Recent Advances in Hydrogeology

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the latest scientific research, technological innovations, and applied practices in the field of hydrogeology, with a specific focus on case studies. This interdisciplinary approach aims to bridge gaps between fundamental geological sciences, hydrology, and environmental engineering, providing a platform for the dissemination of high-quality studies that address emerging challenges in groundwater science and management.

This Special Issue covers a wide range of topics related to innovations in hydrogeology, including but not limited to the following:

1. Groundwater Dynamics and Aquifer Characterization.

• The exploration of groundwater flow dynamics at the local, regional, and global scales;
• Advanced methods for aquifer delineation, mapping, and characterization;
• The use of geophysical, remote sensing, and hydrogeochemical tools to understand subsurface hydrological processes.

2. Groundwater–Surface Water Interactions.

• Studies on the interactions between groundwater and surface water in diverse environments (e.g., rivers, lakes, wetlands);
• Methods for assessing and modeling exchange fluxes and their impacts on water resources;
• The impacts of land use, climate change, and anthropogenic activities on groundwater–surface water interactions.

3. Groundwater Quality and Contamination.

• Research on the sources, transport, and fate of contaminants in groundwater;
• Emerging contaminants (e.g., microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFASs) and their behavior in groundwater systems;
• Groundwater remediation technologies, including natural attenuation, bioremediation, and chemical treatments;
• Case studies on pollution events and mitigation strategies.

4. Groundwater Management and Policy.

• Sustainable groundwater management practices and frameworks;
• Policy-making for transboundary aquifer management and conflict resolution;
• The application of support tools for decision-making and participatory approaches in groundwater governance;
• Innovations in groundwater monitoring, data collection, and integrated water resource management (IWRM).

5. Advances in Hydrogeological Modeling.

• The development and application of numerical models for simulating groundwater flow and contaminant transport;
• The integration of machine learning, AI, and big data analytics in hydrogeology;
• The application of GIS in supporting hydrogeological modeling and data integration.

6. Technological Innovations in Hydrogeology.

• The development of advanced tools, sensors, and techniques for groundwater exploration and monitoring;
• The application of isotope hydrology in tracing groundwater sources and ages;
• Innovations in drilling, pumping, and well construction technology;
• Smart groundwater monitoring systems and real-time data integration.

7. Groundwater in Urban Environments.

• Urban groundwater management, including the impacts of urbanization on aquifers;
• Challenges of urban development in terms of groundwater recharge and quality;
• Sustainable groundwater solutions for water supply in growing cities.

Manuscript Types:

• Original Research Articles: Detailed studies reporting new findings in hydrogeology.
• Review Articles: Comprehensive reviews summarizing recent advancements in specific areas of hydrogeology.
• Case Studies: Reports on practical applications, regional groundwater issues, or innovative management strategies.
• Technical Notes: Brief reports on new techniques, methodologies, or field applications.

Editorial Focus:

The Editorial Board encourages submissions that present multidisciplinary approaches, promote sustainable groundwater management, and address global challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, and climate change. The journal also emphasizes open data practices and welcomes reproducible research efforts that can contribute to broader scientific understanding and policy development.

The journal is committed to publishing rigorous, peer-reviewed research that drives innovation and practical solutions in the evolving field of hydrogeology.

Dr. Magdalena Worsa-Kozak
Dr. Krzysztof Chudy
Dr. Dominika Dabrowska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• geoinfromatics
• remote sensing
• emerging pollutants
• IoT
• AI
• hydrogeological data analytics
• groundwater
• urban water
• mine water
• water monitoring