Anisotropic Continuous-in-Scale Universal Multifractal Cascades: Simulation,Analysis and Correction Methods

Continuous-in-scale multifractal cascades has long been an attractive choice for mathematically modeling turbulent and turbulent-like geophysical fields. These fields are usually anisotropic as they are subject to both stratification and rotation, thereby questioning the isotropy assumption often made to model them. The self-affine and generalized scale invariance approaches to scaling are used here to introduce anisotropy in such models. These anisotropic simulations have (1) unresolved large-scale features and (2) statistics that deviate from the desired power-law scaling mainly in the small scales. The former issue is solved via nesting, whereas the latter is attempted to be overcome using singularity correction methods. While earlier studies have proposed isotropic correction methods, here they have been generalized to correct anisotropic simulations. These singularity corrections seem to improve the small-scale statistical properties of mildly anisotropic simulations; nesting, on the other hand, appears to enhance statistics over almost all scales even for strongly anisotropic simulations. Both the correction and nesting techniques lead to a reduction in computational time and memory usage suggesting that nested singularity-corrected cascades offer a better framework for quantitatively modeling the atmosphere, ocean, solid earth, and associated fields.     

Geochemistry and distribution of sediments in the East Indian shelf,SW Bay of Bengal: implications on weathering,transport and depositional environment

Forty-two substrate sediment samples and three cores procured from the shelf region between Chennai and Cuddalore were analyzed to understand the spatial and vertical sediment distribution. Samples subjected to grain size, bulk and clay mineralogical analyses, REE and trace element geochemistry yielded interesting results about the sediment characteristics with respect to the modern day environment. The present study revealed that the study area is characterized by high energy environment marked by predominant composition of medium sand. Results confirmed the evidence of more illite than kaolinite, smectite, and chlorite in the clay mineral assemblage indicating a terrigenous source. Geochemical data also revealed that the enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE) in the sediments is due to continental source of Precambrian times. High feldspar content in the sediments which is emphasized by bulk mineralogical data displayed positive Eu anomaly. By using the paleoredox index, the area of interest is considered to have undergone no major changes in its depositional settings.     

A GIS based planning support system for assessing financial feasibility of urban redevelopment

Urban densification trends combined with redevelopment increasingly moving away from large former industrial and transport sites toward existing town centres and corridors indicate redevelopment is becoming increasingly complex, difficult to plan for and undertake. The interplay between land and property markets and planning frameworks suggest city planners and urban researchers need new tools and methodologies to gain insights into ways to deliver effective responses. Despite the need, there is a limited availability of comprehensive models to fulfil the task. This paper describes a GIS-based tool to assess parcel-level financial feasibility and housing supply associated with urban redevelopment within a precinct. The tool incorporates existing and potential built form and parameters associated with the planning framework and land and property markets. Using a real case study in a workshop, tool performance was evaluated by professional urban planners in terms of its capacity to produce metrics and visualisations of potential scenarios of redevelopment. Results indicate the usefulness of the tool for emulating land market conditions and testing scenarios of planning regulation and market changes for strategic planning purposes.     

The perception of stakeholders on regional transformation on the outskirts of Yogyakarta City,Indonesia

The research was conducted on the outskirts of Yogyakarta City that administratively include three districts of Sleman Regency, namely Depok, Gamping, and Mlati, and three districts of Bantul Regency, namely Kasihan, Sewon, and Banguntapan. It aimed to obtain a deeper understanding on the perceptions of stakeholders on the regional transformation phenomena occurring on the outskirts of Yogyakarta City. This is a qualitative case study research with a single case. The case study research method was selected because the observed phenomenon is contemporary and the analyzed issue is unique. It used a qualitative method with field observations and in-depth interviews to several informants as data acquisition techniques. The informants were stakeholders from state/government, private sector/entrepreneur, academics, and civil society, which were selected using purposive sampling method. The research data processing and analysis included: (1) data reduction, (2) data presentation, and (3) data conclusion. In order to examine the reliability and validity of the data, the research used source triangulation method. The results showed that all stakeholders perceived the regional transformation on the outskirts of Yogyakarta City to have positive and negative consequences on various dimensions. The positive ones were the economic opportunities, generated by the regional transformation process, for both the native people and the migrants. Aside from these positive consequences, the regional transformation on the outskirts of Yogyakarta City also caused negative impacts on the physical, economic, social, and cultural dimensions of the outskirts.     

