Papers by Keyword: Iran

Abstract: In recent years, the growth of urban populations in hazardous areas has increased the impact of natural disasters in both developed and developing countries. The purpose of the current study is to assess the landslide susceptibility in Kalaleh township of Golestan province, Iran. In this study the Shannon’s entropy approach was applied. A total of 82 landslide locations were identified primarily from aerial photographs and field surveys. Then eighteen landslides conditioning factors were prepared in GIS. These landslide conditioning factors are: slope degree, slope aspect, altitude, plan curvature, profile curvature, tangential curvature, surface area ratio (SAR), lithology, land use, soil texture, distance from faults, distance from rivers, distance from roads, fault density, road density, topographic wetness index (TWI), stream power index (SPI), and sediment transport index (STI). Using these conditioning factors, landslide susceptibility index was calculated using Shannon’s entropy. For model validation, the results of the analyses were then compared with the field-verified landslide locations. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for landslide susceptibility maps were drawn and the area under curve values was calculated. Verification results showed 82.15% accuracy. According to the results of the AUC (area under curve) evaluation, the map produced exhibits satisfactory properties.

Abstract: The presence of biomass resources and benefiting from such energy producing sources in every country supply a part of country’s energy needs, reduce its environmental effects and cause creation of new jobs. In this regard this paper presents the state of biomass energy in Iran. Results of this study shows that the major biomass resources in Iran are agricultural solid wastes (%59), animal wastes (%28), corrupting waste materials (%11) and civil and industrial waste waters (%2). According to statistical data, the potential biomass energy in Iran is equal to 15 million ton of crude oil which will be estimated about %13 of annual Iranian crude oil sale. The project of survey the potential and feasibility of energy obtaining out of burring solid wastes of Mashhad and Shiraz are executive activities of biomass in Iran and also survey the potential and feasibility of energy obtaining out of burring solid wastes of other cities of Iran and installation of biomass power plant are future activities of biomass in Iran.

Abstract: International increasing of petroleum and living cost and population, environmental problems, diminishingly fossil sources and world trend to energy technology respect to environmental safety and renewable energies are some reasons for most countries to use and investigate on renewable energies. In this regard this paper presents the state of geothermal energy in Iran. The geothermal activities in Iran started by Ministry Energy of Iran in 1975, research and survey indicate that Iran has substantial geothermal potential, specifically in the Sabalan Sahand (NW-Iran) and Damavand (N-Iran) region that are considerate prospects for electric power generation and direct uses. The Electric Power Research Center (EPRC) and Renewable Energy Organization of Iran (SUNA) were established to justify priorities of above mentioned region. As a result: Meshkinshahr and Sarein area in Sabalan region were proposed for electric and direct use respectively. Three deep exploration wells and two shallow reinjection wells were drilled at the Meshkinshahr geothermal field during 2003/2004 following detailed geo-scientific surface surveys. A preliminary resource assessment confirms the presence of a medium grade geothermal resource with temperatures within the drilled area up to 2500C and whit at least 5 Km2 of commercially exploitable resource available. SUNA is now moving forward to construct and commission the first geothermal power development both in Iran and the Middle East.

Abstract: The activities in field of renewable energy in Iran are focused on scientific and research aspect. And research part is aimed at reduction of capital required for exploitation of related resources. The second step is to work research results into scientific dimension of this field for practical means, i.e. establishing electricity power plants. Due to recent advancements in wind energy, many inventors in the country have become interested in investing in this type of energy. At the moment, projects assuming 130 MW of wind power plants are underway. Of which, 25 MW is operational. The project of Iran's renewable energy aims to accelerate the sustainable development of wind energy through investment and removal of barriers. This preparatory project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and will provide for a number of international and national consultant missions and studies. Once the studies are concluded, a project to develop 25MW of wind energy in the Manjil region of Gilan (N-Iran) will be prepared. It will be consistent with the national development framework and objectives and form part of 100MW of wind-powered energy, Which is expected to be developed under the government's third 5-year national development plan. (started 21 march 2000)

Abstract: Roots of plants stable soils on slope and provide resistance against the forces that improve slope instability. In NW of Iran (East Azerbaijan Province), rangelands was Utilized with animal grazing and changed to agricultural land use; this vegetation is unsuitable vegetation on slope to stable them. We studied Paronychia kurdica Boiss to determine its root biomass characteristics. Data were collected with accidental sampling method (1*1 m) with 10-cm-diameter core in this aria. Minimum, maximum and mean root biomass of this plant is 9.37, 15.70 and 13 gr, respectively.

