Dynamic Spatial Modeling of Urban Growth through Cellular Automata in a GIS Environment

Urban settlements and their connectivity will be the dominant driver of global change during the twenty-first century. In an attempt to assess the effects of urban growth on available land for other uses and its associated impacts on environmental parameters, we modeled the change in the extent of Gorgan City, the capital of the Golestan Province of Iran. We used Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery of the area and evaluated possible scenarios of future urban sprawl using the SLEUTH method. The SLEUTH is a cellular automaton dynamic urban-growth model that uses geospatial data themes to simulate and forecast change in the extent of urban areas. We successfully modeled and forecasted the likely change in extent of the Gorgan City using slope, land use, exclusion zone, transportation network, and hillshade predictor variables. The results illustrated the utility of modeling in explaining the spatial pattern of urban growth. We also showed the method to be useful in providing timely information to decision makers for adopting preventive measures against unwanted change in extent and location of the built-up areas within in the city limits

A MODIS-based estimation of chlorophyll a concentration using ANN model and in-situ measurements in the southern Caspian Sea

924-928Chlorophyll-a data of the MODIS sensor with in-situ chlorophyll measurements from the southern Caspian Sea (SCS) is compared in the present study. Analysis showed an overestimation of chlorophyll-a concentration by MODIS in the area. Results also indicated a root mean square (RMS) log error of 39.4%, for 53 coincident data points. An artificial neural network (ANN) with radial basis function was applied to the in-situ measurements and satellite imagery. It included physical-chemical properties of water as ancillary independent variables in the ANN procedure that enhanced the predictive capability of the model. Evaluation of the predictive capability of ANN approach was satisfying (RMS log error 18.9%). Results showed retrieving chlorophyll-a concentration in the SCS from satellite is possible and will be improved through application of ANN and explanatory environmental parameters

Recreational Interests of Visitors and Their Effects on Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge

Today, ecotourism is a major tourist activity around the world. Ecotourism is one of the strategies for supporting conservation and ensuring income in the protected areas. When implemented within the capabilities of natural systems evaluated based on natural and socio-economic factors, ecotourism can simultaneously lead to regional prosperity and environmental protection. The goal of research is determination of natural potential, recreational opportunity, and effective factors in their choice in natural areas. The area is located south of the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran and Golestan Provinces. We used questionnaires and field survey for collecting public opinions. Results indicated the high tendency of visitors for bird watching, swimming, nature photography and filming and boating among all the suggested recreational activities. Also, the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for assessment of the relationships between age, sex and visitor groups and recreational activities. We found significant relationships between the groups in many of recreational activities such as research, resting and photography and filming of nature. The results of this study showed this area lacked sufficient facilities for visitors, therefore planning, preparation and implementation of comprehensive tourism infrastructure are essential to attract more ecotourists that can also reduce negative effects of recreational activities on the environment