The structure and development of greater Lagos

In the period between 1965 and 1976, when German geographers carried out their fieldwork for the Afrika-Kartenwerk under the sponsorship of the German Research Society, remarkable progress in urban development especially in Lagos could be observed. The cooperation with the Federal Survey Department of Nigeria gave the opportunity for collecting several series of aerial photographs which bring into focus some stages of the overwhelming urban expansion.The materials presented here have been selected to demonstrate some regional structures of the Nigerian capital. — In the geography of today the scientific evaluation of aerial photographs together with findings from local observation and historical as well as statistical data is still undervalued. Through this technique, the more classical and conservative method of geographical analysis, relying on subjective judgement, may regain some of its importance, which it once had in the age of exploration of new territories.Where data is scarce and written records of urban expansion are not available or difficult to extract, aerial photographs can give an impression of certain stages of urban growth. A functional analysis under geographical aspects has to be regarded by changes within spatial units in order to the factors of influence. Those factors are numerous, their influence will cause changes in a series of pushes arising from economic developments of the vast hinterland as well as from social conditions of certain groups of the population. In a metropolitan center, as Lagos, the highest ranking central place of Africa's most populous nation, heterogenous events and a confusing number of planning decisions must be taken into consideration. One consequence of nationwide regional interactions with the metropolis is migratory population dynamics. In pursuing lines of interaction, which originate from economic power, population density, and natural resources, one can hardly isolate a single element of influence because all factors are closely interrelated. For Lagos, there is only limited data available on the social and economic standard of the population, valid basic demographic figures of some value are not available.One still has to accept very rough estimates on population figures, number of industrial workers, the standards of housing and the social and economic hierarchy of the population. The present retrospective analysis of aerial photographs gives an interpretation of the regional structure of the town and indicate possible future development.     

Applications of energy analysis to mineral and metallurgical process selection and development

A presentation is made of energy analysis and of its potential applications to mineral or metallurgical process selection and development. The analytical method which has been selected is based on a comparison of the energy impact of decisions to be made as far as processes are concerned; a marginal approach has been retained to take into account the effect of variations in the demand for any product consumed in the processes; a global comparison of alternatives is carried out in order to assess, in terms of energy, the various potential combinations of processes which are available to produce simultaneously all products concerned. One application is given for the recovery of values from pyrite cinders.     

图形图像处理方法图示航空物探数据的有效性研究

本文在介绍航空物探微机图形图像处理系统的基础上，通过不同地区实测航空物探资料的处理，对用图形图像处理技术处理和图示航空物探数据的有效性进行了探讨。总结出适用于地质填图、突出局部弱异常及与矿化有关的弱信息等不同地质任务的有效方法组合。分析了各种航空物探图示方法的特点，并就如何发挥图形图像处理技术在航空物探资料的解释处理中的作用提出了建议。认为图形图像处理技术是一种图示航空物探数据的有效方法，可以作为等值线图的补充和改进形式推广应用。     

On the threshold of transport of sand-sized sediment under the combined influence of unidirectional and oscillatory flow

While the transport of sediment by unidirectional currents or by oscillatory (wave-induced) currents has been investigated, very little attention has been paid to the problem of the threshold of transport under the two mechanisms combined. Studies were carried out using cohesionless sand-sized (mean diameters: 142, 363, 771 and 1134 μm) quartz grains in a unidirectional flume, within which an oscillatory carriage had been installed. The experiments were carried out under unidirectional velocities ranging between 0 and 27 cm s^-1, combined with simulated wave-induced currents (at periods of 5 and 15 s) ranging from 0 to 35 cm s^-1. The threshold of transport was assessed, by visual observation, using the Yalin Criterion for unidirectional flow. This criterion permitted critical conditions to be estimated subjectively by observation of incipient transport from the flat beds. The results indicated the dependence of the critical threshold velocity combination on grain size and wave period. Thresholds tend to increase with increasing grain size or decreasing period. The grain-size dependence is predictable from existing empirical relationships for the separate mechanisms; statistical fluctuations in near-bed stress (bursting) however, are invoked to explain the wave period dependence. The latter effect acts in a reverse manner for wave and current combinations than for waves alone. Graphs are presented, relating grain size to critical threshold velocity combinations, to aid in the sedimentological interpretation of field data.     

