Implementing multi-criteria decision-making approaches to evaluate and map drought vulnerability with Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (Geo-AI) based investigations

Abstract

Assessing and mitigating drought vulnerability is crucial in the context of global climate change. This research aims to improve the precision of drought vulnerability assessments in future. The study identifies key parameters that influence drought vulnerability and integrates environmental, social, and economic factors to develop a comprehensive framework for accurate drought vulnerability mapping. This enhanced accuracy is vital for resource management and mitigation planning in drought-prone regions. The study focuses on the Ranchi district in Jharkhand, India, to analyse various types of droughts with suitable drought vulnerability parameters. An expert survey was conducted to consider the significance of these parameters that implement multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) entropy approaches. The study weighted parameters according to different drought types, including meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural, for detailed analysis. The findings highlight the potential of MCDM methods in generating high-resolution and accurate drought vulnerability assessments, significantly contributing to sustainable water resource management and resilience-building efforts. The synthesis of spatial data from remote sensing and GIS with socio-economic, environmental, and hydrological criteria creates a comprehensive drought vulnerability model. The final drought vulnerability map for the district revealed that 15% of the area is under severe drought conditions, while 71% is moderately affected. Hydrological drought was identified as the primary cause of vulnerability, indicating a critical need to improve the district's hydrological reservoirs. Geo-AI techniques, such as machine learning and deep learning algorithms, will analyse complex spatial and temporal patterns in drought-affected regions. This research highlights the transformative role of AI-driven decision-making frameworks in addressing complex environmental challenges to provide valuable insights for policymakers and resource managers in implementing targeted drought mitigation strategies.