Three-Dimensional Lineament Visualization Using Fuzzy B-Spline Algorithm from Multispectral Satellite Data

A lineament is a linear feature in a landscape which is an expression of an underlying geological structure such as a fault. Typically a lineament will comprise a fault-aligned valley, a series of fault or fold-aligned hills, a straight coastline or indeed a combination of these features. Fracture zones, shear zones and igneous intrusions such as dykes can also give rise to lineaments. Lineaments are often apparent in geological or topographic maps and can appear obvious on aerial or satellite photographs. The term 'megalineament' has been used to describe such features on a continental scale. The trace of the San Andreas Fault might be considered an example. The Trans Brazilian Lineament and the TransSaharan Belt, taken together, form perhaps the longest coherent shear zone on the Earth, extending for about 4,000 km. Lineaments have also been identified on other planets and their moons. Their origins may be radically different from those of terrestrial lineaments due to the differing tectonic processes involved (Mostafa and Bishta, 2005; Semere and Ghebreab, 2006).