Milad Soltani; Adel Soltani; Mahin Kalehhouei; Karim Solaimani
Abstract
Introduction
Drought is a serious danger with very extensive impacts on the soil, economy, and the threat to the livelihood and health of local communities. This disaster as an unpleasant climatic phenomenon that directly affects the communities through restrictions on access to water resources, causes ...
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Introduction
Drought is a serious danger with very extensive impacts on the soil, economy, and the threat to the livelihood and health of local communities. This disaster as an unpleasant climatic phenomenon that directly affects the communities through restrictions on access to water resources, causes high economic, social and environmental costs. Meteorological drought indicators are calculated directly from meteorological events such as precipitation, and in the absence of these data, drought monitoring will not be useful. Due to the fact that meteorological drought indicators are only valid for a single location and do not have the required spatial resolution and are also dependent on weather station information, and these stations are often distributed distantly, the reliability of these indicators has been questioned. Given the characteristics of satellite data such as spatial and temporal resolution, extensive coverage of studied areas, and direct investigation of vegetation status by satellite indices, many studies have been carried out for drought modeling using this technology and these indicators. Over the past four decades, far-reaching drought monitoring tools have been widely developed and drought monitoring models are widely proposed, which are generally based on vegetation indices, surface temperature, humidity and reflection in the visible and infrared regions. These include leaf water content index, vegetation cover index and temperature - drought - vegetation index. Therefore, remote sensing techniques can be a useful tool in drought monitoring. The purpose of this study is to monitor drought and vegetation health in the city of Kermanshah using LANDSAT satellite imagery. For this purpose, first, by examining the rain-gauging and synoptic data of existing stations and using the standard precipitation index model, the driest year and one wet year were selected as the sample. In this study, two years of 2015 and 2016 were selected as the dry and wet years and then, the vegetation cover of the region was compared with the Landsat images. To use these images, it is first necessary to make sure that there is no geometric error. For this purpose, the road vector layer was used, which was revealed that the images have geometric errors. Images with less than a half-pixel error were corrected geometrically using 21 and 24 auxiliary points. The adaptation of the vector layers with the roads existing in the image indicated the accuracy of the correction. At the next stage, the driest year and one wet year were selected as samples by examining the rain-gauging and synoptic data of the existing stations and by using the standardized model of rainfall index. At the next stage, the Temperature Condition Indices and Vegetation Health Index (VHI) were compared in two wet and drought periods were studied in order to determine the differences of these indices during a dry year and a year with high precipitation. For this purpose, each of the aforementioned indices was built using the LANDSAT-8 imagery, and the stages of building these indices were subsequently presented. The required pre-processing and processing as well as the geometric and radiometric corrections were first performed on the satellite images. Then, temperature condition indices, vegetation status index and vegetation health index were prepared for drought monitoring. Considering that, the meteorological drought indices are only valid for a single location and lack the required spatial resolution and are also dependent on the information of the meteorological stations, and these stations are often distributed far apart from each other, the reliability of these indexes has been questioned. Satellite data characteristics like high spatial and temporal resolution, extensive coverage of the study areas, and direct survey of the vegetation status by the satellite indexes have led to a large number of studies on drought modeling using this technology, and the confirmation of the use of these indices. The aim of this study is to determine the moisture, heat and health of the vegetation using the LANDST images. Thus, the results of the study in the next stage indicated that the LANDSAT images and the built indices have the required capabilities to monitor drought. The results of this research can be a proper option for decision-makers to effectively supervise, examine and resolve the drought conditions and double the necessity of profile definition. Supplementary studies are suggested for spatial drought monitoring by satellite imagery through ground measurements of the quantitative changes in the coverage and temperature of the earth’s surface. There are limitations in the use of NDVI and satellite thermal bands. These include weather and cloud conditions that should be considered. Using maps obtained from the drought monitoring and evaluating indices can help improve drought management programs and play a significant role in reducing the effects of drought. Using vegetation health status index, it was determined that the vegetation status has had a lot of changes during drought compared to the wet period, hydrological drought has had a major share in the destruction of vegetation and drying of the lakes and, consequently, the abandonment of agricultural lands and the lack of access to alternative water resources, as well as the lack of groundwater resources or the lack of alternative surface water resources have intensified, and it seems that, this part of Iran will face numerous problems if the drought continues in the coming years and the appropriate methods are not used to deal with it. Also, given that the water resources of the region are going to decrease in the coming decades, the necessity of using comprehensive water management methods in all sectors, including the reserve, transfer and distribution sectors seems very essential and inevitable. Finally, it is expected that the trend of destruction of vegetation decreases in the future by applying proper management practices, sustainable water distribution, regional negotiations, methodical agriculture as well as the establishment of optimal hydrological conditions.
Ali Mohammad pour; Saeid Tourkqashqaeinejad
Abstract
Extended Abstract Introduction As one of the largest ports in southern Iran,MahshahrPort faces the risk of seawater intrusion from Mahshahr estuary. Mahshahr and Mousa estuary form an 86 kilometerwaterway. Midday mixed tide is dominant throughout this waterway. Moving towards the vertex of the estuary, ...
