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Showing 7 results for Geographic Information System
Noise Pollution Evaluation of City Center of Zanjan by Geographic Information System (GIS)
F Majidi, Y Khosravi,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (6-2016)
Abstract

Background and Objective: The aim of  noise control in a community is to improve its management in the community, because the traffic noise can affect neighboring residential areas. Well-planned noise management can eliminate this major and harmful component issue, which is one of the stresses of urban life on human health. However, before planning to decrease urban noise, it is necessary to determine the very noisy areas in a given city. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the main noise indices at the noisy areas of Zanjan City, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This study was performed in the central area of Zanjan City, with heavy traffic. For this purpose, the equivalent sound level (Leq), the day-night sound level (Ldn), the day-evening-night sound level (Lden), the noise pollution level (NP) and the traffic noise index (TNI) were measured in 19 stations in the first half (winter and spring) of 2012. The measurements were conducted in the main streets of this area as recommended by EPA guidelines and finally the results obtained were mapped using the ArcGIS (Ver. 10.2) software. 

Results: the noise maps in GIS showed clearly the variations of Leq, Ldn, and Lden indices in the study field area. Moreover, it was found that the hourly variations of Leq, Ldn and Lden in stations are completely function of population movements and therefore traffic loads in the Zanjan city center. In addition, the extent of violation of traffic noise level from the ambient noise standard was estimated by Lden at 100% stations (greater than 55 dB). The TNI values at 67  and 100% stations  were more than 74 dB (A), but  in the evenings the TNI values at  100% of stations  were more than 74 dB (A). The NP values at 78% sampling stations were more than 80 dB  implying  traffic noise was annoying in the most stations and times.

Conclusion: Using noise maps, NP and TNI indices can help intelligent traffic control planning, because the noise maps can be used to represent the movement of people in different times and parts of a city.   


Site selection of air quality monitoring stations over city of Mashhad by multiple-criteria decision-making techniques
H Adab, A Atabati, R Esmaili, Gh Zolfaghari, M Ebrahimi,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (6-2017)
Abstract

Background and Objective: Optimum number of air quality monitoring stations in Mashhad is an essential task for management of the urban environment. However, real monitoring and accurate information on the status of air quality require proper spatial distribution of air quality monitoring stations in the city of Mashhad. The aim of the present study was to determine optimum site locations for air quality monitoring, including Downtown Pedestrain Exposure Station, Downtown Background Exposure Station, and Residential Population Exposure Station by three Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques.

Materials and Methods: In the precent study, sites for new air quality monitoring stations t in Mashhad were determined based on a proposed protocol in the United States. Accordingly, the criteria effective for site selection such as population density, distance from existing stations, vicinity to vegitation, vehicle density and other factors were used by applying Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Fuzzy set, and Probability Density Function (PDF).

Results: Location similarity of the sites proposed by decision making methods was evaluated to know its reliability. The compactness of distribution of the proposed sites were compared by applying spatial statistic methods auch as Average Nearest Neighbor (ANN) and Standard. The results from ANN indicated that fuzzy set mapped the suggested sites was fully scattered within the entire city of Mashhad and was statistically significant at 99% confidence level. The PDF method also offered the same spatial pattern as fuzzy set. Overall results of this study indicated spatial optimization of suggested sites location for fuzzy set and PDF.

Conclusion: The overall results of the decision-making methods used in this study indicated that it is necessary to increase number of air quality monitoring stations at Northwest of Mashhad due to the urban growth in the city. The results also showd the possibility of using Probability Density Function (PDF) as a method of decision-making in GIS for locating and ranking of new air quality monitoring stations.


The use of geographic information systems (GIS) for assessing noise pollution in industrial workplaces: a case study of knitting industry
Mr Jelokhani-Niaraki, F Hajiloo, L Hasanzade,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Noise pollution causes many physiological, psychological, economic and social effects on human life. This issue is more important in the environment of industrial workplaces. This research aimed to adopt the functions of GIS for evaluating and spatial analysis of noises in industrial environments.
Materials and Methods: At the initial step, the spatial data for industrial halls were collected and stored as map layers into GIS database. Then, the noise pollution data sampled. The data, including the locations and values of sound pressure levels, were used for the relevant spatial analyses.
Results: The analyses included: the estimation of sound pressure levels in different areas of halls and at the given distance from machines, determination of noisy areas, development of sound noise risk map, interpolation of sound pressure level data, prioritization of the sound sources (i.e., machines) for a given point, prediction of sound pressure levels by moving machines, and optimal site selection and distribution of machines. The mean of noise pressure level was 95 dB for knitting hall,  93 dB for spinning hall 1 and 88 dB for spinning hall 2.
Conclusion: GIS plays a key role in the assessment of noise pollution in industrial workplaces. It is an appropriate tool to store, analyze, manage, and present all types of sound pressure spatial data. Specifically, the use of such system provides spatial intelligence and could help monitor, detect, control, and solve real word sound noise pollution issues.
 