Spatial and temporal trends of dust storms across desert regions of Iran

Dust storms are among natural and anthropogenic hazards for socioeconomic resources, especially in desert regions. In recent years, dust storms have become a serious problem, especially in desert regions of Iran. This study investigates temporal and spatial variation of dust storm frequency in desert regions of Iran. The number of dusty days (NDD) are collected from 22 stations across the region. The statistical analysis of NDD time series is carried out to show both spatial and seasonal pattern of dust storm occurrence in the region. The regional map of statistical characteristics indicates a north to south increasing dust storm frequency. The spatial map also reveals higher year-to-year variation in south eastern Iran. The seasonality of NDD shows the highest frequency for summer followed by the spring and autumn seasons. The popular Mann–Kendall and the bootstrap MK test to consider serial correlation are then applied for Trend assessment. Results showed both negative (across the north and northwestern regions) and positive trend (across south and south eastern regions) in the annual and seasonal NDD time series. This north-to-south gradient in the spatial and temporal frequency NDD may arise from harsh dry and gusty winds as well as intense land use change in the south eastern territories of Iran. However, more careful and detailed studies are required to connect environmental conditions to change in NDD frequency.     

Mining exploitation influence range

Mining exploitation has a negative impact on the natural environment. Voids created in the rockmass result in displacements and deformations of land surface. During planning and conducting the exploitation, the range of exploitation influence in the form of linear deformations is being determined. On the basis of mining-geological parameters of exploitation, the exploitation range of influences is calculated. According to the literature, many different ranges of exploitation influences can be determined depending on what has been the purpose of it. Different types of exploitation influence ranges can be distinguished, such as theoretical, damage or measurable. In the paper, the matters connected with determining those three types of the influence range are taken under consideration. The comparison of magnitudes of determined influence ranges is illustrated with two practical examples.     

Effects of providing measures against earthquakes: experimental studies on the perceived risks of disasters and disaster preparedness intentions in Japan

This research examined the effects of providing measures against disasters on recipients’ perceived risks and preparedness intentions by conducting two experimental studies. A provision of a set of emergency food was manipulated in the first experiment. Participants (N = 143) were randomly assigned to the provided condition or non-provided condition. In the second experiment (N = 123), provision of an emergency toilet kit was manipulated. The results of the two experiments consistently indicated that (1) the provision of a measure increased the recipients’ perceived risks of the disaster concerned, (2) it increased their preparedness intentions for the disaster, and (3) it had no effects on perceived risks of or preparedness intentions against disasters unrelated to the measure provided. These results were contrary to the prediction deduced from the protection effect and single action effect. The findings in this study encourage promoting the risk management policy of providing people with disaster measures as the first step in disaster preparedness.     

Logistic regression model for sinkhole susceptibility due to damaged sewer pipes

The occurrence of anthropogenic sinkholes in urban areas can lead to severe socioeconomic losses. A damaged underground sewer pipe is regarded as one of the primary causes of such a phenomenon. This study adopted the best subsets regression method to produce a logistic regression model that evaluates the susceptibility for sinkholes induced by damaged sewer pipes. The model was developed by analyzing the sewer pipe network as well as cases of sinkholes in Seoul, South Korea. Among numerous sewer pipe characteristics tested as explanatory variables, the length, age, elevation, burial depth, size, slope, and materials of the sewer pipe were found to influence the occurrence of sinkhole. The proposed model reasonably estimated the sinkhole susceptibility in the area studied, with an area value under the receiver-operating characteristics curve of 0.753. The proposed methodology will serve as a useful tool that can help local governments to choose a cavity inspection regime, and to prevent sinkholes induced by damaged sewer pipes.     

Evaluating climate change adaptation efforts on the US 50 states’ hazard mitigation plans

Climate change brings uncertain risks of climate-related natural hazards. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA in Climate change: long-term trends and their implications for emergency management, 2011. https://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/programs/oppa/climate_change_paper.pdf) has issued a policy directive to integrate climate change adaptation actions into hazard mitigation programs, policies, and plans. However, to date there has been no comprehensive empirical study to examine the extent to which climate change issues are integrated into state hazard mitigation plans (SHMPs). This study develops 18 indicators to examine the extent of climate change considerations in the 50 SHMPs. The results demonstrate that these SHMPs treat climate change issues in an uneven fashion, with large variations present among the 50 states. The overall plan quality for climate change considerations was sustained at an intermediate level with regard to climate change-related awareness, analysis, and actions. The findings confirm that climate change concepts and historic extreme events have been well recognized by the majority of SHMPs. Even though they are not specific to climate change, mitigation and adaptation strategies that can help reduce climate change risks have been adopted in these plans. However, the plans still lack a detailed assessment of climate change and more incentives for collaboration strategies beyond working with emergency management agencies.