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UCASA Publications
A list of UCASA publications
1- Sustainability and virtual water: The lessons of history
Abstract
This article aims to show that virtual water has historically been an adaptation strategy that enabled some arid regions to develop a prosperous economy without putting pressure on their scarce water resources. Virtual water is referred to as the total amount of water that is consumed to produce goods and services. As an example, in arid central Iran, the deficiency in agricultural revenues was offset by more investment in local industries that enjoyed a perennial capacity to employ more workers. The revenues of local industries weaned the population from irrigated agriculture, since most of their raw materials and also food stuff were imported from other regions, bringing a remarkable amount of virtual water. This virtual water not only sustained the region’s inhabitants, but also set the stage for a powerful polity in the face of a rapid population growth between the 13th and 15th centuries AD. The resultant surplus products entailed a vast and safe network of roads, provided by both entrepreneurs and government. Therefore, it became possible to import more feedstock such as cocoons from water-abundant regions and then export silk textiles with considerable value-added. This article concludes that a similar model of virtual water can remedy the ongoing water crisis in central Iran, where groundwater reserves are overexploited, and many rural and urban centers are teetering on the edge of socio-ecological collapse. History holds an urgent lesson on sustainability for our today’s policy that stubbornly peruses agriculture and other high-water-demand sectors in an arid region whose development has always been dependent on virtual water.
2- Water Cooperation and Ideology in Local Communities
Abstract
This article addresses how ideology affects local water governance, focusing on a groundwater basin in central Iran. It offers a case study of a symbiotic relationship between upstream and downstream communities, allowing a sustainable form of water governance. The cooler weather, better pastures and greater amount of precipitation of the basin upstream drew nomadic communities, whose economy was not dependent on irrigation. Downstream, fertile soil and warm weather favored agriculture with a high demand for water that was supplied by the groundwater transferred from the basin upstream. The exchange of livestock products and agricultural goods between the basin’s upstream and downstream areas systematically tied their economic systems. However, Iran’s 1979 revolution brought a hybrid leftist-Islamist ideology that unbalanced this traditional relationship through the reorganization of geographical space. The upstream communities were encouraged to cultivate their pastures, which led to a boom in the number of irrigation wells. The downstream villages were persuaded to adopt a new cropping pattern that turned most of their water-efficient vineyards into apricot orchards with high water demands. Therefore, an abrupt increase in water demand in the basin upstream and downstream thwarted the cooperation between the two areas and drove the basin into “the tragedy of the unmanaged commons.”
3- Falaj Indigenous knowledge in Oman and Iran
Abstract
Both Oman and Iran possess a harsh environment where people’s survival and development entail a deep knowledge about their surroundings. A considerable part of this knowledge has crystallized around the falaj, a hydraulic technique that transfers water from a groundwater source or seasonal runoffs to cultivated lands, in Omani and Iranian oases, that has historically served as the only water source in an otherwise barren arid land. This article argues that the spatial extent of the falaj confronts local communities with a variety of questions to be solved. This article also tries to answer how the falaj system contributed to the development of modern sciences in a broader context. The article concludes that a transition from Indigenous knowledge to modern sciences has changed the position of local communities from coexistence to over-exploitation in terms of their water resources, and this transition can explain their current water problems.
4-Comparative study between Moringa peregrina plant extracts and a standard antibiotic against Candida albicans
Abstract
Candida albicans is a common fungus that can infect people, especially those who have compromised immune systems. In the face of declining efficacy of conventional antibiotics for treating fungus infections, natural plant-based remedies are gaining popularity. Moringa peregrina has long been used for its medicinal benefits, particularly for healing fungus infections. M. peregrina extracts were evaluated for their antifungal activity against C. albicans in vitro. A comparison was made between the antifungal susceptibility of plant extracts and the antifungal susceptibility of a common antifungal drug (amphotericin B). The ethanolic extract of M. peregrina had the strongest antifungal activity against C. albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.50 mg/ml. In a similar way to the MICs of common antibiotics such as Amphotericin B, M. peregrina's antifungal properties have been attributed to flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins. As a natural antifungal agent, M. peregrina may be useful in treating C. albicans infections. More research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of M. peregrina in human clinical trials. Considering the information currently available, M. peregrina is recommended as a potential natural antifungal agent for the treatment of C. albicans infections. In order to determine the optimal dosage, method of administration, and potential adverse effects of M. peregrina as an antifungal agent, more research is still needed.
5- Machine learning and Hyperparameters Algorithms for identifying Aflaj Potential Mapping in Semi- Arid Ecosystems Using LiDAR, Sentinal-2 Data and Analysis.
Abstract
Aflaj (plural of falaj) are tunnels or trenches built to deliver groundwater from its source to the point of consumption. Support vector machine (SVM) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) machine learning models were used to predict groundwater aflaj potential in the Nizwa watershed in the Sultanate of Oman (Oman). Nizwa city is a focal point of aflaj that underlies the historical relationship between ecology, economic dynamics, agricultural systems, and human settlements. Three hyperparameter algorithms, grid search (GS), random search (RS), and Bayesian optimisation, were used to optimise the parameters of the XGB model. Sentinel-2 and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data via geographical information systems (GIS) were employed to derive variables of land use/land cover, and hydrological, topographical, and geological factors. The groundwater aflaj potential maps were categorised into five classes: deficient, low, moderate, high, and very high. Based on the evaluation of accuracy in the training stage, the following models showed a high level of accuracy based on the area under the curve: Bayesian-XGB (0.99), GS-XGB (0.97), RS-XGB (0.96), SVM (0.96), and XGB (0.93). The validation results showed that the Bayesian hyperparameter algorithm significantly increased XGB model efficiency in modelling groundwater aflaj potential. The highest percentages of groundwater potential in the very high class were the XGB (10%), SVM (8%), GS-XGB (6%), RS-XGB (6%), and Bayesian-XGB (6%) models. Most of these areas were located in the central and northeast parts of the case study area. The study concluded that evaluating existing groundwater datasets, facilities, current, and future spatial datasets is critical in order to design systems capable of mapping groundwater aflaj based on geospatial and ML techniques. In turn, groundwater protection service projects and integrated water source management (IWSM) programs will be able to protect the aflaj irrigation system from threats by implementing timely preventative measures.
6- Dynamic Change in Normal Vegetation Index (NDVI) from 2015–2021 in Dhofar, Southern Oman in Response to the Climate Change
Abstract
Climate change poses a major threat to vegetation and land cover worldwide. The loss of vegetation as a result of climate change can alter the functions and structure of the environment and its ecological systems. In the first part of this study, Sentinel-2 data, normalised different vegetation index (NDVI), and multiple regression methods were used to examine the impacts of the climatic factors of humidity, rainfall, and air temperature on vegetation dynamics from 2015 to 2021 in Dhofar, Southern Oman. In the second part of this study, random forest regression was employed to model the relationships between the NDVI and temperature, humidity, rainfall, soil map, geology map, topographic wetness index, curvature, elevation, slope, aspect, distance to buildings, and distance to roads. The multiple regression values revealed significant associations between the spatial distributions of the NDVI and the abovementioned climatic factors. The findings also indicated an increase of 1 °C in air temperature fluctuations between 2018 and 2021 over all five sites, with a strong tendency over Qairoon Hairiti Mountain. The rainfall records clearly indicated an increasing tendency from 2018 to 2020 due to the impact of frequent cyclones. Therefore, the results revealed a significant increase of 0.01 in the vegetation cover trend in 2018, 2019, and 2020 along the Sadah Mountain range and the eastern part of the Jabal Qara Mountains under the areas directly impacted by the cyclone, whereas there was a decrease along the western mountain range consisting of Jabal Qara and Jabal Qamar Mountains due to the impact of warm, dry air. The results revealed that NDVI values were sensitive to heavy rainfall over Jabal Samhan Mountain. The 12 variables that influenced NDVI levels had different levels of importance. Soil types, elevation, slope, rainfall, curvature, humidity, and temperature had the highest importance, while topographic wetness index, distance to urban area, aspect, distance to roads, and geology map had the lowest. The findings provide a significant foundation for Oman’s planning and management of regional vegetation, water conservation, and animal husbandry.
7- Assessing the impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Aflaj Systems Over a 36- Year Period
Abstract
The aflaj systems represent unique irrigation technologies that have been implemented in the Sultanate of Oman. This innovative system, referred to as “falaj” in the singular form, is composed of a sophisticated network of underground tunnels and open-air channels designed to access shallow subterranean water tables, thereby providing water for residential and agricultural use. The aflaj systems have played a significant role in supporting sustainable water resource management in arid and semiarid regions, making a notable contribution to the socioeconomic development of the country. The alteration of land use and land cover (LULC) in arid and semiarid regions can have significant consequences for hydrological systems, affecting the ability of local ecosystems to manage fresh surface and groundwater resources. These changes are often caused by both natural and anthropogenic factors. To investigate the impact of LULC changes on aflaj systems in the northern part of Oman, we utilized satellite imagery, aflaj data, and spatial analytical and image processing techniques within the framework of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. In the first part of the study, we quantified the changes in LULC and their impact on aflaj systems in seven cities in Oman due to urban expansion. In the second part, we evaluated the effect of LULC on groundwater for four major aflaj between 1985 and 2021. The study area was divided into four primary LULC classifications: vegetation, bodies of water, metropolitan areas, and bare soil. The classification maps demonstrated a high overall accuracy of 90% to 95%, indicating satisfactory performance. Our results revealed a significant reduction in vegetation areas between 1985 and 2021, primarily shifting from bare soil (BS) to urban areas (UAs) and from vegetation cover (VC) to BS, due to the reduction of groundwater resources. Over the four study periods (1985–1990, 1990–2000, 2000–2013, and 2013–2021), the percentages of the total area of Falaj Al-Muyasser, Falaj Daris, Falaj Al-Maliki, and Falaj Al-Khatmeen that transformed from agricultural lands to UAs were 40%, 39%, 32%, and 8%, respectively. Our study highlights the need for appropriate land management and planning to ensure the most effective solutions are utilized to meet social and economic sustainability requirements. In conclusion, our study presents a comprehensive analysis of LULC changes and their impact on aflaj systems over a 36-year period, providing new insights into the potential effects of LULC changes on groundwater resources and offering a basis for informed decision making on land management in arid and semiarid areas.
8- Aflaj records in Oman and it's analogues: concept, history and its customs
Abstract
This study aims to discuss the history of the )Nuskha Aflaj( Aflaj records, and monitor its mention in Omani sources, specifically the books of Fiqh, and the study relies on the analytical approach. With the aim of highlighting this administrative tradition that Omani society has known for hundreds of years. The study was divided into three axes. The first discusses the concept of the Nuskha falaj from a linguistic and terminological point of view and the history of Nuskha falaj. The second axis provides a general overview of other property records. The third axis reviews the controls and rules for Nuskha aflaj, and the study relied primarily on the jurisprudential texts emerging from the century )3AH\9AD( until the beginning of the century )14AH\20AD(. And through the results, especially those related to the controls and rules of working with the falaj records, this study recommends the authorities responsible and supervising the Omani falaj to find legal records that document the shares of individuals and groups in the falaj. To prevent disputes, preserve and preserve rights.
9- Qanat's hydraulic harim determination by the usage of meshless numerical method
Abstract
Qanat is an ancient water harvesting technology which is used for irrigation, agriculture and drinking in many countries of the world. A key element of preserving this heritage is calculating their protection area. In this study, the main aim is depiction of the hydraulic harim of qanat with the usage of the meshless numerical method. Afterward, the qanat package has been added to this model to delineate the hydraulic harim of the qanat. Two qanat systems are shown here: one in a standard aquifer and the other in a real test case, namely Haji-Abad qanat, located in the Birjand unconfined aquifer. In the real test case, the hydraulic harim of Haji-Abad qanat with 10 collection shafts is depicted in 3 time sections as well. The time sections are 3 years after extraction (2014), 6 years (2017) and 11 years (2022). The findings stated that time makes the harim area larger. In addition, the hydraulic harim is extended to areas with a higher hydraulic conductivity coefficient. Ultimately, we have delineated the hydraulic harim for 2040 and unfortunately, it is influenced by buildings. Therefore, it is necessary to find the hydraulic harim of qanats in order to protect this traditional heritage.
10- The illusion of water justice at the expense of tourism
Abstract
Water justice, defined as water distribution based on political agendas that prioritize certain regions in the reorganization of water resources, has become a critical issue in many regions around the world. Iran's hydraulic mission exemplifies how dam construction and inter-basin water transfer primarily benefit high-water-demand sectors. Against this backdrop and drawing on available data and a review of literature, this research demonstrates that despite tourism accounting for a small portion of Iran's overall water usage, the Iranian perception of water justice undermines tourism by harming its physical components including waterscapes, historical relics, traditional crafts, and urban ecology. This research concludes that the decline of tourism exacerbates social inequality and unsustainability, necessitating a reconsideration of Iran's approach to water allocation in favour of a more sustainable and inclusive tourism sector.
12- A Comparison of Moringa Peregrina Plant Extracts with Standard Antibiotic Against Enterobacter HormaEchei and Staphylococcus Aureus
Abstract
Pathogenic microbes are increasingly resistant to unnatural antibiotics made by humans, leading to the search for substitute drugs. In this study, Moringa (Moringa peregrina) was tested to see if it had antimicrobial effects on a few commonly occurring bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter hormaechei. During September 2022 to May 2023, this experiment was conducted at the Department of Science and Arts of the University of Nizwa in collaboration with the Laboratory of Microbiology at the University of Nizwa to determine whether ethanolic extract of Moringa peregrina leaves, roots, and seeds could be effective against Enterobacter hormaechei and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. A well- diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were used to test the antibacterial activity of Ethanolic extract at different concentrations (100, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 g / ml). A dose-dependent inhibitory effect was noted against the test microorganisms. Moringa peregrina leaves showed the greatest inhibition zone against S. aureus. Moringa leaves, roots and seeds were found to have antibacterial effects against gram positive bacteria (S. aureus) in this study. In comparison with roots and seeds, Moringa peregrina leaves have better potential against S. aureus compared with roots and seeds due to their composition of phytochemical compounds. There is a need for further research to isolate and identify the antimicrobial agent in M. peregrina seed oil. A deeper investigation should be conducted into the antibacterial agent dosages of these plant parts, which may be used by the pharmaceutical industry. In continuing studies, I suggested using both ethanol and methanol as solvents and utilizing a variety of bacterial species to get further contrasts
13- Wildfire Susceptibility Mapping Using Deep Learning Algorithms in Two Satellite Imagery Dataset
Abstract
Recurring wildfires pose a critical global issue as they undermine social and economic stability and jeopardize human lives. To effectively manage disasters and bolster community resilience, the development of wildfire susceptibility maps (WFSMs) has emerged as a crucial undertaking in recent years. In this research endeavor, two deep learning algorithms were leveraged to generate WFSMs using two distinct remote sensing datasets. Specifically, the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat-8 images were utilized to monitor wildfires that transpired during the year 2021. To develop an effective WFSM, two datasets were created by incorporating 599 wildfire locations with Landsat-8 images and 232 sites with MODIS images, as well as twelve factors influencing wildfires. Deep learning algorithms, namely the long short-term memory (LSTM) and recurrent neural network (RNN), were utilized to model wildfire susceptibility using the two datasets. Subsequently, four WFSMs were generated using the LSTM (MODIS), LSTM (Landsat-8), RNN (MODIS), and RNN (Landsat-8) algorithms. The evaluation of the WFSMs was performed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) index. The results revealed that the RNN (MODIS) (AUC = 0.971), RNN (Landsat-8) (AUC = 0.966), LSTM (MODIS) (AUC = 0.964), and LSTM (Landsat-8) (AUC = 0.941) algorithms demonstrated the highest modeling accuracy, respectively. Moreover, the Gini index was employed to assess the impact of the twelve factors on wildfires in the study area. The results of the random forest (RF) algorithm indicated that temperature, wind speed, slope, and topographic wetness index (TWI) parameters had a significant effect on wildfires in the study region. These findings are instrumental in facilitating efficient wildfire management and enhancing community resilience against the detrimental effects of wildfires.
14- British Colonial Knowledge and the Case of Oman: Approaches and Political Implementation
Abstract
This article analyses aspects of the hegemony that underpins British colonial knowledge and attends to the tools used to protest and resist it. It uses an analytical perspective derived from Michel Foucault's conception of power and knowledge and drawing on Edward Said's notion of orientalism. It concludes that British political interests led to an outgrowth in academic interest in Omani society through the conduction of comprehensive social surveys on the basis of ethnicity, with the objective of spreading inconsistency and entrenching disparities throughout the strata of Omani society. Further, this knowledge production sought to understand demographic structures and monitor the movement of society; the census was one of the most important instruments by which the British authorities divided Oman into two political entities.
