Egypt. J. Remote Sensing & Space Sci., V.12, pp.

55-70 (2009)

ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL HAZARDS AND

DISASTERS ALONG QENA-SAFAGA ROAD, CENTRAL EASTERN
DESERT, EGYPT

M. A. Azab
Faculty of Arts, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Hazard assessment studies are necessary to identify the investigated area along
Qena-Safaga road, between km 20 – km 30 from Qena City, where extensive
damage has constantly been reported. This damage includes, asphalt road,
breaking of the potable water pipeline, tilting of tower line and telephone poles, as
well as of Safaga-Abu Tartur railroad. These types of damage result from tectonic
activity around the Qena-Safaga district. The structural and seismic maps are used
to interpret and evaluate the deep-seated structures and the tectonic setting of the
study area. Strong ground motion is the most important phenomenon of natural
hazard. It has an effect on the nature, human life and man-made structures.
Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing are useful tools in disaster
management for the study area. These automated tools are used for the storage,
analysis and visualization all geological and geophysical data of the investigated
area to the decision support. Also, by using the Landsat image acquired in 2001
and Aerial photograph dated 1955 reveals that, the spatial deformation of the
recent surface features has been estimated during 46 years.

Keywords: remote sensing, GIS, assessment, damage, disaster, management.

INTRODUCTION

The study area extends between Longitude 330 00´ - 330 40´ E and Latitude 250
00´ - 250 10´ N covers an area of about 160 km2 along Qena - Safaga road in the
central Eastern Desert of Egypt (Fig. 1).
Natural disaster is inevitable and it is almost impossible to fully recoup the
damage caused by the disasters. But it is possible to minimize the potential
risk by preparing the appropriate plans to provide resilience to such disasters,
to help in rehabilitation and disaster reduction. Remote sensing (RS) and
geographic information systems (GIS) play a crucial role in efficient mitigation
and management of disasters, occupational framework for their monitoring,
assessment, identify gap areas and recommend appropriate strategies for disaster
management using these technologies. Although natural disasters have shown in
the last decades a drastic increase in magnitude and frequency, it can be observed
that there is a dramatic development in technical capabilities to mitigate them.
Disaster management consists of two phases that take place before disaster for its

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 M. A. Azab

prevention and disaster preparedness. Hence, GIS and RS are found to be useful
tools in disaster management (Banger,2003). These automated tools are developed
for the efficient storage, analysis and presentation all data of the investigated area
to the decision support. Also, the change detection method for the site of interest
by using the remote sensing data reveals the spatial deformation, which occurred
in certain time. The methodology consists of remote sensing techniques, using
Landsat images, aerial photos, topographical, geological and geophysical data
through GIS technologies. Recent advances in computer-based technology
offered a more efficient approach for the storage, manipulation and search of
different data in order to make these data readily available to future users. The
hazardous area between kms 20-30 along Qena-Safaga road is divided into four
regular cells (A, B, C and D) that make avoidance for the zone around the site
of the interpreted subsurface faults near the area of km 30. The dimensions of
each cell is 10 x 20 km (200 km²). These cells are used to monitor the recent
surface ruptures of hazardous area around this subsurface fault. They are the
basis to produce layers from the topographical, geomorphological, geological
and geophysical maps which have been digitized, in addition to digital satellite
data. The accumulated data provide a central core of information that need to be
updated, as new studies become available. Currently available personal computer
is sufficiently powerful and it has enough storage for the archiving, display and
analysis of the natural hazard data of the site of interest using a relatively simple
database concept. This concept makes possible the utilization of valuable data
and information for disaster mitigation, prevention and preparedness.

Figure 1: Location map of the study area.

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 Assessment and Management of Natural Hazards,...

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Remotely sensed data are becoming one of the most popular tools to monitor
environmental changes. In this study, aerial photos (scale 1:50,000), 1955 and
Landsat-TM data of 2001 are used to detect the environmental changes and
damages in the study area, that occurred during the 46 years (from 1955 to
2001).
Data description
The following data were used to achieve the overall objectives of this study.
1. Aerial photos. Four photo mosaics of aerial photos covering the area (scale 1:
50,000), 1955, ( 30, 41, 84, 85, 86, 92 E.D. ), available from the Military Survey
Authority.
2. Remotely sensed data. Two Landsat-TM scenes (path 175, 174 and row 42),
dated 12 May, 2001 were used in this study to detect the overall environmental
damages and changes along Qena-Safaga road.
3. Maps. Various types of the thematic maps covering the study area have been
compiled. They include:
a. Topographic maps of scale 1 : 100 000 ( Qena, Naj-Al-Bashariyah, G. Shaib
Al-Banat and Safajah ) published by the Military Survey (1995).
b. Geological map of scale 1 : 250,000 (Qena) published by Egyptian the
Geological Survey and Mining Authority, EGSMA, (1973).
c. Non-published geophysical map of scale 1:100,000 (Qena) EGSMA, (1991).
Softwares
The following software packages were used in this study:
a. AutoCad 2000 was used mainly in the digitization of topographic, geological
and geophysical maps.
b. ArcGIS ver. 9 was used in all GIS analyses and the production of different
layouts.
c. ERDAS Imagine Ver. 8.4 was used in different digital image processing and
change detection analysis (ERDAS,1997).
Data processing and technique
The following processing and techniques were used to quantify the environmental
changes and damages that affects the study area along Qena - Safaga road.
1. Digitizing of the topographic, geological and geophysical maps to convert them
into digital format using AutoCad 2000. The digital file was converted into
ArcGIS coverage. Then, all the needed editing efforts such as the correction
of under-shot and over-shot errors, adding missed features and removing
redundant ones, clean and build topology, edge-matching of different layers
from different map sheets, and attribute data entry, were carried out using
ArcGIS ver. 9. Finally, the digital file was transformed to Universal Transverse
Mercator (UTM) projection (zone 36) with the datum and spheroid of WGS84,

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 M. A. Azab

to produce the GIS ready base-map. The same procedure was used to produce
the GIS ready geological and geophysical maps of the study area.
2. Digital image processing techniques. Using ERDAS Imagine ver. 8.4 software
as follows:
(a) Atmospheric correction (haze reduction function) using of ERDAS Imagine
software to minimize the effects related to the differences in atmospheric
conditions.
(b) Spectral enhancement using the capabilities of ERDAS Imagine, to increase
the contrast between different objects.
(c) Establishing a databank from remotely sensed data, represented by satellite
imageries, to map the variability of terrain properties in the study area, such
as mountains, hills and drainage network. The geophysical data in the form
of geophysical maps play a special role in the information systems, because
they provide quantitative information on the physical properties of rocks.
They represent the earth gravity and magnetic fields due to main geological
structures and tectonic units on the territory. GIS database was created for the
deformed area at kms 20-30 along Qena-Safaga road.

CHANGE DETECTION

From the interpretation of digital Landsat TM data of 2001, pixel size 28.5 m and
digital aerial photo data 1955 show that, tracing the channel of stream as it crosses
the hilly terrain area between kms 20-30, where the channel is abruptly offset
(Figs. 2 and 3).

Figure 2: Photo-mosaic of 1955 aerial photos, showing the main structural

features in the study area.

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 Assessment and Management of Natural Hazards,...

Figure 3: Subset of Landsat-TM image 2001, bands 3, 2, 1 showing the main

structural features in the study area.
The comparison between tracing the channel of stream from Landsat image and the
aerial photo after about 46 years reveals that, despite repeated small movements
along the fault, each stream has been able to maintain its continuity of flow, but
the channels have been gradually stretched along the line of the trans current fault.
Also, they are not similarity in the numbers and lengths of the channels. They
increase in case of recent Landsat image, as shown in Fig. (4).
Most geologists consider a fault to be active if it has moved during the past 10 k.y.
(Holocene Epoch). The Quaternary period (the past 1.65 m.y.) is the most recent
period of geologic time and most of our landscape has been produced during those
times (Edward et al., 1996).

Figure 4: The main structural lineaments, in the study area, Interpreted from
Landsat Image 2001 and aerial photos of 1955.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

GIS inputting geographic coordinate data were implemented to manage large

amount of the data for the hazard assessment and disaster prevention of the
deformed area, which has the presence of remarkable recent surface fractures
attributed with the following:
1. The digital topographic data for Wadi Umm Solimat at cell C, Wadi El Qeria at
Cell D and Wadi Qena at Cell D. Also, Gabal El Gir and Gabal Seri at Cells A
and B and hot well at Cell D ( Fig. 5).

Figure 5: The pattern of cell areas (A through D) in the study area.

2. The digital geomorphological data including mainly; hills, pediment (alluvial)
and wadi deposits (Fig. 6). Active faulting causes a variety of landform
features, including fault scarps, tilted ground, subsidence and offset features.
The characteristic features of landforms produced by active strike-slip faulting
(Edward, 1996) include the following:
a. Linear valleys are troughs along main fault traces. These often develop,
because continued movements along recent fault traces crushes the rocks
making them more vulnerable to erosion. Streams commonly follow these
zones of weakness and flow some distance along the troughs. This can be
shown in the study area at Wadi Qena running N-S, which represents a fault
zone in the area of basement- sedimentary contact, that separates the Red Sea
mountains in the eastern side from the Limestone Maaza Plateau in the western
side.

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 Assessment and Management of Natural Hazards,...
b. Deflected streams are streams that enter a fault zone at an oblique angle
and flow parallel to the fault for a distance before returning to the original
orientation of flow. This can be shown in the study area at the connection of
the fault zone of Wadi Qena that runs N-S with Wadi Umm Solimat and also
Wadi El Qreria, which is running toward the east and Wadi El Shahedin toward
the west.
c. Offset streams displaced by faulting, that indicate the direction of
displacement, in which small streams are offset across the fault. The study
area is affected by parallel drainage pattern formed across the fault zone of
Wadi Qena, where the main wadi and its tributaries are parallel to the regional
slope, toward the fault zone of Wadi Qena, as exhibited in Wadi Umm Solimat
and shown in Fig. ( 6 ).

Figure 6: Geomorphological map of the study area interpreted from Landsat

image 2001.
d. Shutter ridges are formed where a fault displaces the topography and moves
ride crests on side of the fault against gullies on the other side, where the
topography is commonly carved by streams running perpendicular to faults.
At the study area, the expected strike slip fault separates Gabal Abu Had
(500m) from Gabal Seri (500m), as shown in Fig. (6).
e. Scarps can be produced by strike slip motion by two possible mechanisms.
The first is a small component of vertical displacement on the individual fault

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 M. A. Azab

strands result in local vertical separations. The second is a topographic relief

on displaced landform results in fault parallel scarps. The study area is affected
by the Maaza Plateau and Gebal Abu Had scarps, as shown in Fig. (6).
f. Sag ponds are found in the fault zone and generally are related to down
warping between two strands of the fault zones.
g. Springs are often found along fault zone because the crushed rock, associated
with faulting, can be effective barrier to groundwater forcing it to the surface.
Springs are present in the study area, which have two hot wells with brackish
water along the fault zone of Wadi Qena. The first hot well is located at the km
16 (Qena-Safaga road) at latitude 26° 15´ 59.9´´ N and longitude 32° 47´ 02.7´´
E and the second hot well is at latitude 26° 31´ 39.8´´ N and longitude 32° 46´
42.5´´ E, in the area of Hate Qena of Wadi Qena, as shown in Fig. (6).
h. Benches consist of elevated, relatively flat topography in strike slip fault zones.
These benches may be slightly warped or tilted. These features are usually due
to the displacements between several fault segments or strands in the zone.
The site of interest at km 30 area exists on benches, and is characterized by the
presence of remarkable recent surface fractures (Fig. 7).

Figure 7: Ground photograph showing a linear fracture across the Qena – Safaga
road.
3. The digital elevation model (DEM) showed that the elevation of Gabal El Gir
is 200m and Gabal Serai is 500 m ( Fig. 8).
4. The digital slope directions model showed that the hill at km 30 north of the
road has slope directions towards W, NW, NNW and N (Fig. 9).
5. The rock exposures, interpreted from digital geological data, are formed mainly
of Thebes Fm. (Eocene ), Issawia Fm. (Pliocene ), Wadi deposits (Holocene ),
(Fig. 12).

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Figure 8: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) map of the study area.

Figure 9: Slope directions (Aspect) map of the study area.

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 M. A. Azab

Figure 10: Geological map of the study area, part from Wadi Qena Quadrangle
published by EGSMA (1983).
6. The digital interpreted aero magnetic data show that the area of km 30 is cut
by a subsurface fault with a length of about 23 km toward the N-S and depth
ranging from 0.5 to 2 km at Cells C and D (Kaissar,2005), as shown in Fig.(11).

Figure 11: Interpreted aero magnetic map of the study area.

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7. The digital interpreted gravity data show that the area of km 30 is cut by
a subsurface fault with a length of about 33 km toward the N-S and depth
ranging from 1 to 2 km at Cells C and D (Kaissar,2005), as shown in Fig.(12).
The magnetic and gravity subsurface faults coincide with the same directions
and they take the same trends of remarkable recent surface fractures at the
deformed area.

Figure 12: Interpreted gravity map of the study area.

8. The deformed area shows the presence of remarkable recent surface fractures,
which occurred in Issawia Formation and the recent wadi deposits as shown in
Fig. (10). These fractures are occurred ingroups and some are opened and not
filled with materials. Fractures are frequently formed adjacent to brittle fault.
Movements along faults commonly produces a series of systematic fractures,
in which the spacing increases closer to the fault zone, but the number of sets
decreases. The fracture surface upon which slippage occurs is called the fault
plane, it may take any orientation with respect to horizontal. Movements
by long-continued faulting occur by a series of slips, each involving few
centimeters of displacement and occurring almost instantaneously. The
surface fractures of the deformed area have been measured during the field
trip, statistically analyzed and the results are tabulated in Table. (1). They are
represented in histogram and rose diagrams through the structural analysis
exhibited in Figs. (13) and (14). These surface fractures represent the faults
echoes on the ground surface, which form a zone of active faults and they seem
to be related to the subsurface N-S fault detected from the magnetic and gravity
interpretation maps. This fault runs for a distance of about 33 km and its depth
ranges from 0.5 to 2 km.

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Table 1: Results of statistical analysis of the field measurements of the fractures

dimension at km 30 from Qena City along Qena-Safaga road.
Directions Lengths % Widths % Numbers %
0-10° 17.5 21.8 1.9
50-60° 0.9 1.7 3.8
60-70° 13.7 8.4 7.5
70-80° 0.6 1.7 1.9
80-90° 41.5 19 20.8
270-280° 4.5 2.5 3.8
280-290° 2.2 0.8 1.9
290-300° 10.2 27.3 24.5
310-320° 8.15 12.6 13.2
320-330° 0.29 3.4 1.9
340-350° 0.45 0.8 1.9

Figure 13: Histograms for the distribution of the fractures measured at km 30.

Figure 14: Rose diagram shows the trends of fracture measured at km30.
9. This subsurface fault has echoes on the surface as offset fracture patterns and
horizontal deformations . This fault terminates south of Qena-Safaga road
and it is parallel to Wadi Qena. The major landscape features in the form of
transcurrent fault type at the deformed area characterized by displacements in
the horizontal direction, along the near-vertical fault plane (El Kazzaz,1999).
Thus, one block slides past the other. This trans current fault occurs on the hilly

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 Assessment and Management of Natural Hazards,...

terrain area as benches between km 20 and km 30, which is characterized by

discontinuous narrow trenches (opened fractures) marking the line of fault. The
sense of movement of this trans current fault is left-lateral, which separate Gabal
Abu Had (500m), from Gabal El Sarai (500m) as shown in Fig. (6).
10. Tectonic creep is a process of displacement along a fault zone, that is not
accompanied by perceptible earthquakes. The process can slowly damage the
road and building foundations. Damages resulting from tectonic creep generally
occur along a narrow fault zone subjected to slow, and continuous displacements.
However, creep may also be discontinuous and variable in rate (Edward et al.,
1996). The evidence of movements and the activity in the deformed area are
disruption of the ground surface and grinding of the two sides of the fault.
The variations in length, width and depth of the surface fractures indicate the
propagation of fractures and reactivation of tectonics. The detected fault from
gravity and magnetic methods is responsible (El Hakim,1978) for the changes of
the topographic and geomorphic features as tilted telephone poles, high voltage
lines poles, breaking of water pipeline and damage occurred to the Qena-Safaga
road.
11. Also, two hot wells are found along the western side of the fault zone due to
the movement of the crushed rocks associated with faulting can be an effective
barrier. This movement generates heat energy, which is transferred to the water
aquifer in the deformed area. This left-lateral fault is also followed in an attempt
to make rather general predictions as to the likelihood of a major earthquake.
12. The main elements that determine the risk of the fault hazard are the fault
recurrence interval and the fault complexity:
a. Fault Recurrence interval
The fault recurrence interval is the average time between surface ruptures and effect
on a fault (Kerr et al., 2002). It is the best measure to use when evaluating the hazard
risk of an active fault. Faults with short recurrence intervals are generally more
likely to rupture in the near future than faults with a longer recurrence interval.
b. Fault complexity
Fault complexity refers to the width and distribution of the deformed land around
the fault trace (Johnson, 2000) as shown in Fig. (15). Many faults appear to be
simple linear features on the ground surface, with a narrow zone of deformation only
a few meters wide and others have complex and distributed zone of deformation.
In assessing the fault hazard risk, it should also take into account that the area of
the geologic hazard under pressure for development with first priority is km 30
along Qena-Safaga road. The infrastructures already exist, which cut the active
fault zone at km 30 are the Qena-Safaga road, Abu Tartur railroad, water pipeline,
electric power lines, telephone poles and the new proposed Qena City at km 15, that
is near to the active fault zone. Frequently, breaking of water pipeline tilted electric
powerline and telephone poles, beside the damage occurred to Qena-Safaga asphalt
road between kms 20 and 30 and cutting of lifelines as Safaga-Abu Tartur railroad
and Qena-Safaga water pipeline. The value of these infrastructures costs millions
of Egyptian pounds. Then, the level of the community risk at km 30 area is high,
that is the expected zone for rupturing, as shown in Figs. (2) and (4).

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 M. A. Azab

Figure 15: Fault complexity between Kms 20-30 along Qena-Safaga road.
CONCLUSION

The Qena-Safaga desert road is a vital traffic artery crossing the Eastern Desert and
link the Nile Valley at Qena City with the Red Sea governorate at Safaga City.
The aeromagnetic data interpretation defined N-S predominant structural
trend of basement rocks. The produced ratio map has been used in lithologic
discrimination and tracing of the structural features on the geologic map. The
calculated morphometric parameters of the drainage basins have been used to
assess the influences of surface and subsurface water resources.
The assessment of the various geo-environmental hazards in the study area have
been conducted through geophysical, geotechnical, geological and seismological
methods. The study of environmental hazards that are resulted from faults and
flash flood zones helps in defining the vulnerable zones in the study area on both
sides of the Qena-Safaga road. The special variability of the environmental hazard
along the road occur as a result of the variation in the morphometric characteristics
of each basin and the relative distances from the main valleys along with the
relative distances from the active faults (microseismicity zones).
The high load of traffics on the Qena-Safaga road especially by trucks may
increase the strain along the active fault plains and eventually may increase the
weakness zones.

RECOMMENDATION

Activities necessary to the extent, that mitigation measures have not, or cannot,
prevent disasters. In the preparedness phase, governmental organizations and
individuals develop plans to save and minimize disaster damage (Banger, 2003).
1- It should be allow to changing the path of the lifelines to a permitted and
controlled low level of risk area.
2- Evacuation routes or alternate road for Qena-Safaga asphaltic road and also

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 Assessment and Management of Natural Hazards,...
for the water pipeline, railroad and electric powerlines and telephone poles.
These alternative road and life lines start from Wadi El Serai (south Qena City)
directly toward Naqb El Bashari to Naqb El Kharof to Wadi Hamama to link
again with the asphaltic road of Qena-Safaga road at km 45, as shown in the
Landsat satellite image, Fig. (16).
3- Also, it should design centers for continuous monitoring and observation
operations at cells.
4- the expansion of Qena City must be changed from the proposed location of
the new Qena City at km 15 toward the south near the alternate road of Qena-
Safaga road at Cell A, where the area is far from the avoidance zone of the
active fault at km 30 area along Qena-Safaga road.
5- The alternative road will build on the floor of the main stream channels of Wadi
El Serai and Wadi Hamama. Landforms (relief and slope) on both sides of the
alternative road are asymmetrically developed. It is quite evident that Gabals
El Gir and Serai have a relatively rugged mountainous relief with elevations
up to 500 m and steep slops.

Figure 16: Disaster preparedness map of the study area.

REFERENCES

Abdel Fattah, A. K.; Hussein, H. M.; Ibrahim E. M. and Abu El-Atta, A. S., 1997.
Fault plane solutions of the 1993 and 1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquakes and their tectonic
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Aero Service Division, Western Geophysical Company of America, 1985:
Interpretation report airborne Gamma-ray Spectrometer and Magnetometer survey of
the Eastern Desert of Egypt prepared for the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation,
Cairo, Egypt.
Banger, S. K., 2003. Remote sensing and geographical information system for natural

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‫‪disaster management. Dept. Eng. Tech. Limited, New Delhi, India.‬‬

‫‪Edward, A. K. and Nicholas, P., 1996. Active tectonics: Earthquakes, uplift and‬‬
‫‪landscape. Simon and Schuster Publ. New Jersey.‬‬
‫‪EGSMA, 1978. Geological map of Aswan Quadrangle, Egypt, scale 1:500000.‬‬
‫‪EGSMA, 1979. Geological map of Aswan, Egypt, scale 1:1000000.‬‬
‫‪EGSMA,1983. Geological map of Wadi Qena Quadrangle, Egypt, scale1:250000.‬‬
‫‪EGSMA, 1992. Geological map of Al Qusayr Quadrangle, Egypt, scale 1:250000.‬‬
‫‪EGSMA, 2001. Geology of the area east Nile Vally between Qena and north Sohag,‬‬
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‫‪M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University,‬‬
‫‪Alexandria, Egypt.‬‬
‫‪El Kazzaz, Y. A., 1999. Active faulting along Qena-Safaga road. 1st Int. Conf. Geol.‬‬
‫‪Africa, Assuit University, Vol. 2, pp. 385 - 404.‬‬
‫‪ERDAS, 1997: ERDAS Field Guide, ERDAS, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia, 5th Edition, 665p.‬‬
‫‪Johnson, R., 2000. GIS technology for disasters and emergency management. ESRI,‬‬
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‫‪Kaisser, H. 2005. Hazard Assessment and Rupture Models along Qena-Safaga District,‬‬
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‫‪University, Cairo.‬‬
‫‪Kerr, J., Dissen, R., Webb, V. P., Brunsdon, D. and King, A. 2002. Planning for‬‬
‫‪development of land on or close to active faults. Inst. Geol. & Nuclear Sci. Publ.‬‬
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‫‪Received April 21, 2008, Revised May 20, 2008‬‬

‫ﺗﻘﻴﻴﻢ وإدارة اﻟﻤﺨﺎﻃﺮ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻃﺮﻳﻖ ﻗﻨﺎ ‪ -‬ﺳﻔﺎﺟﺎ‪ ،‬اﻟﺼﺤﺮاء اﻟﺸﺮﻗﻴﻪ‪ ،‬ﻣﺼﺮ‬

‫ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﻌﺰﻳﺰ ﻋﺰب‬

‫ﻗﺴﻢ اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﻓﻴﺎ ‪ -‬ﻛﻠﻴﺔ اﻷداب‪ ،‬ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﺰﻗﺎزﻳﻖ‪ ،‬اﻟﺰﻗﺎزﻳﻖ‪ ،‬ﻣﺼﺮ‬

‫ﻳﻘﻊ ﻃﺮﻳﻖ ﻗﻨﺎ ‪ -‬ﺳﻔﺎﺟﺎ ﻓﻲ وﺳﻂ اﻟﺼﺤﺮاء اﻟﺸﺮﻗﻴﺔ ﺑﻄﻮل ﺣﻮاﻟﻲ ‪ 160‬ﻛﻢ وهﻮ ﻃﺮﻳﻖ ﺣﻴﻮي ﻳﺼﻞ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ‬
‫ﻗﻨﺎ ﺑﻮادى اﻟﻨﻴﻞ ﺑﻤﻴﻨﺎء ﺳﻔﺎﺟﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺒﺤﺮ اﻷﺣﻤﺮ‪ .‬وﻗﺪ ﺳﺠﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ ﻧﺸﺎط ﺗﻜﺘﻮﻧﻰ ﻋﺎم ‪ 1993‬ﺑﻄﻮل ﻋﺸﺮة‬
‫ﻛﻴﻠﻮﻣﺘﺮات ﺗﻘﺮﻳﺒﺎ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﻜﻴﻠﻮ ﻣﺘﺮ ‪ 20‬واﻟﻜﻴﻠﻮ ﻣﺘﺮ ‪ ،30‬وﻗﺪ أدى هﺬا اﻟﻨﺸﺎط اﻟﺘﻜﺘﻮﻧﻰ إﻟﻰ ﺗﺼﺪع اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ ﻓﻲ هﺬا اﻟﺠﺰء‬
‫و إﻟﺤﺎق أﺿﺮار ﺑﺨﻂ ﺳﻜﻚ ﺣﺪﻳﺪ أﺑﻮ ﻃﺮﻃﻮر‪ -‬ﺳﻔﺎﺟﺎ و ﺑﺨﻂ أﻧﺎﺑﻴﺐ اﻟﻤﻴﺎ ه اﻟﺬي ﻳﻨﻘﻞ اﻟﻤﻴﺎ ه ﻣﻦ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﻗﻨﺎ إﻟﻰ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ‬
‫ﺳﻔﺎﺟﺎ وأﻳﻀﺎ ﻣﻴﻞ أﺑﺮاج رﺑﻂ ﺧﻄﻮط اﻟﺠﻬﺪ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ‪.‬‬
‫و ﻗﺪ ﻟﻮﺣﻆ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ اﻟﺤﻘﻠﻴﺔ أن ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﺼﺪع ﻣﺘﺄﺛﺮة ﺑﻮﺟﻮد ﺗﻤﺰﻗﺎت )ﺷﺮوخ ﻣﻔﺘﻮﺣﺔ( ﺳﻄﺤﻴﺔ ﺗﻈﻬﺮ‬
‫ﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﻤﻮﻋﺎت ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻇﺔ ﺣﺪﻳﺜﺎ ﻳﺰداد ﻋﺪد هﺎ ﻛﻠﻤﺎ اﻗﺘﺮﺑﻨﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺼﺪع اﻟﻨﺸﻂ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻜﻮن اﻟﻌﺴﻮﻳﺔ واﻟﺮواﺳﺐ اﻟﻮدﻳﺎﻧﻴﺔ‬
‫اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺜﺔ‪ .‬وﺑﻌﺾ اﻟﺘﻤﺰﻗﺎت ﻣﺎزال ﻣﻔﺘﻮﺣﺎ واﻵﺧﺮ ﻣﻤﻠﻮء ﺑﺎﻟﺮواﺳﺐ اﻟﻮدﻳﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪ .‬وﺗﻤﺜﻞ هﺬه اﻟﺘﻤﺰﻗﺎت ﺻﺪى ﻟﻠﺤﺮﻛﺔ‬
‫ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺼﺪع اﻟﻨﺸﻂ وﺗﻘﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻄﺎﻗﻪ‪ .‬و ﻗﺪ أﺳﺘﻨﺘﺞ أن اﻟﺼﺪع ﻣﻦ اﻟﻨﻮع اﻻﻧﺰﻻﻗﻰ اﻟﻤﻀﺮﺑﻰ ﻳﺴﺎرى اﻟﺤﺮﻛﺔ‪.‬‬
‫و ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﻏﻢ ﻣﻦ أن ﻃﺒﻮﻏﺮاﻓﻴﺔ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ اﻟﺒﺪﻳﻞ ﻋﺒﺎرة ﻋﻦ ﺳﻬﻮل ﻗﻠﻴﻠﺔ اﻻﻧﺤﺪار ﻳﺼﻞ ارﺗﻔﺎﻋﻬﺎ إﻟﻰ ‪200‬‬
‫م ﺗﻘﺮﻳﺒﺎ‪ ،‬و أن ﺷﺒﻜﺔ ودﻳﺎن اﻟﺼﺮف ﺑﺎﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺗﺼﺐ ﺑﻮادي اﻟﻨﻴﻞ و اﻟﻤﻨﺎخ ﺷﺒﻪ ﺟﺎف ﺑﺎﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ‪ ،‬ﻓﺈن اﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺗﺘﻌﺮض‬
‫ﻷﻣﻄﺎر رﻋﺪﻳﺔ ﺷﺪﻳﺪة ﻓﻲ اﻟﺸﺘﺎء ﻣﻤﺎ ﻗﺪ ﻳﺘﺮﺗﺐ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﺣﺪوث ﺳﻴﻮل هﺎﺋﻠﺔ ﺗﻠﺤﻖ أﺿﺮارا و ﻛﻮارث ﻓﺎدﺣﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻄﺮق‬
‫و اﻟﺒﻨﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﺤﺘﻴﺔ و اﻟﻘﺮى اﻟﻤﺠﺎورة‪ ،‬ﻓﻼﺑﺪ إذن ﻣﻦ ﺗﻘﻴﻴﻢ وﻣﻌﺎﻟﺠﺔ اﻟﻤﺨﺎﻃﺮ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ اﻟﻨﺎﺗﺠﺔ ﻣﻦ هﺬه اﻟﻌﻤﻠﻴﺎت وﻛﺬﻟﻚ‬
‫أﻗﺘﺮاح اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ اﻟﺒﺪﻳﻞ وﻛﻴﻔﻴﺔ ﻣﻌﺎﻟﺠﺔ اﻟﺼﺪع اﻟﻨﺸﻂ ﺑﺄﺳﺘﺨﺪام اﻟﺘﻘﻨﻴﺎت اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺜﺔ‪.‬‬
‫وﻗﺪ ﺗﻢ ﻓﻲ هﺬه اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ اﻻﺳﺘﻌﺎﻧﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺼﺎدر اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت ﻣﻨﻬﺎ اﻟﺨﺮاﺋﻂ اﻟﻄﺒﻮﻏﺮاﻓﻴﺔ‪ ،‬واﻟﺼﻮر اﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ‬
‫‪،‬واﻟﻤﺮﺋﻴﺎت اﻟﻔﻀﺎﺋﻴﺔ واﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻢ اﻟﺤﺼﻮل ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺪر اﺳﻪ اﻟﻤﻴﺪاﻧﻴﺔ‪.‬‬

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