Application of geomatic tools for the diachronic monitoring of landscape metrics in the northeastern algerian highlands, case of the city of Setif

Geomatic tools could be used efficiently for urban development planning. The problem of the study lies in the extensive land use of terrains that are now suitable for heavy construction which slows down the development of new facilities. Furthermore, the authorities are forced to plan future settlements around Setif, at a distance of 8 to 12 kilometers from the city limits, threatening the long-term viability of construction and the ring of farmland that connects them to the core city. This must be done during the planning stage based on a diachronic analysis of all the natural and physical factors/parameters. The main objective of this research is to explore the application of landscape metrics to the analysis and monitoring of urban growth in the city of Setif, north-east of Algeria. For this purpose, our research paper uses Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Angle Mapper Algorithm (SAM) target method for the analysis of urban land planning and sustainable urban planning of Setif. In the result of these analyses we propose suitability/buildability maps with more suitable construction sites. The research method is based on a 17-year time series dataset compiled from the Sentinel 2A and Landsat imagery between 2004 and 2021. Additionally, we used a cadastral Vs geotechnical overlay to estimate soil capacity. This work proves again that the integration of RS and GIS techniques allows for scientific identification of the lands suitable for urban development (LAUP)

Stability analysis of jointed rock slopes using geomechanical, kinematical, and limit equilibrium methods: the Chouf Amar career, M'Sila, NE Algeria

Many open-cast mines in Algeria are regularly affected by instabilities that disrupt the exploitation activity, such as Chouf Amar's career where recurrent failures are caused by the combined action of a number of predisposition and triggering factors. I this study we uses a commbined-Geomechanical, Kinematical, numerical and limit equilibrium analysis to evaluate the behaviour of the discontinuous rock masses in open pit mine, and we chooses the Chouf Amar career as a case study. We determines nine main sets of discontinuities in the three main facies of the stone-pit. We proved also that the quarry suffers from various types of failures and that blasting declines the values of safety factor. We find out the causes of the 2009 slip-incident. By this combined approaches we have made it possible to optimize operations and to improve career productivity while ensuring the safety of equipment and personnel

Evaluation of potentially toxic elements' (PTEs) vertical distribution in sediments of Gafsa-Metlaoui mining basin (Southwestern Tunisia) using geochemical and multivariate statistical analysis approaches

The present study represents a preliminary geochemical investigation concerning the vertical distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the sediments of an industrial site in Gafsa-Metlaoui mining basin of phosphate using multivariate statistical analysis. It attempts to outline the possible source of the PTEs and their relation with soil texture, soil profile and human activities. Consequently, 14 sub-samples were collected from a sediment core of 30cm depth. The PTEs ranged as follows: Zn>Cd>Cr>Pb with mean concentrations of 194.5, 26.92, 13.42 and 8.07mgkg(-1), respectively. Pearson's correlation matrix showed positive correlations between Zn, Cd, P2O5, CaO, SiO2 and total organic carbon except for Pb and Cr, which seem to be interrelated, although they correlated negatively with all parameters. The principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three principal components representing 87.25% of the total variance. Similarly, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) confirmed the results obtained by the PCA, classifying the analyzed parameters into three different groups. The obtained data imply that PTEs concentrations in the study area are influenced by various factors such as anthropogenic and lithogenic sources. Zn, Cd, P2O5, CaO, SiO2 and organic matter (OM) probably have the same anthropogenic origin related to the phosphate industry, while Cr and Pb share the same natural source. The sediment contamination assessment proved that the samples of the study area are heavily polluted with Cd, moderately to heavily polluted with Zn and not polluted with Cr and Pb