Support Vector Machines for Automatic Multi-class Change Detection in Algerian Capital Using Landsat TM Imagery

Recently, Support Vector Machines (SVMs) have shown a practical relevance in various image processing applications. This paper investigates their applicability for land cover and land use change detection using multi-sensor images of remote sensing. Then, the most widely used approaches for multi-class SVMs, which are the One-Against-All and the One-Against-One with both Max-Win and DDAG decision rules are implemented to perform multi-class change detection. SVMs are evaluated in comparison with artificial neural networks using different accuracy indicators. The results obtained showed that SVMs are much more efficient than artificial neural networks and highlighted their suitability for land cover change detection.     

Prioritization of the effectiveness rate of various climatic variables on the annual yield of rain-fed winter wheat using different statistical models

The annual yield of different plant species is affected by various parameters such as soil and water properties, climatic variables, etc. Due to the importance of the role of climatic variables on...     

Mapping surface water erosion potential in the Soummam watershed in Northeast Algeria with RUSLE model

The present study aims to estimate the annual soil loss in the Soummam watershed in the northeast of Algeria, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE), geographic information system(GIS), and remote sensing(RS). RUSLE model has been used for modelling the main factors involved in erosive phenomena. The Soummam watershed covers a surface area of 9108.45 km2 of irregular shape, northeast –southwest towards southeast. It is characterized by an altitude varying between 2 m in the northeast and 2308 m in the northwest. Results showed that the average erosivity factor(R) is 70.64(MJ·mm)/(ha·h·year) and the maximum value reaches 140(MJ·mm)/(ha·h·year), the average soil erodibility factor(K) is 0.016(t·h·ha)/(MJ·ha·mm) and maximum values reach 0.0204(t·h·ha)/(MJ·ha·mm) in the southeast regions of the watershed, the average slope length and steepness factor(LS) is 9.79 and the mean C factor is estimated to be 0.62. Thematic maps integration of different factors of RUSLE in GIS with their database, allowed with a rapid and efficient manner to highlight complexity and factors interdependence in the erosion risk analyses. The resulting map for soils losses, with an average erosion rate of 6.81 t/(ha·year) shows a low erosion(7.41 t/(ha·year)) which covers 73.46% of the total area of the basin, and a medium erosion(7.42 to 19.77 t/(ha·year)), which represents 17.66% of the area. Areas with extreme erosion risk exceeding 32.18 t/(ha·year) cover more than 3.54% of the basin area. The results can certainly aid in implementation of soil management and conservation practices to reduce the soil erosion in the Soummam watershed.     

Vulnerability evaluation of the strategic buildings in Algiers (Algeria): a methodology

Algeria is a country with a high seismic activity. During the last decade, many destructive earthquakes occurred, particularly in the northern part, causing enormous losses in human lives, buildings, and equipments. In order to reduce this risk in the capital and avoid serious damages to the strategic existing buildings, the government decided to invest in seismic upgrade, strengthening, and retrofitting of these buildings. To do so, seismic vulnerability study of this category of buildings has been considered. Structural analysis is performed based on a site investigation (inspection of the building, collecting data, materials characteristics, general conditions of the building, etc.) and existing drawings (architectural plans, structural design, etc.). The aim of these seismic vulnerability studies is to develop guidelines and a methodology for rehabilitation of existing buildings. This paper presents the methodology followed in our study and summarizes the vulnerability assessment and strengthening of one of the strategic buildings according to the new Algerian Seismic Design Code RPA 99/version 2003. As a direct application of this methodology, both static equivalent method and nonlinear dynamic analysis are performed and presented in this paper.     

Occurrence and impact of characteristic earthquakes in northern Algeria

Earthquakes constitute the natural hazard that is one of the main natural threats to the northern part of Algeria because of its geographical setting at the Eurasia–Africa plate boundary. Several active multi-segment reverse faults have been identified near urban areas that may rupture during characteristic earthquakes and produce earthquakes of magnitudes ≥7.0. Characteristic earthquakes are extreme seismic events characterized by long return periods, which can have great societal impact. Earthquakes in northern Algeria are destructive for two main reasons: firstly, the shallow character of the faults and secondly, the vulnerability of the building stock built essentially prior to the implementation of seismic design codes that take into account the level of the seismic hazard. That is why even moderate earthquakes are disastrous in this area.     

The zircon evidence of temporally changing sediment transport—the NW Gondwana margin during Cambrian to Devonian time (Aoucert and Smara areas,Moroccan Sahara)

International Journal of Earth Sciences - Detrital zircon provenance studies are an established tool to develop palaeogeographic models, mostly based on zircon of siliciclastic rocks and isotope...     

Magmatic and metamorphic history of the Deh-Salm metamorphic Complex, Eastern Lut block, (Eastern Iran), from U–Pb geochronology

The Deh-Salm metamorphic Complex (DMC) of the Lut block in East Iran consists of metapelites, amphibolites, marbles, and metasandstones intruded by granite and pegmatites. U–Pb dating of zircon, monazite, xenotime, and titanite by ID-TIMS show that the granitic rocks were emplaced at 166–163 Ma, confirming that the high temperature metamorphism was synchronous with the intrusive activity, and that the region cooled rapidly thereafter. Late- to post-magmatic hydrothermal activity was probably responsible for the late crystallization, at 159.5 Ma, of zircon and titanite in an amphibolite and of monazite in granite. Xenocrystic zircons yield indications for a Carboniferous component in the source, together with a variety of Precambrian ages, which indicate a provenance of the sedimentary protolith from mature continental crust. The timing and rapidity of the events are consistent with evolution of the DMC in a back-arc environment during the Jurassic subduction of the Neotethys Ocean.     

Comprehensive laboratory study on stress–strain of granular soils at constant global void ratio: combined effects of fabrics and silt content

The published literature has revealed conflicting results regarding the effect of low plastic fines fraction (I_p?≤?5.0%) on the mechanical behavior of sandy soils. For this reason, the use of different sample initial structures as (initial relative density approach, global void ratio index approach, etc.) could explain these different mechanical responses of granular materials. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the quantitative aspect of the low plastic fines effects on the undrained monotonic response of sand-silt mixtures using the global void ratio approach. To achieve this goal, an experimental testing program through controlled monotonic triaxial tests was carried out on reconstituted saturated Chlef sand containing from 0 to 50% silt with an interval of 10% at three global void ratios (e?=?0.64, 0.66 and 0.68) and subjected to constant confining pressure (σ'₃?=?100 kPa). The different samples were reconstituted using two different preparation techniques: DFP and MT. The obtained results show that the low plastic fines content appears as a very relevant parameter in the characterization of the mechanical response of sand-silt mixture samples reconstituted at constant global void ratios, where the steady state shear strength and instability shear strength decreased with the increase in low plastic fines content up to the limiting fines contents (F_c?=?40% and F_c?=?10%) considering both studied initial structures (Dry funnel pluviation and Moist tamping), respectively. Beyond these thresholds fines contents, a reverse trend was observed for all parameters under study. Moreover, the test results indicate that the brittleness index, flow potential (V_f), friction index, equivalent void ratio (e*) and equivalent relative density (Dr*) could be considered as reliable parameters in the prediction of the mechanical behavior of the silty sand soils under study.

     

Impact of Land use Changes on Landslides Occurrence in Urban Area: The Case of the Constantine City (NE Algeria)

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - The city of Constantine (NE Algeria), the third largest city of the country (2.374 inhabitants/km2) is facing frequent damaging landslides that constitute...