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Remote Sensing and GIS Contribution to the Detection of Areas Susceptible to

Natural Hazards in the Safi Area, W-Morocco

Conference Paper · March 2014

DOI: 10.1109/ICT-DM.2014.6917786

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 Published in: Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Management (ICT-DM), 2014 1st International Conference, 24-25
March 2014, Algiers, Algeria, Page(s) 1 – 5, Print ISBN: 978-1-4799-4768-3, DOI: 10.1109/ICT-DM.2014.6917786, Publisher: IEEE ,
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=6906580
Remote Sensing and GIS Contribution to the
Detection of Areas Susceptible to Natural Hazards
in the Safi Area, W- Morocco
Barbara Theilen-Willige,
Ralf Löwner
Institute of Applied Geosciences,
Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin)
Berlin, Germany
Barbara.Theilen-Willige@t-online.de
Abstract—The quality , data amount and information content
of GeoInformation Systems (GIS) dealing with natural hazards
and vulnerability assessment has increased considerably during
the last decades. Meanwhile many countries have implemented
such a GIS for the public use, whereby satellite imageries before
and after disasters form important layers within these GIS. In
the scope of this research adaptation strategies are developed by
presenting an approach in which Geographic Information
Systems, used together with remote sensing data, contribute to
the analysis and presentation of information, especially required
for the increasing geo-hazards in Morocco, such as earthquakes,
mass movements and flooding using mainly free available,
existing data for contributing to a GIS integrated data base.
Keywords—remote sensing, GIS, natural hazards, Safi, Morocco
I. INTRODUCTION
Morocco is facing miscellaneous natural hazards
presenting all serious risks. The demographic growth, the
economic development, urban expansion and the vulnerable
infrastructure increase these risks even more [1]. Mitigation
of damages following disastrous events highly depends on the
available information and the quick and proper assessment of
the situation. Responding local and national authorities should
be provided in advance with information and maps where the
highest damages due to unfavourable, local site conditions in
case of extreme natural events such as stronger earthquakes
and earthquake-related secondary effects (landslides,
liquefaction, soil amplifications or compaction) can be
assumed.
A. Objectives
The aim of this contribution is to develop an approach, in
which Geographic Information Systems (GIS) used together
with remote sensing data, contribute to the analysis and
presentation of information, especially required for the
increasing geo-hazards in W-Morocco. The ability to
F. El Bchari, H. Ait Malek, M. Chaibi, A. Charif,
C.Nakhcha, M. Ait Ougougdal, M. Ridaoui, E.
Boumaggard
Department of Natural Science
Polydisciplinary Faculty- University of Cadi Ayyad
Safi, Morocco
undertake the assessment, monitoring and modelling can be
improved to a considerable extent through the current
advances in remote sensing and GIS technology. Causal or
critical environmental factors influencing the disposition of
settlements, industrial and infrastructural facilities to be
affected by natural hazards can be analysed interactively in a
GIS database. The interactions and dependencies between
different causal and preparatory factors can be visualized and
weighted step by step in this GIS environment.
The main objective is the detection of areas more
susceptible to hazards according to a standardized, systematic
and clearly arranged approach, that can be used in any area.
In the scope of this study, open-source data as of
OpenStreetMap or of Google Earth are used in addition for
gaining the necessary information, as well as evaluations of
ESRI base maps and further Web-tools.
B. Overview of the Main Natural Hazards in Morocco
The following sections provide a short overview of the
main natural hazards occurring in Morocco such as
earthquakes, flooding, mass movements, droughts and karst
phenomena. Among these natural hazards earthquake and
earthquake induced secondary effects such as tsunami waves
or landslides are in the focus of this research.
1) Earthquakes
Located in the westernmost part of Alpine belt, Morocco is
belonging to the converging African and Eurasian plate’s
boundary. This particular tectonic situation is expressed by
seismic activity. During the last 1000 years, Morocco
experienced several destructive earthquakes that maximum
intensity exceeded IX in the MSK scale [2, 3].
Ground-shaking during an earthquake predominantly
depends on several factors such as the magnitude, properties
of fault plane solutions, the distance from the fault and local
geologic conditions. The inhomogeneous spatial distribution
of damage caused by earthquakes is above all controlled by
 Published in: Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Management (ICT-DM), 2014 1st International Conference, 24-25
March 2014, Algiers, Algeria, Page(s) 1 – 5, Print ISBN: 978-1-4799-4768-3, DOI: 10.1109/ICT-DM.2014.6917786, Publisher: IEEE ,
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=6906580
the local geological conditions that can amplify or de-amplify
the amplitude of the seismic motion before it reaches the
surface of the ground or the foundation of the buildings. Local
geologic conditions are the cause of difference in shaking
intensity, but often there is few certainty of the particular
conditions in a specific area that are most responsible, and the
degree to which they affect earthquake shaking..
