhesh-va-sazandegi), 25(4(97)), 83-91. (In Persion).
Swain, K.C., Singha, C., & Nayak, L. (2020). Flood susceptibility mapping through the GIS-AHP technique using the cloud. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 9(12), 720.
Tien Bui, D., Shirzadi, A., Shahabi, H., Chapi, K., Omidavr, E., Pham, B.T., ... & Lee, S. (2019). A novel ensemble artificial intelligence approach for gully erosion mapping in a semi-arid watershed (Iran). Sensors, 19(11), 2444.
Tien Bui, D., Tuan, T.A., Klempe, H., Pradhan, B., & Revhaug, I. (2016). Spatial prediction models for shallow landslide hazards: a comparative assessment of the efficacy of support vector machines, artificial neural networks, kernel logistic regression, and logistic model tree. Landslides, 13(2), 361-378.
Zare Bidaki, R., Moradi, B., & Bahrami, H. (2022). Locating areas susceptible to the construction of short earthen dams (case study: Behesht Abad watershed). Journal of Ecosystem Management, 1(1), 37-48. (In Persion).
Zewdie, M.M., & Tesfa, C. (2023). GIS-based MCDM modeling for suitable dam site identification at Yeda watershed, Ethiopia. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 16(6), 369.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 08 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 13 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 16 November 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics