Combination of Remote Sensing and Ground Penetrating Radar Methods to Estimate Suitable Areas for Locating Subsurface Dams in Abouzeidabad Plain

The subsurface dam is considered a way to store and utilize subsurface flow in dry and warm areas. In this study, the appropriate locations for constructing a subsurface dam in an Abouzeidabad plain were pinpointed using remote sensing and geophysical methods. To this end, topography, slope, lithology, land use, stream density, fault density, and qanat density information layers were provided. In providing these layers, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Landsat 8 satellite images were used. Due to the importance of alluvial formations in the reservoir volume of the subsurface dam, the lithology layer in the form of a geology map subject was made to separate the formations suitable for the dam storage. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to compare and evaluate the layers and substrates. A final map of location priorities for the construction of a subsurface dam was then developed using the results from the AHP method. After identifying three locations of high priority (4 to 5), the geophysical data were collected from these locations using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method to determine the bedrock position and alluvium thickness in each cross-section. Using the obtained data and hydrological information of the area, discharge capacity was calculated for each of the identified locations. At the most appropriate location, a subsurface dam with 311 meters length and 17 meters depth was proposed to reach the discharge capacity of over 4.35 million cubic meters, which is considerable for supplying the water demands of downstream regions including Badroud and Abouzeidabad.