As a prerequisite for earthquake preparedness a detailed
inventory of sites more susceptible to earthquake damage and
to earthquake related secondary effects has to be carried, out
as well as inventories of the actual land use type and
population density and distribution.
2) Flooding - Inundation due to Flash Floods, Tsunami-
and Meteo-Waves in Coastal Areas of Morocco
Around the sea side and near-shore zone of Morocco there
is a potential for generation of tsunamis and storm surge. Parts
of the coastline have suffered from disastrous marine waves in
history. Historical earthquakes and associated tsunamis are
identified from verified catalogues (EMSC, ISC, NOAA). The
most destructive historic tsunami known was generated by the
1 November 1755 “Lisbon” earthquake [4, 5, 6]. The tsunami
waves flooded low lands in many segments of the Moroccan
coast. Therefore, a part of this research is focused on flooding
susceptibility mapping in areas.
3) Detection of Sites Susceptible to Landslides
Landslides at the western Moroccan coasts are a widely
distributed. On the cliff-type coasts block-wise movements
and rock falls are prevailing. For predicting possible further
landslide activity it is necessary to look at the conditions,
under which landslides have occurred in the past, and to use
the critical combinations of factors, where comparable terrain
conditions exist. Remote sensing and GIS-tools help to
identify the causative factors that are related to slope failure,
in order to estimate the relative contribution (degree of
influence) of these factors, and to detect relationships between
the factors and landslides occurrence.
II. METHODS
Satellite imageries and digital elevation models (DEM)
data were used for data mining and for the generation of an
image based GIS. They were combined with different geodata
and other thematic maps. This included an inventory of
geophysic, geologic and geomorphologic and of land use data.
A. Evaluations of Digital Elevation Model Data (DEM)
To automatically identify the landform types that affect site
conditions, the relief elements were grouped into terrain
features. Terrain features can be described and categorized
into simple topographic relief elements or units by
parameterizing DEMs such as height levels, slope gradients,
and terrain curvature. From SRTM and ASTER DEM data
derived morphometric maps (slope gradient maps, drainage,
etc.) were combined then with lithologic and seisomotectonic
information in a GIS data.
When searching for areas susceptible to soil amplification,
liquefaction or compaction the so called causative or
preparatory factors have to be taken into account. Some of the
causal factors can be determined systematically: From slope
gradient maps are extracted those areas with the steepest
slopes, and from curvature maps the areas with the highest
curvature as these are more susceptible to landslides. Height
level maps help to search for topographic depressions covered
of almost recently formed sediments, which are usually linked
with higher groundwater tables. In case of stronger
earthquakes those areas often show the highest earthquake
damage intensities.
1) Weighted Overlay for Soil Amplification Detection
(WOSAD)
An important step towards susceptibility mapping is the
weighted overlay method in ArcGIS as the influence of the
factors on earthquake ground motion is not equally important.
The percentage of influence of one factor might be changing,
for example due to seasonal and climatic reasons, or distance
to the earthquake source. As a stronger earthquake during a
wet season will probably cause more secondary effects than
during a dry season, the percentage of its influence has to be
adapted. In very hot and dry seasons the risk of liquefaction or
landslides is generally lower than in winter and spring times.
According to the local specific conditions and, thus, varying
influence these factors are weighted (in %).
GIS integrated geodata were used to detect, map and
visualize those factors that are known to be related to the
occurrence of higher earthquake shock and / or earthquake
induced secondary effects: factors such as lithology (loose
sedimentary covers), basin and valley topography, fault zones
or steeper slopes. For example: The distribution of
unconsolidated, youngest sedimentary covers can often be
correlated with areas showing less than 10° slope gradient.
From ASTER DEM data of the investigation area the flat
areas with no curvatures of the terrain and low to no slope
gradients and the lowest areas are extracted. From geologic
and hydro-geologic maps the youngest, unconsolidated
sediments are mapped and converted to ESRI-Grid-format as
higher earthquake damages have been documented related to
these sediments. The extraction of the specific parameters is
visualized in Fig.1.