15- The circle of water justice in the history of Iran
Abstract
This article starts with the archaeology of justice in an attempt to get to the historical roots of the Iranians' conception of justice. Justice has been founded on two conceptual pillars "social order" and "divine legitimacy" that were synthesized into the Iranian form of justice. Water justice has not meant equal distribution of water resources, but it has been more of an allocation system that distributed water among different territories according to their dissimilar geopolitical values. This article explains how a causal relationship between justice, production system and political power could bring about the idea of the "circle of justice". However, the circle of justice was an ideal model that could not find expression in real world, due to the taxation system whose inevitable malfunction led to the formation of another cycle called the "circle of water justice". This article draws an analogy between the historical polities and the present Iranian government in terms of "the circle of water justice". After the 1979 revolution, this circle was based on an amalgamation between the traditional conception of justice and modern political philosophies, which prescribed socio-economic inequalities in favor of the least advantaged classes. Although "the circle of water justice" served to reinforce the political power, it fueled ecological degradation and social conflicts in the long run. This article concludes that Iran's hydraulic mission is not the cause of their water crisis, but it is only the result of a subtle mechanism named "the circle of water justice". Iran's growing water crisis cannot be defused in the absence of a structural reform in "the circle of water justice".
16- Hydro-Political Borders and Division of Space in the Sasanian Domain
Abstract
This article argues that the Sasanian government tried to reshape the hydrological order of water resources by damming rivers, digging canals and building aqueducts according to their conception of justice. Although all Iranian dynasties more or less replenished their budget with agricultural revenues, it was the Sasanian government that for the first time exalted irrigated cultivation as the cornerstone of their political economy. The hydraulic mission of the Sasanian polity was to keep a balance between water resources and workforce in their agricultural units. This mission pursued two schemes; first all water resources were reorganized through investing in a considerable number of hydraulic structures, second the agricultural working class was kept confined to the area irrigated and affected by the same supplied water, the area that is called hydro-political territory in this study. Hydro-political borders were the product of a mesh of interactions between ideology, political power, ecology and economy, which impeded social mobility and stifled different aspects of socio-economic change in Iran’s agrarian communities. This article concludes that today’s Iran has inherited the same political tradition that gives rise to hydro-political borders by reorganizing water resources based on a geopolitical disparity between different regions and the leaders’ institutional priorities.
17- Prediction of groundwater nitrate concentration in a semiarid region using hybrid Bayesian artificial intelligence approaches
Abstract
Nitrate is a major pollutant in groundwater whose main source is municipal wastewater and agricultural activities. In the present study, Bayesian approaches such as Bayesian generalized linear model (BGLM), Bayesian regularized neural network (BRNN), Bayesian additive regression tree (BART), and Bayesian ridge regression (BRR) were used to model groundwater nitrate contamination in a semiarid region Marvdasht watershed, Fars province, Iran. Eleven groundwater (GW) nitrate conditioning factors have been taken as input parameters for predictive modeling. The results showed that the Bayesian models used in this study were all competent to model groundwater nitrate and the BART model with R2 = 0.83 was more efficient than the other models. The result of variable importance showed that potassium (K) has the highest importance in the models followed by rainfall, altitude, groundwater depth, and distance from the residential area. The results of the study can support the decision-making process to control and reduce the sources of nitrate pollution.
18- Geospatial detection of Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin using spatial and machine learning techniques
Abstract
Dubas bug (Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin) infestations are frequent in several Middle Eastern and North African countries, causing havoc to date palms. The key objectives of this research were (1) to examine the prevalence of the Dubas bug geographically and (2) to identify hotspots and clusters at the local levels. Normalised difference vegetation indices, kernel density estimations, spatial autocorrelations, Getis-Ord G*, Anselin spatial indicators, ordinary regression and forest-based classification and regression algorithms were used to detect Dubas bug infestations in the Al Batinah North and Al Batinah South governorates in Oman from 2017 to 2021. Images of the region, including several sub-locations with diverse levels of infestation, were collected throughout the Dubas bug spring and autumn generations during the study period. The spring generation's kappa coefficient for identifying infestation levels was 0.97, whereas the autumn generation's kappa coefficient was 0.98. Varying infestation levels were observed over the study period, with some areas experiencing fewer or more cold spots or hotspots than others. The highest Moran's I value of 0.48, along with the highest z-score of 12.9, characterised the highly clustered pattern of infestation during the 2017 spring generation, while the lowest infestation clustering occurred during the 2019 spring generation, with the lowest Moran's I of 0.23 and the highest z-score of 7.2. Despite seasonal fluctuations, most Dubas bug hotspots were located in the southern parts of the study area. Thus, the infestations caused the greatest damage to palm tree farms in interior areas between mountains, away from the coastal plains. Dubas bugs were found in high-density clusters in the south of Sohar and Al Khaburah and in the southwest of Al Rustaq during the 2017 and 2018 spring generations. By observing statistically significant changes in infection clustering patterns, entomologists can assess the prevalence of infestation using spatial information techniques.
19- A GIS-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for landslide
Abstract
Landslides pose a significant threat to human life and infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing need for accurate landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) to effectively assess risks. This study introduces an innovative approach that leverages multi-objective evolutionary fuzzy algorithms for landslide modeling in Khalkhal town, Iran. Two algorithms, namely the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) and the evolutionary non-dominated radial slots-based algorithm (ENORA), were employed to optimize Gaussian fuzzy rules. By utilizing 15 landslide conditioning factors (aspect, altitude, distance from the fault, soil, slope, lithology, rainfall, distance from the road, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land cover, plan curvature, profile curvature, topographic wetness index (TWI), stream power index (SPI), and distance from the river) and historical landslide events (153 landslide locations), we randomly partitioned the input data into training (70%) and validation (30%) sets. The training set determined the weight of conditioning factor classes using the frequency ratio (FR) approach. These weights were then used as inputs for the NSGA-II and ENORA algorithms to generate an LSM. The NSGA-II algorithm achieved a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.25 during training and 0.43 during validation. Similarly, the ENORA algorithm demonstrated an RMSE of 0.28 in training and 0.48 in validation. The findings revealed that the LSM created by the NSGA-II algorithm exhibited superior predictive capabilities (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.867) compared to the ENORA algorithm (AUC = 0.844). Additionally, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was employed to determine the importance of conditioning factors, identifying lithology, land cover, and altitude as the most influential factors.
20- Application of dynamic spatiotemporal modeling to predict urban traffic–related air pollution changes
Abstract
Traffic-related urban air pollution is a pressing concern in Tehran, Iran, with severe health implications. This study aimed to create a dynamic spatiotemporal model to predict changes in urban traffic-related air pollution in Tehran using a land use regression (LUR) model. Two datasets were employed to model the spatiotemporal distribution of gaseous traffic-related pollutants—sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). The first dataset incorporated remote sensing data, including land surface temperature (LST), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), apparent thermal inertia (ATI), population density, altitude, land use, road density, road length, and distance to highways. The second dataset excluded remote sensing data, relying solely on population density, altitude, land use, road density, road length, and distance to highways. The LUR model was constructed using both datasets at three different buffer distances: 250, 500, and 1000 m. Evaluation based on the R2 index revealed that the 1000-m buffer distance achieved the highest accuracy. Without remote sensing data, R2 values for CO, NO2, and SO2 pollutants were respectively spring (0.77, 0.79, 0.51), summer (0.59, 0.71, 0.59), and winter (0.41, 0.52, 0.59). With remote sensing data, R2 values were respectively spring (0.82, 0.84, 0.74), summer (0.72, 0.87, 0.62), and winter (0.53, 0.59, 0.72). Incorporating remote sensing data notably improved the accuracy of modeling CO, NO2, and SO2 during all three seasons. The central, southern, and southeastern regions of Tehran consistently exhibited the highest pollutant concentrations throughout the year, while the northern areas maintained comparatively better air quality.
