Investigating and identifying areas with potential karsticization using fuzzy method and Analytical Hierarchy Process Model

Karst areas have always been considered for the great importance of water resources and diversity of geomorphological forms. In arid areas, considering that karst is a good place to store fresh ground-water, identifying them is of paramount importance. This research attempts to detect karstic areas in western parts of Fars province using fuzzy and AHP software with the help of GIS software, and introduces a new method for this purpose. Geological data, distance from fault, rainfall, elevation, temperature, distance from the river, slope were used to determine the susceptible areas of karst. In order to homogenize each of the data in order to prepare the final map of karst areas, the fuzzy method was used. In the next step, the fuzzy membership functions were prepared using susceptible karst areas and finally, a hierarchical analysis model (AHP) was used to prepare the final map of the studied area. The final results from the karst map of the study area showed that in the northwest and part of the southeast of the study area, the probability of having Karst is 100% according to the final maps. While the central areas have fewer karst, and parts of the eastern and western margins of the region lack karst. To verify the model accuracy, sample points of the area were prepared. According to the sample points, it was found that the model has a high accuracy for determining the karstic regions and therefore the fuzzy method can be used as a precise method for investigating the karstic potential of different regions.