Coastal vulnerability assessment using the GALDIT model: a case study of Mukkani and Palayakayal regions in the Thamirabarani delta, Southern Tamil Nadu, India

Coastal aquifers are growing more vulnerable to intrusion by seawater, which poses serious problems for the management of water resources in areas like the Thamirabarani Delta in India. Using the GALDIT model, the saltwater intrusion susceptibility of the Mukkani and Palayakayal coastal areas in the Thamirabarani Delta is evaluated. The presence of groundwater, the aquifer conductivity, the groundwater’s level, the distance from the beach, the impact of the present seawater intrusion, and the aquifer thickness are the six critical parameters that make up this model. The parameter evaluation process is backed by GIS approaches and makes use of data from a variety of sources, such as CGWB and TWAD board data for geological studies. The study also uses the GQI_SWI, which stands for Groundwater Quality Index for Saltwater Intrusion, to assess the hydrochemical parameters that indicate the major issue of saltwater intrusion. The study area is primarily composed of low vulnerability zones, with medium and high vulnerability zones following closely behind, according to the findings, which show that there is geographical variety in risk. These results highlight the value of GALDIT and other comprehensive vulnerability assessment tools for making informed judgments and environmentally responsible resource management possible, as well as the significance of focused management techniques for preventing saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers.