Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, Iran

Abstract Identifying unauthorized agricultural wells is a critical issue for the sustainable management of water resources. Unregulated groundwater extraction through illegal wells has resulted in significant environmental challenges, including declining water tables and ecosystem degradation. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ardeshir Sassani, Behnaz Bigdeli, Seyed Fazlolah Saghravani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91188-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849715641632686080
author Ardeshir Sassani
Behnaz Bigdeli
Seyed Fazlolah Saghravani
author_facet Ardeshir Sassani
Behnaz Bigdeli
Seyed Fazlolah Saghravani
author_sort Ardeshir Sassani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Identifying unauthorized agricultural wells is a critical issue for the sustainable management of water resources. Unregulated groundwater extraction through illegal wells has resulted in significant environmental challenges, including declining water tables and ecosystem degradation. This study was conducted in the Bastam region of Shahroud, Iran, utilizing satellite imagery and spatial analysis techniques to address this issue. Satellite images from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 were fused using ENVI software, with a focus on preprocessing and image integration. Subsequently, spatial analyses, including proximity and density evaluations, were performed in ArcMap to examine the spatial distribution of wells. Three methods were compared: The weighted sum method, kernel density estimation (KDE) combined with Euclidean distance, and a hybrid approach integrating both techniques. Through technical evaluations using correlation and scatter plot analysis, the hybrid method was identified as the most effective solution. The final output of this method generated a probability map depicting the likelihood of unauthorized wells, represented by a color gradient from green to red. Green areas indicated lower probabilities of unauthorized wells, while red zones highlighted regions with higher risk. The approach was validated using resampling methods, confirming its potential as a reliable tool for identifying unauthorized wells within the study area.
format Article
id doaj-art-bce2cef7cffc4cbcbea57f165e61ad71
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-bce2cef7cffc4cbcbea57f165e61ad712025-08-20T03:13:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-91188-5Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, IranArdeshir Sassani0Behnaz Bigdeli1Seyed Fazlolah Saghravani2Faculty of Civil Engineering, Shahrood University of TechnologyFaculty of Civil Engineering, Shahrood University of TechnologyFaculty of Civil Engineering, Shahrood University of TechnologyAbstract Identifying unauthorized agricultural wells is a critical issue for the sustainable management of water resources. Unregulated groundwater extraction through illegal wells has resulted in significant environmental challenges, including declining water tables and ecosystem degradation. This study was conducted in the Bastam region of Shahroud, Iran, utilizing satellite imagery and spatial analysis techniques to address this issue. Satellite images from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 were fused using ENVI software, with a focus on preprocessing and image integration. Subsequently, spatial analyses, including proximity and density evaluations, were performed in ArcMap to examine the spatial distribution of wells. Three methods were compared: The weighted sum method, kernel density estimation (KDE) combined with Euclidean distance, and a hybrid approach integrating both techniques. Through technical evaluations using correlation and scatter plot analysis, the hybrid method was identified as the most effective solution. The final output of this method generated a probability map depicting the likelihood of unauthorized wells, represented by a color gradient from green to red. Green areas indicated lower probabilities of unauthorized wells, while red zones highlighted regions with higher risk. The approach was validated using resampling methods, confirming its potential as a reliable tool for identifying unauthorized wells within the study area.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91188-5Agricultural wellsEuclidean distance analysisSatellite image fusionKernel density estimation (KDE)GIS spatial analysisUnauthorized wells detection
spellingShingle Ardeshir Sassani
Behnaz Bigdeli
Seyed Fazlolah Saghravani
Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, Iran
Scientific Reports
Agricultural wells
Euclidean distance analysis
Satellite image fusion
Kernel density estimation (KDE)
GIS spatial analysis
Unauthorized wells detection
title Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, Iran
title_full Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, Iran
title_fullStr Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, Iran
title_short Detection of illegal wells using advanced GIS analysis through Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 image fusion in Bastam, Iran
title_sort detection of illegal wells using advanced gis analysis through landsat 8 and sentinel 2 image fusion in bastam iran
topic Agricultural wells
Euclidean distance analysis
Satellite image fusion
Kernel density estimation (KDE)
GIS spatial analysis
Unauthorized wells detection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91188-5
work_keys_str_mv AT ardeshirsassani detectionofillegalwellsusingadvancedgisanalysisthroughlandsat8andsentinel2imagefusioninbastamiran
AT behnazbigdeli detectionofillegalwellsusingadvancedgisanalysisthroughlandsat8andsentinel2imagefusioninbastamiran
AT seyedfazlolahsaghravani detectionofillegalwellsusingadvancedgisanalysisthroughlandsat8andsentinel2imagefusioninbastamiran