Comparative study on the equivalent linear and the fully nonlinear site response analysis approaches

Seismic site effect has been a major issue in the field of earthquake engineering due to the large local amplification of the seismic motion. This paper presents the importance of an appropriate soil behavior model to simulate earthquake site response and gives an overview of the field of site response analysis. Some of the well-known site response analysis methods are discussed. The objective of this paper is to investigate the influences of nonlinearity on the site response analysis by means of a more precise numerical model. In this respect, site responses of four different types of one-layered soil deposit, based on various shear wave velocities with the assumption of linear and rigid base bedrock, were analyzed by using the equivalent linear and fully nonlinear approaches. Nonlinear analyses?? results were compared with those of the linear method, and both of the similarities and differences are discussed. It is concluded that in the case of nonlinearity of soil under strong ground motions, 1-D equivalent linear modeling overestimates the amplification patterns in terms of absolute amplification level, and cannot correctly account for resonant frequencies and hysteric soil behavior. Therefore, more practical and appropriate numerical techniques for ground response analysis should be surveyed.     

A parametric study of stability of geotextile-reinforced soil above an underground cavity

A study based on two-dimensional finite element analyses under plane strain condition was performed by PLAXIS code to investigate the behavior of geotextile-reinforced soil above an underground cavity. The effects of depth of single layer, tensile stiffness, number and length of reinforcement layers, and size of cavity on settlement of ground surface and head of cavity have been investigated. Results indicated that when a single layer of reinforcement is used, there is a critical depth at which settlements are maximum. Maximum settlements reduce with increase in stiffness of reinforcement. Also settlements reduce with increase in number and length of reinforcement but there is a critical value for number and length of geotextile which increase more than this certain value has not significant effect on reduction of settlements. Also for a given load and tensile stiffness, increase in length of reinforcement has more effect for higher diameter of cavity.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Cationic Surfactants Based on Their Effect on the Complexes of Chrome Azurol S with Be2+ and Al3+ Cations

Simple, rapid, and sensitive spectrophotometric methods have been proposed for the determination of cationic surfactants (CS) as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dodecyltrimethylammonium (DTAB), and cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB). The methods are based on the effects of CSs on the complexes of Al³⁺ and Be²⁺ with Chrome Azurol S (CAS). The optimum reaction conditions such as CAS concentration, metal ion concentration, and pH have been studied and found to be 2.0 × 10^?4 mol L^?1 CAS, 0.5 mg L^?1 Al³⁺ or 0.4 mg L^?1 Be²⁺ and pH 5.4. The analytical characteristics of the methods such as limit of detections, limit of quantifications, and linear ranges have been obtained. CTAB, CPB, and DTAB could be determined by the Al–CAS complex in the ranges of 0.50–40.00, 0.20–10.00, and 0.40–10.00 µmol L^?1, and for the Be–CAS complex in the ranges of 0.08–5.00, 0.08–3.00, and 0.20–6.00 µmol L^?1, respectively. The limit of the detections of the method for the determination of CTAB, CPB, and DTAB for the Be–CAS complex has been found as 0.025, 0.024, and 0.061 µmol L^?1, respectively. The interfering effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to the determination of CS CTAB in conditioner shampoo and water samples.     

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction using biological markers for the Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic sedimentary succession in Tabas Basin, central Iran

The Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic sedimentary succession in the Tabas Basin, with a thickness of about 1600 m, provides a case showing geochemical property changes through the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. The studied section (Kamarmacheh Kuh) is composed of the marine Nayband Formation (Norian-Rhaetian) overlain by siliciclastic sediments of Ab-e-Haji Formation (Lower Jurassic-Aalenian). Detailed geochemical analyses were conducted on selected samples from both formations and the results were used to infer paleo-depositional conditions. Most of the studied samples contain <1 wt% TOC composed mostly of oxidized organic matter with insignificant generative potential. Extract analysis of four representative samples indicate that the rocks also contain minor amounts of preserved algal organic matter along with a secondary contribution of higher plant organic matter from the adjacent watershed. Biomarker analyses show subtle variations in the relative contribution of land plant material that are consistent with the widespread occurrence of coal seams in the upper parts of the Nayband and basal parts of the Ab-e-Haji formations. Although the samples from the Kamarmacheh Kuh Section have low source potential, the extractable hydrocarbons indicate that conditions existed that were conducive to organic matter preservation and that regions of the Tabas Basin with higher primary productivity or lower sedimentation rates may have greater potential.     

Hydrogeochemistry of Groundwater and Its Suitability for Drinking and Agricultural Use in Nahavand,Western Iran

Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in Nahavand city. However, the groundwater quality at the agricultural areas has been deteriorating in recent years. Ground water quality monitoring is a tool which provides important information for water management and sustainable development of the water resources in Nahavand. Hydrochemical investigations were carried out in an agricultural area in Nahavand, western Iran, to assess chemical composition of groundwater. In this study, 64 representative groundwater samples were collected from different irrigation wells and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, major ions, and nitrate. The results of the chemical analysis of the groundwater showed that concentrations of ions vary widely and the most prevalent water type is Ca–Mg–HCO₃, followed by other water types: Ca–HCO₃, Ca–Na–HCO₃, and Na–Cl, which is in relation with their interactions with the geological formations of the basin, dissolution of feldspars and chloride and bicarbonate minerals, and anthropogenic activities. Thirty-seven percent of the water samples showed nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) concentrations above the human affected value (13 mg L⁻¹). The phosphorous (P) concentration in groundwater was between 0.11 and 0.90 mg L⁻¹, with an average value of 0.30 mg L⁻¹, with all of the samples over 0.05 mg L⁻¹. The most dominant class C2-S1 (76.5%) was found in the studied area, indicating that sodicity is very low and salinity is medium, and that these waters are suitable for irrigation in almost all soils. Agronomic practices, such as cultivation, cropping, and irrigation water management may decrease the average NO₃ ⁻ concentration in water draining from the soil zone.     