21- Antibacterial Activity of Moringa oleifera Plant Extracts in Comparison with Ciprofloxacin Antibiotic Against Staphylococcus aureus
Abstract
The current drug resistance in human pathogens is a result of the abuse of antibacterial drugs commonly used to treat diseases. Early human civilizations used Moringa oleifera extracts to treat illnesses and infections caused by food-borne bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. In order to calculate the antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera against Staphylococcus aureus, methanolic extracts from its three parts were prepared. A photochemical analysis of the methanolic leaves, seeds, and roots extracts was performed when the extracts were ready for testing. We used well-diffusion methods to add the three extracts, and the ciprofloxacin antibiotic was used as the standard. From the stock solution, serial dilutions were made in order to calculate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In the phytochemical screening test, steroids, terpenoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, saponins, and flavonoids were most abundant in leaves extract, followed by seeds then roots extracts. Moringa oleifera seeds have the highest inhibition zone, which is about 10mm, followed by Moringa oleifera roots at 9mm, and Moringa oleifera leaves at 7mm. In comparison to the other two extracts, the MIC of methanolic extract from Moringa oleifera leaves was 250 mm, the highest concentration, with a MIC of 125 mm for roots and 62.50 mm for seeds. Methanolic extracts of Moringa seeds demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in the present study. For further studies, it is suggested a deeper investigation to study the antibacterial agent dosages of these plant parts, which may be used by the pharmaceutical industry.
22- Data assimilation application in prediction of flowrate for a sustainable groundwater resource: Falaj Al-Khatmain, Oman
Abstract
As an arid country, Oman's falaj flowrate directly affects the environmental, agricultural, and ecological characteristics of its regions. For this reason, it is vitally important for water decision managers, farmers, and governments to have an accurate prediction of falaj’s flowrate. The present research aims to develop a new method for flowrate of falaj modeling named particle filter-Bayesian network (PF-BN) based on data assimilation method and Bayesian Network. A falaj in Birkat Al-Mouz, Nizwa, Oman, named Al-Khatmain is selected as a case study. This falaj, which is listed as a UNESCO heritage, plays an important role in agriculture (mainly palms, bananas and mangoes). A weekly flow dataset was collected by the authors from 2021 to 2022. Results of PF-BN are compared with the conventional BN model. The models are all written in MATLAB. As a result, four input patterns were introduced to the models. In these patterns, the flow rate of previous weeks or months is taken into account. A total of four patterns including: M1, M2, M3 and M4, are considered. According to results, data assimilation leads to more accurate responses, as three error criteria are calculated. There are three criteria here: RMSE, NRMSE, and NSE. In terms of efficiency indices, M4(PF-BN) is 0.87, 0.011, 0.93 and M4(BN) is 2.4, 0.0315, 0.89. According to this error values M4(PF-BN) performance is satisfactory..
23- Omani Cultural Heritage Sustainable Development: The Role of Research Institutions and Effort of Specialized Civil Society Organizations
Abstract
Traffic-related urban air pollution is a pressing concern in Tehran, Iran, with severe health implications. This study aimed to create a dynamic spatiotemporal model to predict changes in urban traffic-related air pollution in Tehran using a land use regression (LUR) model. Two datasets were employed to model the spatiotemporal distribution of gaseous traffic-related pollutants—sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). The first dataset incorporated remote sensing data, including land surface temperature (LST), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), apparent thermal inertia (ATI), population density, altitude, land use, road density, road length, and distance to highways. The second dataset excluded remote sensing data, relying solely on population density, altitude, land use, road density, road length, and distance to highways. The LUR model was constructed using both datasets at three different buffer distances: 250, 500, and 1000 m. Evaluation based on the R2 index revealed that the 1000-m buffer distance achieved the highest accuracy. Without remote sensing data, R2 values for CO, NO2, and SO2 pollutants were respectively spring (0.77, 0.79, 0.51), summer (0.59, 0.71, 0.59), and winter (0.41, 0.52, 0.59). With remote sensing data, R2 values were respectively spring (0.82, 0.84, 0.74), summer (0.72, 0.87, 0.62), and winter (0.53, 0.59, 0.72). Incorporating remote sensing data notably improved the accuracy of modeling CO, NO2, and SO2 during all three seasons. The central, southern, and southeastern regions of Tehran consistently exhibited the highest pollutant concentrations throughout the year, while the northern areas maintained comparatively better air quality.
24-Investigating the Role of the Key Conditioning Factors in Flood Susceptibility Mapping Through Machine Learning Approaches
Abstract
This study harnessed the formidable predictive capabilities of three state-of-the-art machine learning models—extreme gradient boosting (XGB), random forest (RF), and CatBoost (CB)—applying them to meticulously curated datasets of topographical, geological, and environmental parameters; the goal was to investigate the intricacies of flood susceptibility within the arid riverbeds of Wilayat As-Suwayq, which is situated in the Sultanate of Oman. The results underscored the exceptional discrimination prowess of XGB and CB, boasting impressive area under curve (AUC) scores of 0.98 and 0.91, respectively, during the testing phase. RF, a stalwart contender, performed commendably with an AUC of 0.90. Notably, the investigation revealed that certain key variables, including curvature, elevation, slope, stream power index (SPI), topographic wetness index (TWI), topographic roughness index (TRI), and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), were critical in achieving an accurate delineation of flood-prone locales. In contrast, ancillary factors, such as annual precipitation, drainage density, proximity to transportation networks, soil composition, and geological attributes, though non-negligible, exerted a relatively lesser influence on flood susceptibility. This empirical validation was further corroborated by the robust consensus of the XGB, RF and CB models. By amalgamating advanced deep learning techniques with the precision of geographical information systems (GIS) and rich troves of remote-sensing data, the study can be seen as a pioneering endeavour in the realm of flood analysis and cartographic representation within semiarid fluvial landscapes. The findings advance our comprehension of flood vulnerability dynamics and provide indispensable insights for the development of proactive mitigation strategies in regions that are susceptible to hydrological perils.
25- Presentation of a new decision-making plan for prioritizing the rehabilitation of sustainable groundwater resources (case study: 9 aflaj of Oman)
Abstract
This research for the first time, presents a plan for the rehabilitation of aflaj systems in Oman from a technical point of view. Using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in Expert Choice software. Nine famous aflaj systems in Oman were prioritized based on indicators including length, population, precipitation, discharge, quality, distance from the river network, cultivated area, and soil permeability. A snowball method for selecting participants was used, and a 28-item questionnaire was engaged to assess the relative importance of nine criteria when choosing the prior falaj. A scientific method is applied in a new case in this study to prioritize the aflaj for rehabilitation, and the method applied in this research enables to prioritize them to achieve the desired goal. The AHP method prioritizes the falaj Daris as the first ranking, based on the technical perspectives, with a relative value of 0.222. Findings show that in an equal condition, among these nine aflaj, it would be better that water decision-makers assign the budget to falaj Daris for rehabilitation aims.
26-Antifungal Activity of Moringa peregrina Plant Extracts Against Candida kruzei
Abstract
Commercial antibacterial drugs commonly used to treat diseases have led to the current drug resistance in humans. Early human civilizations used Moringa peregrina extracts against a variety of illnesses and infections caused by food. M. Peregrina grows well in a variety of harsh conditions, including high temperatures, limited water supply, and nutrient-deficient soils. There is something remarkable about this plant's resilience and ability to survive in challenging environments. To conserve water and withstand extreme drought conditions, it has evolved unique adaptations. M. peregrina's deciduous leaves allow it to shed its leaves during dry periods to reduce water loss through transpiration. As a result of this adaptation, it is able to endure prolonged periods of water scarcity. A serious infection can be caused by Candida kruzei, an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is especially dangerous to immuno-compromised individuals, and the increasing drug- resistance of several Candida strains have necessitated the search for alternative to standard anti-fungal agents to which resistance has grown. The objective of this study was to investigate the antifungal effect of M. peregrina ethanolic extract derived from its leaves, seeds, and roots against C. kruzei. The phytochemical screening of M. peregrina extracts were performed using qualitative determination whilst the antifungal activity of methanol and water extracts of leaves, seeds, and roots was performed using the agar diffusion method. The results of the phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of phenolic compounds, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. The studied extracts displayed various degrees of antifungal activities against C. kruzei. The extract of the leaves was active against C. kruzei with recorded minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 10mg/ml. There is a need for further research to isolate and identify the antimicrobial agent in different parts of M. peregrina. A deeper investigation should be conducted into the antibacterial agent dosages of these plant parts, which may then be used by the pharmaceutical industry.
