GIS Mapping Research Articles

Poverty porn or poverty planning? Slum photography and the politics of spatial representation

This forum article critically examines the politics of visual representation in urban informality, interrogating the genealogies and contemporary manifestations of what we term the “slum gaze.” Drawing on postcolonial theory, feminist visual studies, and critical urban geography, we trace how colonial visualities continue to shape aesthetic constructions of urban marginality through “poverty porn” and spectacles of abjection. We argue that dominant visual regimes not only reflect but actively produce urban informality as a pathologized state of being, rationalizing dispossessive planning interventions while obscuring subaltern spatial knowledges and practices. The article unpacks the contradictory role of visuality in urban planning and policymaking, where GIS mappings and documentary photography paradoxically render informal settlements simultaneously hyper-visible and illegible to state bureaucracies. Against reductive visual grammars inherited from colonial modernity, we advocate for participatory visual methodologies that amplify resident-driven representational practices. By centering community-based visual epistemologies, we gesture toward more emancipatory modes of seeing and narrating the heterogeneous spaces of urban informality. Ultimately, this intervention calls for a paradigmatic shift in how urban scholars and practitioners engage visually with marginalized communities. We contend that cultivating critical visual literacies attuned to the politics of representation is essential for imagining and enacting more just urban futures. This requires moving beyond simplistic denunciations of “poverty porn” toward a praxis of critical visuality that unsettles universalizing gazes while legitimizing plural ways of seeing, knowing, and inhabiting the city.

The Diversity of the Circular Economy in the City of Tashkent, Uzbekistan

ABSTRACTUsing Gibson‐Graham's methodology for reading for difference, this article seeks to shed a new light on the circular economy (CE), a concept often promoted, but rarely implemented. By presenting the diversity of practices around the acquisition, repair and resale of second‐hand goods in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, this study provides insight on the circularity of urban environments. The collection and GIS mapping of around 60 interviews with small and medium enterprises involved in responsible consumption and production in Tashkent led to the development of a more accurate definition of the CE in an urban setting. Research results indeed reveal that responsible consumption and production are very dynamic concepts that rely mainly on accessibility, creativity and connectivity with one's surroundings, as well as social networks. In addition, GIS mapping of small businesses in the second‐hand industry showed that the provision of second‐hand‐related services is intricately connected with urban infrastructure.

GIS-Enhanced Survey of Potential Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Artificial Oviposition Containers Distributed across Communities in Trinidad, West Indies.

Dengue and other arboviruses remain a global threat, and enhanced efforts to control the mosquitoes that transmit them are urgently needed. A survey of potential manmade Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) oviposition containers was performed in four communities near the end of the typical dry season in 2018 in Trinidad, West Indies. The purpose was to conduct individual premise surveys and use GIS mapping to visualize premises within communities that had Aedes-positive containers, as this information could be used for the prioritization of mosquito control efforts in potential high risk areas as the wet season progressed. Accessible premises were surveyed following standard inspection protocols used by the Insect Vector Control Division (IVCD), Ministry of Health (MOH). The results indicated that two of the four locations would be at high risk for arbovirus transmission going into the wet season. The GIS mapping of premises with Aedes-positive containers facilitated the identification of potential hot spots for arbovirus transmission risk within communities that should be prioritized for enhanced monitoring and vector control efforts, emphasizing the need to increase community participation in standard surveys by IVCD.

Population isolation in the Plains spadefoot toad: causes and conservation implications.

Range disjunctions appear to be common in nature, although they may be caused by various factors. They may simply be an artefact of inadequate sampling. If real, they may be the result of colonization events or habitat change. With natural habitats showing increasing fragmentation because of human activity, understanding the cause of a disjunction can have important conservation implications. We investigate the geographical range of the Plains spadefoot toad, Spea bombifrons, a widely distributed species in the midwestern and southwestern United States, with a putative disjunct population in southern Texas. We combine GIS mapping, species distribution modeling, and population genetic analysis to investigate this putative disjunction. We establish that this southern Texas population is truly geographically disjunct and genetically distinct. Further, using climate projections we show that this unique population is at high risk of local extinction.