Determination of vulnerability of aquifer Ardebil using DRASTIC method in GIS
K Jafari, N Hafezi Moghaddas, Ar Mazloumi, A Ghazi,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Groundwater resources are the most valuable resources of each country. Development of agricultural activities in Ardabil plain and over-use of fertilizers and pesticides, improper disposal of municipal sewage and industrial areas are responsible for groundwater pollution. Clean-up of groundwater resources is very difficult and expensive. One of suitable method in preventing groundwater contamination is determination of the vulnerable zones of an aquifer to manage water resources and sustainable development. 
Materials and Methods: In this study for determining of vulnerability of aquifer Ardebil, information of 52 observational wells, 43 pumping tests, average of annual precipitation of 8 stations, 45 logs of exploration wells, land use map, topographic map and geological map have been gathered. Then, data layers of groundwater depth (D), Recharge (R), Aquifer media (A), Soil media (S), topography (T), impact of vadose zone (I) and hydraulic conductivity of aquifer (C) were prepared and overlaid based on DRASTIC method in ArcGIS software.
Results: Zoning map of DRASTIC method showed that DRASTIC index varied between 63 to 195 units. Areas with high vulnerability potential were characteristic with shallow depth groundwater, coarse-texture soil, thin soil and gentle topographic slope. Accuracy of the zoning map was evaluated by nitrate concentration map which showed the increase of DRASTIC index with nitrate concentration.
Conclusion: Northwestern and central parts of the Ardabil plain showed high vulnerability. The results of this study could help to reduce the environmental impact of contaminants on groundwater resources of the study area in future.
 

Assessment of noise levels and identification of distribution pattern in elementary schools: a case study in Zanjan city
Fatemeh Mohebbian, Azadeh Tavakoli, Abdolhossein Parizanganeh, Younes Khosravi, Isa Eskandari,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (4-2020)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Conversion of houses into residential towers in worn-out urban textures increases population. Schools of the vicinity would face with multiplicity and limited space for students, leading to noise pollution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the noise levels during morning and afternoon shifts among two primary schools in Zanjan.
Materials and Methods: Measurements had been done using sound level meter, KIMO DB100. The equivalent noise level (Leq) measured during school year (2018-2019) in 10 stations. The measurements were done in three seasons (autumn, winter and spring) and in each season for two weeks. The data of the two schools were used for drawing charts and zoning by ArcGIS using IDW method. In addition, questionnaires were distributed among the teachers and school’ neighbors. The data were analyzed by SPSS software.
Results: The results showed that all the stations were tackled with noise pollution. The highest levels were related to school’s shift change and break times. The morning shift schools experienced higher levels of noise in comparison to the afternoon ones (1.87 and 2.1 dB, respectively for boys and girls). Leq values for boys’ school was 2 dB higher than that of the girls’. The noise level in the schools were 72 dB, which is 17 dB higher than the standard level 55 dB.
Conclusion: The residents living close to the schools were exposed to noise pollution for almost 10 hours a day. This could be regarded as harmful. The zoning maps showed that southwest side of the yard, adjacent to the neighboring residential buildings, had the highest levels of noise. This study demonstrated the site selection for the schools were not properly done.  Having a control strategy is needed.

Selection of suitable landfills sites for oily drilling wastes of Iranian offshore oil company in Qeshm island using analytical hierarchy process and geographic information system
Mohamad Amin Daneshfar, Mehdi Ardjmand,
Volume 13, Issue 2 (8-2020)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Improper landfilling of drilling waste has adverse effects on the environment and human health. This study aims to select suitable landfills for oil and gas drilling waste on Qeshm Island using GIS and AHP.
Materials and Methods: In this study, a weighted map was prepared based on each criterion affecting the site location. In the next step, each of the prepared layers was ranked. Higher rating indicated the importance of each layer while lower values corresponded to their insignificane.
Results: The reasults of this study showed that the distance from population centers (weight 0.222), communication network (roads) (weight 0.169) and surface waters (weight 0.142) are important parameters for landfill siting. The combination of ranked maps and the weights obtained from AHP, divided the landfill area to “completely suitable”, “suitable”, “relatively suitable”, “relatively unsuitable” and “unsuitable”.
Conclusion: Priorities identified in “completely suitable” areas can be the basis for decision-making, and appropriate locations can be on the agenda as next priorities.

Health risk assessment due to the presence of heavy metals in drinking water resources of Maragheh city
Ehsan Aghayani, Sakine Shekoohiyan, Ali Behnami, Ali Abdolahnejad, Mojtaba Pourakbar, Hamed Haghnazar, Vahideh Mahdavi, Amir Mohammadi,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Heavy metals in water can pose risks to human health. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and measure metals to ensure the health of consumers.
Materials and Methods: This study aimed to measure heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, and mercury in water resources and urban water distribution networks in spring and summer of 2021 in Maragheh city. Accordingly, 25 samples were taken to investigate the presence of heavy metals. The presence of these metals in water sources was investigated using qualitative maps and finally, by evaluating the health risk caused by the presence of these metals, their effect on the health of consumers has been studied.
Results: Examining the concentration of metals in water resources upstream of the dam shows a relatively high concentration of metals, especially arsenic (13.2 µg/L). Despite this, the amount of arsenic after the water treatment plant and in the distribution network is reduced to an insignificant level. On the other hand, the results show that the amount of zinc metal in the network is higher than in the reservoir of the dam, and its concentration in the dam is equal to zero and in the network, it reaches the highest value of 578 µg/L. Finally, the health risk assessment shows that the calculated THI values for all samples vary between 0.01 and 0.99.
Conclusion: Based on the calculated health risk, there is no threat to the health of consumers regarding heavy metals in Maragheh drinking water. Also, these results double the necessity of additional studies regarding the leakage of zinc metal from the pipes and accessories of the city's drinking water distribution network in the future.
 

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