The effects of human activities and different land-use on trace element pollution in urban topsoil of Isfahan (Iran)

The excessive input of trace elements into urban soil has become one of the most important concerns in industrial and crowded cities all over the world. The contamination of urban soils can affect the health of people living in urban areas, and the surrounding ecosystems. Current study was conducted to assess the effects of human activities as well as different land-use on accumulation of trace elements in urban topsoil and also identify the potential risks to human health in Isfahan (Iran). A total of 95 topsoil samples were taken from different localities of Isfahan City and analyzed for Zn, Pb, Cu and Cr using the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. Pollution index (PI) was calculated for each trace element to identify the rate of trace element accumulation with respect to the background values. Land-use map and geochemical maps were also created for evaluating of spatial distribution of pollution index and trace elements’ concentration in the studied area. Overlapping the concentrations’ map and land-use map revealed that the highest values of pollution index and trace elements’ concentration were located in central part of the city and highways with a great vehicle traffic load and also in the vicinity of industrial factories that increased potential health hazards to the local community. On the other hand, lowest values of trace elements were located in green-lands with strict vehicle traffic laws. These results indicated that different land-use and human activities have affected quality of urban topsoil of Isfahan resulting in great apprehensions regarding public health in crowded parts of the city.     

Evaluating scale effects and bearing portions in centrifuge modeling of helical anchors: sand

Acta Geotechnica - Helical anchors are bearing elements that can resist uplift loads by a combination of shaft and helical plate bearing. The application of helical piles as offshore wind turbine...     

Management of saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers using different wells systems: a case study of the Nile Delta aquifer in Egypt

Hydrogeology Journal - Saltwater intrusion (SWI) is a type of pollution that adversely affects the quality of groundwater in coastal aquifers. The Nile Delta aquifer (NDA) in Egypt contains a large...     

Intervention scenarios to manage seawater intrusion in a coastal agricultural area in Oman

The Batinah coastal plain in northern Oman has experienced a severe deterioration of groundwater quality due to seawater intrusion as a result of excessive groundwater abstraction for agricultural irrigation. Upgrading all farms to fully automated irrigation technology based on soil moisture sensors may significantly reduce the water demand and lead to recovering groundwater levels. This study compares the effects of smart irrigation technology, recharge dams, and a combination of both on seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifer of the Batinah. A groundwater flow and transport model is used to simulate the effect of reduced pumping rates on seawater intrusion for various intervention scenarios over a simulation period of 30 years, and an economic analysis based on cost-benefit analysis is conducted to estimate the potential benefits. Results indicate that a combination of smart irrigation and recharge dams may prevent further deterioration of groundwater quality over the next 30 years. In conjunction with increased efficiency, this combination also generates the highest gross profit. This outcome shows that the problem of seawater intrusion needs to be tackled by a comprehensive, integrated intervention strategy.     

点云场景认知模式——泛化点云EI北大核心CSCD

随着传感器技术和观测平台的迅速发展,点云大数据作为新型遥感的主要数据形式,已经逐渐成为场景感知的重要信息载体,并在地质灾害态势感知、自然资源定量调查和道路交通安全服务等国家重大战略需求中发挥了越来越显著的作用。与此同时,点云观测装备和国家重大战略需求的双重驱动促使空间场景从感知迈向了认知,也对认知处理的算法和算力提出了新的要求。为此,本文以点云场景认知的基本框架为线索,分析了多源点云耦合观测的研究现状,总结了点云场景认知处理的关键进展及其在国家重大战略需求中的典型应用,并凝练了点云场景认知当前面临的主要问题。在此基础上,本文聚焦点云场景认知的前沿挑战,避开传统欧氏空间而转到高维张量流形空间进行点云数据处理,提出了“泛化点云”的科学概念和技术框架,为突破点云场景认知处理的算法和算力提供研究思路。     

Estimating Menard pressuremeter modulus and limit pressure from SPT in silty sand and silty clay soils. A case study in Mashhad,Iran

The Menard pressuremeter test is a relatively expensive in situ test, which generates useful information about the strength and deformation properties of any soil and weak rock, which is carried out in some projects. On the other hand, the SPT test is a rather inexpensive, simple and typical in situ test used to determine the engineering properties of silt, clay, sand, and fine gravel which is utilised in almost all projects.