Comparative Analysis of the Infrastructure of the City of Astana with a Sociological Survey of the Mental Well-Being of Citizens in the Context of the Sustainable Development of the Urban Agglomeration

Rapid urbanization entails complex problems not only in cities, but also within urban agglomerations. In modern landscape science, the greatest problems are primarily related to the ecological state of urban ecosystems. In this context, the most important task of urbanism is the interdisciplinary study of urban infrastructure in relation to the well-being of inhabitants, with a focus on the sustainable development of urban agglomerations. The aim of this study is to conduct a theoretical analysis of interdisciplinary research on the interactions between humans and the urban environment in the context of intensive urbanization, as well as to be an empirical study of the relationship between the real ecological state of the city of Astana, based on the use of geographical, environmental, cartographic, statistical, sociological, and socio-psychological research methods, aimed at identifying the mental well-being of citizens in correlation with their consumed urban ecosystem services using an associative psychological experiment, socio-psychological survey, and GIS mapping. As a result of this study, the authors have determined that the research hypothesis 1 “Spatial representations of the city’s geoecological state are interrelated with the mental well-being and satisfaction with urban ecosystem services of citizens depending on the area of residence” is confirmed. Additionally, a positive correlation has been noted among the key indicators and criteria of geoecological condition, mental well-being, and satisfaction with urban ecosystem services across different districts of the city.

Geospatial analysis of alarmingly increasing flood vulnerability and disaster risk within the northeast Himalaya Region of India

Geoenvironmetally the eastern part of the Himalaya region is highly vulnerable to flood and other natural disasters as it consists of fragmented and tectonically active geology and geomorphology, very high monsoon rainfall (>360cm) and subsequent runoff, rugged hilly terrain with high ranges of elevation and slope, dense drainage density etc. Other hand, the unplanned developmental activities keep going and scaling up this vulnerability and risk to floods and other disasters. Addressing this burning issue, a geospatial technology-based case study of the Kohima district, Nagaland state (India), is presented here. The geospatial "technology-based" analyses employed in the study are thematic GIS mapping of flood hazard, vulnerability and risk controlling factors; and performing overlay operation using the AHP model in GIS software to generate spatio-temporal map layers of flood vulnerability and disaster risk. Results reveal that the region is under a high rate of monsoon climate change (increasing temperature, rainfall, rainy days, rainfall events and flood events with an annual rate of 0.35%, 1.12%, 0.36%, 2.67% and 4% respectively), land use degradation (increasing built-up area with 0.60%, annual rate decreasing forest, shrubs and water bodies with 0.80% accumulated annual rates respectively) and demographic changes (increasing urban as well and rural population density with 0.53-2.10% and 0.55-2.14% respectively). Accumulated impacts of climate change, land use degradation and demographic changes causing an increase in flood hazard, vulnerability and disaster risk. Flood hazard zones and vulnerability zones extending with 0.50% (4.89km2) and 0.84% (8.16km2) annual rates respectively, subsequently the food risk zones categorized as a moderate, high and very high potential risk, have been spreading out with a yearly rate of 0.07% (0.65km2), 0.13% (1.31km2) and 0.03% (0.33km2) respectively. It decreases the area under low and very low-risk zones by 0.17% (1.63km2) and 0.07% (0.65km2) annual rates respectively. Following up on these annual rates, the spatial distribution of flood hazard, vulnerability and risk zones for the next decade (2031-2040) have also been projected, revealing alarming situations, if flood disaster risk reduction (F-DRR) measures were not implemented in timely. It is strongly believed that the proposed study will be very useful for district-level planners and administrators to implement sustainable development planning, for the scientific fraternity to enhance their research work in the field of flood disaster management and for individuals for their safety in terms of life and property.

