A comprehensive review of GIS and remote sensing applications in assessing land use and land cover impacts on groundwater systems.

Groundwater (GW) is a critical resource providing about half of the global drinking water supply​. However, it is increasingly threatened by changing land use (LU) and land cover (LC) patterns. This review aims to systematically examine the impacts of LU/LC changes on GW resources, quality, storage, and recharge using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) techniques. We followed a PRISMA-based literature selection, compiling over 200 relevant studies (2000-2024) that met defined inclusion criteria (focus on LULC-GW linkages, use of GIS/RS data). The key methods include multi-temporal satellite image analysis, GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (e.g., AHP), and hydrological modeling (e.g., WetSpass, MODFLOW) integrated with LU/LC data. The results reveal that urbanization and agricultural expansion are the dominant drivers of GW depletion and contamination. For example, the conversions to built-up land led to significant declines in recharge (up to 30-50%)​ and rising pollutant loads in aquifers. Agricultural land expansion correlates strongly with elevated nitrate and salinity levels in GW, while deforestation and wetland loss often reduce natural recharge. GIS/RS approaches proved effective for mapping vulnerable zones and quantifying LU/LC impacts. Planners and water managers can leverage these geospatial tools to identify at-risk groundwater zones and implement land management strategies to safeguard GW. The review also highlights emerging opportunities to integrate climate change projections and advanced technologies into LULC-GW assessments for sustainable groundwater management. These include artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive modeling and Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors for real-time groundwater monitoring.