مجلة الاربعين المحكمة
Reliance on renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, is a key component of achieving environmental sustainability, especially in areas with intensive seasonal use, such as the pilgrims’ route linking Baghdad and Karbala. This research aims to identify the optimal locations for installing solar cells along this vital route, using remote sensing techniques and image processing algorithms. This ensures maximum energy efficiency while minimizing interference with existing infrastructure and services. The study relied on high-resolution satellite data, along with a digital elevation model (DEM) and solar radiation data, to identify areas with the greatest exposure to sunlight and optimal surface slope. Land cover characteristics were also analyzed using spectral indices such as NDVI and BSI, taking into account topographic factors, shade, and vegetation density, within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment. To weight factors and prioritize impacts, the Analytical Hierarchy Model (AHP) method was applied, producing a final map showing the optimal installation locations. The results showed that approximately 23% of the studied route is highly suitable for solar cell installation. Among the most efficient areas are the outskirts of Yusufiyah, Latifiyah, Sadr al-Yusufiyah, Rustamiyah, al-Radwaniyah, al-Haswa, Khan al-Nas, the outskirts of Alexandria, and al-Hindiyah Dam, due to their gentle slopes, direct solar exposure, and distance from urban and natural obstacles. This study provides a practical framework for sustainable energy planning in visitor service infrastructure projects. It also opens up future prospects for expanding the model to include similar corridors or integrating it with time-series data to monitor energy performance throughout the year.