K. A. Ullah; J. Jiang; P. Wang
Abstract
Surface waters are the most important economic resource for humans which provide water for agricultural, industrial and anthropogenic activities. Surface water quality plays vital role in protecting aquatic ecosystems. Unplanned urbanization, intense agricultural activities and deforestation are positively ...
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Surface waters are the most important economic resource for humans which provide water for agricultural, industrial and anthropogenic activities. Surface water quality plays vital role in protecting aquatic ecosystems. Unplanned urbanization, intense agricultural activities and deforestation are positively associated with carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous related water quality parameters. Multiple buffers give robust land use land cover and water quality model and highlight the impacts of land use land cover characteristics on water quality parameters at various scales which will guide watershed managers for particular application of best management practices to enhance stream health. Traditionally, water quality data collections are based on discrete sampling and were analyzed through statistical techniques which were designed for spatially isolated measurements. Traditional multivariate statistical approaches uncover hidden information in water quality data but they are unable to expose spatial relationship. The complexity of information in water quality data needs new statistical approaches which uncover spatiotemporal variability. This review briefly discusses influences of land use land cover characteristics on surface water quality, effects of spatial scale on land use land cover- water quality relationship, and water quality modeling using various statistical approaches. Every statistical method has unique purpose, application and solves different problems. This review article pinpoints that how statistical approaches in combination with spatial scale can be applied to develop statistically significant land use land cover- water quality relationship for better water quality evaluation.
F. Ince
Abstract
Environmental sustainability needs to use resources efficiently and effectively from macro to micro level with a systematic approach. The dualistic relationship between ecosystem and human beings require considering ecological and social systems as well as economic factors known as the three-legged approach. ...
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Environmental sustainability needs to use resources efficiently and effectively from macro to micro level with a systematic approach. The dualistic relationship between ecosystem and human beings require considering ecological and social systems as well as economic factors known as the three-legged approach. Individuals and their perceptions are also important in this approach because of the need of environmental awareness and behaviors. From this point of view, this study assesses the perceptions of local mine workers in the Göksu Valley about the environmental sustainability to understand the relationship between environmental, personal and organizational factors. Extroversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness as the sub-dimensions of the personality have positive correlations with environmental sustainability. Also, working conditions and expert power of the leader have a significant relationship with environmental sustainability within the mine worker sample which has a high-level environmental sustainability mean. The perceptions of local workers or residents are important to gain specific information about areas which have a special ecosystem for agriculture and animals.
L. Askarizadeh; A.R. Karbassi; M.B. Ghalibaf; J. Nouri
Abstract
Ancient City of Ray, located at the southern urban part of Tehran province, is one of the best recognized civilization sites in the world. In this study, the past earthquake incidence in Ray was reviewed using hazards united states tool as a geographic information system-based natural hazard analysis ...
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Ancient City of Ray, located at the southern urban part of Tehran province, is one of the best recognized civilization sites in the world. In this study, the past earthquake incidence in Ray was reviewed using hazards united states tool as a geographic information system-based natural hazard analysis tool. hazards united states tool was chosen to estimate the damage on structural and non-structural elements during various earthquake scenarios with magnitudes of 4.5, 6 and 7.5 on the Richter scale in Ray City. Earthquake magnetitudes of 4.5, 6 and 7.5 would severely damage 49, 72 and 82% of buildings, respectively. The number of casualties was estimated to be in the range of 558 to 2220 people. It was also computed that 93, 197 and 331 km3 of debris would be produced at 4.5, 6 and 7.5 Richter earthquake, respectively. Subsequently, Arc-GIS was used to find out the best route from the affected areas to the temporary disposal locations and to allocate the required number of heavy equipments and manpowers for debris disposal planning. A set of factors, including diversity of the existing wastes, separation of the recyclable wastes, and allocation of the best place and route for debris disposal in the shortest time and with the shortest distance in the street network, were presented and considered in the analyses. Finally, it was concluded that debris management is not only a logistic activity, but also it is an inseparable part of the post-accident recovery process.
