Detection of active faults using data fusion techniques-case study: Psachna, island of Evoia, Greece

The identification of active faults (faults potentially capable to trigger an earthquake) is important for a seismically active country like Greece. Remote sensing techniques and GIS analysis were used in order to detect, map and characterize the tectonic structures of Psachna town and the surrounding area in central Evoia, Greece. Geometrically corrected and processed Landsat ETM+ data are used for the lineament analysis. The expert knowledge for the interpretation of the lineaments was used against algorithm and other automatic methods in order to increase the qualitative accuracy of the method. The refined lineament map, the seismic data of about the last 40 years, the Quaternary formations map, and the drainage anomalies map were integrated in a GIS. The proposed model examines and classifies every lineament based on a set of predefined criteria. The classification system is in accordance with the official regulations for neotectonic mapping in Greece and consists of four classes: active fault, possible active fault, inactive fault and lineaments. Further analysis of the active and possible active faults shows two sets of directions, NW-SE and ENE-WSW striking. Both directions are in accordance with the extensional tectonic regime in the central Evoia in Pliocene and Middle - Upper Pleistocene, respectively.