Nitrate pollution of groundwater in Toyserkan,western Iran

A total of 95 groundwater samples were collected from Toyserkan, western Iran to assess the chemical composition and nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) status of groundwater. The most prevalent water type is Ca–HCO₃ followed by water types Ca–Mg–HCO₃. In comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guideline of 50 mg l⁻¹ for NO₃ ⁻, a total of nine wells (9.5%) showed higher concentrations. In 36% of samples (34) NO₃ ⁻ concentration was low (<20 mg l⁻¹), and in 53.7% of samples (51), in the range of 20–50 mg l⁻¹. The samples were classified into four groups based on NO₃ ⁻ and chloride (Cl⁻) concentrations. Of the samples, 40% were classified as group 4 and were relatively high in Cl⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ (Cl⁻ > 47 mg l⁻¹, NO₃ ⁻ > 27 mg l⁻¹). The high correlation between NO₃ ⁻ and Cl⁻ (r = 0.86, p < 0.01) is consistent with a manure source, resulting from the practice of adding salt to animal feed. Pollution of groundwaters appeared to be affected by the application of inorganic fertilizer at greater than agronomic rates, Cl-salt inputs, and irrigation practice.     

Spatially enabled bushfire recovery

Over the last decade growth in spatial information use for disaster management has been considerable. Maps and spatial data are now recognized as critical elements in each of the four phases of disaster management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The use of spatial information to support the phases of mitigation, preparedness and response to bushfires is widely understood. Less attention, however, has been given to the role of spatial information in the recovery. Moreover, the application of the spatially enabled society concept to bushfire recovery has not been explored. This paper explores the role that spatial information plays and could play in the recovery phase of a bushfire disaster. The bushfires in Victoria, Australia that took place during February 2009 are used as the primary case study. It is found that: Spatial information for recovery requires a pre-existing infrastructure; Spatial capacity must be developed across agencies dealing with recovery; Spatially enabled address and parcel information are the key dataset required to support all recovery tasks; Spatial integration of bushfire datasets (spread and intensity) require linking with planning regimes, and Spatial information that is volunteered could be incorporated into recovery activities.     

GIS-based analytic hierarchy process as a multicriteria decision analysis instrument: a review

Information and communication technology, which has been incorporated and provided in the Geographic Information System (GIS), is valuable and effective geospatial information for the decision makers in improving their decisions in planning and development. The integration of this GIS using the multicriteria decision analysis approach provides an environment to the decision makers in citing areas using land suitability analysis procedures. This review paper particularly examines the GIS-based analytic hierarchy process as a multicriteria analysis/evaluation technique in land suitability analysis by means of literature reviews and surveys.     

Investigation of NDVI in relation to the growth phases of beech leaves in forest

The main objective of the science of phenology is to identify the time of the occurrence of conspicuous periodic phenomena in plants under the impact of climatic factors. The study of phonologic phenomena through visual observations and terrestrial studies and temperature registration using a thermo hydrometer in different altitudinal levels and using the satellite data of IRS1C/1D LISSIII in twelve 1-ha plots in pure beech stands in the altitudinal range of 500 to 1,200 m above the sea level from April to December was carried out in such a way that for each month, one image of sensor was allocated. The produced vegetation indices were matched with terrestrial observations of the phenology periods in each month in the beech plots. The results show that the increase of the altitude above the sea level functions like latitude and its most remarkable impact is the decreasing of the temperature and the shortening of growing season. The terrestrial observations carried out in the plots show that a sudden increase in the temperature leads to the faster growth and emergence of the leaves. The produced correlation coefficient between the temperature and the emergence of the leaves was (p?=?0.01) r?=?0.87. Moreover, the end of fall in the studied region has a direct and significant relation with temperature. The amount of correlation coefficient between the temperature and end of fall in the studied region is equal to (p?=?0.01) r?=?0.91. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is more related to the growth and nurturing of the leaves. The amount of NDVI during the growth of the leaves, completion of the leaves, and fall of the leaves is equal to 0.35, 0.6, and 0.25, respectively.     

An analysis of vegetation indices in relation to tree species diversity using by satellite data in the northern forests of Iran

Vegetation indices have been introduced for analyzing and assessing the status of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of vegetation using satellite images. However, choosing the best indices to be used in forest biodiversity and vegetation is one of the important problems faced by the users. The purpose of this research is to evaluate six vegetation indices in the analysis of tree species diversity in the northern forests of Iran. The present research uses LISS III sensor data from IRS-P6 satellite. Geometric rectification of images was performed using ground control points, and Chavez model was used for atmospheric correction of the data. The six spectral vegetation indices included NDVI, IPVI, Ashburn Vegetation Index (AVI), TVI, TTVI, and RVI. Shannon–Wiener species diversity index was used to analyze diversity, and the value of the index was calculated in each sample plot. Then, the spectral values of each sample plot were extracted from different bands. The best subset regression was used to analyze the relationship between species diversity and the related bands. The results obtained from the regression showed that polynomial equations under scrutiny as independent variables can assess tree and shrub species diversity better than other bands and compounds used (R ²?=?0.47). The obtained results also indicated a higher capacity in the case of the AVI index for estimating tree species diversity in the under study area.