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Extended Abstract Introduction As one of the largest ports in southern Iran,MahshahrPort faces the risk of seawater intrusion from Mahshahr estuary. Mahshahr and Mousa estuary form an 86 kilometerwaterway. Midday mixed tide is dominant throughout this waterway. Moving towards the vertex of the estuary, this dominance of the midday tidebecomes much more evident. Considering an average depth of 38.4 m, midday tidal wave of M2 with an approximate wavelength of 860 km can be reinforced in this waterway. Grounding of boats and otherammunitions in the basin of Mahshahr port (betweenMajidiyeh garrison and the Persian Gulf) was one of the most important issues during the Imposed War.Mahshahrestuary is the only possible way to access the Persian Gulf fromImam Khomeini port and Majidiyehnaval garrison. From a military perspective,Mahshahrestuary has a special feature that can be considered as a strategic factor and used in various types of active and passive defense. In spite of the shallowness of its internal parts,it is considered to be a safe haven for small vesselsin times of crisis and air attacks. Sometimes, it is critical to use these estuaries and their navigable waterways as the main route for transportation of military weapons, medical aid, and rescue services. Crisis managers and urban planners need an appropriate plan based on risk map of the study areato reduce the risk of tidal process. However, zoning tidal process and mapping its risk are not enough by their own: a useful system needs toidentify sensitive and vulnerable pointsto increase the efficiency of tide risk zoning. Materials & Methods Seeking to reduce the risk of tidal process,the present study determinesmaximum level of development in areas covered during high tides usingHecgeoras software. In order to achieve the goals, hydrographic data of the substrate was used along with information and statistics received from high accuracy hydrometric stations. This zonesurrounds an area of around 944 hectares. Field visits indicate thatduring tidal process, soil conditions in the study area hampers sending emergency aids using land routes.Considering the conditions and structures inMahshahr estuary and the tide zone in the study area, investigating geology of the study area seems necessary. Results & Discussion Considering the soil conditions in the study area, the highest level of soil flooding was observed during high tide. This increasessoil adhesion, affects water intrusion, and hampers sending aids. Critical areas in danger of water intrusion from the estuary (such as Mahshahr gas reservoirs and Majidieh military garrison) were identified in the present study. Moreover, results were investigated and land visits were performed to present accurate and reliable results. Land visits were carried out during 2016-2017 winter and 2017 summer in order to achieve better and more accurate results based on the climatic changes. Investigating the recorded level of water in the study area shows up to 3-metervariation in the water level of Mahshahr estuary. Necessary decisions regardingthe use of different types of vessels, and passive/active defenses can be made in accordance with water level fluctuations and specified times for each water level. During local visits performed for quantitative analysis of results, soil type and its role in passive defense were also discussed. Conclusion Field studies and observations in the study area indicated that 1) dominant soil type of the region is a highly adhesive type with a high clay content; 2) during tide time, soil flooding results in increased adhesion of soil and practically hampers movements of ammunition; 3) In summer and winter, water level changes repeatedly and thus, necessary measures shall be considered for military programs in accordance with the time in which water fluctuations occur. Although the depth of water in the study area is significant, it should be noted that Mahshahr estuary finally reaches an urban area, and thus can be used for military actions. In fact, mapping tide zone is a very effective method for reducing the risk of tidal process in coastal areas.
Spatial planning with regard to military defense
Mohammad Hassan Nami
Abstract
Extended Abstract Introduction Gradual changes in climate systems and patterns such as temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and wind and precipitation patterns affect type of climate in different areas. The climate of lagoons is especially sensitive and easily affected by climate changes. Critical ecosystems ...
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Extended Abstract Introduction Gradual changes in climate systems and patterns such as temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and wind and precipitation patterns affect type of climate in different areas. The climate of lagoons is especially sensitive and easily affected by climate changes. Critical ecosystems of lagoons protect biodiversity and have various tourism, economical, ecological, environmental and social values. Located in JazMurian basin, JazMurian wetland is frequently affected by wet years and droughts. However, repeated droughts and loss of freshwater have resulted in the wetland drying out. The dried out water body not only affects plant and animal life, but also acts as a dust emission center.Material and MethodsThree scenarios of emission (A2, A1B, B1) in medium-term (2046-2065) and long-term (2080-2100) are used in the present study to evaluate climate changes in JazMurian basin. Related data have been collected from Iranshahr synoptic station in the east and JiroftMianDeh in the west during 1990-2010 statistical period. The output of HADCM3 model has been downscaled using LARS-WG statistical model and minimum/maximum temperature, and monthly precipitation of the synoptic stations were analyzed.DiscussionEvaluation of LARS-WG model proved that monthly and annual average of minimum and maximum temperature in all modeling scenarios are higher than the observation period. The highest and lowest temperature increase will occur in A2 (business as usual) and B1 (the most environmental) scenarios. The highest increase in monthly average of maximum temperature will occur in Iranshahr station during the long-term A2 scenario (4.3 for maximum temperature in April and 4.6 for minimum temperature in May). In Iranshahr station, the highest increase in monthly average of maximum temperature predicted for the medium-term A2 scenario will equal 2.5 ° in April. In both scenarios, the lowest increase in monthly average of maximum temperature in Iranshahr will occur in October.According to all scenarios, precipitation will decrease in January and December. An increase in precipitation is recorded during March and October in Iranshahr station, and during February in Jiroft. Thus, changes will mainly occur in Mediterranean winter precipitation in the study area, while negligible changes will occur in monsoon precipitation during summer. Precipitation modeling shows higher precipitation fluctuation in long-term scenario compared to the basic statistical period. Long-term A 1B and B1 scenarios have predicted a small increase in precipitation of both stations compared to the basic statistical period. A2 scenario has shown a small decrease in precipitation during the same period. Modelling based on B1 scenario has indicated that the region will experience a higher increase in precipitation in long-term future (2080-2100) compared to the medium-term future (2046-2065), while the other two scenarios have predicted a lower increase in precipitation of the same period. Medium-term B1 scenario has predicted a lower annual precipitation average compared to the observation period. Results indicated that in accordance with the B1 scenario, Iran will experience the lowest level of precipitation during the 21 century in the medium-term period.ConclusionInvestigating various meteorological parameters in western and eastern borders of JazMorian basin has predicted 1.5° to 2.1° increase in average temperature during the future 50 years, and 2.4° to 3.9° increase in average temperature during the future 100 years. Moreover, results indicated that changes will mostly occur in winter precipitation, and summer time changes will be negligible. All things considered, all scenarios have predicted lower precipitation for eastern parts of JazMurian compared to the western parts.
Geographic Data
Bahram Imani; Jafar Jafarzadeh
Abstract
Extended Abstract Introduction Assessments of water quality have recently developed and now include surface and groundwater pollution issues. Permanent changes occurring in the quality of groundwater, especially those affecting drinking water and salinization of water sources, are considered to be a ...
