Application of Information Theory to Groundwater Quality Monitoring Networks

Using the criteria of maximizing information and minimizing cost,a methodology is developed for design of an optimal groundwater-monitoring network for water resources management. A monitoring system is essentially an information collection system. Therefore, its technical design requires a quantifiablemeasure of information which can be achieved through applicationof the information (or entropy) theory. The theory also providesinformation-based statistical measures to evaluate the efficiencyof the monitoring network. The methodology is applied to groundwater monitoring wells in a portion of Gaza Strip in Palestine. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2002