Multisource Investigation, Mapping and Analysis of the Tectonic Paleozoic Structures and their Surface Expressions in Ghadamis Basin and the Al Qarqaf Arch, using GIS, Satellite Remote Sensing, Aeromagnetic, Seismic Cross Sections and DEM

The main goal is to combining and merging of different satellite remote sensing images and geological-geophysics data, (surface and subsurface characteristics of Ghadamis basin). A major analysis of the Earth Observation Data (EOD) was also undertaken in order to better understand the structural geology in the region with a view to using them as direct analogues to assist in the interpretation of the equivalent horizons in the subsurface data. The merging of multiple data sets has given a better understanding of the tectonic process, surface and subsurface structural styles resulting from the various deformational phases. This study is based on new work carried out on several different types of satellite imagery at different resolutions; these data were combined with the SRTM DEM (90m. ground resolution) to give better visualisation of the structures and interpretation. This study provides an overview of the structural framework and overall architecture of the Ghadamis Basin and Al Qarqaf Arch, on a regional scale using remote sensing, aeromagnetic maps and seismic sections. The main objective in this study is to applying the new techniques and methodology for mapping and analysing the surface expressions of geological structures using remote sensing images and GIS for merging. The remote sensing data set comprises digital enhancement and interpretation of SPOT XS, Landsat TM 5& 7 and ERS-2 images, Goggle Earth viewer, and ASTER GDEM to map surface structures (Table 1). A variety of regional geoscience datasets from Ghadamis Basin have been co-registered and analysed using a geographic information system (GIS). The datasets include bedrock and surficial geological maps and airborne geophysical survey data. A number of line features, including structural lineaments, fold axes and formation contacts, have also been interpreted. The GIS uses a quad tree structure, ideally suited to a mixture of polygonal-thematic (e. g. , geological maps) and continuous grey-scale (e. g. , remote sensing, airborne geophysics) raster images. This study is based on the use of satellite remote sensing and GIS techniques, for refinement of the exploration models for the area and selection of areas for further more detailed investigations. More especially itwill explore advanced satellite image processing software such as ER Mapper and ESRI ArcGIS. I shall make use of new acquired satellite data and advanced processing techniques and I shall tend, in the frame of GIS, to answer questions relating to exploration problems. In particular, recent satellite imagery, especially when digitally reprocessed, can prove to be a practical way of rapidly surveying a large amount of land and can help define new prospective areas with rejuvenated concepts.