An Integrated Web-GIS Framework for Linking Ancient Aqueducts and Hydrogeological Systems in the Jericho Governorate
Supervisor Name
Marwan Ghanem
Supervisor Email
mghanem@birzeit.edu
University
Birzeit Univeristy
Research field
Geology
Bio
Dr. Ghanem is hydrogeological Professor and a chair of Geography and GeoInformatics Department at Birzeit University in Palestine. He has a Ph.D. in Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry from the TU Bergekademie Freiberg in Germany in 1999. His M.Sc and B.Sc. are in Geology from Yarmouk University – Jordan. He has 85 publications published in refereed Journals and he participated in more than 70 international conferences. He has a membership of many International Associations - IAH, IHA, EGS. He was awarded many research visits in Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Spain, USA, Morocco during the last ten years. He is reviewer for the many hydrological international Journals and he is participating as author for five books. He supervised Fourty master students and 15 Ph.Ds. His experience is in academic and research activities. He was in the NGO sector before he was transferred to the academic level. He is the head of the board of the Palestinian Association for Environmental development (NGO). He works in many water, environmental and multi-disciplinary related projects. His work in the surface and ground – water and their related fields in quantitative and qualitative levels. He participated in different water - land related projects in national and international levels. He speaks the languages of English and German in addition to Arabic.
Description
The Eastern Basin represents one of the most hydrogeologically active and structurally diverse regions, characterized by multiple interconnected aquifer systems and a long-standing human adaptation to limited water availability. Among the region’s ancient hydraulic infrastructures, the Aqueducts Jericho stand as an exceptional example of early groundwater collection and conveyance, reflecting an advanced understanding of hydraulic gradients and subsurface flow behavior. Investigating these historical systems through modern hydrogeological and geospatial techniques provides valuable insight into aquifer dynamics, recharge processes, and the long-term evolution of water management practices throughout different historical periods. Despite extensive field investigations across the Eastern Basin, existing hydrogeological datasets remain fragmented and largely disconnected from archaeological evidence. Most available maps and studies offer only static descriptions, which do not adequately capture the spatial interactions between ancient and present-day water systems. The absence of an integrated and dynamic Web-GIS framework restricts the capacity to interpret groundwater flow directions, evaluate aquifer interconnectivity, and analyze the relationship between ancient hydraulic structures and the modern hydrogeological environment. The aim of this study is to develop and implement an interactive Web-GIS platform that consolidates and analyzes hydrogeological data of the Eastern Basin, with particular emphasis on the spatial linkage between aquifers, springs, and ancient water networks such as the aqueducts Jericho. The platform is designed to operate as a geospatial decision-support system, enhancing the understanding of groundwater flow mechanisms and contributing to sustainable water resource management in geologically sensitive areas. The research integrates groundwater level data, recharge zone mapping, and high-resolution satellite imagery combined with terrain surface modeling. Hydrogeological features-such as aquifer boundaries, wells, and springs-were digitized and analyzed using PostGIS (an open-source spatial extension of PostgreSQL) and ArcGIS for mapping. Ancient aqueducts were georeferenced from verified archaeological sources, while a web application built with Node.js and Mapbox provides interactive visualization, spatial queries, buffering, overlay analysis, and flow-direction simulation to evaluate the effects of topography and lithology on groundwater connectivity. The final outcome of the project is an interactive, scientifically verified Web-GIS system that integrates contemporary hydrogeological data with ancient hydraulic structures into a unified analytical environment. This tool is expected to strengthen spatial data interpretation for researchers and water authorities, enhance the monitoring of groundwater resources, and digitally preserve the region’s hydraulic heritage. Moreover, the developed platform will serve as a solid foundation for future hydrogeological modeling, spatial analysis, and integrated water management initiatives across the Eastern Basin.