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Extended Abstract Introduction Assessments of water quality have recently developed and now include surface and groundwater pollution issues. Permanent changes occurring in the quality of groundwater, especially those affecting drinking water and salinization of water sources, are considered to be a serious threat to rural development. Unfortunately, many people lack enough knowledge about the importance of groundwater and the harmful effects of environmental pollution on these valuable resources. The present study has investigated the quality of potable groundwater in the rural parts of central Ardabil County using multi-criteria decision-making models and geostatistical analysis in GIS environment. Parameters such as EC, PH, SO4-, Cl-, Na and TH (in terms of CaCo3) have been used to create an overall picture of the quality of potable groundwater resources in Ardabil County based on which related zoning map was developed in geographic information system. The kriging interpolation method was also used to obtain the spatial distribution of the parameters and the simple additive weighting method was used to weigh and rank the layers. According to the final map of water quality, approximately 36% of the central Ardabil County (around 88 square kilometers, mainly in the southern part of the study area) has access to optimal quality of drinking water. On the other hand, low quality of drinking water is observed in the northern and northeastern parts which cover 46% of the study area (112 square kilometers). Moreover, a direct relationship is observed between the population density and the density of deep and semi-deep wells and the decrease in the quality of water. Materials and MethodsThe present study has applied library research and field study methods. Rstudio and Arc GIS 10 software were also used to perform related analyses.Study AreaCase study area includes 243 square kilometers of the central Ardabil County consisting of three cities and nineteen villages as illustrated in Figure 1.The following methods were used in this research:1- Direct rating2- Kriging interpolation3- Standardization method4- Simple weighing method5- Fuzzification of the final dataThe following parameters have also been used to assess the quality of drinking water:1- Electrical conductivity (EC)2- Chlorine level (Cl-)3-The amount of sulfate (SO4+)4- The amount of nitrate (Na)5- Total water hardness (TH)6- Water acidity level (PH)Results & DiscussionGroundwater chemical quality is primarily assessed using parameters such as changes in the amount of dissolved salts, and limitations on various uses of water especially water used for drinking. Table 1 shows different types of conventional kriging methods selected through the method test for the parameters. These can be obtained using the mutual evaluation method and RMS error. Factors affecting the quality of drinking water are then ranked and weighted according to the expert opinions. The final quality map is thus prepared. Layers are then standardized in accordance with data description and the results are presented in Table 1. It also exhibits maximum permissible and desirable level of non-toxic chemicals in drinking water in accordance with the Iranian Standards and Industrial Research Institute (ISIRI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, along with the maximum permissible level of mineral substances in drinking water. Semivariograms used for kriging interpolation are also presented. Table 2 shows the RMS and RMSE errors as well as the average standard error of the water quality parameters in the study area. The interpolated primary layers are presented in Figure 3. The final map prepared for the quality of potable water in the study area indicates that the quality of groundwater in the northern part and a little section of the central part (46% or 112 square kilometers of the study area) is unfavorable. This includes 8 villages of the County. 6 villages have access to drinking water with semi-optimal quality and 5 villages are located in the optimal area of water quality. Accordingly, the quality of potable groundwater decreases drastically as we move towards the northern and northeastern parts of the study area, and the lowest quality of groundwater is observed in the most northerly part of the study area (covering 46% of the study area). Figure 4 shows the density of deep and semi-deep wells, the amount of annual harvest from rivers in the central part of Ardabil (in thousand cubic meters per year), the population density and industrial areas in this region. A direct relationship is therefore observed between population density, the density of existing wells, the level of water extraction from rivers and the sharp drop in the quality of groundwater. According to the reports prepared by Ardabil Regional Water Company, around 32 million cubic meters of water is annually needed to meet the drinking requirements of urban and rural uses, which can seriously damage the quality of underground water in the area.ConclusionAccording to the final map of groundwater quality, only 36% of the study area (88 square kilometers) has access to drinking water with favorable quality which can be a great concern for planners and managers. Finally, it is suggested to use geostatistical methods and geographic information system as a useful tool to assess the quality of underground water. These methods can gradually replace the old methods and thus prepare more accurate statistics, increase the efficiency of water-related projects, and reduce their cost.
Spatial planning with regard to military defense
Esmaeil Najafi; Mohammad Shali
Abstract
Extended AbstractIntroduction Environmental degradation and climate change are one of the most important challenges faced by all living organisms on earth today (Rafique et al., 2022). Human activities, urbanization, mining and industrialization accelerate environmental pollution (Etchie et al, ...
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Extended AbstractIntroduction Environmental degradation and climate change are one of the most important challenges faced by all living organisms on earth today (Rafique et al., 2022). Human activities, urbanization, mining and industrialization accelerate environmental pollution (Etchie et al, 2018, Rahman and Anser, 2020). The effects of climate change or environmental destruction include melting glaciers, increasing air and ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, decreasing agricultural production, extinction of wildlife, unpredictable precipitation and climate change, and destruction of the workforce (Danish et al., 2019). In addition, due to the depletion of forests and natural resources, environmental pollution is increasing rapidly in the world (Appannagari, 2006). The rapid development process on the one hand and environmental limitations on the other hand have caused that today the evaluation of the effects caused by development on the environment should be considered as a part of development activities. The existence of a gap between economic growth and a sustainable environment has made planning a big challenge, so thinking about environmental considerations at high levels of planning can prevent environmental problems and disturbances despite the destructive effects that economic growth indicators have on their own. They put it, reduce it. In the present study, the place of environmental considerations in Iran's spatial planning, such as the provincial planning plan and the regional physical development plan, and the relevant laws and regulations have been analyzed.Materials & MethodsThe current research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature and method. The required data and information were extracted by using library studies and documents from the service description of provincial and regional physical plans, laws and regulations governing the urban and regional development of the country, prepared programs and plans, etc. The method of content analysis was to analyze the position of environmental and environmental studies in the spatial planning and development system of the country. In addition, the objectives, topics to be investigated and the process of environmental studies in regional physical plans and provincial plans have been compared in a comparative manner.Results & DiscussionIn this section, the necessity of environmental studies in land development and environmental management, the place of environmental studies in spatial planning, environmental studies in environmental and physical plans, and the process of combining natural environment studies in physical and physical plans have been investigated. The results of the research indicate the existence of many overlaps and similarities in the content and subjects of the study of the mentioned projects and differences in the objectives, the process of studies and the way of their integration. ConclusionThe results of the research indicate that:- The regional physical plans and the provincial training program in natural studies have many overlaps and similarities in terms of content, topics and subjects studied. In regional physical plans, studies of the natural environment are examined in detail and widely.- The purpose of environmental studies in physical plans is to eliminate land (with priority for other uses and high cost) and to rank the remaining land according to their suitability for urban, rural and industrial development. In the research projects, the evaluation of the ecological power in the ecological units for the types of main uses, as well as the identification of the environment of the province (strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats).- The process of unifying studies and merging layers of studies to achieve the goals and final output (suitability of land for the development of residence and activity, etc.) .) are different from each other.- In the regional physical plans, the suitability of the land is checked only for the development of residence and activity. While the ecological model for all land uses is presented in the land use program, and in the table of biological units, the characteristics of each of the environmental units are given separately according to the studied parameters.- In environmental studies, the investigated criteria and sub-criteria do not have the same weight. In the regional physical plans, during the final integration, each of the criteria and sub-criteria are compared two by two using the AHP model and weighted based on their importance in determining the suitable place for residence and activity. In the provincial planning program, parameters are prioritized based on the type of uses.the type of uses.- Although in the country's five-year development plans, especially in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth plans of economic, social and cultural development, in terms of law, only emphasis has been placed on conducting evaluation studies before implementation, but this approach was not enough and In order to achieve sustainable development, it is necessary to have a special, independent and comprehensive law for the process of evaluating the environmental effects of projects and plans. In other words, there is currently no independent law specific to the environmental assessment process in the country. Today, environmental impact assessment has found a real place as one of the effective components in environmental planning and policies.The following suggestions are made for reforming the spatial planning and management system with environmental considerations:- The integration of physical plans and land preparation and the definition of strategic environmental assessment in the process of spatial planning in Iran;- Paying attention to the strategic environmental assessment in the country's policies, programs and plans before implementation;- Conducting applied research on the pathology of the country's environmental assessment process with an emphasis on explaining the status of land use, ecological capacity assessment, strategic environmental assessment, cumulative impact assessment and environmental impact assessment;- the country's environmental assessment law in a specific and independent manner, in order to guarantee enforcement and strengthen deterrence;- Paying attention to the environmental supervision and monitoring of the implementation of plans and projects after the issuance of environmental approvals by creating a monitoring system and environmental monitoring or control of plans and projects by increasing the quantity and quality of human resources in the environmental protection departments of the provinces and eliminating traditional monitoring and surveillance systems.
Geographic Data
Foroogh Mohammadi Ravari; Ahmad Mazidi; Zahra Behzadi shahrbabak
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Replacing natural vegetation cover with impermeable urban surfaces) stone, cement, metal, etc.) has resulted in increased land surface temperature which is considered to be the most important problem of urban areas. Distinct temperature difference between the city and ...
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
Replacing natural vegetation cover with impermeable urban surfaces) stone, cement, metal, etc.) has resulted in increased land surface temperature which is considered to be the most important problem of urban areas. Distinct temperature difference between the city and the surrounding areas is called heat island (Melkpour et al., 2018). Increased land surface temperature and resulting heat islands in urban areas built without proper preplanning (Khakpour et al., 2016) especially in developing countries such as Iran experiencing a rapid growth rate have resulted in widespread environmental problems. Heat islands mainly occur due to the presence of man-made surfaces which prevent the reflection of sunlight and result in temperature increase. In general, urban heat islands result in increased air and land surface temperature and thermal inversion (Gartland, 2012).
Methodology
The present study applies a statistical-analytical research method based upon statistical data received from meteorological stations and extracted from satellite images. Climatic data recorded from 1976 to 2020 in Yazd Meteorological Station were retrieved from the General Meteorological Department of Yazd Province and used to measure temperature changes. Urban climate studies mainly take advantage of long-term patterns and thus, the present study has applied the common Man-Kendall method to measure the trend of temperature changes in warm season (July, August, and September). Also, satellite images collected by Landsat 4-8 in a 33-year period, including four statistical periods with a time interval of 11 years (the average recorded in July, August and September of 1987, 1998, 2009 and 2020), have been used to extract heat islands of Yazd city in warm seasons. These images collected under clear weather conditions were retrieved from the United States Geological Survey website (http://glovis.usgs.gov/) in the WGS-1984 UTM image system. NDVI index was used to investigate the vegetation cover. Main land uses discussed in the present study included barren lands, urban areas, vegetation cover and roads. Sample land uses were collected from Google Earth and visually interpreted in ArcMap. Maximum likelihood algorithm was used for the classification process. Finally, Land Surface Temperature was extracted from satellite images and compared with air temperature trend using the Mann-Kendall test.
Results & Discussion
Results indicate that due to thicker vegetation cover in summer, there has been a negative relationship between the vegetation cover and land surface temperature. In other words, land surface temperature has increased with decreased vegetation cover and vice versa. Types of land use identified in satellite images collected from Yazd city have showed that the city has experienced a widespread physical expansion during the 33-year statistical period regardless of the season under investigation and thus, built-up urban land use class has expanded significantly. As a result, vegetation cover has experienced a negative trend and decreased. Land surface temperature extracted from thermal images of Yazd city has proved parts of northwest and south of the city to be the core of its heat islands. This is due to the presence of barren lands, lack of evapotranspiration mechanisms, high heat absorption capacity and low conduction capacity. Man-Kendall test has found a significant increasing trend for temperature especially in recent years in which the temperature has increased about 2.3 °C. This is most possibly due to the increasing trend of urban population in recent decades, followed by increased residential structures and resulting heat island phenomenon.
Conclusion
In general, classification of urban land use types in Yazd has shown a significant physical expansion of the city during the statistical period. This physical development has occurred in all directions; beginning from the central and northeast-southeast parts, and moving towards northwest-southwest parts. Maximum NDVI was observed in a strip along the central part of Yazd in which vegetation cover is thicker. Green spaces are also observed in some areas of the city. Color spectrum of the LST map has shown relative changes of the ambient temperature in various parts of the city. High and very high temperature (between 41.5 and 50 °C) show the location of the heat islands on LST maps. Also, areas with a deep red color and a temperature above 50 °C have formed hot clusters formed or strengthened between 2009 and 2020 in the west and southwest parts of the city. Satellite images and related graphs have showed that in 2020, Yazd have witnessed a sharp increase in temperature and a heat island. Temperature data of Yazd Meteorological Station and Man-Kendall test have shown a significant increasing trend (about 2.3°C), especially in recent years. These are related to the urban population growth in recent decades, followed by increased urban structures (residential-commercial) and heat island phenomenon.
Territorial conditions and security of border areas
kamyar Emami; Hamid Ganjaeian
Abstract
Extended AbstractIntroductionThe importance of the issue of security has caused the protection of borders and the defense of border areas to be considered by the rulers in all historical periods, and in a way, the protection of borders means the continuation of the governance system of each country. ...