 Published in: Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Management (ICT-DM), 2014 1st International Conference, 24-25
March 2014, Algiers, Algeria, Page(s) 1 – 5, Print ISBN: 978-1-4799-4768-3, DOI: 10.1109/ICT-DM.2014.6917786, Publisher: IEEE ,
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=6906580
Fig.1: Selection and extraction of causal or preparatory factors
Comparing the results of the weighted overlay-calculations
with geologic maps, there is a clearly visible coincidence of
areas with higher susceptibility values and the outcrop of
unconsolidated, quaternary sediments in broader valleys and
depressions.
1) Weighted Overlay for Flooding Susceptibility (WOFS)-
Approach
This study considers as well the support provided by
remote sensing data and a GIS based spatial databases for the
delineation of potential sites susceptible to inundation,
especially in the coastal areas of Morocco. Two types of
flooding can be distinguished: land-borne floods, or river
flooding, caused by excessive run-off brought on by heavy
rains, and sea-borne floods, caused by storm surges, meteo
and tsunami waves.
The weighted overlay approach was used for the detection
and identification of endangered lowland areas susceptible to
flooding in coastal areas. For this purpose, hydromorphologic
parameters were calculated using the Hydrology tools of
Spatial Analyst (ArcGIS, ESRI). In order to estimate potential
flow input, data such as slope, aspect, contours, basin areas,
and flow lines are needed. These data were derived from
SRTM and ASTER DEM datasets. The lowest and flattest
areas were identified. Contours of water bodies and flow lines
(rivers) were digitised based on high resolution satellite
imageries. This approach helps to map areas susceptible to
flooding due to their morphometric disposition. It is useful as
well in areas prone to flash floods.
Whenever the above mentioned causal factors occur
aggregated in an area, the susceptibility to extreme flooding
events such as flash floods after heavy rains is rising. As river
mouths form an entrance for flooding waves from the sea,
those areas along the river sides are even more susceptible to
flooding. Traces of former flooding events can often be
detected on morphometric maps of coastal areas affected by
extreme flooding events from the seaside such as on curvature
and hillshade maps.
B. Digital Image Processing
Different satellite data and image processing tools were
tested in order to find out whether the satellite data can
contribute to the detection of causal factors influencing
earthquake shock and to seasonal landscape monitoring. For a
better overview of seasonal influences on earthquake ground
motion and on secondary effects a multi-temporal analysis of
different satellite data has to be carried out, in combination
with evaluations of long-term groundwater table
measurements in the field and climate data. Groundwater
table data are an important input when dealing with the
seasonal influences on earthquake effects.
1) Evaluations of LANDSAT Data
LANDSAT data of Morocco provided by the Global Land
Cover Facility, University of Maryland, USA and the USGS-
EarthExplorer were used for evaluations. The free available,
cloud-free LANDSAT-Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS),
Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM)
and LANDSAT 8 data from 1972 to 2014 were digitally
processed.
2) Evaluations of RapidEye-Data
RapidEye image data were provided by the German
Aerospace Center (DLR / Neustrelitz) based on the project
proposal RESA Nr.621 and by the support of the RapidEye
AG.
For disaster preparedness the almost detailed detection and
documentation of settlements, infrastructure, industrial
facilities, etc., that might be exposed to earthquake and other
hazards, especially their different exposures to soil
amplification, landslides or active tectonic processes is
necessary. High resolution satellite imageries can serve as
georeferenced base for the mapping of the actual infra-
structure. Based on RapidEye satellite data different RGB
combinations of the 5 bands were tested. Low pass and high
pass filters and directional variations were used for the
detection of subtle surface structures such as of fault zones or
of landslides. Merging the “morphologic” image products
derived from “Morphologic Convolution” image processing in
ENVI software with RGB imageries, the evaluation
feasibilities were improved. The spatial resolution of 5 m
allowed a quite detailed overview of structural / tectonic
features (lineament analysis) and a monitoring of areas prone
to mass movements and to karst processes. A systematic
inventory of dolines could be carried out.
3) Evaluations of IKONOS Data
High resolution IKONOS satellite imageries (up to 80 cm)
were provided by the GeoEye-Foundation /USA for this
research. These data were mainly used for the actualization of
infrastructural data, for landslide analysis, the detection of
 Published in: Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Management (ICT-DM), 2014 1st International Conference, 24-25
March 2014, Algiers, Algeria, Page(s) 1 – 5, Print ISBN: 978-1-4799-4768-3, DOI: 10.1109/ICT-DM.2014.6917786, Publisher: IEEE ,
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=6906580
neotectonic and karst features. The coastal landslide area of
Safi is hereby shown as an example, where IKONOS-data and
the derived images such as the RGB, Morphologic
Convolution, High Pass-Filter, Principal Component- images
were used in order to map visible scarps and erosional
features. The different image products were merged among
each other for enhancing the evaluation feasibilities.