A recent faulting episode in the Iranian Makran

The identification of a twofold chronology for the Quaternary alluvial deposits of Iranian Makran makes it possible to give limiting ages to some of the recent movements that have affected parts of the Zendan fault belt. One such faulting episode has been dated by this method to the period 7000-1250 yr BP. As the two alluvial units can be readily traced on air photographs, it should prove possible to extend the analysis to other parts of Iran.     

Probabilistic slope stability analysis by a copula-based sampling method

In probabilistic slope stability analysis, the influence of cross correlation of the soil strength parameters, cohesion and internal friction angle, on the reliability index has not been investigated fully. In this paper, an expedient technique is presented for probabilistic slope stability analysis that involves sampling a series of combinations of soil strength parameters through a copula as input to an existing conventional deterministic slope stability program. The approach organises the individual marginal probability density distributions of componential shear strength as a bivariate joint distribution by the copula function to characterise the dependence between shear strengths. The technique can be used to generate an arbitrarily large sample of soil strength parameters. Examples are provided to illustrate the use of the copula-based sampling method to estimate the reliability index of given slopes, and the computed results are compared with the first-order reliability method, considering the correlated random variables. A sensitivity study was conducted to assess the influence of correlational measurements on the reliability index. The approach is simple and can be applied in practice with little effort beyond what is necessary in a conventional analysis.     

近靶纠偏轨道设计问题的解析解

在钻井监测过程中,当前井底接近目标点时,纠偏轨道一般采用“线段-圆弧”形式来设计。建立了近靶轨道设计的数学模型,对4种求解组合给出了数学模型的解析解。阐述了解析解的一个应用：绘制解析解曲线图能够帮助计算机软件使用者做出更加合理的纠偏轨道设计。实际算例表明,解析解能够准确、快速地给出近靶纠偏轨道的设计方案,对于指导钻井监测工作有一定的指导意义。     

UTILIZATION OF GEOBOTANICAL INDICATORS IN THE DETECTION OF TECTONIC DISTURBANCES

The authors describe the method for determining the influence of tectonic disturbances on vegetation and give examples of such influences which were discernible in aerial photographs. In the case of the Sultan-Sadzhar basin, faulting has released ground water which produces a profusion of hydrophytic growth. In southwestern Turkmenia, a vegetation belt had been turned into a "graveyard" by faulting which brought saline waters to the surface. The percentage of dead specimens decreased with the increase of distance from the fault line. Distinct rectilinear belts of solonchak-type vegetation were noted from the air in tectonically -disturbed regions of both the above -name regions. --A. Eustus     

A BRIEF HISTORICAL REVIEW AND THE PRESENT STATUS ON THE GEOBOTANICAL METHOD IN GEOLOGY

A review of the literature shows that the relation of plants to geologic and hydrologic conditions has been recognized for several centuries. The geobotanical method is well adapted to ground water and ore searches, and relies heavily on interpretation of aerial photographs. Its use in general geologic mapping is increasing. — M. Russell     

Cost Optimization of Reinforced Earth Walls

This paper deals with optimum cost (objective function) design of geosynthetic reinforced earth retaining walls subjected to static and dynamic loading. The design restrictions are imposed as design constraints in the analysis. Choice of the initial designed length and strength of the reinforcement, which are the elements of the design vectors are made in a way that it forms an initial feasible design vector. Thus the problem is one of mathematical programming. The constraints and the objective function being nonlinear in nature, the Sequential Unconstrained Minimization Technique (SUMT) has been used in conjunction with conjugate direction and quadratic fit methods for multidimensional and unidirectional minimization to arrive at the optimal (minimum) cost of the reinforced earth wall. Optimal cost tables are presented for different combinations of the loading and the developed procedure is validated by taking up an example problem. It has been found from the typical example problem that saving of the order of 7–8% can be made over the conventional design of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls with the aid of design charts.     

