Geothermal Potential Site Selection using GIS in Iran

Abstract

In this study, a Geographic Information System (GIS) is used as a decision-making tool to target potential geothermal resources in Iran. The aims of the study are to update and identify promising areas for geothermal exploration, as the base study for the future regional-scale geothermal resources investigations and exploration drilling.

After comprehensive study about available data in the country, and important data layers for site selection of geothermal area, firstly, the available data layers for geothermal resource exploration in national scale are summarized in three datasets; Geological dataset (volcanic rocks, volcanic craters and faults), geochemistry dataset (hot springs and acidic hydrothermal alteration zone) and geophysical dataset (micro seismic epicenters and shallow intrusive bodies). Secondly an integration model in GIS environment was programmed and run and then promising areas were marked as nationwide geothermal potential sites.

In this knowledge-driven based GIS method, the weighted factor maps generated for the evidence layers, and the Boolean integration methods were used for the combination of the factor maps and achieving the site selection process.
ArcMap, consisting of geoprocessing and Model builder tools were used for running the GIS Model for Geothermal Resource Exploration (GM-GRE).

Finally, 18 geothermal potential areas were selected. The geothermal potential areas in Iran are distributed in whole territory of Iran.