III. EVALUATIONS
A. Use of Remote Sensing and GIS for the Detection of
Local Site Conditions influencing Earthquake Shock
According to the described methods the WOSAD approach
was investigated based on SRTM- and ASTER DEM data
providing an overview of areas with aggregation of causal
factors in W-Morocco, where the susceptibility to damages
can be assumed to be higher in case of stronger earthquakes
due to unfavourable, local site conditions. After extracting,
aggregating and weighting the potential causal factors
influencing local site conditions with different percentages of
influence, the resulting map can be presented (Fig.2). The dark
red areas on the map are considered to be more susceptible to
soil amplification as in these areas the following factors are
summarizing their effects: relative higher groundwater tables
in the lowest parts of the valleys (valley bottom topography),
flat morphology with low slope and curvature gradients
related in general to unconsolidated, sedimentary covers.
Whenever stronger earthquakes happen in this area, it can be
derived better based on the existing reference data base, where
relatively higher damages are more likely to occur. In case of
a stronger nearby or far-field earthquake secondary effects like
earthquake induced block-gliding or rock fall in the coastal
areas or doline subsidence are assumed to be more probable to
cause damages.
Fig.2: Weighted overlay result
B. Use of Remote Sensing and GIS for the Detection of Areas
Susceptible to Flooding
The use of the weighted overlay approach for the detection
of areas susceptible to flooding (flash floods, storm surge or
and factors derived from ASTER GDEM data enhancing the
tsunami waves) is demonstrated by the example of the Safi-
area (Fig.3). The weighted overlay of morphometric properties
susceptibility to inundation (height level < 10 m, slope degree
< 10°, terrain curvature = 0, aspect= (-1), dropraster <
100.000, etc.) provides a map indicating, where these factors
occur aggregated.
C. Slope Failure
As the fracture and fault pattern generally has an influence
on landslide dynamics, the analysis of the tectonic pattern
plays an important part in the landslide hazard assessment. A
careful search to locate areas with close spacing of faults and
joints, especially where they overlap and intersect, helps to
look for evidence of possible continued movements and of
potential take-off domains. For this purpose satellite imageries
were analysed in order to detect weak zones in the sub-surface
as demonstrated in Fig.4. Cracks at the crown, main scarps
and landslide scarps due to block gliding, fracture and fault
zones can be mapped on the aerial images and high resolution
satellite imageries.
I. CONCLUSIONS
GIS integrated evaluations of remote sensing and can be
combined with updateable and dynamic scenarios for
earthquakes in the geo-databases of a GIS, assisting the
procedure of prepared-ness and increasing the organization
and effectiveness of response activities. GIS integrated
evaluations of different satellite data can contribute
considerably to the detection of those areas that are assumed
to be prone to relatively higher earthquake ground motion due
to the aggregation of preparatory factors influencing local site
response.
Fig.3: Areas prone to flooding (flash floods, storm surge and tsunami waves)
according to the weighted overlay results presented in dark-blue
 Published in: Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Management (ICT-DM), 2014 1st International Conference, 24-25
March 2014, Algiers, Algeria, Page(s) 1 – 5, Print ISBN: 978-1-4799-4768-3, DOI: 10.1109/ICT-DM.2014.6917786, Publisher: IEEE ,
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=6906580
Fig.4: Use of IKONOS data merging different RGB band combinations with
the panchromatic band 8 and deriving “artificial hillshade” images by using
filter tools in ENVI software for the mapping of areas prone to mass
movements in the north of Safi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors acknowledge all the support without which
such works would not be achievable:
1) Support of the project ” Environmental risk management in
the Region of Safi, Morocco”, funded by the Federal Ministry
of Education and Research, International Bureau, Germany,
No. 01DH12055, V C 2-25 – 10040656.
2) Support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Neu-
strelitz, in the scope of the RESA-project proposal “Use of
RapidEye-Data for the Detection of Natural Hazard Prone
Areas (Earthquake, Tsunami, Landslides, Desertification) in
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W-Morocco”, RESA-Project ID 621, by providing RapidEye-
satellite data of the investigation area.
3) Support of the GeoEye Foundation, Herndon, USA, by
providing IKONOS-satellite data of the cities El Jadida, Safi
and Marrakech in Morocco.
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