J. Zhou; L. Sun; S.Y. Zang; K. Wang; J.Y. Zhao; Z.X. Li; X.M. Liu; X.R. Liu
Abstract
The impacts of land utilization change on the ecosystem service values in Daqing during 1995 to 2015 were analyzed based on unit area ecosystem service value of Chinese territorial ecosystem from Mr. Xie Gaodi and ecosystem service value calculation formula from Costanza. Results showed that the ecosystem ...
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The impacts of land utilization change on the ecosystem service values in Daqing during 1995 to 2015 were analyzed based on unit area ecosystem service value of Chinese territorial ecosystem from Mr. Xie Gaodi and ecosystem service value calculation formula from Costanza. Results showed that the ecosystem service value of Daqing decreased from US $4343.1559m in 1995 to US $3824.327m in 2015, with the ecological value of US $518.8289 m decreased during the past 20 years. Wetland and water body were the two main land utilization types with the greatest contributions to the ecosystem service value. Ecosystem services value of per capita decreased 23.52%. The sensitivity coefficient of eco-service values of all types of land utilization to their value coefficients were all less than 1 in Daqing area. The sensitivity coefficients followed that wetland > water body > woodland > unutilized land > pasture land> cultivated land in 2015, which indicating that the changes of the land utilization are lack of flexibility to the changes of the ecosystem service value.
M. Pazouki; S.A. Jozi; Y.A. Ziari
Abstract
Sustainable urban development is a new concept of fundamental environmental metropolitan management that not only creates the demand for changing the concepts of economic development, but also affects social development. The current study provides a conceptual model of a sustainable environment ...
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Sustainable urban development is a new concept of fundamental environmental metropolitan management that not only creates the demand for changing the concepts of economic development, but also affects social development. The current study provides a conceptual model of a sustainable environment pattern In District 22 of Tehran that depends on the relationship between environment and economy, and a network of urban function, which Included transport infrastructure and community centers and economic and regional level in support of the ecological services in Tehran. This landscape often had discrepancies with the development of the city between the layers and the creation of ecological fragile areas. The main objective of the study was to determine the sustainability indicators and create a future development model for District 22 of Tehran. The data was collected by having a review of similar studies and field research on the subject and therefore the effective factors were identified. After accomplished proceedings, the questionnaire was prepared and the results were used in SWOT charts' grading after analyzing at interior and exterior matrix. Ultimately, quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) was performed based on the results and analysis. This process provided a comprehensive model for sustainable urban development as sustainable development urban landscape pattern.
A. Oglanis; M. Loizidou
Abstract
The effective and sustainable environmental performance of a business is a result of various factors and most important the integrated outcome of the environmental management. Likewise, the integration of environmental protection into the armed forces functions has also gain interest for the military ...
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The effective and sustainable environmental performance of a business is a result of various factors and most important the integrated outcome of the environmental management. Likewise, the integration of environmental protection into the armed forces functions has also gain interest for the military sector internationally. Therefore, the environmental management system (EMS) is recognized as one of the most widely used tools. This study provides a review on environmental management issues related to the military activities and their assessment globally. The multitasking characteristics of the defence sector result in the need for the eco-friendly related issues to be directed in a holistic and integrated way, with the help of a certified environmental management system. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) itself and NATO countries, like USA, UK, Canada, Holland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Greece, as well as non-NATO countries like Sweden and Australia have an environmental management system structure in place to assist military environmental management and studies reveal that the armed forces could anticipate positive outcomes from environmental management system. A case-by-case approach, of the above, is examined and based on the results, appropriate recommendations are presented, which may contribute to the environmental management system considerations as the most important tool for effective management framework and most importantly to evaluate its effectiveness as a structure for the defence sector’s activities.
B. Shokati; M.R. Asgharipour; B. Feizizadeh
Abstract
Lack of awareness of the critical factors involved in production of plants and sometimes, the cultivation of plants in areas unsusceptible to plant, can increase the amount of chemical fertilizer consumption in order to compensate the subsequent reduction of plant yield. This would increase environmental ...
