Stellar Population Analysis of Galaxies based on Genetic Algorithms

We present a new method for determining the age and relative contribution of different stellar populations in galaxies based on the genetic algorithm. We apply this method to the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3384, using CCD images in U, B, V, R and I bands. This analysis indicates that the galaxy NGC 3384 is mainly inhabited by old stellar population (age >109yr). Some problems were encountered when numerical simulations are used for determining the contribution of different stellar populations in the integrated color of a galaxy. The results show that the proposed genetic algorithm can search efficiently through the very large space of the possible ages.     

Assessment and Management Flash Flood in Najran Wady Using GIS and Remote Sensing

Flash flood assessment and management are necessary for municipal, urban growth planning and emergency action plans. By using the Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System software, we can model flash flood events and calculate water surface profiles over the length of the modeled stream. After collecting elevation points by using GPS method, the digital elevation model can be calculated for the study area. Najran city has main flood stream passes beside King Abdullah Road based on facts and previous works. A small study area including the mainstream of Wady Najran and King Abdullah Road has chosen as test site. The used methodology has also been proved efficiently for identifying flood inundation maps. Water extent area overlapped by 52–86% for both used methods. At discharge Q = 15 m³/s, the road needs to be protected from the flood.     

Dimensionality Reduction and Classification of Hyperspectral Images Using Object-Based Image Analysis

Object-based image analysis (OBIA) has attained great importance for the delineation of landscape features, particularly with the accessibility to satellite images with high spatial resolution acquired by recent sensors. Statistical parametric classifiers have become ineffective mainly due to their assumption of normal distribution, vast increase in the dimensions of the data and availability of limited ground sample data. Despite pixel-based approaches, OBIA takes semantic information of extracted image objects into consideration, and thus provides more comprehensive image analysis. In this study, Indian Pines hyperspectral data set, which was recorded by the AVIRIS hyperspectral sensor, was used to analyse the effects of high dimensional data with limited ground reference data. To avoid the dimensionality curse, principal component analysis (PCA) and feature selection based on Jeffries–Matusita (JM) distance were utilized. First 19 principal components representing 98.5% of the image were selected using the PCA technique whilst 30 spectral bands of the image were determined using JM distance. Nearest neighbour (NN) and random forest (RF) classifiers were employed to test the performances of pixel- and object-based classification using conventional accuracy metrics. It was found that object-based approach outperformed the traditional pixel-based approach for all cases (up to 18% improvement). Also, the RF classifier produced significantly more accurate results (up to 10%) than the NN classifier.     

A comparative analysis of pre- and post-industrial spatiotemporal drought trends and patterns of Tibet Plateau using Sen slope estimator and steady-state probabilities of Markov Chain

Natural Hazards - The increase of frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change gives evidence of severe challenges faced by infrastructure systems. Among them, the...     

Remote sensing and geophysical survey applications for delineating near-surface palaeochannels and shallow aquifer in the United Arab Emirates

This study integrates remote sensing data and geoelectrical dipole–dipole resistivity to delineate near-surface palaeochannels and shallow aquifer in the northern part of Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates. The shuttle imaging radar images and shuttle radar topographic mission DEM were used to delineate near-surface palaeochannels visually based on the contrast between bright and dark tone and automatically using the eight-direction flow model. The delineated palaeochannels were validated by comparing the textural features evident from advanced land observing satellite-phased array type L-band synthetic aperture radar images and determining whether these patterns were different. Field observation and geoelectrical dipole–dipole resistivity method was used to define the depth of palaeochannels and lithology of the shallow aquifer. The remote sensing and geophysical investigations in the UAE, including the study area, indicate the presence of buried palaeochannels with south-west and north-west flow directions from Oman Mountain. The study area can be of economic importance to the local population.     

