Decision-Making in Groundwater Management: Where Artificial Intelligence Can Really Lead Geoscientists?

Abstract

In this modern and dynamic society, threatened by climate change, poverty, hungry and economical systems collapse, artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as a promise field to solve many actual problems. Although AI does not give absolute answers. The outputs of AI methods are subjective and in many situations depend on human-based decisions. It has a strong impact on decision-making processes and geoscientists are highly exposed to this question. Specifically, on groundwater, issues involving water quality and water quantity deserve special attention for monetary resources applications, urban supply, ecosystemical services should be balanced in order to avoid biased solutions. This paper aims to present some AI methods and discuss where it they can lead geoscientists with and without an ethical posture. A study case using monitoring water levels data is presented.