Call for Papers

Authors: Bader Almutairi, Ali El battay, Mohamed Ait Belaid, Nader. A. Hameed; Arabian Gulf University

Monitoring vegetation cover is obviously of crucial importance in arid and semiarid zones. This study aimed to explore the relevancy of SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index) and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) to determine vegetation cover using remote sensing imagery and to select one to be used for vegetation mapping at Kuwait national level. A WorldView 2 scene was acquired on 14 April 2012 over "Sulaibiya Area", and used to compare both indices by (i) simulating various spatial resolutions (from 50 cm to 30 meter), (ii) studying the effects of radiometric correction, including the atmospheric correction, on the sensitivity of the indices and (iii) varying soil factor for the SAVI to adjust it to different vegetation densities. A complete fieldwork was done simultaneously to WV2 image acquisition and a hybrid classification was used as reference for all comparisons. The results showed that SAVI with a soil factor of (0.9) was best suited to be used in the study area with an r2 over 0.9 in all various conditions.

Keywords: Comparison, Vegetation Indexes, NDVI, SAVI, Sulaibiya Area, Kuwait, WorldView-2.

Authors: BongSeog Jung, University of Toronto in Ontario /Tebodin Middle Easte; Paul Boulos,University of Kentucky/ Innovyze Inc., USA

Advances in information management technology are allowing an increasing number of organizations to integrate traditionally separate information systems and applications. Geographic information systems (GIS) provide, in many cases, a common link between the various types of information. For a water utility, this common link is the utility's drinking water distribution system.

Interfacing with GIS is perhaps the most accurate and effective means of developing hydraulic network models of water distribution systems. These systems will normally contain large data sets of the water maps of the distribution systems with detailed descriptive facility information including node type, location, elevation and type, pipeline connectivity, size, length, material and age, population information, metered use data, and other pertinent data. Because GIS facilities are typically created for use in Automated Mapping/Facilities Management (AM/FM) applications (e.g., distribution system maintenance and management), this format is generally not suitable for construction of hydraulic network models. Common data format problems encountered are inclusion of hydrants, service connections, line valves, tees and crosses. In order to effectively utilize GIS data for hydraulic network modeling, the detailed GIS data must be properly processed and excess information eliminated.

Skeletonization is the process of representing a water distribution network model by only selected pipes. Applications include merging series pipes and consolidating parallel pipes into a single hydraulically equivalent pipe with the same carrying capacity, removing pipes less than a specified diameter, and trimming dead end mains. This paper addresses the effects of network model skeletonization on hydraulic transient analysis and includes a discussion of the factors that should impact skeletonization decisions. Case studies are presented to illustrate the sensitivity of transient pressure extremes for various levels of skeletonization. It is shown that skeletonization can introduce significant errors in estimating pressure extremes and can overlook water column separation and subsequent collapse at vulnerable locations in the distribution system. This can lead to poor design and operation as well as inadequate protection of water distribution systems and added maintenance costs.

Author: Eman Altunaiji, Emirates Institution for Advance Science and Technology

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) can be obtained from topographic maps, ground surveying airborne data or Remote Sensing technologies. In remote sensing technology, stereo pair (images) and Rational Polynomial Coefficient (RPC) are used to extract DEM. The extraction can be done either in single orbit or two different orbits based on the satellite capability and agility. In this paper, two types of DEMs have been used to generate 3D images of Dubai and Fujairah in United Arab Emirates for comparison and assessment purpose. The first DEM has been generated from Shuttle Radar Topography (SRTM) in a single orbit with 90m resolution, while the second DEM has been extracted from Dubai Satellite 1 (DS1) in two different orbits. The following figures illustrate the preliminary result.

Keywords: DEM, SRTM, DS1, 3D image.

Authors: Fatima Mokhliss, Mostafa Oujidi; Mohamed 1st University

We study here the degree of flood resilience permitted by the facilities planned by the Moulouya hydraulic basin agency, by the application of flood resilience indicators, developed on the basis of structural and functional studies of the technical networks.Indeed, the floodability studies indicating the improvements to be made to confront floods in Berkane city have not considered urban resilience, which is also a fairly new concept, not even studied in all Morocco.Then we propose to begin by reviewing the current level of urban resilience to flooding, then make a simulation of a flood after the planned facilities, and analyze their impact, that is positive or negative, on the level of urban resilience already stated.Is a concept still subject of study and achievement, we agreed that urban resilience to flooding is the result of a structural study of the technical networks, in aggregation with a functional study that takes into account the interdependencies between the different networks .For this, we use the GIS tool for spatial analysis and classification mapping, exploiting the capabilities provided by Geometrics Networks.

Author: Hessa Almatroushi, Emirates Institution for Advance Science and Technology

This paper presents a novel change detection tool for multispectral remote sensing images based on Algebra change detector algorithm and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. Unlike other change detection commercial tools, this tool not only highlights the areas of change, but also reports and describes the changes that had happened in an image. The description includes the change of class an area had gone through and the change percentage of each class in an image. The tool can detect as small as one-pixel change utilizing up to seven classes to describe it. Moreover, it is able to discard any detected changes that are resulted from shadows or any undesirable colour contrast. These features together make the tool a powerful, yet easy and timesaving way to serve analysis purposes. The preliminary results out of this tool includes but not limited to the following figures and tables. The results are generated automatically according to the user specifications.

