The Eastern Desert Project EDP

by

Ahmad Wagdy, Ph.D.Asc. Prof. of Hydraulics, Cairo UniversityProject Director, UNDP June, 23rd , 2005

Eastern Desert Project

EGYPT

Objectives

• Develop a replicable integrated model (methodology) for evaluating the extent and development potential of renewable (non-renewable) groundwater resources in arid lands, with the Eastern Desert of Egypt as a pilot site.

• The model will be replicable for similar arid areas; North of Sudan, Tibesty, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.

• Building national capacities.

Brief Description of EDP

• A 3-years Targeted-Research Project

• Develop a replicable model for integrating renewable groundwater resources of wady systems of arid regions into national water budget

• Funded by GEF through UNDP

• Total GEF contribution of $ 830,000

• In-kind local contribution of $ 590,000

• Executing agency : Cairo University

Partners

• Irrigation & Hydraulics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University

• Center for Environmental Hazards Mitigation (CEHM), Cairo University

• National Water Research Center (NWRC)• Groundwater Sector, Ministry of Water

Resources and Irrigation (MWRI)• Western Michigan University (WMU),

International Consultant (IC)

Project Flow ChartInception Report

PWB

Inputs Field Work Processed Layers

Geology

Topography

Hydrology

Geochemistry

Infiltration Capacity

RainfallRunoff

IsotopicComposition

DEM

WadyDeliation

Design Storms

AquiferExtent

Meteorology

Soil

Landuse

DevelopmentPlans

Ground proofing

Well DrillingPumping

Tests

Geophysics

Analysis

PrecipitationAnalysis

Surface WaterModelling

RechargeEstimation

Groundwater Modelling

DevelopmentPotential

EIA

GroundwaterSource &age

Approach

• Adopt an interdisciplinary approach • Utilize GIS technologies for data integration,

assimilation, and visualization. • Utilize RS and global data sets that are readily

available for most of the world’s land surface• Host data in a web-based GIS environment for

data distribution & analysis • Test, verify and apply principles of arid regions

hydrology

Approach : continued

• Adoption of cost-effective technologies that are not alternatives to drilling and geophysical approaches, but ones that call on these methodologies as a final step in the investigation.

• Emphasize the importance of generating and distributing data sets and the tools needed for the analysis of the data to ensure widespread experience exchange and long lasting benefits.

• Build capacities as we move. • Compile and ultimately produce an integrated

methodology for groundwater assessment and development that is replicable for aquifers underlying wady systems in arid regions.

Phased Implementation

• Stage I -- Initial Steps and compilation of relevant inputs

• Stage II --Analysis of Data and Identification of Target Areas

• Stage III -- Locating and assessment of alluvial aquifers recharged by modern meteoric precipitation and other sources

Stage I: Compilation of relevant digital and hard copy inputs (e.g., geologic maps, hydrologic data,

geochemical data)

1. Review Tasks

• A full package of review material concerning the Eastern Desert (six volumes covering Geology, Hydrology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Soil, land use, and previous modeling attempts concerning surface and groundwater).

• Compiled meteorological parameters: precipitation, temperature, wind, solar radiation.

• A Well Inventory for ED.

2. Remote Sensing Thematic Layers

1. Full set of georeferenced Conoco Geologic Maps 1:500,000

2. Complete coverage of georeferenced Landsat TM scenes

3. Complete coverage of ASTER Scenes L1A and L1B

4. SRTM (radar) coverage of the Eastern Desert at 1km horizontal resolution and SIR-C data

5. 7-Band reflectance Mosaic of Landsat TM over Eastern Desert

6. Mosaic of Geologic Maps covering the Eastern Desert

7. Digital Elevation Terrain Data (DEM) for the entire Eastern Desert

3. Rainfall Analysis

• Complete record for ground stations rainfall, during the last 50 years. Set of new TRMM data. Set of global 1 ppt., SMMI data.

• Meteorological approach.• Statistical approach. • Classification of storm.• Precipitation patterns.• Design storms.

Longitude of stations

La

titu

de

of s

tatio

ns

ABU SIMBEL

ASWAN

ASYUT

CAIRO

EL TOR

EL-SUEZ

HURGHADA

ISMAILIA

KENA KOSSEIR

LUXOR

MINYA

SOHAG

RAS-BINAS

30 31 32 33 34 35 3622

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

Procedures

I- Identify rain storm events which are generally few and far between in this area using TRMM data

II- Verify the individual events by examining – cloud patterns– temporal variation in vegetation (NDVI), land surface

temperature (LST), soil moisture– comparisons with rain gauge data.

III – Automate ProcedureIV – Model surface runoff and recharge

Utilized Datasets

• TRMM-3B42V6 to extract 3-hourly precipitation data

• AVHRR data for daily soil moisture and NDVI measurements

• METEOSAT-7 for monitoring cloud movement • SSM/I for 4-hourly precipitation and soil moisture

verification• rain gauge data for ground truthing

4. Age & Origin of Groundwater

• Determine the renewability potential for the groundwater.

