LAUSR

Sand dunes occupy a vast expanse of desert area in Iran and they are considered as a threat for urban areas and agricultural lands. Erg is an area of desert covered with shifting sand dunes. Saduq (Ashkezar) city, located in the west and northwest of the Yazd City, Iran, is surrounded by these mobile sand dunes. The aim of this study was the risk assessment of sand dune disaster in relation to geomorphic properties and vulnerability. The methods of satellite imageries, multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network, and geographic information system (GIS) were used. Sand dunes changes were mapped, and field surveys were carried out to resolve any ambiguities. The results show that the sand dunes in the center of Erg have moved closer to the city and agricultural lands. The dunes displacement (movement) was dependence to size, cover and shape and direction of them. These analyses can help to city governor and mayor for preventing of dunes offense toward the city.