Keywords: Change Detection, Multispectral Images, Supervised Classification, Algebra Change Detection, Thematic Map

This study aimed to evaluate the current KEPA water quality monitoring stations of Kuwait Bay and to propose a systematic mechanism to develop an optimal network of sampling stations. Three years of monthly data were used over six existing stations and a fieldwork campaign was conducted over twenty sampling sites (December 2011). Field sampling locations were selected based on stratified random sampling scheme oriented by existing classification Map of Kuwait Bay. Dataset was initially examined using statistical methods (correlation, clustering and PCA) and then ArcGIS was used for the spatial assessment. Generated distribution maps of main water quality parameters (e.g DO, pH, nitrare) coupled with Cluster Analysis showed that the current six KEPA's stations might be statistically represented by two only. Furthermore, the existing sampling network is not adequate to highlight the relatively polluted Sulaibikhat area of Kuwait bay. The Geo-statistical approach was proven to be highly relevant to propose any future modification of KEPA's sampling network at Kuwait Bay, meanwhile assuring the temporal continuity with data acquired since 1985 and enhancing the spatial significance by including hotspot zones such as Sulaibikhat area.

Keywords: KEPA, Water Quality, Kuwait Bay, Cluster Analysis, Kriging distribution maps.

Authors: Raafat Abdalla, ; King Abdulaziz University.
Amanda Maula, Dilprit Shergill, Jonathan Karoly; York University, Canada.

The Pan American games are a summer multi-sport event that takes place every four years. In 2015, Toronto, Canada will be host to the gaming event, attracting approximately 250,000 tourists and athletes to the City. The City of Toronto must undertake added responsibilities to ensure the safety and security of participants. Emergency Managers must consider the various hazards that may pose a threat to the City. Such a risk could certainly include a terrorist attack. In such a scenario, how would a terrorist incident is managed? This study has been conducted to show the ways in which crowd management, route planning for evacuation and security controls at various spatial zones can be conducted. The findings of this study can be used as a strategy of preparedness, as well as a tool for response, in that it will provide a guideline of the ways in which to respond to an emergency.

Keywords: Emergency Management, Major Events, Spatial Analysis, Visualization.

Authors: Rula Sharq, Ammar Kaka; Heriot Watt University

Steel structures construction continues to be one of the most hazard prone jobs in the construction industry. Safety in construction is a result of a combination of several factors such as the implemented construction technology, worker's training standard, site working conditions, and the design of the project. Even with the strict application of international safety and hazard prevention codes and standards the fatalities in the steel construction site activity, as a result of falls for an example, is double that compared to other site works. This fact demonstrates the need to improve the safety procedures and implementations in steel construction sites. Based on these facts hazards identification and precautions are essential ingredients of any construction site safety management system.
The objective of this paper, which is a first stage of a Ph.D. project, is to review past research that is aimed at addressing some of the safety problems during construction, and identify how to apply novel technologies as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and by using advanced visualization tool to enhance the workers safety awareness on site. The contribution of this research project lies in introducing a new methodology by using photographic analysis which has been increasingly used to tackle different site related operations. The paper proposes a methodology based on BIM model incorporating the 3D image data available from an actual project, indexing all real images taken, searching and retrieving selected time images and comparing them with BIM model. This will help the safety managers to monitor progress and make decisions on the implementation of safety standards approved for the project. The integration of image recognition and BIM will enable the identification of risk assessment while assisting the production of the daily site safety report. Keywords: Health & Safety,Building Information modeling (BIM), Image Recognition

Authors: Saleh Al Qura'n, Mohammad Mostafa; UAE University

In this study, we attempt to identify zones suitable for artificial-recharge in Abu Dhabi using (GIS). The solution will start by employing least cost analysis to produce two cost-impact parameters for expected pollution originating from septic tanks and pesticides. Data used includes hydraulic gradient and distribution map of source point pollutions. Cost analysis will consider the hydraulic gradient as a friction layer to calculate the accumulative cost-impact over the whole basin and it will produce a mapping of high/low cost layers. The high hydraulic gradient is considered as less costly for pollution associated with groundwater. Next, multi criteria of Fuzzy Overlay GIS technique will be present in order to integrate the producing cost impact parameters together with Hydro-geomorphic and geologic Indexes based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to produce a map showing the best site for artificial recharge. The cartography of the groundwater pollution potential, combined to the repartition of favourable zones to artificial recharge, constitute a tool to decision making.

Keywords: Artificial Recharge, Least Cost Analysis, Geospatial Mapping, Fuzzy Overlay, GIS.

Authors: Samy Ismail Elmahdy, UAE University; M.M. Mostafa, Cario University

The data from PALASAR L band and Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) and the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission sensors successfully reveals new paleodrainage system, which flows northwest and southwest through sand dune corridors of the United Arab Emirates and end up in the Arabian Gulf. The flow directions simulated automatically from the topographic data of Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission sensor using D8 algorithm confirms the presence of the discovered paleodrainage system that could have formed during flood seasons on the Oman Mountain during the late Quaternary. During late Quaternary the United Arab Emirates was dominated by two shallow paleodrainage systems that flowed into the Arabian Gulf, the NW-SE trending draining northern Emirates and the SW-NE trending draining Abu Dhabi and Dubai Emirates. The sand dune corridors along the linear sand dune aquifer are considered of good potential as it was received a considerable amount of rainwater during the late Quaternary. Detailed geophysical survey to sand dune corridors should be conducted for further estimation of the groundwater quality.