Digital terrain characterization and interpretation of Lake Van Region for earthquake vulnerability combining remote sensing and geographical information systems

Abstract

The Lake Van basin and its surroundings (36,500 km(2)) in the eastern Turkey have not been investigated adequately in terms of earthquake vulnerability, and pre-earthquake preparedness. In this study, a digital terrain model (DTM) of the Lake Van region was developed combining an ASTER digital elevation model (DEM), Landsat-7 ETM+ imagery, remote sensing techniques, and geographical information systems. Terrain characteristics derived from DTM with DEM, and a 3-D land-use and land-cover fly-through view such as fault zones, drainage patterns, lineaments, and landforms were interpreted in terms of earthquake vulnerability. Our results indicate that the directions of Mus-Tatvan (Mus thrust), Bitlis thrust, and ErcisPatnos-Malazgirt-Varto-Karliova along with Van and Ercis possess the highest risk of earthquake hazards.