layers analysis

Kuwait's arid desert landscape, geological formations, and extreme climate conditions make it a potential site for establishing a terrestrial Mars analog, as this research presents a new GIS-based methodology. The Analog Conjunctive Method (ACM) was specifically developed to identify a suitable location in Kuwait to hold a terrestrial Mars analog using a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques. Analogs play a crucial role in simulating different Martian conditions, supporting astronaut training, testing various exploration technologies, and doing different types of scientific research on these environments. The ACM method integrates GIS and remote sensing techniques to evaluate the study area, resulting in potential sites for analog. The analysis employs two stages to finalize the best location. In stage one, the newly developed ACM is applied; it systematically eliminates unstable areas while allowing minimal flexibility for real-world environmental adjustment, particularly in regions with natural wind barriers. ACM is used to process the buffers created for the seven criteria (urban areas and farms, coastal areas, streets, airports, oil fields, natural reserves, and country borders) in QGIS to exclude unsuitable areas. Stage two screens the stage one map locations using different data (STRM, Copernicus sentinel-2, and field visits) to polish the selection based on other criteria (water bodies, dust rate, vegetation cover, and topography). The result shows nine locations in Jal Al-Zor as potential analog sites where a random location is selected for a 3D model creation to visualize the analog. Java Mission-planning and Analysis for Remote Sensing (JMARS) software was used to identify similarities between specific areas, such as the Jal Al-Zor escarpment and Huwaimllyah sand dunes in the Kuwait desert, and comparable terrains on Mars. The research concluded that Jal Al-Zor holds substantial potential as a terrestrial Mars analog site due to its geological and topographical similarities to Martian landscapes. This makes it an ideal location for crew training, Mars equipment testing, and further research in Mars analog studies, providing valuable insights for future planetary exploration.