Application of geographical information systems and remote sensing in qualitative and quantitative assessment of wind erosion, Case study: Shoorjestan plain

In view of the fact that extensive areas of ‘Iran’ are located in arid and semi arid regions, considerable damages on natural and economic resources by wind erosion and sand storms are expected annually. Lack of proper input data for physical and quantitative models and difficulties of access to these data can limit the models application. In these conditions it is necessary to devise an informative-computational model based on geographical information systems and use remote sensing to prepare as much as possible layers of parameters, accurately. Therefore, in this research a qualitative model for wind erosion assessment (IRIFR) has been embedded in geographical information system together with remote sensing to prepare layers of information and parameters. The major targets of this research are to get benefits of earlier approaches in relevant researches and compile relevant techniques and methods in GIS and RS to study wind erosion. The most important achievements of this research are; i) providing layers of information by remote sensing, ii) omitting primary common map of study units, iii) determining and defining separated maps of study units which are needed for a few parameters, iv) omitting the map of other parameters, and v) reducing uncertainties arising from experts judgment. Furthermore, the model could be repeated for any time duration. Consequently, investigations would be organized much better, more accurate and faster.