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Reducing Uncertainty in Hydrodynamic Parameter Estimation of Heterogeneous Alluvial Aquifers through AHP-Based Integration of Pumping Tests, Geophysics, and Grain-Size Data: Insights from the Golgir Plain, Southwest Iran
Ms. Soroor Mazrae Asl, Dr. Amir Saberinasr, Mr. Farzad Akbari, Mr. Babak Biglari,
Volume 0, Issue 0 (12-2025)
Abstract
Accurate estimation of hydrodynamic parameters in heterogeneous alluvial aquifers remains a major challenge in sustainable groundwater management, as different methods often yield inconsistent results across spatial scales. In this study, hydraulic conductivity, storage coefficient, and specific yield were estimated using pumping tests, geophysical surveys, and grain-size analysis. The results were integrated through a systematic framework based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Uncertainty was quantitatively assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV). Pumping test results indicated that hydraulic conductivity varies within a narrow range of 0.416–0.524 m/day, with a mean value of 0.475 m/day and a CV of approximately 8%, reflecting the high reliability and stability of this method. In contrast, the geophysical approach yielded a mean hydraulic conductivity of about 3.9 m/day with a CV of nearly 41%, highlighting the effects of spatial heterogeneity and uncertainties inherent in indirect estimation techniques. Grain-size analysis exhibited the highest variability, with hydraulic conductivity ranging from approximately 0.7 to 8 m/day and a CV exceeding 50%, indicating strong sensitivity to local-scale sedimentary characteristics. Integration of the three methods using AHP, assigning higher weight to pumping tests, moderate weight to grain-size analysis, and lower weight to geophysical data, effectively reduced method-dependent bias and produced spatially and physically consistent hydrodynamic parameter maps. The highest hydraulic conductivity and specific yield values were identified in the eastern and northeastern parts of the plain, while the lowest values occurred in the western and northwestern areas. The final integrated results indicate hydraulic conductivity and specific yield ranges of 0.49–1.01 m/day and 0.0039–0.045, respectively. The proposed integrative approach provides a practical and transferable framework for uncertainty management and informed decision-making in heterogeneous alluvial aquifers, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

Determining shallow subsurface geological structure using geophysical methods; case study of Abasabad site
Dr Mehran Esfahanizadeha, Dr Mohamad Davoodi, Dr Ebrahim Haghshenas, Dr Mohamad Kazem Jafari,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
The determination ofgeological subsurface strata and shear wave velocity profiles is one of the most important engineering measures for seismic design and site effects studies. Recently, the use of seismic geophysical methods in engineering geological studies for this purpose has become widespread. In this paper, the accuracy and efficiency of seismic geophysical methods with active and passive seismic source in determining the subsurface geological structure of a selected site in the city of Abasabad in northern Iran have been studied. To this end, first, by conducting several exploratory boreholes, the subsurface geological structure of the study site up to a depth of 70 meters was carefully determined using engineering geological experiments. The results of this section showed that the shallow sediments of Abasabad site are mainly composed of sandy soils with four separate geological layers. In the next step, in two other separate boreholes, seismic geophysical experiments with active source of down-hole test were performed in order to accurately determine the shear wave velocity profile in different layers. In addition, in the next phase, using the array microtremor recording method, which is a new seismic geophysical method of passive-source type, to determine the subsurface geological structure of the study site in the form of shear wave velocity profiles. It should be noted that the array microtremor recording was performed using fifteen different arrangements of receptors (with different numbers and distances of receptors) and by two analyzing methods including F-K and SPAC. The results of these studies showed that both active and passive seismic geophysical methods had acceptable performance in determining the subsurface geological stratification of the site. It also could be inferred that the down-hole test with high accuracy determines the shear wave velocity in each layer compared to the array microtremor method but requires artificial production of seismic waves and borehole drilling. Array microtremor method without the need for drilling and production of artificial seismic waves has high efficiency in determining the subsurface layering and estimating the shear wave velocity of each layer and in general the results of this paper showed that in estimating the shear wave velocity compared to down-hole method shows up to 10% error.

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