Water, an essential element for rainwater harvesting (RWH), plays a pivotal role in addressing water scarcity and enhancing community resilience. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of water storage in the Pothowar region, which spans approximately 23,204 square kilometers across five districts: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Attock, and Jhelum. The objective was to assess the availability, demand, and utilization of water reservoirs using GIS technology to identify potential storage sites. The study utilized advanced tools, starting with the acquisition of a 12.5 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM) from ALOS PALSAR, followed by data refinement using the Fill tool. Flow direction analysis and watershed delineation in ArcGIS 10.8.2 revealed 6,508 sub-watersheds and outlets. An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model was employed to assign weights to factors such as soil, land use, rainfall, stream order, drainage density, and slope, enabling the classification of suitability classes. The results indicated that 41% of the region was classified as moderately suitable, with 3.79% rated as very highly suitable, 44.81% as highly suitable, and 10.40% as not suitable. Specific mini dam sites were proposed based on suitability, with 121 outlets classified as very highly suitable, 3,655 as highly suitable, 2,188 as moderately suitable, and 690 as not suitable. This comprehensive analysis enhances the understanding of the region's hydrological dynamics, supporting informed decision-making for sustainable water resource management aligned with both developmental and environmental objectives. By combining advanced geospatial tools and a collaborative approach, this study offers a cutting-edge framework for regional water resource management.

Water is a vital natural resource for all life on Earth and is crucial to human growth in the socioeconomic sphere. Growing populations, shifting climatic patterns, rising global temperatures, and frequent droughts put more pressure on finite water supplies Chiew et al. Herrera-Pantoja and Hiscock. The UN General Assembly recognized the importance of water conservation initiatives and in late 2003 passed a resolution declaring the years 2005 to 2015 as the international Decade for Action-Water life Assembly.

The strain on water resources is being exacerbated by climate change in conjunction with rising water demands due to urban and agricultural expansion. Based on projections, it is estimated that by 2020, around 250 million people in Africa may experience increased levels of water stress. This could result in yield losses of up to 50% in specific locations and pose serious risks to agricultural productivity and food availability Change et al.. Globally, precipitation has changed due to climate change in terms of both volume and seasonal patterns as well as year-to-year variability Easterling et al.. These changes in the distribution of rainfall will be most noticeable in arid and semiarid regions Weltzin et al.. In these areas, water availability and timing play a crucial role in regulating agricultural output Nanwal and Rajanna, biogeochemical cycles Austin et al., primary productivity Huxman et al., and the timing of growth and reproduction Singh and Kushwaha Walther et al..

Water shortage is a persistent problem in the world's arid and semi-arid region (ASARs), affecting both the availability of drinking water and agricultural needs. These regions, which make up about 50 million km, or 35% of the planet's geographical surface, are confronted with several difficulties Ziadat et al.. In the meantime, scientists from all across the world have looked at a number of different strategies to address the water shortage Rahman. Rainwater has long been acknowledged as an essential renewable water sources Li et al.. If properly collected and stored, it can augment surface and groundwater deficits during times of water scarcity, improving water security to meet a variety of demands. Rainfed agriculture is the norm, but farmers face challenges from unpredictable weather and harsh environments. People in arid places have devised a variety of techniques to collect rainwater for crops and cattle due to the poor and unpredictable rainfall. Pakistan is strongly dependent on distinct seasonal monsoon precipitation. It was classified as a water-stressed nation in 2007 and has been experiencing water scarcity since 1991, with a per capita accessibility of 1000 m Raza et al.. Nonetheless, the area is still susceptible to flooding hazards Zhao et al..