The Impact of Anchoring on Seafloor Integrity: An Integrated Assessment within a Major Bunkering Area of the Maltese Islands

International shipping is a fundamental component of the global economy. As the industry expands, the demand for high-capacity vessels increases, raising concerns about their impact on the marine environment. While awaiting access to port facilities, vessels often anchor to save fuel and prevent drifting, but this practice is a significant cause of mechanical disturbance to the seafloor and benthic habitats. Identifying and quantifying anchoring pressure is essential for better managing and mitigating the damage to the seafloor. The Automatic Identification System (AIS) can be utilized to assess anchoring pressure by transmitting vessel information (e.g., position, type and size) to other vessels and coastal stations. This research evaluates anchoring pressure in a strategically located bunkering area around the Maltese Islands using AIS data collected from an antenna at the University of Malta. An arbitrary index was developed to determine anchoring pressure, and the AIS data was used to create GIS maps showing the location and size of vessels within the bunkering area, as well as plots depicting anchoring pressure by vessel type, seasonality, and density. This study serves as a blueprint for future assessments of anchoring pressures from various maritime activities in other areas around the Maltese Islands and provides a decision support tool for national policy-making related to Descriptor 6 (Seafloor Integrity) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD), and the management plan for Sites of Community Interest (SCI) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

A Classification and Interpretation of Methodological Approaches to Pursue Natural Capital Valuation in Forest Research

This paper reviews natural capital (NC) valuation approaches in the context of woodland, forest, and riparian ecosystems, emphasising the need for participatory methods to take priority over neoclassical economics approaches. Focusing on research carried out in Scotland, the study analyses findings according to a classification of natural capital initiatives that we have developed, building on ideas proposed by the UK ENCA initiative, a guideline proposed to help researchers and practitioners understand NC and take it into account in valuation, decision-making and policy. We have found that landscape-scale initiatives that address the relationships between people and place to inform value and decision-making beyond the economic (monetary) benefits generated by ecosystem services (ES) are becoming popular. For instance, recent methods employed to capture stakeholders’ non-utilitarian preferences include the use of participatory GIS mapping, scenario planning, and other participatory methods to identify, explore and quantify less tangible cultural ecosystem services (CES). The review shows that many studies provide information relevant to the formulation of a place-based NC approach, working towards the integration of contextual and relational values into land management decisions to help formulate management strategies that maximise ES delivery. Conversely, we have not found evidence of the integration of shared values arising from an eco-centric perspective of nature valuation into the more classical, instrumental value lens. Such an approach would help inform broader, overarching aspects of woodland and forest management that may foster more effective conservation and help to manage conflicts.

Dune elongation and hunting strategy during the Terminal Pleistocene (Ramonian): Insights from Mizpor Ashalim, northwestern Negev dunefield margins, Israel

The Middle Epipalaeolithic Ramonian culture, endemic to the Negev-Sinai desert, incorporates highland occupations alongside lowland dune-associated localities. The lowland sites, dominated by microlithic tools, have been hypothesized to be prime hunting settings. Here we investigate this hypothesis based on the data from Mizpor Ashalim - a new Ramonian site located upon a falling dune overlooking the central Besor Valley. The study incorporates analysis of projectile damage on microlithic tools, geomorphology, portable OSL profiling, and OSL ages of the dune deposits, as well as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) investigation. GIS mapping of relevant sites alongside the ancient dune-dammed water bodies constitutes an additional methodological tool newly applied in the current study.The results support the hypothesis and suggest that Ramonian hunting strategy was associated with dune-dammed, medium-sized basins that formed ecological niches following winter floods. The study sheds new light on adaptations developed by different cultural entities occupying the region during the Terminal Pleistocene and their connection with changing environmental settings. At the same time, it emphasizes technological continuity throughout the cultural sequence in the arid environments of the Southern Levant, expressed in microliths production and projectile design. This continuity, not observed in the Mediterranean climate zone, underscores the importance of understanding the social and economic dynamics in the desert areas of the Southern Levant to comprehend the processes that led to sedentism and food production in the region.