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Lack of awareness of the critical factors involved in production of plants and sometimes, the cultivation of plants in areas unsusceptible to plant, can increase the amount of chemical fertilizer consumption in order to compensate the subsequent reduction of plant yield. This would increase environmental pollution. Thus, identifying of suitable areas where could supply plants initial needs of the environment is critical. For this goal, several criteria including soil conditions, climatologically indicators, topography situation and agro-climatology criteria were taken into account of modeling processing. Doing so, standardization process was performed on criteria and weighting process was performed by using of analytic hierarchy process approach. Geographical information system based on multi-criteria decision analysis was employed for weighted overlapping of indicators. Initial results indicated that East-Azerbaijan Province in the northern part of Iran has high potential for cultivating of Damask Rose. Results indicate that about 34.4% of East Azerbaijan Province has classified to be high suitability for cultivating this plant, while about 65.5 and 0.1 % of this area classified to be in the moderate and low suitability category respectively. In comparison of Damask Rose production during the 2014 and resulted analytic hierarchy process map results showed that areas with high suitability are not more under cultivation of this plant. Then, the findings of this study are great of importance for the purpose of regional planning in East-Azerbaijan Province.
M.A.P. Medina; A.G. Toledo-Bruno
Abstract
To determine if there is a gender difference in the resource consumption activities of students in Central Mindanao University, a Philippine state university, an ecological foot printing study was conducted in August 2014. Consumption data from 380 student respondents were gathered using a survey questionnaire. ...
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To determine if there is a gender difference in the resource consumption activities of students in Central Mindanao University, a Philippine state university, an ecological foot printing study was conducted in August 2014. Consumption data from 380 student respondents were gathered using a survey questionnaire. A web-based software created by the Global Footprint Network was used to convert the consumption data into its equivalent ecological footprint value. Sample size was reduced to 324 (male = 162; female = 162) through a 1:1 nearest neighbor matching without replacement method for propensity score matching. Subsequently, unpaired t-test was employed for comparing the difference in ecological footprint between the male and female student respondents. Results reveal that the students’ ecological footprint is slightly lower than the national average. Furthermore, most of their ecological footprint comes from their carbon footprint. Male respondents were found to have a significantly higher ecological footprint compared to female respondents. This implies gender difference in terms of resource consumption.
A. Azizi; B. Malakmohamadi; H.R. Jafari
Abstract
Analyzing the process of land use and cover changes during long periods of time and predicting the future changes is highly important and useful for the land use managers. In this study, the land use maps in the Ardabil plain in north-west part of Iran for four periods (1989, 1998, 2009 and 2013) are ...
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Analyzing the process of land use and cover changes during long periods of time and predicting the future changes is highly important and useful for the land use managers. In this study, the land use maps in the Ardabil plain in north-west part of Iran for four periods (1989, 1998, 2009 and 2013) are extracted and analyzed through remote sensing technique, using the land-sat satellite images. Then, the future land use changes are simulated for 2030 using integrated CA-Markov model according to the scenario of continuing current management process. The results show that in the period between 1989 and 2009, i.e. since two-thirds of the plain was declared restricted till all of it was declared thus, the study area has experienced a total of about 58645.08 ha changes. After the whole plain was restricted (since 2009 till 2014), the changes have been estimated to be 22466.88 ha. The prediction also indicates that the changes will equal 8908.83 ha by 2030. Agricultural lands and human-built environment constitute the majority of changes and are increasing continuously. The obtained Kappa values for the model accuracy assessment (higher than 0.8) indicated the model's capability to predict future Land use/cover changes in the study area. Thus, analyzing Land use and cover changes trends from past to near future using CA-Markov model can play a significant role in land use policy making, planning, and managing of the restricted plains especially in the proposed study area.
P. Gandiwa; J. Finch; T. Hill
Abstract
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (MCL) woody vegetation was characterized to establish structural and compositional attributes. Stratified random sampling based on major soil types was used and nine plant variables were measured in 137(20x30) m2 sampling plots; these being genera, species and family names; ...