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) techniques have been widely adopted by researchers worldwide as a means of improving an area's surface and groundwater production Weltzin et al.: Vohland and Barry,Ammar et al.. The process of collecting, storing, and using rainfall runoff for agricultural and drinking uses is known as rainwater harvesting Kadam et al.,Ammar et al.. A number of writers, including Campisano et al., Basinger et al., Christian Amos et al., and Weltzin et al., have examined the development of RWH systems. Many climatic conditions and applications around the world have shown the effectiveness of RWH systems in conserving water, including Australia Rahman et al., the USA Basinger et al., Brazil Ghisi et al., the UK Ward and Butler, Italy Campisano et al., West Asia and North Africa Ziadat et al..

There are many approaches to gain understanding of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and its possible uses, and one important tool for describing RWH buildings is geospatial technology. Studies by

De Winnaar et al., Jasrotia et al., Weerasinghe et al., and Mahmoud et al. demonstrate the critical role that this technology plays in not only locating but also conserving and monitoring rainwater harvesting sites. Furthermore, Hashim and Sayl and Muneer et al. show that GIS (Geographic Information System) and remote sensing have developed into extremely efficient methods for evaluating and managing surface and ground- water resources.

These studies highlight the value of thematic layers processed with GIS in identifying possible RWH and groundwater recharge zones. Research by Saranya and Saravanan, Patra et al., Ajay Kumar et al., and Khudhair et al. shows the usefulness of such strategies. Additionally, current research has highlighted how well an integrated strategy using GIS and MCDA (Multi Criteria Decision Analysis) can simplify and precisely define water storage and recharge zones. The studies by Mohammed and Sayl, Asgher et al., Jhariya et al., and Zahirani et al. all demonstrate this. By using these approaches, researchers want to improve our knowledge of RWH potential and support strategies for managing water resources in a sustainable manner, emphasized by Hashim and Sayl and Muneer et al. study.

The amalgamation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) signifies a cutting-edge method for pinpointing possible locations for rainwater harvesting systems. For this purpose, it holds great promise to combine machine learning techniques like Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) Naghibi et al., Classification and Regression tree (CART) Dastorani et al., Random Forest (RF) Sarvani et al., WOE Tahmassebipoor et al., and Support Vector Machine (SVM) Sarvani et al.. Numerous techniques have been devised to enhance the process of choosing RWH structures.

While field surveys are still the most often used method for small regions, there are many obstacles in determining where various RWH technologies should be installed on the regional scale.

When rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are implemented, a number of parameters are taken into account to guarantee their efficacy and efficiency. Data from satellite remote sensing is a useful instrument that provides quick and informative baseline information on characteristics including soil type, geomorphology, lineaments, and land use/cover. GIS approaches help to enable the integration of these thematic layers Selvam et al. and Rejani et al..

The main obstacles to the successful application of RWH technology include variations in precipitation patterns, drainage network features, soil properties, geological condition, vegetation cover, and land use/cover (LULC). Novel strategies and socioeconomic circumstances are also significant contributors to these challenges. For example, biophysical characteristics like slope, runoff depth, land, use soil texture, and stream order were used to find potential dam sites. These results help planners, decision-makers, and hydrologists allocate resources and create policies to alleviate water scarcity and enhance living conditions in arid areas. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) using inputs such as rainfall, slope, lithology, lineament, soil texture drainage network, and LULC. The study was carried out in District Kohat, Pakistan. The findings showed that, according to AHP, about 44% of the research area was extremely suited for rainwater collection, whereas 32% was advised by WOE.

To address the problems with water resources, the Pothowar Region -- which includes places like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Chakwal Attock, and Jhelum -- needs to map its storage facilities and rainwater collecting systems. The study sought to determine possible locations for the construction of reservoirs, check dam and ponds by evaluating the availability, demand, and consumption patterns of the current water resources. The research conducted a thorough assessment of rainwater harvesting capacity, including surface runoff harvesting and groundwater recharge strategies, by utilizing criteria such as LULC, drainage density, rainfall, stream order, and slope. A thorough mapping method to find and rank good sites for storage and rainwater harvesting systems was created by integrating GIS technology. In order to maximize water management in the Pothohar Region, this all-encompassing approach provides a methodical strategy that ensures sustainable water access and resilience to future water challenges.