Mapping underground Dam in Arid and Semi-Arid Area in Western Iran (Case Study: Mehran, Ilam Province)

Management of underground resources has a special priority in arid and semi-arid in Iran. Increasing underground resources is one of the useful ways for providing water requirements during the drought years. The main objective of this study was for mapping underground dam in the arid and semi-arid area in western Iran. The first and important stage of underground dam construction is recognizing an appropriate location of dam. In this research, after investigating the previous study and improving some basic information, different layers were integrated using GIS technology to determine the location which has a potential for these structures in the study area. These layers were including fault, slope, geology, geomorphology, rainfall, temperature and land use. The IRS satellite imagery in 2007 was used for providing the geomorphology map and land use map as well as well to determine the correct location of dams. Then, a number of 14 appropriate locations were selected using field data collection and the AHP method for constructing the underground dams in the study area.