27-Hydro-tribalism: water and intra/inter group cohesion in the rural regions of Oman
Abstract
This article examines falaj system in relation to the tribal fabric of its beneficiary community. Falaj is a gently sloping underground tunnel or open channel that transfers groundwater or seasonal runoffs to the cultivated lands. Falaj acts as a core around which six socio-economic spheres form in a certain spatial order: shari’a public space, residential area, orchards, farmlands, pastures, and eventually falaj socio-economic hinterland. These spheres are the products of a systematic interaction between falaj, tribal communities and their economy. This article looks into the role of water in social cohesion within local communities and cooperation between tribal territories, which is conducive to the Omani variation of tribalism based on blood, soil and water. This type of tribalism is called hydro-tribalism whose socio-economic integrity is systematically contingent on accepting others in the group and cooperating with other groups. Some scholars mistakenly use the metaphor of “salad fabric” to describe Oman’s tribal composition, where different tribes live in harmony within the same territory but never melt into a homogeneous unity. However, this article likens hydro-tribalism to “solar system” where different groups remain in the orbits of their own tribal identities around a central falaj system, in the form of a complex socio-economic organization. This article concludes that falaj system is crucial in Oman’s sustainable development not only for the water that it can still supply to the country’s oases, but also for its social function that has always served to cement an organic relationship between different pieces of Oman’s social mosaic.
28-Urbanization, proto-industrialization, and virtual water in the medieval Middle East
Abstract
This article is an attempt to understand a mesh of complex relationships among tangible and intangible socio-economic factors that turned a desert city into the headquarters of one of the mighty polities in the Middle East in the fourteenth century CE. This paper argues that proto-industrialization led to the growth of ‘virtual water’ that helped the city of Yazd, in central Iran, to break free from its water limitation for the first time in its history. Yazd was almost absent in history until the twelfth century, as a peripheral oasis whose sparse population lived off subsistence agriculture irrigated by qanat systems (groundwater-mining subterranean channels). Following the Mongol invasion in the thirteenth century, the influx of landless refugees changed the relations of production and paved the way for proto-industrialization whose development hinged on skill and capital rather than water and land. Sufism and waqf (endowment tradition) contributed to the expansion of trading routes that facilitated the mobility of goods and people. The qanats were urbanized, and Yazd became an industrial hub where raw materials were processed into tradable products with considerable value added. This paper contributes to a broader understanding of the historical geography of the arid Middle East.
29-Water populism and the Iranians' collective adipsia
Abstract
This article examines Iran as an example, where the water crisis is dealt with through denial, projection, and securitization approaches, described as “water populism.” The Iranian polity systematically adopts denial and projection approaches to obscure an underlying causal chain whose first ring is ideology, and then, it resorts to the securitization of water to safeguard these approaches against public criticism. Ideology prescribes an intensive hydraulic mission to facilitate “strategic industries clustered together in the central desert” and “self‐sufficiency in food production,” in the wake of its antagonism toward the world's powers and the ensuing international sanctions. This hydraulic mission depletes the country's water resources and results in “water bankruptcy” that is reflected in ecological degradation and socio‐economic disintegration. Ideology not only obstructs the genuine process of problem solving but also gives rise to water populism that serves as a political sedative by either disavowing the water crisis or attributing the crisis to a wide range of technical‐managerial factors or stifling dissenting voices. Any solution to Iran's water crisis seems infeasible in the absence of an ideological reform.
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Abstract
This article examines Iran as an example, where the water crisis is dealt with through denial, projection, and securitization approaches, described as “water populism.” The Iranian polity systematically adopts denial and projection approaches to obscure an underlying causal chain whose first ring is ideology, and then, it resorts to the securitization of water to safeguard these approaches against public criticism. Ideology prescribes an intensive hydraulic mission to facilitate “strategic industries clustered together in the central desert” and “self‐sufficiency in food production,” in the wake of its antagonism toward the world's powers and the ensuing international sanctions. This hydraulic mission depletes the country's water resources and results in “water bankruptcy” that is reflected in ecological degradation and socio‐economic disintegration. Ideology not only obstructs the genuine process of problem solving but also gives rise to water populism that serves as a political sedative by either disavowing the water crisis or attributing the crisis to a wide range of technical‐managerial factors or stifling dissenting voices. Any solution to Iran's water crisis seems infeasible in the absence of an ideological reform.
30-Assessing the environmental factors affecting the sustainability of Aini Falaj system
Abstract
This study investigates the spatial distribution patterns and environmental factors influencing the Aini Falaj system in a specific study area. The research findings are presented through the lens of the following four categories: collinearity diagnostics, spatial autocorrelation analysis, kernel density (KD) findings, and multivariate geographically weighted regression (MGWR) analysis. The collinearity diagnostics were applied to examine the interrelationships among 18 independent environmental variables. The results indicate the absence of significant multicollinearity concerns, with most variables showing values below the critical threshold of five for variance inflation factors (VIFs). The selected variables indicate minimal intercorrelation, suggesting that researchers should be confident utilizing them in subsequent modelling or regression analyses. A spatial autocorrelation analysis using Moran’s Index revealed positive spatial autocorrelation and significant clustering patterns in the distribution of live and non-functional Aini Falajs. High concentrations of live or dead Falajs tended to be surrounded by neighbouring areas with similar characteristics. These findings provide insights into the ecological preferences and habitat associations of Aini Falajs, thereby aiding conservation strategies and targeted studies. The kernel density (KD) analysis depicted distribution patterns of live and dry Aini Falajs through hotspots and cold spots. Specific regions exhibited high-density areas of live Falajs, indicating favourable environmental conditions or historical factors contributing to their concentrated distribution. Identifying these high-density zones can enhance our understanding of the spatial patterns and potential factors influencing the prevalence and sustainability of Aini Falajs. The multivariate geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models revealed strong associations between the live or dead status of Aini Falajs and environmental factors. The precipitation, topographic wetness index (TWI), aspect and slope exerted positive impacts on the live status, while evaporation, solar radiation, distance to drains and drain density exerted negative influences. Similar associations were observed for the dead status, emphasising the importance of controlling evaporation, shading mechanisms, proper drainage planning and sustainable land-use practices. This study provides valuable insights into the spatial distributions and factors influencing the live and dead status of Aini Falajs, thereby contributing to our understanding of their ecological dynamics and guiding conservation efforts and management strategies.
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Abstract
This study investigates the spatial distribution patterns and environmental factors influencing the Aini Falaj system in a specific study area. The research findings are presented through the lens of the following four categories: collinearity diagnostics, spatial autocorrelation analysis, kernel density (KD) findings, and multivariate geographically weighted regression (MGWR) analysis. The collinearity diagnostics were applied to examine the interrelationships among 18 independent environmental variables. The results indicate the absence of significant multicollinearity concerns, with most variables showing values below the critical threshold of five for variance inflation factors (VIFs). The selected variables indicate minimal intercorrelation, suggesting that researchers should be confident utilizing them in subsequent modelling or regression analyses. A spatial autocorrelation analysis using Moran’s Index revealed positive spatial autocorrelation and significant clustering patterns in the distribution of live and non-functional Aini Falajs. High concentrations of live or dead Falajs tended to be surrounded by neighbouring areas with similar characteristics. These findings provide insights into the ecological preferences and habitat associations of Aini Falajs, thereby aiding conservation strategies and targeted studies. The kernel density (KD) analysis depicted distribution patterns of live and dry Aini Falajs through hotspots and cold spots. Specific regions exhibited high-density areas of live Falajs, indicating favourable environmental conditions or historical factors contributing to their concentrated distribution. Identifying these high-density zones can enhance our understanding of the spatial patterns and potential factors influencing the prevalence and sustainability of Aini Falajs. The multivariate geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models revealed strong associations between the live or dead status of Aini Falajs and environmental factors. The precipitation, topographic wetness index (TWI), aspect and slope exerted positive impacts on the live status, while evaporation, solar radiation, distance to drains and drain density exerted negative influences. Similar associations were observed for the dead status, emphasising the importance of controlling evaporation, shading mechanisms, proper drainage planning and sustainable land-use practices. This study provides valuable insights into the spatial distributions and factors influencing the live and dead status of Aini Falajs, thereby contributing to our understanding of their ecological dynamics and guiding conservation efforts and management strategies.
