AccScience Publishing / AJWEP / Volume 22 / Issue 2 / DOI: 10.36922/ajwep.8499
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Topographic and watershed analysis of Haditha Dam Basin using geographic information system and remote sensing for water management

Nabaa Isam Ali1* ,  Salwan Sabbar Al-Hasnawi1
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1 Department of Remote Sensing, College of Remote Sensing and Geophysics, Al-Karkh University of Science, Baghdad, Iraq
AJWEP 2025, 22(2), 168–183; https://doi.org/10.36922/ajwep.8499
Received: 10 January 2025 | Revised: 13 March 2025 | Accepted: 27 March 2025 | Published online: 23 April 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Water scarcity and inefficient water management are critical challenges, particularly in Iraq, because it faces significant challenges in managing its water resources due to increasing demand for water and climate change, which threatens water security. This study aims to promote sustainable water resource management practices in arid and semi-arid regions, focusing on the Haditha Dam Basin in Iraq. The topographic and hydrological characteristics of the basin were analyzed using geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques. The study relied on Sentinel-1/2 satellite data to classify land use and land cover (LULC) and create high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs). Using ArcGIS Pro, several hydrological factors were analyzed, including slopes, flow directions, water accumulation, and sub-basin identification. Results revealed a marked topographic contrast between the northern and southern regions of the basin. The southern regions are characterized by flat areas that facilitate groundwater recharge, while the steep northern slopes lead to increased erosion and rapid surface runoff. Several sub-basins were identified, with the main basin accounting for approximately 40% of the total water input. These results are consistent with previous studies in arid and semi-arid regions, such as the Duhok Dam Basin in Iraq, where topographical features play a key role in hydrological response. Study limitations include DEM accuracy, which may not capture the fine details of small-scale flow characteristics due to their resolution (10 m). Furthermore, remote sensing cannot directly measure subsurface hydrology, requiring verification with field data or additional models. LULC classification is also affected by seasonal variations and spectral mixing, which may affect the accuracy of the results. Despite these challenges, the study provides valuable information for policymakers to improve water resource management in arid regions. It also provides a scientific basis for developing more effective flood control and reservoir management strategies, contributing to sustainable water resource planning.

Keywords
Watershed management
Hydrological analysis
Geographic information system
Digital elevation model
Terrain modelling
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Electronic ISSN: 1875-8568 Print ISSN: 0972-9860, Published by AccScience Publishing
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