Integrating GIS and RS for Identifying Accident-Prone Areas on the Karbala Highway Aimed at Developing Religious Tourism

For a long time, road hazards in various forms have been one of the major issues and problems associated with travel. Today, with the development of road transportation and the expansion of road networks, there has been a fundamental transformation in travel quality, leading to an increase in travel demand for various purposes. Despite the numerous benefits derived from the growth of tourism, the issue of road accidents, which impose significant material and spiritual losses, has emerged. Annually, these accidents impose substantial costs on various societies, especially in developing countries. One of the largest segments of the travel market in Muslim countries, including Iran, is religious tourism. Part of this travel in Iran involves Shia Muslims visiting religious sites in Iraq. With the end of the Iran-Iraq war and the improvement in relations between these two countries, the volume of such travel has increased. A significant portion of this travel occurs via the Karbala Highway, which serves as the main route connecting Iran to religious sites in Iraq, linking Tehran to the Iraqi borders through Saveh, Hamedan, Kermanshah, and Qasr-e Shirin.In this applied research, the researcher focuses on a section of this highway within the jurisdiction of Hamedan, based on accident statistics from the years 2012-2013 (1391-1392 in the Iranian calendar). Using data published by the road police regarding accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities, combined with field observations, these points were identified on aerial photographs and analyzed using ARC GIS software. The study identifies safe and accident-prone zones on the highway and offers key solutions for reducing road accidents, aiming to promote religious tourism.