Delineating of groundwater potential zones based on remote sensing,GIS and analytical hierarchical process: a case of Waddai,eastern Chad

GeoJournal - The delineation of favourable areas of water potentials and their management must be based on rigorous scientific studies. Thus, geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing...     

Context-aware abstraction and generalization of street networks: two cognitively engineered user-oriented approaches using network Voronoi diagrams

Generalization and spatial contextual awareness are prevalent concepts in geographic information systems. This study adopted a context-dependent user-centred network generalization method to create a sub-network for optimal route finding. The results show an increase in the number of preferred traversed edges. A route presentation approach is suggested that is based on cognitively engineered user-oriented abstraction of street network. Successive abstractions hierarchize the street network to create a hierarchical presentation structure. The route is projected onto one level in the structure. Then, instead of showing the exact route, the network Voronoi regions represented by the projected route are shown. Experience indicates that the suggested method is an efficient way of route presentation for a hierarchical regionalized structure of a human cognitive map.     

Investigation of heavy metal uptake by three types of ornamental plants as affected by application of organic and chemical fertilizers in contaminated soils

Accumulation of heavy metals in soil media is considered as a serious environmental problem, which is hazardous to human and animal health. There have been several methods for the removal of these toxic metals. One of the commonly used methods is the use of plants, especially ornamental plants to remove heavy metals from soils. In this regard, the study has been conducted on the soils contaminated with Mn, Pb, Ni, and Cd using factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with two factors including three types of soil (soil A for the highest level of contamination, B for the lowest level of pollution, and C for the non-contaminated soil) with different contamination levels as well as three types of ornamental plants, gladiolus, daffodils, and narcissus with four replications. In another part of the study, soil A and gladiolus were used in a completely randomized design with three replications, and also three types of fertilizers, such as municipal solid waste compost, triple superphosphate and diammonium phosphate, were added to this soil. In addition, the availability of heavy metal was studied in gladiolus as influenced by the application of organic and chemical fertilizers. The results showed that heavy metal pollution caused reduction in the dry weight of gladiolus and tulips compared to the control sample, while there was no significant effect of pollution on the dry weight of narcissus. The uptake of Mn, Pb, Ni, and Cd by all three plants has been increased with enhancing the pollution levels of heavy metals. The highest concentration of Pb in the shoots of plants was observed in soil A with an average amount of 61.16 (mg kg^?1), which revealed a substantial difference relative to the treatment of soil B and C. The most and least amount of Ni in the plants shoots were related to soil A and soil C with an average of 2.35 and 0.89 mg kg^?1, respectively. The uptake of Pb by shoots of all three plants was nearly similar to each other, while more Pb was absorbed by the bulbs of gladiolus compared to the bulbs of other plants. Increment in the pollution levels led to the decrement in enrichment factor (EF); however, there was no effect of pollution levels on EF of Mn and Pb. Moreover, there was no effect of increasing pollution levels on translocation factor of these elements. In gladiolus, after application of organic and chemical fertilizers, it was observed that the concentration of heavy metals was far more in the bulbs compared to the shoots. In conclusion, the cultivation of these ornamental plants is highly recommended due to not only their decorative aspect but also their ability for bioremediation as well as being economical.     

Comparison of univariate and multivariate geographically weighted regression for estimating air temperature over Iran

