GIS Aplication in Solution of Water Resources Management in Urbanized Areas (by the example of the Absheron peninsula, Azerbaijan)

Absheron peninsula of Azerbaijan contains the country's greatest agricultural-industrial complex; the peninsula is very urbanized. The sustainable development of the regional economy depends on a sufficient supply of good-quality water. About 37,0 m3/s of water is transferred from other regions of Azerbaijan to the peninsula.

Development of the peninsula has lead to some significant environmental problems. The absence of drainage and sewage networks on the major parts of the peninsula as well as specific geologic-hydrogeologic conditions have caused flooding and pollution of large areas. An artificially elevated water table, due to the large quantities of imported water, combined with high evaporation rates have contributed to soil salinization. Additional pollution has been created by oil production.

To provide a stable water supply for the Absheron peninsula and to protect the environment, it is necessary to create a unified system for the management of quantitative and qualitative water-resource parameters. These parameters include the regulation of the surface water, stabilization of the surface-water level and the detection and monitoring of pollution sources.

The project is carried out within the NATO Science for Peace Program. The purpose of this project is the creation of a groundwater model of the Absheron peninsula using the U.S. Geological Survey's MODFLOW software along with a geographic information system database, using ArcGIS software by ESRI, to gain insight on the most effective water resource and environmental protection management practices.

The main tasks are as follows:

• assessment of the qualitative and quantitative parameters of the ground- and surface water system;

• assessment of the hydraulic correlation of the surface- and groundwater of the peninsula and methods to reduce pollution;

• development of a system for the stabilization and regulation of surface water;

• development of a system to monitor the hydrosphere;

• creation of a geographic database using ArcGIS.