jbas

Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Use of Geospatial Techniques in Monitoring Urban Expansion and Land Use Change Analysis: A Case of Lahore, Pakistan
Pages 265-273
Muhammad Nasar-u-minAllah Bhalli and Abdul Ghaffar

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.38

Published: 17 March 2015

Open Access

Abstract: Rapid urban expansion and resultant temporal land use changes have a profound effect on the city’s environment and its surroundings. Due to its significance, it is essential to evaluate the urban expansion patterns and land use change analysis of mega cities of the world. For land use change detection, multi-source & multi-temporal satellite images along with GIS & remote sensing (RS) techniques are significant aspects in analyzing urban expansion all over the world. In present study, two image data sets of the Landsat system in 7/ETM+ and 8/OLI modes, along with ground truthing data were utilized to examine the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use changes and assess the spatial patterns of urban expansion in Lahore, Pakistan from the year 2000 & 2014. Supervised classification using maximum likelihood algorithm has been carried out for land use classification andPost classification change detection technique was used to produce change detection map of the study area. The output land use and change detection map revealed that the areal expansion has been attributed due to loss of agricultural land and urban sprawl while major change in land use has taken place in built-up and agricultural areas. The results indicated that 40.81% of built-up area increased, while agricultural land has decline by -12.98% during the study period (2000-2014). Due to this the observed expansion of the city has been toward the South-east, South and South-west along with major roads. The results infer can provide better understanding and information about the past and current spatial dynamics of land use change in Lahore, Pakistan.

Keywords: Urban Expansion, Land use, Landsat 8, Remote sensing, Lahore.

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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Assessment of Wind Energy Potential for Small Scale Power Generation at Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan
Pages 261-264
S.Z. Abbas, R. Tanweer, Firoz Ahmad, Fayyaz ur Rasheed, Junaid Karim and Alay Raza

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.37

Published: 09 March 2015

Open Access

 

Abstract: In this paper, the wind characteristics and wind Power potential for south coast of Thatta, Sindh province, Pakistan are presented. The variation of monthly wind speed at the height of 10m, 20m, 30m, 40m, and 50m are presented. The power density for these heights are calculated employing coefficient of performance Cp as 0.40 and 0.45. Season wise classification of wind speed and power density at these heights indicates a fairly reasonable prospect of wind energy utilization for small scale power generation.

Keyword: Power Density, Coefficient of Performance, Wind Machine.

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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Stochastic Modeling of Solar Flare Duration at Pakistan Atmospheric Region
Pages 240-243
Saifuddin Ahmed Jilani, M. Ayub Khan Yousuf Zaiand Afaq Ahmed Siddiqui

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.34

Published: 06 March 2015

Open Access

Abstract: Energy incident from the Sun is the chief deriving force responsible for all physical process existing in our terrestrial system. It is interesting to note that solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation created ozone in our stratosphere by the dissociation of O2 molecules. On the other hand, the streams of solar particle flux deplete ozone by creating NOx in our atmosphere. It is therefore, an important task to quantify the contribution of solar activity on OLD with the scientific assurance. In this communication the stochastic models of solar flare duration as solar activity have been investigated. Digisonde, at SUPARCO, HQ one of the ground based device provide us the record of solar flare duration by investigating the ionosphere disturbance. The behavior of solar activity have accomplished by the stochastic modeling in addition to their residual analysis. Since there are two major kinds of flares, it is necessary to establish what the different parametric configurations that causes their difference and their behavior in solar terrestrial relationship. Evidences suggest that gradual flares may become serious threat for our atmospheric and terrestrial disturbances. Their frequency most closely related with high activity periods. However sometimes this could be accomplished in low activity period as well. Hence, it is quite relevant to study theoretical and observational aspects of both high and low activity periods. The data recorded from March 1979 to March 2006 was consisting of mixed flares.

Keywords: Mixed Flares, ARIMA model, Solar Flare Duration (SFD), Solar Activity.

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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Impacts of Signal Free Corridors on the Incidence of Road Traffic Accidents in Karachi
Pages 244-254
Salman Zubair, Jamil H. Kazmi, Syed Shahid Ali, Rashid Jooma and Zeeshan Akhtar

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.35

Published: 06 March 2015

Open Access

Abstract: Increase in road Traffic Accidents is a global phenomenon and Pakistan is no exception. In Karachi, this problem becomes severe due to rapid growth of population. This menace is ruining the lives of thousands of people and making Karachi a worrisome place to live. Recent road geometrical transitions in the city with insufficient accessories have been reducing the problem of traffic congestion to a limited extent. On the contrary, this has erupted as a problem of Road Traffic Accidents which is reaching out of proportions. Recently, induction of a unique feature named, Signal Free Corridor in Karachi has cost many precious lives. In this paper GIS based analysis has been employed by using buffer technique to document the number of Road Traffic Accidents on four Signal Free Corridors, evaluated for five different years. It was revealed that the minor injury accidents were highest in all four Signal Free Corridors. However, in some cases number of severe and fatal road accident cases showed the emerging trend as well. Four types of road users were identified on these corridors out of which riders/pillion and pedestrians were the most vulnerable to Road Traffic Accidents. There is an emergent need to enforce the vehicle speed rules and regulations that would provide breathing time to traffic as well as reduce the incidents of consistent traffic blockages and rising Road Traffic Accidents.

Keywords: Road Traffic Accidents, Signal Free Corridors, Geometrical Advancement, GIS, Buffer Analysis.

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