An investigation of the Geomorphological parameters of dry lands and their Impacts on site Selection for Military Active and Passive Defense (A case study: Masileh Desert; Qom)

National security and development of passive defense are among the major objectives focused in the Iranian Fourth Development plan, which plays a crucial role in site-selection for military active an passive defense identified as among the stages of decision-making and planning by military commanders in an area. The matter is so crucial that it can affect the security, sources of threat and combat power of the forces. Investigating land slope, pedology, geology, geomorphology and drainage network in such a planning, military geomorphology intervenes in this process. To this end, this study aimed at site-selection in military defense areas and exploration of potentialities in order to generalize the findings into other dry lands given the limitations and challenges ahead. As a field study in design, the study was conducted based on experimental data, pictures obtained from Aster and Google Earth satellite sources, 1:50000 topography maps, geology and 1:250000 pedology-along with employing zoning model and Arc/GIS software. The findings revealed feasibility of the site-selection through studying the geo-morphological parameters, employing tactical and technical strategies in low lands and semi-high areas.