GIS-based Hydrochemical Analysis Tools (QUIMET)

Computers & GeosciencesComputers & Geosciences, Available Online 08 May 2014

By V. Velasco, I. Tubau, E. Vázquez-Suñè, R. Gogu, D. Gaitanaru, M. Alcaraz, A. Serrano-Juan, D. Fernàndez-Garcia, T. Garrido, J. Fraile, and X. Sanchez-Vila

“Highlights

  • A software platform was developed for hydrochemical analysis in a GIS environment.
  • The geospatial database includes a wide range of physico-chemical records.
  • The tools, integrated in ArcGIS, improve the interpretation of hydrochemical data.
  • Results are shown consisting in a case study located in Badalona, Spain.

“A software platform (QUIMET) was developed to improve the sorting, analysis, calculations, visualizations, and interpretations of hydrogeochemical data in a GIS environment. QUIMET is composed of a geospatial database plus a set of tools specially designed for graphical and statistical analysis of hydrogeochemical data. The geospatial database has been designed to include organic and inorganic chemical records, as well as relevant physical parameters (temperature, Eh, electrical conductivity).

Map representing theStiff diagrams of the Badalonashallow aquifer for theperiod 1996-2001. This map waselaborated with thecommand Hydrochemical diagramtools.

Map representing theStiff diagrams of the Badalonashallow aquifer for theperiod 1996-2001. This map waselaborated with thecommand Hydrochemical diagramtools.

“The instruments for analysis cover a wide range of methodologies for querying, interpreting, and comparing groundwater quality data. They include, among others, chemical time-series analysis, ionic balance calculations, correlation of chemical parameters, and calculation of various common hydrogeochemical diagrams (Wilcox, Schöeller-Berkaloff, Piper, and Stiff). The GIS platform allows the generation of maps of the spatial distribution of parameters and diagrams. Moreover, it allows performing a complete statistical analysis of the data including descriptive statistic univariate and bivariate analysis, the latter including generation of correlation matrices and graphics. Finally, QUIMET offers interoperability with other external platforms. The platform is illustrated with a geochemical data set from the city of Badalona, located on the Mediterranean coast in NE Spain.”