31-Assessing the environmental factors affecting the sustainability of Aini Falaj system
Abstract
Aflaj refers to a traditional irrigation system found in Oman, which has been used for centuries to sustainably manage groundwater resources. These resources play a vital role in meeting various consumption needs, including agriculture, domestic, and industrial. The article, for the first time, introduces the concept of “hydraulics of aflaj”, emphasizing the importance of accurate information about interaction of falaj and aquifer and also flow within their tunnels. The study utilizes the mechanisms of horizontal wells to simulate the interaction between the aquifer and the falaj tunnel, employing the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin numerical model to compute groundwater head of aquifer. The model is applied to a real test case in the Loba aquifer of Malaysia, demonstrating improved accuracy compared to previous models based on evaluation indices such as MAE, RMSE, MAPE, NSE and p-bias. The findings of the proposed model show good agreement.
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Abstract
Aflaj refers to a traditional irrigation system found in Oman, which has been used for centuries to sustainably manage groundwater resources. These resources play a vital role in meeting various consumption needs, including agriculture, domestic, and industrial. The article, for the first time, introduces the concept of “hydraulics of aflaj”, emphasizing the importance of accurate information about interaction of falaj and aquifer and also flow within their tunnels. The study utilizes the mechanisms of horizontal wells to simulate the interaction between the aquifer and the falaj tunnel, employing the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin numerical model to compute groundwater head of aquifer. The model is applied to a real test case in the Loba aquifer of Malaysia, demonstrating improved accuracy compared to previous models based on evaluation indices such as MAE, RMSE, MAPE, NSE and p-bias. The findings of the proposed model show good agreement.
32-Computation of minimum adjustment factors for sustainable groundwater management using data assimilation and Vensim dynamic model
Abstract
Due to the growth of population and industrial advancements in Iran, especially Birjand, the use of groundwater makes the aquifer’s balance becomes negative. This negatively affects both quantity and quality conditions of groundwater. To prevent this, suitable water management is necessary for Birjand aquifer. In this study, to overcome negative groundwater balance, the concept of “adjustment factors” is presented. These factors are applied to all types of consumption and make the groundwater balance to be positive. For this aim, a dynamic model of groundwater resources in Birjand aquifer is created in Vensim software. This model helps to determine the groundwater balance. Then, with using dynamic model and particle filter approach in MATLAB software, minimum adjustment factors are achieved. All data and information of Birjand aquifer between 2004 and 2021 are entered into Vensim model; then, under three scenarios, the groundwater balance is computed for the next 5 years (2022–2026). Three scenarios are normal, dry, and wet conditions. In the next step, with the help of particle filter, the minimum adjustment factors for two types of consumptions including agricultural and industrial are computed. The results show that the adjustment factors for all consumptions in dry conditions are much higher than others. For instance, in 2026, the adjustment factor for agriculture in dry conditions is 0.081 while in normal and wet conditions is 0.75 and 0.031, respectively. Also, the findings indicate that applying these adjustment factors to groundwater model has successful results and make the groundwater balance to be positive.
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Abstract
Due to the growth of population and industrial advancements in Iran, especially Birjand, the use of groundwater makes the aquifer’s balance becomes negative. This negatively affects both quantity and quality conditions of groundwater. To prevent this, suitable water management is necessary for Birjand aquifer. In this study, to overcome negative groundwater balance, the concept of “adjustment factors” is presented. These factors are applied to all types of consumption and make the groundwater balance to be positive. For this aim, a dynamic model of groundwater resources in Birjand aquifer is created in Vensim software. This model helps to determine the groundwater balance. Then, with using dynamic model and particle filter approach in MATLAB software, minimum adjustment factors are achieved. All data and information of Birjand aquifer between 2004 and 2021 are entered into Vensim model; then, under three scenarios, the groundwater balance is computed for the next 5 years (2022–2026). Three scenarios are normal, dry, and wet conditions. In the next step, with the help of particle filter, the minimum adjustment factors for two types of consumptions including agricultural and industrial are computed. The results show that the adjustment factors for all consumptions in dry conditions are much higher than others. For instance, in 2026, the adjustment factor for agriculture in dry conditions is 0.081 while in normal and wet conditions is 0.75 and 0.031, respectively. Also, the findings indicate that applying these adjustment factors to groundwater model has successful results and make the groundwater balance to be positive.
33-Geography and Water Resources in the Context of the Ecological and Technological Transition: Introductory Reflections
Abstract
The incessant technological progress has an extraordinary impact on territories and their water bodies, presenting challenges and opportunities for the scientific community in general and for the geographical community in particular. Technological innovation plays an increasingly pervasive role in the configuration and development dynamics of the territory and makes it necessary to identify innovative analysis methodologies and technological tools to analyze, verify and share knowledge and virtuous practices.
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Abstract
The incessant technological progress has an extraordinary impact on territories and their water bodies, presenting challenges and opportunities for the scientific community in general and for the geographical community in particular. Technological innovation plays an increasingly pervasive role in the configuration and development dynamics of the territory and makes it necessary to identify innovative analysis methodologies and technological tools to analyze, verify and share knowledge and virtuous practices.
34-A middle eastern oasis where mass tourism obscures urban spaces and social justice
Abstract
This article examines the repercussions of mass tourism, which reorganize urban spaces to the detriment of less advantaged residents in the arid city of Yazd, Iran. Tourism boomed after Yazd was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site on the grounds that Yazd still enjoys the continuation of traditional community. However, tourism paradoxically displaces the same community from their traditional space by commandeering their houses, transforming their authentic environment, and eroding their social and ecological integrity. This outmigration follows a domino-like mechanism, wherein the government’s restoration and tourism policies lead to an influx of investments in both the tourism and housing sectors, driving up living costs to the extent that local residents are inclined to relocate to more affordable neighborhoods. The commodification of Yazd’s cultural landscape gives rise to the accumulation of capital in the tourism sector, which increasingly widens the gap between the upper and lower social classes. The re-investment of this capital fattens the housing mafia, conducive to intensive gentrification. This article concludes that Yazd’s current model of tourism development risks undermining the sustainability of tourism itself, while issues of social justice remain in the blind spot of policymakers.
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Abstract
This article examines the repercussions of mass tourism, which reorganize urban spaces to the detriment of less advantaged residents in the arid city of Yazd, Iran. Tourism boomed after Yazd was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site on the grounds that Yazd still enjoys the continuation of traditional community. However, tourism paradoxically displaces the same community from their traditional space by commandeering their houses, transforming their authentic environment, and eroding their social and ecological integrity. This outmigration follows a domino-like mechanism, wherein the government’s restoration and tourism policies lead to an influx of investments in both the tourism and housing sectors, driving up living costs to the extent that local residents are inclined to relocate to more affordable neighborhoods. The commodification of Yazd’s cultural landscape gives rise to the accumulation of capital in the tourism sector, which increasingly widens the gap between the upper and lower social classes. The re-investment of this capital fattens the housing mafia, conducive to intensive gentrification. This article concludes that Yazd’s current model of tourism development risks undermining the sustainability of tourism itself, while issues of social justice remain in the blind spot of policymakers.
35-Air quality and health risk assessment during Middle Eastern dust storms: a study of particulate matter
Abstract
This study evaluates the concentration levels of PM2.5 and PM10 associated with a series of dust storm events in the Middle East during May 2022 (1–6 May, 15–17 May, and 24–27 May). A comprehensive dataset, including ERA5 reanalysis, ground air quality datasets, HYSPLIT trajectory model, and weather station observations, was utilized to identify the dynamic processes driving these dust storms. The findings reveal that the dust storms were triggered by a blocking ridge over Saudi Arabia separated by two deep troughs between north Africa and western Iran associated with a cut off low from the mid-latitudes fueled by tropical atmospheric rivers flow from Africa which enhanced unstable weather conditions over northern Arabian Peninsula. Particulate Matter (PM) concentration levels were evaluated at three Omani cities: Muscat in the north, Sur at the eastern tip, and Salalah in the south. The results indicated that dust storms affected PM10 levels in all three cities, with a significant increase in PM2.5 levels (25–80 µg m-3) in Salalah. By using the HYSPLIT trajectory model, the study identified dust emission pathways originating from Iraq and the eastern Arabian Peninsula, propagating southward. Additionally, global satellite-gridded PM2.5 estimates were used to analyze PM2.5 concentration trends in Muscat, Sur, Duqm, and Salalah from 1998 to 2021, showing an upward trend. Annual PM2.5 satellite concentrations of the year 2019 compared with and without dust and salt inclusions, indicating that mineral dusts are the primary source air pollution. Based on the satellite trend datasets of PM2.5, the results indicate a significant upward increase trend in the Middle East. According to the satellite trend datasets of PM2.5, and by using Mann-Kendall test and Thiel-Sen Salalah and Duqm have a significant upward trend compared to Muscat and Sur. Furthermore, Salalah and Duqm are found to have higher asthma rates than Muscat, due to the natural dust shield created by mountain ranges in northern Sultanate. The study concludes that PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are significantly influenced by atmospheric conditions, topography of the area, and transport routes.