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Extended AbstractIntroductionThe importance of the issue of security has caused the protection of borders and the defense of border areas to be considered by the rulers in all historical periods, and in a way, the protection of borders means the continuation of the governance system of each country. Throughout history, all countries have faced some degree of insecurity, chaos, crisis and border wars to stabilize their country. Many ethnic, racial, and religious groups have coexisted in turbulent political and social contexts in recent years and have lived on borders. Iran has been one of the countries whose borders have been in turmoil in recent years. In fact, Iran's borders have historically seen the most tangible state-nation conflicts; therefore, the issue of borders has always been one of the basic and important issues of governments. Iran's geographical location and the political situation of neighboring countries, along with the intervention of foreigners, have caused us to witness various tensions in the country's border strip in recent years, including Iran's eastern borders. One of the eastern border areas of the country that has faced tension in recent years is the borders of Khorasan Razavi province. In view of the above, the development of military infrastructure in the border strip of Khorasan Razavi province is very important. Due to the fact that the border strip of this province is not uniform in terms of environmental conditions, so the identification of areas prone to the development of military infrastructure, including military bases and observation posts, is very important in this study. Been paid.Materials and methodsIn this research, in order to achieve the desired goals, descriptive-analytical methods as well as an integrated model of fuzzy logic and network analysis (ANP) have been used. The research data include a 30 m high SRTM digital model, 1: 50000 topographic maps and information layer related to the population points located in the study area. The most important tool used in this research is ArcGIS software. In this research, fuzzy logic and ANP models have been used to identify areas prone to military infrastructure development. According to the objectives, this research has been done in two stages. In this first stage, in order to analyze the role of geomorphological factors in the security of the border strip of Khorasan Razavi province, a map of elevation status and geomorphological units of this region has been prepared. In the second stage, using 8 parameters including slope, slope direction, field of view, altitude, distance from the river, distance from the communication road, distance from the border and distance from population points, as well as a combined model of fuzzy logic and ANP to identify areas prone to development. Military infrastructure (including military bases and reconnaissance) is discussed.Discussion and resultsThe study of the geomorphological status of the border strip of Khorasan Razavi province indicates that the border strip of this province has a high geomorphological diversity. The border strip of Khorasan Razavi province consists of 4 units of mountains, slopes, plains and alluvial fans, as well as hills. The mountain unit mostly includes the northern border strip of this province, which leads to the border of Turkmenistan. Due to its high altitude as well as being difficult to cross, this unit can play an important role in controlling the border strip as well as monitoring other areas. Therefore, one of the strengths of the northern borders of Khorasan Razavi province is the existence of a high mountain range and difficult to cross. Mahour hill unit is scattered in the border strip of this province, which has a lower height and slope than the mountain unit. Due to fewer obstacles and more visibility, this unit has a high potential for the establishment of military facilities, including military bases. The slope unit is located between the mountains and the plain, which has a high potential for military purposes, including various defense sites, because a large part of these slopes have eastern slope directions. However, the plain and alluvial fan unit, which is mostly located on the border with Afghanistan, can be vulnerable due to fewer geomorphological obstacles. Although this unit has a high potential for military transport and other military purposes, it is more vulnerable than other units. According to the mentioned cases, the border strip of Khorasan Razavi province has a great variety of geomorphology and each of its parts has different potential for different purposes.ConclusionThe results of the study of the geomorphology of the border strip of Khorasan Razavi province have shown that this province has a high geomorphological diversity and this issue has caused the defense capability in different areas of the border strip of this province is not the same. Also, based on the results, the border strip of this province has a big difference in terms of environmental parameters, so the potential of each region for different military and civilian activities is different. Considering that in this research, the identification of areas prone to the development of military infrastructure has been considered with emphasis on military bases and observation posts, so the desired parameters have been defined in accordance with the objectives of the research and based on these parameters have been identified as areas prone to the development of military infrastructure. Based on the results, parts of the border strip of Khorasan Razavi province have a high potential for the development of military infrastructure and parts of it have a high vulnerability. According to the results, the northern regions of the border strip of this province, due to having a wide field of view, high altitude, the presence of slopes and directions of the eastern slope, have the highest potential to establish military bases and observation posts, as well as middle areas. Due to the lack of a wide field of view, low altitude and being located in the plain unit, this province has little potential for the development of military infrastructure (military bases and observation posts). Due to the above, the middle areas of the border strip of Khorasan Razavi province have a high potential for vulnerability, so it is necessary to make the necessary plans to control and monitor these areas.
Extraction, processing, production and display of geographic data
Zahra Rabiee Gaffar; Hossein Asakereh; Uones Khosravi
Abstract
Extended Abstract Introduction The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported that climate change results in anomalies, fluctuations or trends in climatic elements, such as precipitation and temperature. In this study, we aim to investigate the decadal changes in the probability ...
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Extended Abstract Introduction The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported that climate change results in anomalies, fluctuations or trends in climatic elements, such as precipitation and temperature. In this study, we aim to investigate the decadal changes in the probability of different durations of precipitation in Iran over the past four decades (1977-2016). To achieve this goal, we used the third version of the Asfazari database. We defined a rainy day as a day when the precipitation is more than the average precipitation in a given place. The Markov chain method was employed to estimate the probability of precipitation duration from 1971 through 2016.Materials and MethodsWe adopted the daily data of 2188 stations under the supervision of Iran’s Meteorological Organization for the period 1971 through 2016. Accordingly, we estimated the probability of precipitation duration for 1-7 days for the entire period. We investigated the decadal changes in the probability of precipitation duration for the four study decades and compared them to the whole period under investigation. To understand the spatial features of these changes, we estimated the relationship between changes in the probability of precipitation duration for 1-7 days and spatial factors using multivariate regression models.Results and DiscussionOur findings revealed that as the duration of rainy days increased, the area affected by precipitation decreased. Therefore, the spatial distribution of the probability of precipitation duration for more than 7 days indicated the smallest area that received precipitation. The probability duration of precipitation lasting 4 days or more throughout Iran was very small, which can be attributed to the effects of local features on precipitation formation. The probability of 1-day precipitation for most regions of Iran was higher than other durations; however, there was only a probability of 1-day precipitation in half of Iran. The highest probability of precipitation duration occurred in the Caspian region, the only region that experienced all durations of precipitation, indicating the presence of various precipitation mechanisms in this area. The greatest probability of decadal changes was observed in the 1-7 day duration in the northern part of Iran, including the northwest to the east of the Caspian Sea and in the south of Alborz Mountain range. Additionally, the most changes in the probability durations of 1-7 days of precipitation in the south have been seen in Sistan and Baluchistan. The lowest probability of decadal changes was shown in large areas of the regions from the east, southeast, and southwest. Therefore, the changes in precipitation durations in the southern half of the regions were generally low; however, in the northern half, the changes were relatively significant.In general, during the four study decades, the relationship between changes in the probability of 1-7 day precipitation durations and spatial factors, particularly latitude, was positive. Thus, decreasing latitudes resulted in an increasing probability of 1-7 day precipitation.ConclusionThe most likely changes in precipitation duration were related to the western and eastern coast of the Caspian Sea and the northwestern region of Iran, as well as southern Alborz, where the probability of changes decreased. The least amount of possible changes was related to the south of Iran, where only two provinces, Sistan and Baluchistan, and Hormozgan, experienced the greatest change in the probability of one to seven days of precipitation. Thus, the possible changes in the spatial continuation of precipitation in the southern half of the country were primarily low. However, in the northern half, the possible changes in the duration of precipitation were more significant. changes in the duration of precipitation, along with changes in the intensity and frequency of precipitation, can have significant consequences in extreme events such as droughts and floods. Accurately depicting changes in precipitation duration can be helpful in addressing problems concerning precipitation.