A virtual surface concept for nested yield surface plasticity

A return mapping algorithm based on the concept of virtual surfaces is presented for stress integration in the numerical solution of boundary value problems using an elastoplastic multiple yield surface model. Both kinematic hardening and isotropic softening yield surfaces are addressed. With the implementation of virtual surfaces, the active yield surface is located before a stress update is implemented. The return mapping algorithm consists of only two steps. The first step consists of performing the intermediate update of the trial stress corresponding to the translation of all yield surfaces inside the active yield surface. Little calculation is involved in this step. The second step consists of performing the conventional explicit one-step radial return mapping of the updated trial stress on the corresponding active yield surface. The algorithm efficiency resides in the virtual surface based return mapping which preserves the elastic predictor representation of the updated trial stress, and limits iterations to at most two steps.     

Methodological Development of the Conditional Sampling Method. Part II: Quality Control Criteria of Relaxed Eddy Accumulation Flux Measurements

Determination of biosphere–atmosphere exchanges requires accurate quantification of the turbulent fluxes of energy and of a wide variety of trace gases. Relaxed Eddy Accumulation (REA) is a method that has received increasing attention in recent years, because it does not require any rapid sensor for the scalar measurements as the Eddy Correlation method (EC) does. As in all micrometeorological studies, REA measurements in the atmospheric surface layer are valid under some restrictive conditions so as to be representative of a specific ecosystem. These conditions are the homogeneity of the underlying surface, stationary and horizontally homogeneous turbulence. For most experiments these conditions are not fully satisfied. Data uncertainties can also be related to not fulfilling the method principles or to the technical characteristics of the REA system itself. In order to assess REA measurement quality, a methodological approach of data analysis is developed in this study. This methodological analysis is based on the establishment of criteria for data quality control. A set of them, deduced from the mean and turbulent flow, are called ‘Dynamic criteria’ and are designated to control the stationarity and homogeneity of the w function and the validation of Taylor’s hypothesis. A second set (‘REA operational criteria’) is designed to check the sampling process and, more precisely, the homogeneity of the negative and positive selection process throughout the sampling period. A third set of criteria (‘Chemical scalar criteria’) concerns the scalar measurements. Results of the criteria application to data measured at two different experimental sites are also presented. Cut-off limits of criteria are defined based on their statistical distribution and shown to be specific for each site. Strictness of each criterion, defined by the percentage of flagged samples, is analysed in conjunction with the meteorological conditions and atmospheric stability. It is found that flagged samples mainly correspond to neutral and stable nocturnal conditions. During daytime, nearly free convection conditions can also yield poor quality data.     

Mapping of groundwater quality in the Turonian aquifer of Oum Er-Rabia Basin, Morocco: a case study

This study takes the groundwater of the Moroccan limestone aquifer of Oum Er-Rabia as an example of statistical and cartographical approaches in water resources management. Statistical analyses based on frequency distribution and PCA methods revealed the homogeneity of waters with the existence of abnormal points and have helped to assess correlations between the studied variables. The mapping approach illustrated that waters are influenced by the lithology of the surrounding rocks and are of Ca–Mg–HCO₃, Ca–Mg–Cl–SO₄, and mixed types according to the Piper classification. The quality of water is of high to medium, north of the basin, but it is of medium to bad, NE and south, due to excessive contents of chloride, sulfate and nitrate. According to the US Salinity Laboratory classification, water used for irrigation in the eastern and the southern parts of the basin should take into consideration the drainage conditions, the nature of plants and the addition of gypsum doses.

Analysis of groundwater quality for irrigation purposes in shallow aquifers: A case study from West Aceh,Indonesia

The aim of this study is to evaluate the groundwater quality in shallow aquifers from West Aceh, Sumatra, for irrigation uses. Groundwater samples have been collected from 32 stations for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium percentage (per cent Na) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) analysis. Evaluation of water quality for irrigation using the United States Salinity Laboratory classifications suggests that the majority of the groundwater samples are good for irrigation. The crop tolerance of irrigation water salinity, as based on EC value, showed that paddy (rice), soybeans and sweet tomatoes are suitable for agricultural cultivation, but that corn and field beans are not suitable. Results indicate that, if used for agricultural irrigation, the groundwater quality ranges from excellent to good, except for a few locations (e.g. Meureubo sub‐district) which indicate signs of deterioration.