Evaluation of the Contributing Factors in Development and Zoning Karst in Palangan Zone by Using Fuzzy Logic and ANP

Abstract

Karst areas are important in providing water resources, so that about 27 percent of the world population is using karst water resources. Palangan zone is located in the northwest of Iran and in Zagroos zone. According to the particular geological conditions, suitable climatic conditions, existing network of faults and fissures, this area is changed to a karst area. Due to the importance of this region in providing water, observing and studying that seems necessary. The present study is based on the field, tools and library methods. In present study, to observe the factors of expanding Karst in Palangan zone, 8 lithology factors such as: faults, slope, slope direction, elevation, river, vegetation cover and climate have been used. The method is as following: after providing the data layers, the coefficients and determination value by using ANP, in overlap GIS, unification and also providing fuzzy Logic with the help of fuzzy map are done. At the end, the studied region is divided in to four sections regarding the development. The gained results indicated: the southern and the western studied sections are having the highest expansion according to the fact that formed in pillar-less formation and also due to the existence of fault network and various seams and very humid climatic conditions, but the northern and the eastern sections are having the lowest development, due to unavailability of limestone formations, southern direction, the unavailability of seams and fractures and also semi-humid climate conditions.