4.1. Interpretation of the processed ASTER data
Fig. 10 shows the ability of the CEM technique to deal with
mixed background spectra. CEM technique performed very
well and indentified areas of hazardous clay minerals. Most
of the montmorillonite clay minerals are concentrated along
the Nile Valley but the rest of the regions are distributed inside
and within wadis of the Eastern side of the study area (overlooking
the Red Sea) and in Wadi Qena in the middle section.
CEM result can be used for alteration zone mapping with less
field visits especially in inaccessible areas. This is because the
result is much closer to the real conditions in the study area
and it also matches the geological and stratigraphic description
(Fig. 4).
4.2. Hazards urban development
As a result of the applied suitability model (Fig. 9), hazardous
area of swelling soil in the 5 km buffer zone of the study area
was obtained (Fig. 11). This 5 km buffer zone is considered to
be the area most liable to urban development around the road.