title: Fuzzy logic-based assessment for mapping potential infiltration areas in low-gradient watersheds.
abstract: This paper gives an account of the design a logic-based approach for identifying potential infiltration areas in low-gradient watersheds based on remote sensing data. This methodological framework is applied in a sector of the Pampa Plain, Argentina, which has high level of agricultural activities and large demands for groundwater supplies. Potential infiltration sites are assessed as a function of two primary topics: hydrologic and soil conditions. This model shows the state of each evaluated subwatershed respecting to its potential contribution to infiltration mainly based on easily measurable and commonly used parameters: drainage density, geomorphologic units, soil media, land-cover, slope and aspect (slope orientation). Mapped outputs from the logic model displayed 42% very low-low, 16% moderate, 41% high-very high contribution to potential infiltration in the whole watershed. Subwatersheds in the upper and lower section were identified as areas with high to very high potential infiltration according to the following media features: low drainage density (<1.5 km/km(2)), arable land and pastures as the main land-cover categories, sandy clay loam to loam - clay loam soils and with the geomorphological units named poorly drained plain, channelized drainage plain and, dunes and beaches.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, Nivel 1, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: qlondono@mdp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Orlando Mauricio
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Quiroz Londoño
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, Nivel 1, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: aromanel@mdp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina. Electronic address: mlima@mdp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: María Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, Nivel 1, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: hmassone@mdp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Héctor Enrique
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Massone
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, Nivel 1, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: demarti@mdp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Daniel Emilio
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001118:Argentina; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D062070:Hydrology; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Fuzzy logic; Infiltration; Remote sensing; Watershed management