Computing the pressure of agricultural tractors on soil and mapping its compaction

Manufacturers of agricultural machines, when designing, pay a little attention to its impact on soil, thus producing models with high compression loads on the soil or with a small contact area between the tyres/tracks and the soil surface. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the negative impact of both wheeled and tracked agricultural tractors on the soil, in terms of soil compaction, and its causes (i. e. design features of tractor tyres/tracks), during the last six decades (i. e. from 1961 to 2021). Soil compaction is caused by the pressure applied by agricultural machines on the soil through the contact area of their tyres/tracks with the soil surface. So, the main indicator of the negative impact on the soil by the tractors manufactured during the last 60 years, i. e. the average pressure applied by the tyres or tracks of tractors manufactured in EU and in the post-Soviet cuntries from 1961 to 2021 to the soil, was computed. A general decrease of the average pressure of the tyres/tracks on the soil can be observed in 1980s and 1990s, followed by its general increase since 2000, above all for the tractors having power higher than 140 kW. Thus, there is an urgent need to assess spatial and temporal changes in soil vulnerability to compaction, that depends on weather conditions and soil properties, as well as agricultural management practices, and can only be fully assessed by means of a combination of traditional techniques (i. e. use of soil cone penetrometer followed by 2D mapping using GIS or 3D mapping through geostatistics) and mechanical approaches (i. e. computation of agricultural machine parameters – soil contact area). The results show that tractor manufacturers did not take care of reducing soil compaction during the considered period.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression and anxiety among the Bangladeshi university entrance test-taking students using GIS technology

This study focuses on Bangladeshi university entrance test-taking students mental health problems and explores the geographical distribution of these problems using GIS technique. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1523 university entrance test-taking students. Data were collected on participants' socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related factors, admission tests, depression, and anxiety. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed using SPSS software. GIS mapping was used to visualize the distribution of mental health problems across districts using ArcGIS. The study found that the prevalence rates of depression and anxiety among university entrance examinees were 53.8% and 33.2%, respectively. Males exhibited higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to females, while repeat test-taking students were more susceptible to these mental health issues compared to first-time test-takers. Factors such as urban residence, personal/familial COVID-19 infections, and COVID-19 deaths in close relationships were associated with increased mental health problems. District-based distribution showed no significant variation in depression, but anxiety varied significantly. Post-hoc GIS analysis revealed variations in the distribution of depression and anxiety among males, as well as variations in anxiety distribution based on student status across districts. This study emphasizes the high prevalence of depression and anxiety among university entrance examinees, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health risks in this population. It also suggests the need for reforms in the university entrance test-taking system to reduce psychological problems and advocates for a more inclusive approach to student admissions to alleviate mental health burdens.

INNOVATIVE BY-PASS SOLUTION FOR IRON GATES I TO RECONNECT THE HISTORICAL MIGRATION ROUTES OF WILD ANADROMOUS STURGEON SPECIES, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR CONSERVATION STATUS

The anadromous sturgeon species in the lower Danube are currently critically endangered and based on the studies of the INCDPM expert team and the 2022 report of IUCN-SSG (Sturgeon Specialist Group) it appears that the future prospects of these populations are unfavourable. This situation occurs mainly as a result of anthropogenic impacts, especially due to intensive fishing, poaching and hydrotechnical constructions (e.g.: dams, immersed obstacles such as the bottom sill on Bala Branch). The dams interrupted the historical spawning migration routes of these species and the bottom sill can interrupt them in the future. In this context, INCDPM has elaborated an innovative by pass solution for the Iron Gates I, based on the longterm monitoring of ultrasonically tagged sturgeons from the Black Sea to the Iron Gates. This article presents the methodology developed by INCDPM in order to ensure the implementation of the innovative by-pass solution with minimal risk of unseccesful restoration of the historical migration routes. The study aims to present the specific migration conditions and the actual routes, which have been determined by over a decade of in-situ monitoring of ultrasonically tagged specimens. Additionally, simulations of upstream migration will be conducted and GIS maps will be developed to present historical migratory routes, with consideration given to hydrodynamic conditions and climate change scenarios.

