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ISSN 2522-8714
Springer Nature Switzerland
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Abstract: |
his book chapter focuses on using effective tools of
monitoring and management of natural resources, based
on the integration of remote sensing (RS) and geographic
information systems (GIS) techniques with a field survey
in surface and groundwater resources evaluation. It is
anticipated to provide operational and effective systems of
investigation, management and protection of the available
natural resources, and improve the livelihood of the
surrounding population. This work depends on the
previous expertise and overwhelmed researches of the
National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space
Sciences (NARSS) and addresses the key challenges for
the sustainable development in this remote area. Sustainable
water supply is vital for the development of
communities in arid regions, such as that of the South
Eastern Desert of Egypt. The economic importance of the
area is enormous, besides the fact that it has long been a
target zone for mineral resources excavation and mining.
One of the challenges facing this arid area is the limited
water resources needed for agricultural, industrial, mining,
or domestic uses. Bedouin depend mainly on
rainwater, which constitutes the main source feeding
their hand-dug wells and fracture springs. Rainwater
harvesting (RWH), as a historical and worldwide trend,
could fulfill the gap of water scarcity in arid or semi-arid
regions. This proposed work is to use the modern
GIS), and watershed modeling systems (WMS) to
provide a plan for the RWH. RWH is the accumulation
and storage of rainwater for reuse before it reaches
the aquifer system (Groundwater). Multi-spectral remote
sensing (MSRS) and geographic information systems
(GIS) are vital tools to optimize the surface water usage of
episodic rainfalls, where the concept of runoff water
harvesting (RWH) in promising watersheds should be
applied. (Elewa et al. in Am J Environ Sci 8:42–55,
2016). GIS and digital elevation models (DEM) enable
the development of hydrological models to investigate
every ancient terraced field in a non-invasive manner,
without disturbing the archaeological remains (Bruins
et al. in J Environ 166:91–107, 2019). The RWH could be
used also for maximizing the recharge possibilities of
groundwater. As a non-conventional water resource,
RWH could provide water for gardens, livestock, irrigation,
mining, cleaning of bathrooms as in the first flush,
etc. In many places with similar climate conditions, the
collected water is redirected to a deep pit with percolation
to recharge the groundwater for later use and protection,
especially in structurally controlled groundwater accumulations.
The harvested water could be used as drinking
water, if the storage is a tank that can be accessed and
cleaned when needed. The work recommendations will be
a good source for the up-to-date databases, which could
be used effectively by the decision-makers, researchers,
executive authorities, planners, and related governorates.
The objective of this book chapter is to assess the South
Eastern Desert of Egypt for the RWH capabilities, with
the determination of their optimum methods and techniques.
The overall goal is to assist in poverty alleviation,
Bedouin and urban allocation, supporting animal husbandry,
accelerating agricultural development, improved
agricultural and food production for local inhabitants,
combating desertification, resolving unemployment problems,
and raising individual incomes. Bedouin and
natives as the main end users will be a major target oftechniques of RS, geographic the work. Innovative ways to improve the capture,
storage, and use of rainwater will have their own bearing
on the sustainable and profitable production of dry season
vegetable crops in South Eastern Desert. According to the
worldwide trends and techniques in RWH, which is
applied aggressively in many neighboring countries,
Egypt should enter the era of catching every water
droplet for domestic and agricultural development. The
results of the present research work could establish a good
example to be applied in other parts of the country as well
as worldwide.information systems
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