Esmaeil Shahkouei
Volume 11, Issue 41 , May 2002, , Pages 35-40
Abstract
It is clear that determining the type of product of each area and agricultural planning depend on the climate. One of the characteristics of climate change is temperature variation. The direct effect of heat on the distribution and dispersion of plants over the earth is certain. The sensitivity of plants ...
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It is clear that determining the type of product of each area and agricultural planning depend on the climate. One of the characteristics of climate change is temperature variation. The direct effect of heat on the distribution and dispersion of plants over the earth is certain. The sensitivity of plants to high, low and optimal temperatures and their effect on increasing or decreasing vegetative and reproductive growth rates of plants are among the scientific facts that have attracted the attention of most scientists in the field of plant sciences. Soybean product in Gorgan plain is considered as the second dominant cultivation after the wheat, barley and other spring harvestings.
In this research, the author has tried to investigate the role of absolute temperatures in the stages of vegetative and reproductive growth of soybeans by utilizing the theories of scientists, practical analyses, determination of the probability of occurrence of temperatures above the tolerance of plants, and field operations; finally, due suggestions have been made. Furthermore, the effect of temperature on soybean cultivating and its role in increasing or decreasing yield as well as implementation of correct management in terms of selecting appropriate planting dates for agricultural operations have been indicated.
Ghorban Panahi Jelodarlou
Volume 13, Issue 51 , November 2004, , Pages 36-40
Abstract
This paper is about sustainable development and its constituent elements in urban planning, and in order to introduce this issue, which has an important place in urban studies and literature. From the review of environmental studies on city and urbanization issues, it has been deduced that citizens should ...
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This paper is about sustainable development and its constituent elements in urban planning, and in order to introduce this issue, which has an important place in urban studies and literature. From the review of environmental studies on city and urbanization issues, it has been deduced that citizens should be the main focus of all urban plans, and inattention or neglect of the environment leads to deep crises in human being’s living environment, including urban environment. Establishing areas for participatory planning development (citizen participation in urban plans), ensuring the participation of all groups with interest in the city’s affairs, coordination among minor and major plans, promoting and expanding sustainable urban development methods and utilizing auxiliary tools for urban management form the main theme of sustainable urban development.
Ashraf Azimzadeh Irani (Translator)
Volume 11, Issue 44 , February 2002, , Pages 36-38
Abstract
With current technology, combined processing of spatial datasets from multiple sources has become possible. Misuse of datasets often makes their processing expensive, time consuming and inaccurate. How can such problems be minimized?The authors of this paper have presented the results of their research ...
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With current technology, combined processing of spatial datasets from multiple sources has become possible. Misuse of datasets often makes their processing expensive, time consuming and inaccurate. How can such problems be minimized?The authors of this paper have presented the results of their research on the construction of a warning system based on two types of solutions.The first solution is to limit the use of data to only one specific operation. The next solution is the need to analyze the metadata of dataset in order to determine the functionality of dataset in different cases.
Manuchehr Musavizadeh Yazdi
Volume 1, Issue 4 , May 1992, , Pages 40-42
Abstract
In general, geoid is of particular importance in sciences that are in any way related to measurement of quantities related to physics and geometry of the Earth. Especially in the basic science of geodesy, this hypothetical level is the foundation and also a useful tool for estimating many of the quantities ...
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In general, geoid is of particular importance in sciences that are in any way related to measurement of quantities related to physics and geometry of the Earth. Especially in the basic science of geodesy, this hypothetical level is the foundation and also a useful tool for estimating many of the quantities required by geodesy and sciences related to it.
Considering the importance of this particular level and the need to understand its concept, it seems that the following paper can be considerably useful. It must be mentioned that this paper is based on the doctoral thesis of a graduate student at the University of New Brunswick, Canada, supervised by Professor Vanicek, a distinguished professor of geodesy, hoping to be used by experts, students and enthusiasts in the field.
Somayyeh Khosravi
Volume 21, SEPEHR , February 2013, , Pages 43-47
Abstract
Abyane, Masule, Kandovan and Meymand are four historical and exceptional villages who Iran beautiful and historical landscapes which can be investigated due to their.
Abyane village is located in the skirts of Karkas Mountain, 40 kilometer North West of Natanz and 70 kilometers South of Kashan in Isfahan ...
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Abyane, Masule, Kandovan and Meymand are four historical and exceptional villages who Iran beautiful and historical landscapes which can be investigated due to their.
Abyane village is located in the skirts of Karkas Mountain, 40 kilometer North West of Natanz and 70 kilometers South of Kashan in Isfahan province. This village should be regarded as one of the most exceptional villages of Iran, due to its diverse historical buildings. The architecture and texture of buildings in Abyane are inspired by natural and geological features of the area. The magnificence of local and beautiful architecture has made Abyane one of the exceptional attractions of the world. Abyane has a beautiful landscape, good climate and favorable natural position. It is located in the skirts of Karkas Mountain, one of mountain ranges in central Iran. Regarding form and structure, Abyane valley is a wrinkled area with multiple mountain ranges, generally in South West to North West direction. Abyane is surrounded by mountains. The present study evaluates geotourism potentials in Abyane village using geological and geomorphological maps of Abyane valley.
Mahdi Modiri; Jabbar Salimimanesh; Mohammad Abbasi; Sajjad Bagheri Seyyed Shokri
Volume 20, Issue 78 , August 2011, , Pages 43-50
Abstract
Today, the goal of tourism planning is to fulfil the need to create sustainable planning in order to prevent the destructive effects of tourist activities on the tourist environments and areas (cities, villages, etc.), and that although tourist activities have achieved better goals and economic effects, ...