Regional-scale back-analysis using TRIGRS: an approach to advance landslide hazard modeling and prediction in sparse data regions

Landslides in Kerala, India, have been shown to be preceded not only by critical rainfall over a short period but also a much longer period of elevated pore pressure. Such rainfall-triggered landslides are difficult to monitor due to a lack of adequate data on the locations of failures and precipitation. Here, a method is presented using Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-based Regional Slope stability (TRIGRS) as a tool to model the relationship between critical rainfall and antecedent pore pressure as they relate to slope stability, which can be useful for hazard assessment in sparse data regions. This is demonstrated by parameterizing the model with a combination of regional data sources, remote sensing, and temporal back-analysis based on two known failure events (June 2004 and July 2007). Ranges of possible geotechnical and hydraulic parameters were obtained from various local and regional sources, and soil thickness was modeled as a function of slope angle. Rainfall was estimated using satellite microwave radiometry data. For back-analysis, combinations of cohesion, friction angle, and water table depth were then tested in TRIGRS using trial and error until the predicted and observed failure times coincided for the two failure events. While the spatial prediction accuracy of the model is low and multiple solution sets are expected to exist, the results confirm that information regarding the critical pre-failure conditions and stability changes over time can be derived despite data-poor circumstances. Future studies can be undertaken extending this method to characterize many parameter combinations and incorporate more failure cases to develop probabilistic early-warning thresholds.     

SuperMap(杭州超图)在土地利用现状信息库建设中的应用

福州市国土资源局根据国家土地部门通知精神以及经济建设变化的实际情况，于2000年11月对市辖5区重新航空摄影，采用全数字航空摄影测量方法进行变更调查，并利用SuperMap(杭州超图)软件建立土地利用现状信息库。     

A computer method to calculate the convolution of statistical distributions

It is becoming increasingly important to determine probability distributions of combinations of random variables. Convolution is a technique by which the distribution of a sum of random variables can be determined. This paper presents some simplifications in order to reduce the numerical integrations and computer time. In addition, the method may be used with empirical nonanalytic distributions. While Monte Carlo methods are also appropriate for calculating the distribution, convolution can give at least as much accuracy as Monte Carlo methods with a reduction in computation. Two applications are presented: one approximates the distribution of percent sand in an area, and the other indicates a method of determining sample size when using the distribution of means to approximate normality.     

Über die Verteilung und Neubildung der nichtkarbonatischen Mineralkomponenten der Oberkreide aus der Umgebung von Hannover

Comparative investigations were made on the non-carbonate components of calcareous sediments of the upper chalk formation of the Hanover region.The mineral composition of the residues insoluble in 0.5 n HC1 has first been determined optically and by X-ray photographs and described. The quantitative analysis of the components contained was effected by microscopic counting using the phase contrast method up to the grain size of 2 u, and for the clay fractions proper by X-ray phase analyses.In addition to the minor components (feldspars, biotite, pyrite, marcasite, glauconite, heavy minerals and mikro-fossils) the residues contain quartz, muscovite, illite, montmorillonite and kaolinite.The calcareous sediments of the upper senon formation are specially characterized by the occurrence of authigenic heulandite crystals which could be analysed and described here for the first time. Moreover secondary crystallization of quartz, turmaline and albite could be observed in all the samples analysed.     

A Blind Comparison Between Results of Four Image Analysis Systems Using a Photo-Library of Piles of Sieved Fragments

Four image analysis systems for measuring rock fragmentation: FragScan, PowerSieve®, Split and WipFrag, have been compared under conditions necessary to provide an objective though limited assessment of their capabilities. The analysis of results is based on a sample of ten photographs taken from a series of photographs of controlled artificial muckpiles. These were created from dumping a blended mixture of sieved samples of limestone aggregate, in order to create a range of near perfect Rosin-Rammler sieve size distributions. Results from the various systems are compared with sieved results using both histogram and cumulative forms, with and without fines corrections in the case of Split and Wipfrag. Statistical indicators are evaluated to examine the match between system prediction values and sieving values. Commentaries on the results by the inventors of each system have been incorporated. All four systems were found to perform both well in some cases and poorly in others. From a detailed examination of the results, some insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the various systems is presented.     

