GIS-based assessment of surface deformation patterns using fractal analysis of topography: Kharmankuh anticline, Zagros Mountains, Iran

Authors

  • Yusef Mahmoodi Department of Civil Engineering, Larestan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Larestan, Iran
  • Ahmad Nourbakhsh Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
  • Timothy Kusky Center for Global Tectonics, State Key Lab for Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, Three Gorges Geohazard Research Center, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China

Keywords:

Surface fractal analysis; Deformation pattern; Topography; Kharmankuh anticline; Zagros; Iran

Abstract

Fractal is an applicable implement for evaluation of the complicated patterns of natural features. Geo- informatics allow not only representing data, but also performing geostatistical analysis and building models. This paper investigates the deformation pattern of land surfaces applying Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM) through a combined geo-information and fractal approach. The covering divider method is applied in order to extract fractal dimension of the earth surface (Dsurf) directly for estimating surface roughness of the earth topography through geographic information system (GIS) approaches. Specifying the function of the geomorphologic processes on the spatial variability of fractal properties of the earth surface is accessible through this assessment. Fractal dimension mapping us to ascertain geomorphic domains where variability of fractal dimension of the earth surface represents the roughness of the land form topography and is an assessment of texture of topography. Results show that the presented approach in this research using the presented flow chart provides a rapid and facile procedure to evaluate the spatial distribution of the earth surface deformation within geological regions. Relatively higher fractal dimensions are observed where loose alluvial deposits and irregularities exists whilst the lower fractal dimension represents existence of the competent formations. The results showed that the Kharmankuh anticline has formed in a NE-SW direction and shows nearly symmetrical deformation pattern.

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Published

2016-11-30

How to Cite

Mahmoodi, Y., Nourbakhsh, A., & Kusky, T. (2016). GIS-based assessment of surface deformation patterns using fractal analysis of topography: Kharmankuh anticline, Zagros Mountains, Iran . Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences, 49(2), 118-128. Retrieved from http://ojs.uop.edu.pk/jhes/article/view/1921