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Today, the goal of tourism planning is to fulfil the need to create sustainable planning in order to prevent the destructive effects of tourist activities on the tourist environments and areas (cities, villages, etc.), and that although tourist activities have achieved better goals and economic effects, these goals should be used to satisfy the tourists and to improve the quality of the welfare and life of local communities (residents) and human beings. The Rijab area is located in the Zagros Mountain range as a geotourist area. With its typical geomorphologic features and the presence of tourist attractions, this region has high tourist potentials. This article aims to study the capabilities and limitations of geotourism and to develop the best strategy for the prosperity and improvement of tourism management in this region. The research method is a combination of two methods of secondary and field studies. In the secondary method, in addition to the subject-related texts, some of the information needed, especially quantitative information, was gathered through referrals to libraries, departments and organizations. In field study, information was gathered through direct observation (image and video), interviews and questionnaires. Ten Delphi questionnaires were completed and then analyzed by SWOT model. Finally, internal and external factors were evaluated and the strategies of these factors were extracted. The extraction of internal and external matrices showed that WO strategies have a higher priority for implementation, and ultimately these factors, by quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM), were prioritized as follows: 1- Strengthening the specialist force; 2. Construction and improvement of the status of residential-service units; 3. Protection of typical tourism attractions (especially geomorphologic); 4. vast advertisements; 5. Familiarizing local people with the culture of tourism; 6. Adding to the extent of the tourist area by utilizing the surrounding lands and the participation of investors and government.
Abolfazl Eshghi
Volume 12, Issue 47 , November 2003, , Pages 43-45
Abstract
The management of border rivers control is important for countries adjacent to them due to changes in river channels and bed (especially in the lower reaches of the river). In many cases, the meandering of rivers leads to significant changes in boundary lines, leading to geopolitical outcomes and political ...
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The management of border rivers control is important for countries adjacent to them due to changes in river channels and bed (especially in the lower reaches of the river). In many cases, the meandering of rivers leads to significant changes in boundary lines, leading to geopolitical outcomes and political conflicts. In countries facing water shortage crisis, the role of border-rivers and their control is vital. The vast majority of political conflicts between the Occupied Palestinian Territories and its neighbors over the Jordan River, or the case between India and Pakistan over the water of the Sind River are examples of such conflicts.
Zoleikha Bagheri (Translator)
Volume 8, Issue 32 , February 1999, , Pages 43-50
Abstract
The International Astronomical Union has recognized eighty-eight constellations in different sizes and shapes. Their longest is Hydra, which covers almost 1303 square degrees of the sky’s surface, while Crux is only 68 square degrees. Centaurus contains forty nine stars with apparent magnitude ...
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The International Astronomical Union has recognized eighty-eight constellations in different sizes and shapes. Their longest is Hydra, which covers almost 1303 square degrees of the sky’s surface, while Crux is only 68 square degrees. Centaurus contains forty nine stars with apparent magnitude higher than 5, while Mensa does not include even one star of such brightness. Over the year, the Sun passes through twelve constellations of Zodiac. It should be noted that the position of bright stars is more in South than in North.
Mahdi Dehghan (Translator)
Volume 15, Issue 58 , August 2006, , Pages 44-45
Abstract
New and accurate information can help decision makers in planning and controlling the normal situation. This type of dynamic information is of more importance for emergency and responsive planning. The data gathered in hours, days, months, and years after an unfortunate incident can improve policies ...
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New and accurate information can help decision makers in planning and controlling the normal situation. This type of dynamic information is of more importance for emergency and responsive planning. The data gathered in hours, days, months, and years after an unfortunate incident can improve policies and practices to reduce risks and increase the effectiveness of emergency planning, awareness, preparation and search. Earthquake is one of the oldest enemies of man which today can be represented and analyzed. The Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to analyze the population and infrastructure positions. This paper, describing a study on the preparedness of a section of Istanbul (Turkey) against the earthquake, shows how to it is possible to minimize the effects of earthquakes by using GIS, plan emergency response and prepare a list of urban information.
Iran Ghazi; Babak Ejtema'ei
Volume 11, Issue 42 , August 2002, , Pages 44-46
Abstract
Firoozabad is one of the cities of Fars province in southern Iran where environmental management has received less attention.In this paper, using the method of studying land systems, the factors affecting the current appearance of these systems are identified and the role of humans in degradation of ...
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Firoozabad is one of the cities of Fars province in southern Iran where environmental management has received less attention.In this paper, using the method of studying land systems, the factors affecting the current appearance of these systems are identified and the role of humans in degradation of the environment, intensification of erosion and change in the appearance of Firouzabad environment have been determined. At the end, suggestions have been made to improve the environmental management methods in the studied area.
Khosrou Khajeh (Translator)
Volume 8, Issue 30 , August 1999, , Pages 44-47
Abstract
Application of the GIS technology and the quality of its results depend on access to digital geographic data of acceptable quality. Conversion of analogue maps into digital ones is a way of producing digital geographic data.Unfortunately, analogue maps are in most cases out-of-date. For vast countries, ...
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Application of the GIS technology and the quality of its results depend on access to digital geographic data of acceptable quality. Conversion of analogue maps into digital ones is a way of producing digital geographic data.Unfortunately, analogue maps are in most cases out-of-date. For vast countries, production of new maps according to ground-based observations is very difficult due to high costs and excessive time needed for their completion. This paper presents a framework for updating available digital geographic data as an alternative to revision of customary maps.
Volume 2, Issue 6 , February 1992, , Pages 45-55
Abstract
It is possible to utilize any device that is able to produce a series of constant distances in time as a clock. The best time-setting scales available today utilize quartz crystal fluctuations or atomic state transformations. In surveying and navigation, these time scales should be linked to the Earth's ...
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It is possible to utilize any device that is able to produce a series of constant distances in time as a clock. The best time-setting scales available today utilize quartz crystal fluctuations or atomic state transformations. In surveying and navigation, these time scales should be linked to the Earth's time. However, the topo-centric distance of a satellite is directly related to the Earth's rotation, which in turn is a function of time. Since the atomic clocks produce independent time scales, there is a need to align these times. This is the task of the Earth’s rotation and those involved in time service affairs.
Sima Buzari
Volume 15, Issue 59 , November 2006, , Pages 46-51
Abstract
In the years after the end of World War II, the transfer of human resources and the resulting developments led to the emergence of a phenomenon called "Developement", which become a slogan especially for the Third World and in particular the newly independent states. Between the 1950s and 1960s, development ...