Station recording air temperature (T_a) has limited spatial coverage, especially in unpopulated areas. Since temperature can change greatly both spatially and temporally, stations data are often inadequate for meteorology and subsequently climatology studies. Time series of moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (T_s) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) products, combined with digital elevation model (DEM), albedo from Era-Interim and meteorological data from 2006 to 2015, were used to estimate daily mean air temperature over Iran. Geographically weighted regression was applied to compare univariate and multivariate model accuracy. In the first model, which only interfered with land surface temperature (LST), the results indicate a weak performance with coefficient of determination up to 91% and RMSE of 1.08 to 2.9 °C. The mean accuracy of a four-variable model (which used LST, elevation, slope, NDVI) slightly increased (6.6% of the univariate model accuracy) when compared to univariate model. RMSE dropped by 19% of the first model. By addition albedo in the third model, the coefficient of determination increased significantly. This increase was 32% of the univariate model and 23.75% of the 4-variable model accuracy. The statistical comparison between the three models revealed that there is significant improvement in air estimation by applying the geographically weighted regression (GWR) method with interfering LST, NDVI, elevation, slope, and albedo with mean absolute RMSE of 0.62 °C and mean absolute R² of 0.99. In order to better illustrate the third model, t values were spatially mapped at 0.05 level.     

Precipitation rate climatology related to different cloud types using satellite imagery over Iran

Cloud types have a substantial influence on precipitation. This paper presents a study of the monthly variations of daytime different cloud types over Iran using data collected from Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard Terra during 2001–2015, MODIS aboard Aqua during 2002–2015, International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) H-series cloud type data during 2001–2009 and precipitation rate associated with different cloud types using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite products during 2001–2009. Different cloud types were determined using MODIS cloud optical thickness and cloud top pressure data based on ISCCP algorithm. The results showed that stratocumulus and cumulus clouds have maximum occurrence frequency over marine areas especially southern seas. The maximum frequency of nimbostratus and deep convective occurrence occurred over mountainous regions particularly at the time of Aqua overpass and cirrus and cirrostratus are observed over southeast of Iran during warm months due to monsoon system. Altostratus cloud is extended in each month except January, at the time of Terra overpass while nimbostratus is seen at the time of Aqua overpass during warm months in the study area. Cumulus and altocumulus clouds have shown remarkable frequency in all months especially over marine regions during warm and fall months. The higher value of precipitation rate is related to altostratus with a rate approximately 7 mm/h at the time of Terra overpass during April. Altostratus has the maximum recorded precipitation rate except in Nov., Dec., Sep., and Jan. at the time of Terra overpass, whereas the maximum precipitation rate is linked to nimbostratus cloud activity (up to 5 mm/h) except for March, April, and Sep. at the time of Aqua overpass. Deep convective (up to 1.32 mm/h), cirrostratus (up to 1.11 mm/h), and cirrus (0.02 mm/h) are observed only in warm months. The results were compared with ISCCP cloud types so that precipitation rate classified from low to high and Spearman rank correlation was calculated. The results showed good agreement between these two cloud type data; however, there were few notable difference between them.     

PROMETHEE II and fuzzy AHP: an enhanced GIS-based landslide susceptibility mapping

This paper describes the application of a well-known multi-criteria decision-making technique, called preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE II), in combination with fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), as a weighting technique to explore landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM). To this end, eight landslide-related geodata layers of the Minoo Dasht located in the Gorgan province of Iran, involving slope, aspect, distance to river, drainage density, distance to fault, mean annual rainfall, distance to road and lithology have been integrated using the PROMETHEE II enhanced by FAHP technique. Afterward, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for the proposed LSM were drawn using an inventory of landslides containing 83 recent and historic landslide points, and the area under curve = 0.752 value was calculated accordingly. Additionally, to further verify the practicality of such susceptibility map, it was also evaluated against the landslide inventory using simple overlay. The outcome was that about 11 % of the occurred landslide points fall into the very high susceptibility class of the LSM, but approximately 52 % of them indeed fall into the high and very high susceptibility zones together. Also, it resulted that no recorded landslide occurred in the zone of very low susceptibility. According to the results of the ROC curves analysis and simple overlay evaluation, the produced map has exhibited good performance.     