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Abstract
This study evaluates the concentration levels of PM2.5 and PM10 associated with a series of dust storm events in the Middle East during May 2022 (1–6 May, 15–17 May, and 24–27 May). A comprehensive dataset, including ERA5 reanalysis, ground air quality datasets, HYSPLIT trajectory model, and weather station observations, was utilized to identify the dynamic processes driving these dust storms. The findings reveal that the dust storms were triggered by a blocking ridge over Saudi Arabia separated by two deep troughs between north Africa and western Iran associated with a cut off low from the mid-latitudes fueled by tropical atmospheric rivers flow from Africa which enhanced unstable weather conditions over northern Arabian Peninsula. Particulate Matter (PM) concentration levels were evaluated at three Omani cities: Muscat in the north, Sur at the eastern tip, and Salalah in the south. The results indicated that dust storms affected PM10 levels in all three cities, with a significant increase in PM2.5 levels (25–80 µg m-3) in Salalah. By using the HYSPLIT trajectory model, the study identified dust emission pathways originating from Iraq and the eastern Arabian Peninsula, propagating southward. Additionally, global satellite-gridded PM2.5 estimates were used to analyze PM2.5 concentration trends in Muscat, Sur, Duqm, and Salalah from 1998 to 2021, showing an upward trend. Annual PM2.5 satellite concentrations of the year 2019 compared with and without dust and salt inclusions, indicating that mineral dusts are the primary source air pollution. Based on the satellite trend datasets of PM2.5, the results indicate a significant upward increase trend in the Middle East. According to the satellite trend datasets of PM2.5, and by using Mann-Kendall test and Thiel-Sen Salalah and Duqm have a significant upward trend compared to Muscat and Sur. Furthermore, Salalah and Duqm are found to have higher asthma rates than Muscat, due to the natural dust shield created by mountain ranges in northern Sultanate. The study concludes that PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are significantly influenced by atmospheric conditions, topography of the area, and transport routes.
36-Quality Prediction of Sustainable Groundwater Resources, a Falaj in Oman
Abstract
Aflaj are the most important engineering technology in Oman for the abstraction of water under the ground. Aflaj’s water is used for domestic and agricultural purposes in this country. Therefore, the quality of Aflaj’s water is crucial for both domestic users and farmers for agricultural and irrigation purposes. Water decision-makers consistently recognize the need for a reliable model that can predict quality. This study employs four distinct models to achieve this objective. Artificial neural network, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), K-nearest neighbor, and support vector machine are the engaged models. They have been used for the forecasting of electrical conductivity (EC) as a quality parameter in falaj Al-Hamra, Oman. To this end, five reasonable scenarios are defined (S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5). Input data such as precipitation, flowrate of falaj, temperature of water, and EC values with lag time is the only difference among these scenarios. The data collection spans from 1982 to 2021. We implement these models using the MATLAB programming software. We also use four evaluation criteria, namely, mean absolute error, root-mean-square error, Nash–Sutcliff error, and R, to assess the performance. Results showed that, among all the models, ANFIS has the highest accuracy in all stages, including training, testing, and validation. All evaluation criteria indicate this. Also, findings were presented that S4 is closer to the real condition of falaj Al-Hamra, as the errors achieved from this scenario are less than the others. It means that there is a relationship between the contributing parameters in scenario #4 and the quality of water in falaj Al-Hamra. The funding also revealed that changes in flowrate have a greater impact on the water's EC than precipitation. This study assists water decision-makers in developing a well-functioning model for quality forecasting, which can then be enforced in falaj Al-Hamra.
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Abstract
Aflaj are the most important engineering technology in Oman for the abstraction of water under the ground. Aflaj’s water is used for domestic and agricultural purposes in this country. Therefore, the quality of Aflaj’s water is crucial for both domestic users and farmers for agricultural and irrigation purposes. Water decision-makers consistently recognize the need for a reliable model that can predict quality. This study employs four distinct models to achieve this objective. Artificial neural network, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), K-nearest neighbor, and support vector machine are the engaged models. They have been used for the forecasting of electrical conductivity (EC) as a quality parameter in falaj Al-Hamra, Oman. To this end, five reasonable scenarios are defined (S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5). Input data such as precipitation, flowrate of falaj, temperature of water, and EC values with lag time is the only difference among these scenarios. The data collection spans from 1982 to 2021. We implement these models using the MATLAB programming software. We also use four evaluation criteria, namely, mean absolute error, root-mean-square error, Nash–Sutcliff error, and R, to assess the performance. Results showed that, among all the models, ANFIS has the highest accuracy in all stages, including training, testing, and validation. All evaluation criteria indicate this. Also, findings were presented that S4 is closer to the real condition of falaj Al-Hamra, as the errors achieved from this scenario are less than the others. It means that there is a relationship between the contributing parameters in scenario #4 and the quality of water in falaj Al-Hamra. The funding also revealed that changes in flowrate have a greater impact on the water's EC than precipitation. This study assists water decision-makers in developing a well-functioning model for quality forecasting, which can then be enforced in falaj Al-Hamra.
37-Assessing The Channel Design Of The Eco-Friendly
Abstract
The Falaj system, derived from natural water sources, is a man-made canal system designed to supply communities of farmers with water for domestic and agricultural purposes. For thousands of years, Falaj has served communities by harnessing the force of gravity, it persists as a vital water management system in numerous regions across the Sultanate of Oman. Remarkably, predates the establishment of many fundamental hydraulic principles used today. Al-Khatmain Falaj, with its accessibility and historical significance spanning over 2000 years, was chosen as the focal point of this study. The research aimed to investigate the efficiency of Al-Khatmain Falaj in meeting specific water demands. HEC-RAS model was utilized to visualize water flow dynamics within the Falaj channels, accompanied by graphical representations of pertinent variables. The application of HEC-RAS helped to measure different water flow scenarios within the channel, enabling a clear comparison with the demand area. The cultivated land of Al-Khatmain is 723,124 m2 and consists of 16,873 palm trees representing 91% of the total area and the remaining 9% is mixed types of trees counted 3,920 trees. The study revealed a total daily demand of 3532.85 m3 is required to irrigate the cultivated land. Through rigorous analysis, the study has proven that the Falaj system in Al-Khatmain operates with high efficiency as the average annual water supply is 9676.8 m3/day. Additionally, the channel designed at 0.6m width x 0.3m height, efficiently holds the optimal water supply, with an average flow depth of 0.21m. Also, the system includes an overflow drainage channel to mitigate floods and prevent crop damage based on the seasonal requirements. This research holds promise for examining diverse hydrological conditions and devising effective strategies to manage scenarios of both high and low flow rates in Falaj Systems.
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Abstract
The Falaj system, derived from natural water sources, is a man-made canal system designed to supply communities of farmers with water for domestic and agricultural purposes. For thousands of years, Falaj has served communities by harnessing the force of gravity, it persists as a vital water management system in numerous regions across the Sultanate of Oman. Remarkably, predates the establishment of many fundamental hydraulic principles used today. Al-Khatmain Falaj, with its accessibility and historical significance spanning over 2000 years, was chosen as the focal point of this study. The research aimed to investigate the efficiency of Al-Khatmain Falaj in meeting specific water demands. HEC-RAS model was utilized to visualize water flow dynamics within the Falaj channels, accompanied by graphical representations of pertinent variables. The application of HEC-RAS helped to measure different water flow scenarios within the channel, enabling a clear comparison with the demand area. The cultivated land of Al-Khatmain is 723,124 m2 and consists of 16,873 palm trees representing 91% of the total area and the remaining 9% is mixed types of trees counted 3,920 trees. The study revealed a total daily demand of 3532.85 m3 is required to irrigate the cultivated land. Through rigorous analysis, the study has proven that the Falaj system in Al-Khatmain operates with high efficiency as the average annual water supply is 9676.8 m3/day. Additionally, the channel designed at 0.6m width x 0.3m height, efficiently holds the optimal water supply, with an average flow depth of 0.21m. Also, the system includes an overflow drainage channel to mitigate floods and prevent crop damage based on the seasonal requirements. This research holds promise for examining diverse hydrological conditions and devising effective strategies to manage scenarios of both high and low flow rates in Falaj Systems.