Abstract: Recently, attention has been given to water shortage in Iran; especially in areas such as the province of Yazd, which has arid and semi-arid climate and is located in the central plateaus of Iran. In these situations, re-using sewage is one of the ways we can overcome the problem of water shortage. In order to combat the issue of water shortage and protect the environment, the Yazd combined cycle power plant has applied the effluent of the hygienic sewage treatment system (the active sludge system with extended aeration modification) for irrigation, which is the aim of this study. Studies show that every worker of this power plant uses 85 liter of water and produces 30 liter of hygienic sewage in every work shift. According to experiments that have been carried out on samples of raw sewage, pH, BOD₅, COD and TSS were found in 6.9 , 306.45mg/l, 595.85mg/l, 376.35mg/l, respectively. The amounts of the same parameters were 7, 65.80mg/l, 139.1mg/l, 34mg/l in the samples exiting treatment system, which are in accordance with Iran Department of Environment standards and with the irrigation criteria either. The system efficiency in eliminating some parameters is as follows, 76 % COD, 78% BOD₅ and 90 % of TSS. The most important effluent parameters in respect to irrigation water standards are SAR, Cl¯ and EC that have been measured in 6.15meq/l, 10meq/l and 1.882 µ mohs/cm, respectively. Based on comparisons between these amounts and the Wilcox diagram, the treated sewage is categorized as medium according to the quality of water used for irrigation. So it has been used to irrigate the green space within the ambit of the Yazd combined cycle power plant.

Abstract: Delays in construction projects are usually inevitable, and most projects are not completed on time. The scope of this study was to find out the factors that are responsible for minimizing delays on construction projects in Islamic Azad University (IAU) Shoushtar Branch in Iran. The overall ranking of most vital factors causing delay and how they cause it, as well as effective methods of minimizing delay on construction projects was obtained by the mean rank score. It was found that the use of experienced contractors and subcontractors, financial difficulties by contractor and change orders by employer during constructionwere some of the factors responsible for delay. However, time and cost overrun were seen to be the major factors causing delay. The result showed that the use of experienced contractors and subcontractors, accurate initial cost estimates and clear objective and scope were effective methods of minimizing delay on construction projects. The results obtained here, though peculiar to a certain area can be adopted for other case studies in which similar problems are encountered.

Abstract: The aim of this article is to investigate the extent of mass customization (MC) methods implementation in Iranian manufacturing organizations, mainly based on a descriptive analysis. Based on the review of literature seven methods and motivators and barriers of MC implementation were identified. Through a questionnaire which was distributed among 100 Iranian manufacturing organizations the extent of MC methods applied in the surveyed organizations was studied. And their priorities were determined. Results showed that these organizations have found out the importance and the role of mass customization strategy in fulfilling customer satisfaction and intimacy which could hopefully lead to the increase of their revenue and market share. But based on chi-square test the present study cannot confirm that the use of customization methods and strategy is significantly related to greater company success in Iranian manufacturing context.

Abstract: Delays are one of the biggest problems in construction projects in developing countries, as cause negative effects on the projects. Delays can be minimized only when their causes are identified. This paper aims to identify effective methods of minimizing delay in construction projects. The literature related the field of causes and effects of delay and methods for minimizing construction delay has been reviewed over the last decade. This paper highlighted methodology to reduce construction delays from consultant and contractor viewpoints. The perspective of contractors and consultants has been analysed to rank the methods of minimizing construction delays based on their Relative Importance Index (RII). The most effective methods of minimizing delay in construction projects were: adequate funding throughout the project, competent project manager, awarding bids to the right designer/contractor, complete and proper design at the right time, availability of resources, clear objective and scope, and the use of experienced subcontractors and suppliers. The result can be used as a guideline to successfully handling construction projects in Iran as well as other developing countries.

Abstract: Several studies and different successful commercial applications had demonstrated that bioleaching can be an innovative approach that is capable to provide mining industry opportunities for essential growth in the medium term[2-18]. To identify the commercial application potential of bioleaching in Iranian copper industry, a research program was initiated. The objective of the main part of this program was to evaluate bacterial leaching processes for copper recovery from (i) high grade ores and flotation concentrates and (ii) low grade ores and flotation tailings. The latest results of these studies indicates the general operability of the bioleaching in both cases. At optimum conditions, the copper extraction from low grade materials was more than 80% and that from high grade ores and flotation concentrates about 95%, which should be high enough to justify the process economically.