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Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (MCL) woody vegetation was characterized to establish structural and compositional attributes. Stratified random sampling based on major soil types was used and nine plant variables were measured in 137(20x30) m2 sampling plots; these being genera, species and family names; basal circumference; plant height; depth and diameter of tree canopy; number of stems per plant; plant life status; number of trees and shrubs; and number of saplings. A total of 3114 woody plants were sampled, comprising an assemblage of 28 families, 63 genera and 106 species. The results suggest alluvial floodplain flanking the Limpopo River is a biodiversity hotspot with high plant species diversity (H’=1.8-2.2) 1/ha, taller trees (P<0.05) with median height per plot ranging between 6.1-10 m, high canopy volume at 105783 (443155m3/ha) and basal area (16.9-111m2/ha). The Arenosols-Regosol stratum had significantly shorter trees (P<0.05) with median height per plot between 3-4 m, low species diversity (H’=0.8-2.3) 1/ha, low basal area (3.23-48.2m2/ha) and low canopy volume (6687.08(155965.00) m3/ha. The Cambisol-Luvisol stratum in the western section of MCL had high number of stems/plant at 1.65 (1.40), high woody plant density 483.33 (900.00) 1/ha, F3,137=19.07, P<0.05), high density of dead plants 16.67 (133.30) 1/ha and high sapling density 208.33 (850.00) 1/ha. The present study suggests soil type is a key determinant of woody vegetation structure and composition. The study recommends regular vegetation monitoring, periodic update of plant species inventories in protected areas, control of exotic invasive woody plant species found along the Limpopo river floodplain within the biodiversity management framework of Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area initiative.
S. Afshar; B. Saghafian; H.R. Vosoughifar
Abstract
The present study was carried out to determine the possible origins of sediments entering Taleghan Dam in northern part of Iran, in order to avoid further sedimentation and helping in extension of the useful life of the proposed dam. This was performed by XRD analysis. To do so, first of all, sediment ...
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The present study was carried out to determine the possible origins of sediments entering Taleghan Dam in northern part of Iran, in order to avoid further sedimentation and helping in extension of the useful life of the proposed dam. This was performed by XRD analysis. To do so, first of all, sediment sampling points were positioned along the Taleghan River. The collected samples, after coding, were transferred to the laboratory for mineralogical testing. Then, the samples were exposed to X-ray diffraction analysis. The experimental results were compared with data from geology, land cover land use and slope maps in order to find the possible primary origins of deposits in the Taleghan Dam. Furthermore, the geological formations and physiographical parameter such as slope were also analyzed to test erodibility of the formations. The results showed that most sediment samples in Taleghan are of sedimentary sandstone, mainly containing the quartz and plagioclase minerals (quartz sandstone and arkose sandstone). The findings also showed that calcite and dolomite were abundant in the collected samples, while aragonite and anthracite were found to a lesser extent in the samples. Accordingly, acidic and alkaline formations, mudstone, and siltstone of Karaj area formations, the gypsum of upper red formation, particularly at places with steep slope with a dominance of rangeland land use type, are main origins of sediments in the Taleghan reservoir. In another hand, the control of sediments at these areas would substantially decrease total sediment yields of the entire basin as in the dam reservoir.
M. Yousefpoor; T. Rostamie Shahraji; A. Eslam Bonyad; M. Salahi
Abstract
In order to evaluate the possible correlation between the tree density and the human population density, the forested area in Nav Asalem district located in Guilan Province was selected. The descriptors of tree number and basal area per hectare as well as the stand density index were used to determine ...
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In order to evaluate the possible correlation between the tree density and the human population density, the forested area in Nav Asalem district located in Guilan Province was selected. The descriptors of tree number and basal area per hectare as well as the stand density index were used to determine the tree density, which was conducted from a 2014 forest inventory including 62 cluster (558 plots) systematically scattered over 30 % of the forest area. In addition, to determine the density of the human population, circular buffers at intervals of 1 to 7 km from the center of each cluster was considered and population density of each layer was calculated using buffering functions. Statistical results showed that the average basal area, average number of trees and the average stand density index was 23.16 m2/ha, 243 per ha and 178.25 respectively and also different human population density in each buffer. Using Pearson correlation test indicated a significant negative correlation between the stand density index and basal area (DBH≥ 15 cm) with human population density. There was no significant relationship between the number of trees per hectare and the human population density except at 7 km. This findings support studies regarding the disturbance has strong correlative with the number of residents per unit area at up to 7 km from clusters and greater control on anthropogenic interventions should be the main priority of sustainable forestry in Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran. Due to the existence of an effective relationship between the components of the tree density and human population in the forest, policy-makers and planners of natural resources could benefit management patterns appropriate to above components to achieve sustainable management.