38-Identification of the hydrological model of a runoff-sourced falaj using empirical methods
Abstract
This study examines a historical ghaili falaj named Falaj Al-Sahamah, fed by the runoffs of the Halfeen valley in Izki, Ad-Dakhiliyah governorate. This falaj consists of a subterranean gently sloped tunnel dotted with a row of access wells, the first and deepest of which is sunk at the center of the valley. This research aims to suggest a hydrological model for Falaj Al-Sahamah. To this end, the most crucial step is to estimate the falaj's flowrate using the Manning equation. The dimensions of six undamaged spots along the canal were measured. Our analysis puts an estimate of 48 L/s on the falaj's discharge, pouring into the tank downstream, when the falaj was active. On the opposite side of the tank, two interconnected outlet points are visible, one of which lies at the top and the other at the bottom of the tank. Using Torricelli's law, it transpired that the flowrates of these points depend on the height of water inside the tank, fluctuating between a maximum of 67 and a minimum of 0 L/s. It means that the outflow is greater than the inflow, leaving no water in the tank unless the inflow is more than 67 L/s. This research is key to uncovering agricultural, historical, economic, and social aspects in future studies of the falaj system.
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Abstract
This study examines a historical ghaili falaj named Falaj Al-Sahamah, fed by the runoffs of the Halfeen valley in Izki, Ad-Dakhiliyah governorate. This falaj consists of a subterranean gently sloped tunnel dotted with a row of access wells, the first and deepest of which is sunk at the center of the valley. This research aims to suggest a hydrological model for Falaj Al-Sahamah. To this end, the most crucial step is to estimate the falaj's flowrate using the Manning equation. The dimensions of six undamaged spots along the canal were measured. Our analysis puts an estimate of 48 L/s on the falaj's discharge, pouring into the tank downstream, when the falaj was active. On the opposite side of the tank, two interconnected outlet points are visible, one of which lies at the top and the other at the bottom of the tank. Using Torricelli's law, it transpired that the flowrates of these points depend on the height of water inside the tank, fluctuating between a maximum of 67 and a minimum of 0 L/s. It means that the outflow is greater than the inflow, leaving no water in the tank unless the inflow is more than 67 L/s. This research is key to uncovering agricultural, historical, economic, and social aspects in future studies of the falaj system.
39- Groundwater allocation and the question of justice in Iran's rural communities
Abstract
This article examines Iran's groundwater allocation systems in a transitional context. Over centuries, local governance regimes regulated groundwater as a common-pool resource, which was conducive to distributive justice. However, after Iran's 1979 revolution, ideological policies treated groundwater as an open-access resource associated with equity. This paradigm shift from distributive justice to equity led to the overexploitation of groundwater. The government's perception of equity only gave free rein to those who could afford to drill tube-wells and appropriate common groundwater resources. This article concludes that groundwater justice is unattainable without local governance regimes that can reinstate groundwater as a common-pool resource, rather than as an open-access resource.
read the paper
Abstract
This article examines Iran's groundwater allocation systems in a transitional context. Over centuries, local governance regimes regulated groundwater as a common-pool resource, which was conducive to distributive justice. However, after Iran's 1979 revolution, ideological policies treated groundwater as an open-access resource associated with equity. This paradigm shift from distributive justice to equity led to the overexploitation of groundwater. The government's perception of equity only gave free rein to those who could afford to drill tube-wells and appropriate common groundwater resources. This article concludes that groundwater justice is unattainable without local governance regimes that can reinstate groundwater as a common-pool resource, rather than as an open-access resource.
40- Engineering Thoughts Embedded in Ancient Groundwater Techniques: The Case of Falaj in Oman
Abstract
This study aims to examine the engineering design of the falaj system using a wide variety of published documents on its construction and maintenance. A falaj is a hand-dug tunnel that transfers groundwater from aquifers to lower-lying lands. Falaj masters, despite the fact that they are usually illiterate, employ embedded mathematics to calculate the height difference between two points, excavate tunnels, measure tunnel gradient and depth, and locate groundwater infiltration area. Their traditional knowledge is awash with a great deal of mathematical methods, which has turned falaj into a feat of engineering. These methods are primarily based on principles such as proportion, right triangles, similarity of triangles, the intercept theorem, unit conversion, fractions, algebraic equations, and the four basic operations. This study concludes that the technical complexity of falaj system in terms of engineering, is the result of some simple yet effective mathematical calculations that form the core of falaj indigenous knowledge and aflaj masters perceive such equations intuitionally.
read the paper
Abstract
This study aims to examine the engineering design of the falaj system using a wide variety of published documents on its construction and maintenance. A falaj is a hand-dug tunnel that transfers groundwater from aquifers to lower-lying lands. Falaj masters, despite the fact that they are usually illiterate, employ embedded mathematics to calculate the height difference between two points, excavate tunnels, measure tunnel gradient and depth, and locate groundwater infiltration area. Their traditional knowledge is awash with a great deal of mathematical methods, which has turned falaj into a feat of engineering. These methods are primarily based on principles such as proportion, right triangles, similarity of triangles, the intercept theorem, unit conversion, fractions, algebraic equations, and the four basic operations. This study concludes that the technical complexity of falaj system in terms of engineering, is the result of some simple yet effective mathematical calculations that form the core of falaj indigenous knowledge and aflaj masters perceive such equations intuitionally.
41- Qanats’ assistance in reviving groundwater resources using numerical groundwater model
Abstract
A qanat, an ancient engineering technique known as a sustainable groundwater resource, helps humans to abstract water from underground for agriculture and drinking in arid countries like Iran. Regretfully, a portion of qanat’s water is wasted during non-crop seasons. To overcome this issue, ancient Iranians constructed underground dams within the qanats to trap water under the ground and control the flowrate. This study employs a meshless numerical method, namely MLPG, to investigate the effects of underground dam construction on a qanat in Birjand unconfined aquifer. The qanat, known as Haji-Abad, is one of the most famous in this region. Two scenarios are considered: one without an underground dam and one with an underground dam. In the first scenario, the groundwater level is simulated over 5 years (2018–2023) and its fluctuations are drawn for the nearest piezometers of the qanat. The results show a decreasing trend in the groundwater level in all piezometers. For example, piezometers #1, #2, #3 and #4 present drawdowns of 4.59 m, 2.05 m, 3.43 m and 3.27 m, respectively, during the simulation period. In the second scenario, the groundwater level with considering an underground dam is recalculated. In piezometer #1, which is the closest to the considered location of the underground dam, the groundwater level shows a slight increase after 41st month of modeling. It means that the underground dam contributes to recharge the aquifer and by injecting water into it. The total injected volume of water during this period (41–60th month) is 1,008,750 m3. This value is meaningful for Birjand aquifer, demonstrating that construction of underground dams on qanats in this aquifer is a beneficial practice.
read the paper
Abstract
A qanat, an ancient engineering technique known as a sustainable groundwater resource, helps humans to abstract water from underground for agriculture and drinking in arid countries like Iran. Regretfully, a portion of qanat’s water is wasted during non-crop seasons. To overcome this issue, ancient Iranians constructed underground dams within the qanats to trap water under the ground and control the flowrate. This study employs a meshless numerical method, namely MLPG, to investigate the effects of underground dam construction on a qanat in Birjand unconfined aquifer. The qanat, known as Haji-Abad, is one of the most famous in this region. Two scenarios are considered: one without an underground dam and one with an underground dam. In the first scenario, the groundwater level is simulated over 5 years (2018–2023) and its fluctuations are drawn for the nearest piezometers of the qanat. The results show a decreasing trend in the groundwater level in all piezometers. For example, piezometers #1, #2, #3 and #4 present drawdowns of 4.59 m, 2.05 m, 3.43 m and 3.27 m, respectively, during the simulation period. In the second scenario, the groundwater level with considering an underground dam is recalculated. In piezometer #1, which is the closest to the considered location of the underground dam, the groundwater level shows a slight increase after 41st month of modeling. It means that the underground dam contributes to recharge the aquifer and by injecting water into it. The total injected volume of water during this period (41–60th month) is 1,008,750 m3. This value is meaningful for Birjand aquifer, demonstrating that construction of underground dams on qanats in this aquifer is a beneficial practice.
Books and Books chapters
A list of UCASA published books