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Kariz (Ancient Aqueduct) system: a review on geoengineering and environmental studies

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Abstract

Kariz (Qanat or Roman Aqueduct) is an old knowledge that has been used in more than 35 countries. Kariz, previously recognized as a water management technology, involves horizontal subsurface galleries and vertical monitoring shafts, which works based on natural gravity force. This paper reviews various geoengineering and environmental impacts studies that have been carried out on Kariz networks during recent decades. Geoengineering studies aim to figure out the location, geometrical structure, depth and path of Kariz galleries, which characterize a major hazard particularly in sites located in cities. Among the geoengineering studies, geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) methods are very common methods in exploring underground tunnels and other structural parameters related to Karizes. Defining the location and size of un-mapped Karizes also help to estimate the risk of subsidence and to develop plans for restoration and safety. Further, remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, which have been recently applied in a number of fields, are discussed. These new techniques help to map the positioning of networks in regions. Other emerging impacts of Kariz systems as an environmentally-friendly technology, its impacts on tourism attraction, land subsidence, and water management have been explored here. Due to modern lifestyle and demand for clean water as a result of population growth, especially in semi-arid or arid climates, this review study aims to explore the important role of Kariz system as a sustainable way of underground water management.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is a part of a non-profit research project called ‘Kariz: Ancient Technology for Sustainable Water Management’. The authors are grateful to three anonymous reviewers who were solicited to provide very useful suggestions that substantially improved the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    A. Ebrahimi

  2. Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Yousef Mehraban

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK

    Hamid Omidvarborna

  4. Laboratoire PHENIX, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France

    Ali Vakilinejad

  5. Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Abdul Razak S. Al-Sayigh

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  1. A. Ebrahimi
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Ebrahimi, A., Mehraban, Y., Omidvarborna, H. et al. Kariz (Ancient Aqueduct) system: a review on geoengineering and environmental studies. Environ Earth Sci 80, 236 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09545-2

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