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In the years after the end of World War II, the transfer of human resources and the resulting developments led to the emergence of a phenomenon called "Developement", which become a slogan especially for the Third World and in particular the newly independent states. Between the 1950s and 1960s, development was often considered as an economic phenomenon. The basis of this mentality was the theory of economic growth. This theory considers the growth of a country in terms of economic development, and believes that with the increase of GNP, the conditions for the equitable distribution of development arise, and the growth process develops in the form of “Trickle-down” and spreads to deprived areas. The theory of economic growth attributed the increase of production capacity to the concentration of capital and, in particular, locating production centers in the vicinity of large cities. According to this theory, most developing countries began to concentrate on industrialization and capital investment to raise their production capacity. Having more products and raising revenues were considered as the highest factors in development. Many developing countries considered economic development to be possible only through industrialization, especially an industry whose raw materials were imported from abroad. In Iran, the development was introduced in its new meaning after the Constitutional Revolution. The entry or, in other words, the accelerated and rapid influx of capitalism into our country was a major reflection of the the statesmen’s (especially during the ascendancy of first and second Pahlavi monarchs) imitation of the capitalist system of the West in order to develop the country. The government tried to implement the ideas of modernism in all socioeconomic and political dimensions in the country, and, without paying attention to the long history and infrastructures that caused the economic and social changes of European countries, they concentrated all their attention and determination on this matter through hasty decisions and actions. In the same way, after 1921 certain points in the country were selected and all the envisaged scenarios of development and changes were implemented in these areas. This means that industries, factories, military garrisons, government departments and organizations, new social institutions, universities and higher education centers, etc. were established in these selected centers, which, of course, were connected together by roads and railway lines. The existence of such a development led to the intense concentration of all facilities and power in one or a few regions and imbalance in the regions of the country, so that the other areas to were marginalized.
Hamid Ebadi; Ruzbeh Shad
Volume 13, Issue 49 , May 2004, , Pages 46-50
Abstract
With increasing development of GIS, the analysis functions applicable by it have also been significantly expanded, including network analysis. Finding the shortest path is among the important network analyses that is considered as one of the important applications in transportation issues. Considering ...
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With increasing development of GIS, the analysis functions applicable by it have also been significantly expanded, including network analysis. Finding the shortest path is among the important network analyses that is considered as one of the important applications in transportation issues. Considering the many applications of routing analysis, the variation in the type and volume of input information and various parameters affecting the efficiency of a routing algorithm in a geographic information system, various solutions have been proposed to solve the routing problem, including the Dijkstra and Genetic Algorithms.Dijkstra's algorithm is one of the most famous methods for finding the shortest route that can be used to find the shortest path in a given network using matrix computations. However, in instant applications, due to large volume of input information, complex constraints and the need for fast performance, this algorithm will lose its effectiveness. As computational volume increases in the network matrix, its time complexity increases as well. Genetic algorithm can be used to solve this problem. Genetic algorithm is an optimization technique that can reduce the amount of computations and number of comparisons by minimizing the search range.In this paper, with a brief overview of the Theory of Graphs, the operation of Dijkstra and genetics routing algorithms are reviewed and results of several practical works are presented. Finally, by comparing and verifying the results, the strengths and weaknesses of each of them will be determined.
Hasan Ali Ghayur; Farinush Kiarasi
Volume 12, Issue 48 , February 2003, , Pages 46-50
Abstract
One of the problems encountered by researchers in natural science and related sciences is lack of homogeneity in precipitation statistics of pluviometry stations in a region or a basin. Thus, the precipitation statistics of one or more stations do not match those of other stations, and this implies that ...
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One of the problems encountered by researchers in natural science and related sciences is lack of homogeneity in precipitation statistics of pluviometry stations in a region or a basin. Thus, the precipitation statistics of one or more stations do not match those of other stations, and this implies that a favorable relationship between precipitation and elevation cannot be created and the level of correlation among relations is very low.The reasons for this issue can be varied. In this paper, first it was attempted to specify the stations with conflicting statistics and then it was tried to justify the reasons causing these disagreements.The SPSS Software, a statistical software package, can assist surveyors in this task because using this software and the T test it is possible to compare the statistics of precipitation of a station with the average precipitation of the region, and to determine the agreement or disagreement of precipitation data in this station with the whole of region. In addition, it is possible to compare statistical data of two stations and to examine their agreement.
Abdalhamid Rajaei
Volume 1, Issue 3 , August 1991, , Pages 46-49
Abstract
Geomorphologic maps are, in fact, the result of research on morphogenic phenomena of a region, drawn on desirable scale and by using aerial photos as illustrative data in the field of topographic maps.
The significance of the phenomena shown on these maps is different in terms of the type of map and ...
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Geomorphologic maps are, in fact, the result of research on morphogenic phenomena of a region, drawn on desirable scale and by using aerial photos as illustrative data in the field of topographic maps.
The significance of the phenomena shown on these maps is different in terms of the type of map and its function. Geomorphologic maps are not only valuable tools for scientific research in different systems that are in some way related to the Earth sciences, but also in different developmental plans such as rural development, river basin development, urban development .... Here, due to the necessity of brevity, only the applications of these maps in urban development are briefly described.
Volume 1, Issue 2 , February 1990, , Pages 46-51
Abstract
Loma Prieta, at 3791 feet above the sea level, is the tallest point of the Santa Cruz Mountain. The summit, covered fully by forests, overlooks Monterey Bay on the south and the Santa Clara Valley on the northeast, and is located a few miles south-east of the highway 17 and off the winding road of the ...
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Loma Prieta, at 3791 feet above the sea level, is the tallest point of the Santa Cruz Mountain. The summit, covered fully by forests, overlooks Monterey Bay on the south and the Santa Clara Valley on the northeast, and is located a few miles south-east of the highway 17 and off the winding road of the mountain. Over years, Loma Prieta Peak has been cleared of trees and has become location of various kinds of antennas, microwave dishes, and related buildings. Near the end of the line at the southern end of the area, short iron bars can be found set on the ground. At the top of this bar, there is a 3-inch- diameter bronze disk on which these words can be seen: USGS NCER Network No. 1 Loma Prieta. "In the last three years, usually once a month during the day and sometimes even in the middle of the night, a person came to this place, connected an antenna to an electronic device, and after five to six hours of stopping and writing notes, took his equipment with him and left the place.
