Automatic mapping of lineaments using shaded relief images derived from digital elevation model (DEM) in Erbil-Kurdistan, northeast Iraq

Lineaments are one of the most important features showing subsurface elements or structural weakness, such as faults, and are usually extracted by visual analysis of enhanced image data. Individual experts may extract different segments through a visual approach. To detect lineaments under the same objective conditions, this paper proposes a data processing approach using automatically extracted shaded Relief images from a digital elevation model (DEM). The present study is the first study that used digital elevation model with GIS application in the particular study area to extract lineaments and classify lineaments into positive and negative effects on the drainage pattern. Key words: Digital elevation model (DEM), positive lineament, negative lineament, shaded relief, drainage pattern.