A review of landslide hazards in Japan and assessment of their susceptibility using an analytical hierarchic process (AHP) method

In spite of its small size, Japan suffers many landslide disasters due to intense rainfall and earthquakes. This article describes the distribution and topography of these landslides, and a new method of evaluating the susceptibility, the analytical hierarchic process (AHP). The method assigns scores to each factor of micro-topography of landslide-prone areas identified in aerial photographs, and assesses the susceptibility of landslide from the total score. In addition, a method of simulating sliding mass runout is briefly presented for the designating sediment-related disaster warning areas.     

Shallow-landslide susceptibility in the Costa Viola mountain ridge (southern Calabria,Italy) with considerations on the role of causal factors

The “Costa Viola” mountain ridge (southern Calabria), in the sector between Bagnara Calabra and Scilla, is particularly exposed to geo-hydrological risk conditions. The study area has repeatedly been affected by slope instability events in the last decades, mainly related to debris slides, rock falls and debris flows. These types of slope movements are among the most destructive and dangerous for people and infrastructures, and are characterized by abrupt onset and extremely rapid movements. Susceptibility evaluations to shallow landslides have been performed by only focusing on source activation. A logistic regression approach has been applied to estimating the presence/absence of sources in terms of probability, on the basis of linear statistical relationships with a set of territorial variables. An inventory map of 181 sources, obtained from interpretation of air photographs taken in 1954–1955, has been used as training set, and another map of 81 sources, extracted from 1990 to 1991 photographs, has been adopted for validation purposes. An initial set of 12 territorial variables (i.e. lithology, land use, soil sand percentage, elevation, slope angle, aspect, across-slope and down-slope curvatures, topographic wetness index, distance to road, distance to fault and index of daily rainfall) has been considered. The adopted regression procedure consists of the following steps: (1) parameterization of the independent variables, (2) sampling, (3) calibration, (4) application and (5) evaluation of the forecasting capability. The “best set” of variables could be identified by iteratively excluding one variable at a time, and comparing the ROC results. Through a sensitivity analysis, the role of the considered factors in predisposing shallow slope failures in the study area has been evaluated. The results obtained for the Costa Viola mountain ridge can be considered acceptable, as 98.1 % of the cells are correctly classified. According to the susceptibility map, the village of Scilla and its surroundings fall in the highest susceptibility class.     

Error determination in the photogrammetric assessment of shoreline changes

The evaluation of error or uncertainty in shoreline change studies is an issue of prime importance for providing an adequate framework for calculated rates of change and to allow the establishment of threshold values above which the rates would be significant. In this note, a practical, easy-to-use method is presented to estimate error involved in the calculation of shoreline changes on aerial photographs, including the three most used types of shoreline indicators: high water line, dune/cliff toe and cliff top. This approach takes into account the specific characteristics of each shoreline proxy, such as relief in the case of the cliff top or tidal oscillations in the case of the high water line. At the same time it includes the error components that are independent from the proxy, basically related to the technical aspects of the process such as photo scanning and georeferencing. A practical example of application of the method is provided for several types of data inputs, based on shoreline changes around the Bay of Cádiz (SW Spain).     

Contribution de l'hydrogéomorphologie à l'évaluation du risque d'inondation : le cas du Midi méditerranéen français

The hydrogeomorphological method for delimiting flood risk zones in France was developed some twenty years ago. It is based on a simple principle: the outer limits of a stream's flood plain constitute the outer envelope of past floods. These limits are determined with the use of aerial photographs and field surveys of micro-topography as well as analyses of deposit granulometry and colour. Indications of present or past land use (fields, location and distribution of archaeological sites, houses and farm buildings, roads) are also useful. This field-based method long remained ignored, but being reliable, easy to use and inexpensive, it has now been incorporated into the package of methods recommended by French risk-prevention plans (PPRI). The many recent catastrophes that have occurred over the past fifteen years in the Mediterranean regions of southern France demonstrated both the inadequacy of the hydrological–hydraulic method and the reliability of the hydrogeomorphological method, which can, however, be improved by setting observations for the present period against information on the more ancient Holocene evolution of flood plains. To cite this article: J.-L. Ballais et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).