R. Sharma
Abstract
The carrying capacity is well identified tool to manage problems due to uncontrolled tourism for any destination. This report highlights the carrying capacity estimation of Kerwa tourism area, Bhopal, India. The methodology used in this report is a new two-tier mechanism of impact analysis using index ...
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The carrying capacity is well identified tool to manage problems due to uncontrolled tourism for any destination. This report highlights the carrying capacity estimation of Kerwa tourism area, Bhopal, India. The methodology used in this report is a new two-tier mechanism of impact analysis using index numbers derived from a survey of 123 stakeholders. From this the individual component impact analysis and the total carrying capacity of the area is computed in order to state the insight of the total carrying capacity left for the tourism activities in Kerwa tourism area. It is calculated from, the results so obtained, that the Kerwa catchment area falls in “very low impact category” and hence in a healthy state of the artwork in terms of total carrying capacity. The study conveys the current need in the destination management and tourism development as a road map for the destination managers for implementing sustainable tourism.
F.S. Alavipoor; S. Karimi; J. Balist; A.H. Khakian
Abstract
This study recommends a GIS-based (Geographic Information Systems) and multi-criteria evaluation for site selection of gas power plant in Natanz City of Iran. The multi-criteria decision framework integrates legal requirements and physical constraints related to environmental and economic concerns. It ...
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This study recommends a GIS-based (Geographic Information Systems) and multi-criteria evaluation for site selection of gas power plant in Natanz City of Iran. The multi-criteria decision framework integrates legal requirements and physical constraints related to environmental and economic concerns. It also builds a hierarchy model for gas power plant suitability. The methodologies used for site selection include analytic hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy set theory and weighted linear combination. The AHP (analytic hierarchy process) is a multi-criteria approach which is used to establish the relative importance of criteria. The AHP makes pair-wise comparisons of relative importance between hierarchy elements categorized by environmental decision criteria. In the next step, the fuzzy set theory is used to standardize criteria through different fuzzy membership functions and fuzzy layers are formed by using fuzzy operators in ArcGIS environment. Subsequently, they are categorized into 6 classes using Reclassify Function. Weighted linear combination is used to combine the criteria layers. Finally, the two approaches are analyzed in order to locate the most suitable site to establish a gas power plant. According to the results, using GAMMA fuzzy operator is considered suitable for this site selection.
A. Padash; S.A. Jozi; S.M.B. Nabavi; B. Dehzad
Abstract
In recent decades, necessity to protect environment has been a serious concern for all people and international communities. In appropriate development of human economic activities, subsistence dependence of the growing world population on nature decreases the natural diversity of ecosystems and habitats ...
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In recent decades, necessity to protect environment has been a serious concern for all people and international communities. In appropriate development of human economic activities, subsistence dependence of the growing world population on nature decreases the natural diversity of ecosystems and habitats day by day and provides additional constraints for life and survival of wildlife. As a result, implementation of programs to protect species and ecosystems is of great importance. The current study was carried out to implement a comprehensive strategic environmental management plan in the Mond protected area in southern Iran. Accordingly, the protected area was zoned using multi criteria decision method. According to the numerical models, fifteen data layer were obtained on a scale of 1:50,000. The results revealed that 28.35% out of the entire study area belongs to nature conservation zone. In the following step, in order to offer the strategic planning using strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats method, a total number of 154 questionnaires were prepared and filled by the relevant experts. For this purpose, after identifying the internal and external factors, they were weighted in the form of matrices as; internal factor evaluation and external factor evaluation. Analytical hierarchy process and expert choice software were applied to weight the factors. At the end, by considering the socioeconomic and environmental issues, the strategy of using protective strategies in line with international standards as well as a strong support of governmental national execution with a score of 6.05 was chosen as the final approach.