In this study SPT blow counts (N₆₀) were correlated with pressuremeter modulus (E_PMT) and limit pressure (P_L) and empirical equations were proposed to estimate P_L and E_PMT from N₆₀ in silty sand and silty clay soils separately. These tests have been conducted during subway geotechnical investigation in Mashhad, Iran.

Moreover, in order to verify these empirical equations, they were compared with similar equations that have been proposed by other researchers. These comparisons display that in all equations a linear relationship exists between N₆₀ - E_PMT and N₆₀ - P_L. However, the line slopes are different so it can be concluded the line slopes are related to soil type and geological condition of an area. Thus, for each area a separate empirical equation must be presented.     

Performance-based assessment of an innovative braced tube system for tall buildings

In this paper, an innovative seismic lateral force resisting system for tall buildings is introduced. In this system, a novel supplemental part, ribbed bracing system (RBSyst), is attached to Braced Tube System, creating a modified BTS. RBSyst is a supplemental part which is attached to the conventional bracing members to eliminate buckling problem. The behavior of RBSyst under tensile force is similar to that of the conventional braces. However, in compression, it prevents the braces from buckling by length reduction. In order to evaluate the efficiency of this new BTS system by performance-based assessment, two typical 40-story tall buildings with different story modules equipped with this proposed bracing system are modeled numerically. Then, the seismic behavior of these 3-dimensional models are evaluated by nonlinear time history analysis under maximum considered earthquakes and service-level earthquakes. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the performance of the tall buildings equipped with this new BTS system is within the acceptable limits under both service-level and maximum considered earthquake ground motions. Additionally, it is shown that RBSyst part can effectively enhance the seismic behavior of BTS systems.     

Biostratigraphy,sequence stratigraphy,and paleoecology of the Lower–Middle Miocene of Northern Bandar Abbas,Southeast Zagros basin in south of Iran

The Guri Member is a limestone interval at the base of the calcareous marls of the Mishan Formation. It is the youngest hydrocarbon reservoir of the southeast part of the Zagros sedimentary basin. This Member overlaid siliciclastic rocks of Razak Formation and is overlain by green and gray marls of the Mishan Formation. In order to consider the paleoecology and paleoenvironments of the Lower–Middle Miocene (Guri Member), we have studied biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the Guri Member based on foraminifer and microfacies in two stratigraphic sections including Dorahi–Homag and Chahestan. A total of 33 genera and 56 species of benthic and planktonic foraminifera were identified in two studied stratigraphic sections. Benthic and planktonic foraminifera demonstrate Aquitanian to Langhian age (Early–Middle Miocene) for this Member at the study area. Studied interval has deposited in four facies association including supratidal, lagoon, coral reef, and open sea on a carbonate ramp. Carbonate rocks of the Guri Member have precipitated in two and three depositional sequences at Chahestan and Dorahi–Homag sections, respectively. Sedimentation of marine carbonates of the Guri Member on siliciclastic deposits reflects a major transgression of sea level at Lower to Middle Miocene that led to creating a new sea in the Zagros basin at that age. Increasing siliciclastic influx along with a sea level fall finally caused burying of the carbonate ramp. Except for the beginning of sedimentation of carbonate at the base of both stratigraphic sections (depositional sequence 1), most of the system tracts are not matched to global sea level curve that reflect local effects of the basin. Distribution of foraminifera suggests precipitation in tropical to subtropical in mesotrophic to oligotrophic and eutrophic to oligotrophic conditions. Based on large benthic foraminifera (porcelaneous large benthic foraminifera and hyaline larger benthic foraminifera), water temperature average was determined between 25 and 30 °C that was confirmed by analyzing oxygen and carbon stable isotopes. Finally, we have utilized achieved data to reconstruction and modeling of paleoecology, paleoenvironments, and sea level changes in the southeast part of the Zagros basin.