Structural and Tectonic Evolution of El-Faiyum Depression, North Western Desert, Egypt Based on Analysis of Landsat TM, SIR-C/X-SAR and SRTM data

The project aimed towards developing and implementing methodologies for using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR) C/X Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data to understand the tectonic evolution of El-Faiyum epression in the Western Desert of Egypt. We propose to link some tested methods of utilizing satellite imagery with new potentially more powerful remote sensing techniques and higher resolution active sensor SAR images have been used to map lithologies and structures of El-Faiyum Depression. One objective of our study is to evaluate the possibility of using radar interferometry to help monitor regions including large engineering structures, for any type of controls on deformation (tectonics, earthquakes, artificial loading as at Lake Qarun in El-Faiyum region). We will link these satellite techniques with field studies to determine the physical characteristics of the faults. This project is based on our experience in geologic studies of the NE Africa and and our success in using orbital remote sensing data to solve geologic problems in arid regions (Kusky et al., 2002; Kusky and Ramadan, 2002; Ramadan et al., 2001; El-Motaal and Ramadan, 1998).