Vector Borne Disease Ecology and Environment: Remote Sensing and GIS for Control and Management: A Systematic Review

The prevalence of vector borne disease epidemics are influenced by the thickness of the vectors persistent to climate, landscape, and environment. Historically evidenced of triggering epidemics in both vertical magnitude and horizontal spread (spatial diffusion) of increasing vector borne diseases, such as; malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, filariasis, leishmaniases, scrub typhus, Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), West Nile virus, Lyme disease, Zika virus, and Rift valley fever in the tropical and subtropical regions, particularly, in the third world countries for the past several decades. The geographical analysis of each one VBD epidemics has a unique vector ecology and environment. The prevalence of epidemic distribution patterns and seasonal variations, and associated vector ecology were analyzed throughout the world for the past periods, in order to assess the probability of potential risk and delineate the hotspot regions susceptible to the VBD outbreaks in the country, using Remote Sensing and GIS mapping analysis. It offers a quick and efficient approach to mapping of land uses/land cover patterns and its changes over space and time, and the information on these changes linking with vector profusion and disease ecology. Vector-borne disease epidemics across the country have been evidently associated with climate factors, landscape changes, potential breeding sources; such as, water bodies, rivers, streams, and mega water resource irrigation projects, dams / reservoirs, water pools, lakes, urban agglomerations, Urban sprawl, urban dynamics, industrial developments and growths, floating population, urban migration, land use / land cover changes, wet irrigation agriculture practices, seasonal migrations on occupation, cargo shipping movements, trade and commerce, etc., and have been acted upon changing the aboriginal territories by extent of epidemic scenarios into the non-endemic regions. The integrated Earth Observation Resource Satellite data integrated with GIS has effectiveness upon proved to disease mapping, ecological niche modeling, risk assessment, spatial prediction, and offering answers to both the public health programmers and research scientists concerned on vector fecundity, and vector borne disease ecology, and thus, the geographical, ecological and environmental determinants of its range is considered to be essential for sustainable public health planning. Accordingly, prevention measures and appropriate control strategy may possibly be applied during the sporadic outbreaks situations in the new epidemic regions as well in the hot spot endemic regions regularly, so as to control the erratic transmission and prevent acceleration of epidemics early in advance successfully.

Agritourism as a strategy of remote island’s development: the case study of Kasos

In rural, depopulated areas, agritourism, as a development model, could serve the goal of non- exclusively seasonal tourism while creating additional economic opportunities for the locals who are mainly engaged in agriculture. Kasos is an isolated island of the Dodecanese, Greece, preserving interesting elements of the authentic agricultural practices and architecture like terraces serving the island’s agricultural cultivation, mills and mitata, small stone- built creameries. Kasos served as a case study of AEI program (Sustainable Development of Less Developed Regions and Isolated Areas by Creating New Touristic Resources and Products through Analysis, Documentation and Modelling of Cultural Assets using Innovative ICT Applications, project code:T2EDK- 01278). For thιs island that lies within the wider region of Rhodes, it is possible with the appropriate development of new touristic resources and products through the advancement of the unique architectural, cultural and environmental assets to orient towards them special parts of the touristic flow from Rhodes, creating new touristic activity by increasing the residence beyond the daily or short time tourism, as it stands for now. For the analysis of the study area, research in local archives and communication with the municipality and local stakeholders was conducted. Thus, both the special features of the island and the needs of the local community were identified, organized, classified and presented in GIS maps. The implementation of a GIS for Kasos Island aims to provide a comprehensive representation of the different aspects of the island, providing useful information for policy-making and the development of strategic cultural and agrotourism plans to the local authorities and stakeholders. According to the integrated plan for Kasos by AEI program, the island could preserve its special rural identity while revealing its cultural and environmental assets and attracting external economies within an agritourism model. In this work, we present AEI’s integrated plan for Kasos that refers to the island’s agricultural character, to the existing trail network as well as to the restoration and adaptive reuse of important architectural assets that could serve to the overall revealing of Kasos history and cultural reserve.

