Use of fractal dimensions analysis in geographic information system and remote-sensing techniques to identify groundwater prospective zones in the Anar-Dashtegol anticline, Iran

The main goal of this study was to identify areas prone to groundwater exploration in the Anar-Dashtegol anticline, southwest of Iran. The fractal geometry was used to determine the linearity density in the areas. In the first step, the groundwater conditioning factors, such as distance from faults and fractures, faults and fractures density, distance from springs, spring discharge, relief, and slopes were prepared. Lineament density map was spatially prepared using fractal geometry, box-counting method. Thematic map of each parameter was prepared using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing data. Measuring the rate and weight of the maps was performed using the crisp method on a scale from 0 to 9 and analytical hierarchical process (AHP), respectively. The final output map showed different zones of groundwater prospective potential, which was divided into four orders: very low, low, moderate, and high. Results indicate that precipitation, faults, and relief are the most affecting factors on karst water potential at the Anar-Dashtegol anticline, and that areas with high potential are located in northern plunge. Karstic wells present in the study area have confirmed that zones with high groundwater potential identified from the study developed here are characterized by a high yield.