Modeling the Environmental Hazards of El-Kharga Oasis Sand Dunes, Western Desert of Egypt, using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Research Article- DOI: 10.23953/cloud.ijarsg.505

Abstract

In this study, an integrated suite of Remote Sensing (RS) data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques supported by fieldwork is used to assess the sand dunes movement hazards at El-Kharga Oasis. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data obtained from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) were integrated with GIS techniques to model the vulnerable locations and to study the terrain characteristics (slope angles and aspects) in the studied area. The risk assessment model output was verified with the field investigations using multi-temporal satellite images recorded between 1990 and 2019. Monthly wind roses showed that the sand drifts in the southeastern direction differed widely from one direction to another depending on the wind direction and velocity. The most important output of the spatial model’s, results was a geo-hazard map that classified the sand dunes hazard zones into low, slight, moderate, and high-risk zones. It is concluded that, the sand dunes pose a serious hazard because of their fast movement and accumulation near the monumental sites, over roads and invading the agricultural fields. The obtained results can serve as a basis for planners and decision-makers to take the necessary precautions and measures to minimize the sand dune hazard’s impact on the monumental sites (e.g., Hibis, El-Nadura, El-Ghueita and El-Zayyan), roads, and the agricultural fields at El-Kharga Oasis and lead to a sustainable development plan.

Keywords Environmental Hazards; Sand Dunes Movement; Remote Sensing; Risk Assessment, Egypt

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23953/cloud.ijarsg.505