A fusion approach for evaluating ground conditions for seismic microzoning at the Egyptian Solar Park in Benban, Aswan

Environmental Earth Sciences (2023) 82:305 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-10968-2 ORIGINAL ARTICLE A fusion approach for evaluating ground conditions for seismic microzoning at the Egyptian Solar Park in Benban, Aswan Sayed S. R. Moustafa1 · Abdelnasser Mohamed2 · H. E. Abdelhafiez1 · K. El‑Faragawy3 · S. Ali2 Received: 28 January 2023 / Accepted: 7 May 2023 / Published online: 1 June 2023 © The Author(s) 2023 Abstract Seismic microzoning is the process of mapping out and comprehending the differences in ground motion due to earthquakes in a certain location. Accurate seismic microzoning is vital for the development and safety of buildings and infrastructure in earthquake-prone locations. In this work, we present the application of microtremors, multichannel analysis of surface and machine learning approaches for seismic microzoning at Benban Solar Park in Aswan, Egypt. The findings of the investigation indicated that the ground at Benban Solar Park was generally stiff, with certain regions having stronger stiffness and damping qualities than others. The data also indicated variances in the ground conditions at various sites inside the solar park, with certain regions having a greater risk of ground motion due to earthquakes. Overall, the combination of microtremors, multichannel analysis, and machine learning has shown to be an excellent strategy for correctly and effectively mapping out the ground conditions at Benban Solar Park and assuring the safety and structural integrity of the solar power plants at the park. Moreover, the results of the research could be used to guide the design and construction of the future solar power plants at the park and to examine the safety and structural integrity of the solar park. Furthermore, the application of these techniques not only ensures the safety and structural integrity of the solar power plants at Benban Solar Park, but also promotes sustainable development by providing valuable information for the design and construction of future solar power plants at the park, in line with the principles of environmentally-conscious and responsible development. Keywords Seismic site classification · Microtremors · HVSR · Machine-learning · Clustering · Benban · Aswan · Egypt * Sayed S. R. Moustafa Abdelnasser Mohamed H. E. Abdelhafiez K. El‑Faragawy S. Ali 1 Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN), Seismology Department, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Elmarsad Street, Helwan, Cairo 11421, Egypt 2 Aswan Seismological Center, Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN), Seismology Department, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Sahary Cit, Aswany, Aswan 152, Egypt 3 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, Sahary City ‑ Airport Road, Aswan, Aswan 81528, Egypt Introduction Egypt is one of the nations with a large population, with the majority of its citizens located in the Nile Valley and Delta areas. The expanding population and the desire to improve the Egyptian community’s living standards are driving the creation of new metropolitan areas, special economic zones, infrastructure construction, and other forms of development initiatives. The only sites feasible for such operations are the desert zones around the riverbank on both sides of the Nile (Soltani 2022). Although the scale and rate of development in Egyptian cities vary, the problem is satisfying a rising demand for safe energy resources. The impending energy shortage, along with the risk of a changing climate, necessitates innovations in the energy sector. To secure a prosperous, healthy, and ecologically sound future, there is a greater demand for a new industrialization, one powered by inexpensive, accessible solar and wind renewable energy sources (Abouaiana and Battisti 2022). 13 Vol.:(0123456789) 305 Page 2 of 21 Egypt’s geographic location places it at the epicentre of the global solar belt, making it one of the world’s wealthiest countries in terms of renewable solar energy. The southern part of Egypt is one of the ideal sites for building future concentrated solar power due to high solar radiation. The Governorate of Aswan in the southern region of Egypt holds significant potential for the development of future renewable energy projects. Aswan is distinct from the other Egyptian provinces in a variety of socio-economic, anthropological, historic, and cultural conditions. One of the biggest solar energy stations in the world is being constructed in the Benban village, where 90% of the electricity generated by the High Dam will be produced. This is within the framework of the strategy developed by the New and Renewable Energy Authority, which aims to make 20% of the electricity produced in Egypt from clean energy sources (Ibrahim et al. 2021; Hochberg 2021). Benban Solar Park ( BSP ) is a photovoltaic power station with a total capacity of 1650 megawatts of power. It is situated in the western desert, about 40 kms northwest of Aswan. It is currently one of the largest solar power plants in the world. BSP located on an area of 37.2 km2 which is subdivided into 41 separate plots arranged in four rows, with each plot ranging in size from 0.3 to 1.0 km2 . The 41 plants in the BSP are linked to the high-voltage network via four new substations built on-site by the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company. It has attracted significant attention globally due to its scale and the fact that it is located in an area with high solar radiation. On the other hand, Aswan is situated in a seismically active zone with a history of moderate to large earthquakes. Thus, it is vital to examine and mitigate any seismic hazards at the BSP through a seismic microzonation study to guarantee the safety of buildings and infrastructure and the dependability of the system. Seismic microzonation is the act of partitioning a territory into different zones depending on its seismic hazard level. It comprises the measurement of site-specific parameters, such as soil type, thickness, and stiffness, and the possible ground shaking and damage that might occur during an earthquake (Moustafa et al. 2016). Seismic microzonation is particularly vital for big infrastructure projects, such as the BSP , where the safety of the buildings and equipment is critical. By identifying regions with increased seismic risk, suitable design and construction procedures may be adopted to decrease the possibility of damage and assure the safety of the infrastructure (Pitilakis 2004). Site effect analysis is an indispensable part of any microzonation study for the proper planning of urban areas. It relates to the surface geology and geotechnical properties of soil deposits, which have a significant impact on seismic ground motion (Bonnefoy-Claudet et al. 2006). Generally, site effects include the modification of the characteristics that are controlled by anomalies in the mechanical properties of the shallowest layers of s (...truncated)