• Geochemical and Isotope analysis for groundwater.

• Chloride content soil analysis.

• Regional visualization for the entire ED.

• Cation: filtered, 60-mL acidified sample.

• Anion and alkalinity: unfiltered, unacidified 125-mL.

• Stable isotope ratio (H & O): unfiltered, 30-mL unacidified.

• Tritium analysis: unfiltered, unacidified (500-mL).

• Chlorine-36: unfiltered, unacidified 500-mL.

5. Developing a Web-Based GIS

DBMSOracle

DBMSOracle

WMU

SD

E

Application Server

CU

SD

E

Application Server

Database engine: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 database management system (DBMS)

ArcIMS ArcIMS

The database system is integrated with ArcIMS (ARC Internet Map Server) via ArcSDE (ARC Spatial Database Engine)

D-Base System

DBMSOracle

DBMSOracle

WMU

SD

E

Application Server

CU

SD

E

Application Server

Web browser

ArcIMS

Client

ArcIMS

ArcIMS is utilized in the integration of local GIS data sources with Internet data sources for display, query, and analysis using a web browser

Client

Geomorphology and Lithology from Landsat

Data

Generation of Accurate Digital Elevation Maps from Stereo Images

(e.g. ASTER data)

Streams from DEM

Watersheds from DEM

Rain Gauges

Better Estimates of Precipitation from TRMM 1998 Total

Generation of digital mosaics of all relevant data sets (e.g., digital mosaics of geologic maps, Landsat TM data, lithologic maps

extracted from processed Landsat data, SIR-C data)

Buried faults/structures from SIRC (L-Band) Radar

Data

Regional sampling and analysis (solute chemistry, O, H) of groundwater to

identify the sources of ground water across areas of investigation: Our GW

Sample Locations

Lithology from Processed Landsat

TM band ratio images:TM band ratio images:

Red serpentinite; Green granite; Blue: mafic rocksRed serpentinite; Green granite; Blue: mafic rocks

6. Estimation of Recharge

• Infiltration testing program

• Modeling.

7. Real Time Data Collection

• Set up a network of rain gauges.

• Identify appropriate locations for stream flow gauges

• Monitor real time data whenever appropriate.

8. Surface Water Modeling

Construct a recharge / runoff model Adjusted SCS Method / Arid region approach Apply to all major Wadies (7)

1. GIS (co-registered data)2. Watershed delineation3. Precipitation4. Initial losses5. Runoff hydrographs & channel routing6. Transmission losses

Groundwater recharge / Select wadies with best GW development potential

9. Field Investigations for Selected Basins

• Geophysical investigations.

• Delineation of aquifer aerial extent and boundaries.

• Well drilling.

• Pumping tests.

• Detection of aquifer characteristics.

10. Groundwater Modeling

• Develop a conceptual GW flow model• Construct a two-dimensional GW model• Model calibration and validation.• Conduct steady state / transient simulations• Explore alternatives development scenarios for

sustainable utilization of ED water resources.• Explore the utility of coupled surface runoff / gw

flow models for selected Wady(s).

11. Development Scenarios and EIA

• Assessment of current status.

• Environmental Impact Assessment.

• Potential sustainable pumping.

• Probable development potential

• Conjunctive use.

12. Capacity Building and Regional Exchange of Experience

– Training Seminar on Meteorology and HydrologySep, 2003

– Training Seminar on RS & Image Processing Using PCIOct, 2003.

– Training Seminar on Geochemisty and Isotopic Analysis Dec, 2003.

– Training Seminar on Surface Water Modeling using WMSDec, 2003.

– Training Seminar on Ground Water Modeling using GMSJan , 2004

– Training Seminar on Remote Sensing and GIS Applications

Apr , 2004

– Training Seminar on Integrated Methodology for Assessing the GW Development Potential in Arid Regions

Oct, 2004.

Monitoring & Evaluation• Project performance (operational) monitoring :

– Financial and administrative M&E measures and procedures are good. Technical and scientific M&E of conceptual and produced results may not be equally good (these may vary throughout the project execution).

– Risk management has to be emphasized.– Outcome and objectives evaluation may not accurately

describe the project performance since objectives are often expected to be fulfilled by the end of the project and may only be (practically) assessed during the post project period

• It is highly recommended to reformulate a more flexible set of measures and tools for M&E of future GW projects which reflect the specific nature of each project, but falls under a general umbrella of joint cross-cutting areas which are common to all GW projects.

Finally…..

• Integrated Work• Multidisciplinary• Research• Development• Practical methodology and replicable

model that may augment policies.• We really hope that by the end of the

project we will have contributed an output that really serves the best for our nation and our region.

THANK YOU