National-scale spatial modelling of dust storm pollution and vulnerability of tourism destinations and infrastructure

This dataset comprises spatial criterion maps and model outputs developed to assess the vulnerability of tourism destinations and related infrastructure to atmospheric dust storm pollution at the national scale in Iran. The data were produced within the framework of the study entitled "National-scale spatial modelling of dust storm pollution and vulnerability of tourism destinations and infrastructure". The dataset includes a comprehensive set of spatial indicators representing the three core components of vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Exposure-related layers characterize the intensity, frequency, and severity of dust storm pollution, while sensitivity indicators reflect the spatial concentration and diversity of tourism destinations and supporting infrastructure. Adaptive capacity layers represent ecological, infrastructural, and service-based capacities that mitigate the impacts of dust pollution. All spatial layers were standardized using the min–max normalization method to ensure comparability. Criterion weights were derived using the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM), and the standardized layers were integrated using a Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) approach within a GIS environment to quantify exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity levels. These components were subsequently combined to generate a national-scale vulnerability map of tourism destinations to dust storm pollution. In addition, spatial overlay analysis was applied to identify the vulnerability status of individual tourism destinations and infrastructure by intersecting their geographic locations with the final vulnerability surface. The resulting dataset provides spatially explicit insights into dust pollution risks affecting tourism systems and supports evidence-based environmental management, climate adaptation planning, and pollution mitigation strategies in dust-prone regions. The dataset includes: Spatial criterion maps for dust storm exposure Spatial criterion maps representing tourism sensitivity Spatial criterion maps for adaptive capacity indicators WLC model outputs for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity components Final national-scale vulnerability map of tourism destinations to dust storm pollution