Abstract
Groundwater is a vital resource for many human needs and activities. Effective groundwater management and monitoring are crucial for ensuring sustainability, especially in water-stressed regions like South Africa. This research presents the development of a groundwater management application for the Jukskei River Catchment in South Africa. The Jukskei River Catchment covers approximately 6,328 km2 and supports a population of almost 400,000 people, putting pressure on water resources. Groundwater data received from the Department of Water and Sanitation revealed decreasing groundwater levels in the catchment over recent decades. To analyze groundwater dynamics, key parameters like water level, rainfall, temperature, and land cover were examined using spatial mapping techniques. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was computed to assess changes in land cover over 30 years. A web and smart phone application was developed using Java programming, enabling integrated analysis of climate, groundwater, and land use data for the catchment. The application provides monitoring staff with quicker access to information for decision-making through interactive data visualizations. Using historical data, an artificial intelligence model predicted continued groundwater level declines over the next decade. Overall, the tool facilitates efficient groundwater management in the Jukskei Catchment, with potential benefits for balancing usage and sustainability. Further development could integrate real-time sensors, geographic information systems and machine learning for enhanced functionalities. The key outcome is an effective data-driven application supporting evidence-based groundwater management.
Keywords— Apps, Groundwater, Jukskei River Catchment, Modelling, Water resources.