Land Evaluation of Tribal Talukas of Bharuch District in South Gujarat, India

Climate change interrupts existing agriculture, emphasizing the need for land evaluation to assess current capacities and introduce climate-resilient alternative crops. A study was undertaken to evaluate soils of three tribal talukas viz. Jhagadia, Netrang and Valia of Bharuch district in South Gujarat during 2021-24. The total fifteen representative soil profiles were identified and excavated from various landforms based on GIS maps. Land evaluation was conducted using land capability classification, land irrigability classification and soil site suitability for existing crops and alternative crops for the study area. The study area is predominantly classified under Land Capability Class II, indicating minor limitations and covering the majority of the region. The study area also includes Class III with moderate limitations and Class IV in Netrang taluka, which faces severe limitations due to soil quality, wetness, and erosion. The study area soils were grouped under three irrigability classes with further divided into six sub-classes based on the limitation of soils and site characteristics. Soil suitability indicates high cotton potential in specific profiles, while pigeonpea and soybean shows broad suitability. Sugarcane thrives in Jhagadia and Valia, with marginal suitability in Netrang and banana is highly suitable in most of Jhagadia. Key alternative crops suitable for the study area are finger millet, castor, groundnut, green gram, cluster bean, mango, guava and Kamalam. The study advocates soil and water conservation for intensified, sustainable agriculture, proposing tree-based BAIF's Wadi model for hilly terrains.

GIS and AHP-based flood susceptibility mapping: a case study of Bangladesh

GIS and AHP-based flood susceptibility mapping: a case study of Bangladesh

Rediscovering Valley Hillslopes: Their Forms, Uses, and Considerations in Urban Planning Documents

Re-considering the interactions between society and natural resources is fundamental in pursuing sustainability and adaptation to climate change in cities. The representation in urban planning instruments reveals an inadequate consideration of valley hillslopes as interface systems or as ‘places’ with possible multiple roles and meanings for populations. Beyond landslide and flooding considerations, valley hillslopes are scarcely identified as distinct entities from the valley and the plateau, investigated as sites of diverse possible uses, and analysed in terms of which variables related to the relief’s forms influence their use. Confronting urban planning instruments that reduce slopes to building spaces, this contribution advocates for a specific representation of valley hillslopes, highlighting the environment’s variety within which the system interacts, the diversity of uses, and the interrelationships between form and land cover. By combining GIS mapping and statistical analysis, this research proposes a multi-scalar approach based on identifying valley hillslopes delineated through minimum units (geochore), integrated with land cover clustering and an analysis of the potential relations between land cover and six explanatory variables. The research points out the singularity and complexity of valley hillslopes, which should be incorporated into urban planning policy as potential cultural, ecological, or recreational resources for populations.