Distribution of heavy metals in the clastic fine-grained sediments of Gavkhuni playa lake (Southeast of Isfahan,Iran)

The sedimentary basin of Gavkhuni playa lake includes two sedimentary environments of delta and playa lake. These environments consist of mud, sand and salt flats. There are potentials for concentration of heavy metals in the fine-grained sediments (silt and clay) of the playa due to existence of Pb/Zn ore deposits, industrial and agricultural regions in the water catchment of Zayandehrud River terminating to this area. In order to study the concentration of heavy metals and the controlling factors on their distribution in the fine-grained sediments, 13 samples were taken from the muddy facies and concentration of the heavy metals were determined. The results showed that the heavy metal concentrations range in the sediments (in ppm) are Mn (395.5–1,040), Sr (100.4–725.76), Pb (14.66–91.06), Zn (23.59–80.9), Ni (37–73.66), Cu (13.83–29.83), Co (5.73–13.78), Ag (3.03–4.76) and Cd (2.3–5.5) in their order of abundances. The concentration of Ag is noticeable in the sediments relative to the average concentration of this element in mud sediments. The amounts of Pb and Zn are relatively high in all the samples in comparison with the other elements. The concentration of Ni is relatively high in the oxidized samples. The distribution of Pb is directly related to organic matter content of the sediments. The concentrations of Zn, Sr, Cu, Co and Cd in the samples of the playa are lower than those in the delta. The amount of illite is another factor influencing Zn and Pb concentrations. Sr is more concentrated in the sediments with the high content of calcium carbonate. The distribution pattern of Cu, Co, Pb and Mn resembles to that of the clay content of the sediments. The clay content shows positive correlations with Co, Cu and Mn concentrations and negative correlation with Ag. The Sr and Ag concentrations are positively correlated with the amount of CaCO₃. The amounts of Co, Cu, Ni and Mn show negative correlations with the calcium carbonate content. Pb and Co are noticeably correlated with Mn.     

Application of rock mass index (RMi) to the rock mass excavatability assessment in open face excavations

Earthwork and surface excavation activities play an important role in construction projects. Selecting the best technique to loosen the overburden material within the surface excavation in open mining and geotechnical projects is of great importance from economical and technical viewpoints. Surface excavation includes direct digging, ripping and blasting. To select the most effective method and plan for excavation, geotechnical investigation is very important. It is also a big help in avoiding conflict between contractors and clients when they do not reach mutual agreement regarding the price of rock and soil excavation. There are many engineering classification systems used to assess rock masses for excavation purposes. All of these systems consider several geotechnical parameters to assess the earth masses. This study reviews these systems and then offers a new categorization based on the Rock Mass index (RMi) classification system and block volume to assess excavation in rock masses. The original dataset was obtained from the literature review as well as the surface excavation in Upper Gotvand dam and Hydro Power Plant (HPP). The offered system was also validated through the data extracted from the surface excavation in Sardasht dam and HPP in Iran.     

A generalized approach to the evaluation of reflection effects in close binary systems

A convenient integral formulation (-integrals) proves useful in describing reflection effects where there is an axisymmetric illumination, and the form of the emergent intensity distribution of the reflected component can be approximated by a cosine series. The formulation is applied to close binary systems where theoretical curves for the reflected light variation are considered. The treatment proceeds to the fifth power in the fractional dimensions — i.e. including combination of the leading terms of reflection with physical distortion of the components — and is therefore consistent with the usual first order theory of photometric proximity effects in close binary systems.     

An Examination of Behavior and Hazards Faced by Physically Disabled People During the Loma Prieta Earthquake

There is a need to study hazards faced by physically disabled people during earthquakes. A literature review showed the importance of occupant behavior as a factor that contributes to casualty during earthquakes. A survey questionnaire was used to study the behavioral responses of 33 disabled residents, none of whom sustained injury, during the Loma Prieta earthquake of 17 October 1989. An occupant risk analysis methodology was developed to study the sequence of activities of the disabled people. Severe restrictions in the physical capabilities of the respondents did not appear to increase their exposure to hazards. Overall, the physically disabled occupants did not think of themselves as vulnerable, and those who felt vulnerable initiated self-protective action in response to the hazards present in their immediate surroundings.