Wildfire effects on mercury fate in soils of North-Western Siberia

Arctic soils store 49 Gg mercury (Hg) – an extremely toxic heavy metal, whereas soil Hg can be released to the atmosphere by wildfires. For the first time we investigated the effects of wildfires on the fate of soil Hg in North-Western (NW) Siberia based on GIS maps of areas burned during the last 38 years and a field paired comparison of unburned and burned areas in tundra (mosses, lichens, some grasses, and shrubs) and forest-tundra (multi-layered canopy of larch trees, shrubs, mosses, and lichens). These field surveys were deepened by soil controlled burning to assess the Hg losses from organic horizon and mineral soil. The soil Hg stocks in the organic horizon and in the top 10 cm of the mineral soil were 3.3 ± 0.6 and 16 ± 3 mg Hg m−2 for unburned tundra and forest-tundra, respectively. After the burning by wildfires, the soil Hg stocks decreased to 2.4 ± 0.1 and 6.6 ± 0.2 mg Hg m−2 for tundra and forest-tundra, respectively. By the averages annual burned areas in NW Siberia 527 km2, wildfires in tundra and forest-tundra released 0.19 and 2.9 Mg soil Hg per year, respectively, corresponding to 28 % and 59 % of the initial soil Hg stocks. These direct effects of wildfires on Hg volatilization are raised by indirect post-pyrogenic consequences on Hg fate triggered by the vegetation succession and adsorption of atmospheric Hg on the surface of charred biomass. Charred lichens and trees accumulated 4–16 times more Hg compared to the living biomass. Blackened burned vegetation and soil reduced surface albedo and slowly increased soil temperatures in Arctic after wildfires. This created favorable conditions for seeding grasses and shrubs after wildfire and transformed burned high-latitude ecosystems into greener areas, increasing their capacity to trap atmospheric Hg by vegetation, which partly compensate the burning losses of soil Hg.

Ten years of oil pollution detection in the Eastern Mediterranean shipping lanes opposite the Egyptian coast using remote sensing techniques

The Eastern Mediterranean region, a vital conduit for global maritime trade, faces significant environmental challenges due to marine pollution, particularly from oil spills. This is the first study covering the long period of comprehensive monitoring of oil pollution using the full mission of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in the Mediterranean Sea, so this research aims to detect and analyze comprehensively the occurrence of oil spills in the Eastern Mediterranean over a decade (2014–2023). This study focuses on identifying geographical distribution patterns, proximity to shorelines, frequency across maritime zones, and potential sources of these spills, especially around major ports and maritime routes. This study utilizes SAR data from the Sentinel-1 satellite. The methodology included automated detection algorithms within the Sentinel application platform (SNAP) and integration with GIS mapping to study oil spill patterns and characteristics. Over 1000 Sentinel-1 scenes were investigated in the northern Mediterranean waters off the coast of Egypt, to detect and analyze 355 oil spill events with a total impacted area of more than 6000 km2. The analysis of temporal spill distribution reveals significant fluctuations from year to year. Within the entire timeline of the study, 2017 had the largest spatial areas covering one thousand square kilometers. In contrast, the single largest spill recorded during the study period occurred in 2020, covering 198.73 square kilometers. The results identified a non-uniform distribution of oil spills and primarily exhibiting elongated patterns aligned with the navigation routes. The distinct increase of oil spill incidents was within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), obviously drifted to the coastline and around major ports. The study emphasizes the critical role of remote sensing technologies in addressing environmental challenges caused by the maritime transport sector, advocating for enhanced monitoring and regulatory enforcement to protect marine ecosystems and support sustainable naval activities. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted continuous monitoring and rapid response strategies in high-traffic maritime areas, particularly around the EEZ and major ports.

Incidence of Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias in Iran From 2010 to 2019.

This is the first comprehensive national and subnational epidemiological study reporting the incidence of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) in Iran from 2010 to 2019 and predictions for 2024. We extracted age-standardized incidence stratified by sex and provinces from the Institute for Health Measurement and Evaluation (IHME). Arc Map GIS was used to report the geographical distribution, and the Cochran-Armitage test was used for prediction. Predictions showed that the incidence of ADRD would reach 118 (women) and 109 (men) cases per 100,000 population in Iran in 2024. The most increasing incidence from 2010 to 2019 was reported among women in Qom, while Yazd had the most incidences among men and women in 2019. The results showed an increase in the incidence of ADRD in Iran in recent years, and the increase in life expectancy and population aging can be considered as an influential factor.