Swat River Research Articles

Stream Flow Modeling of River Swat Using Regression and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) Techniques

This paper presents the utility of Artificial Neural Networks and Regression analysis for the stream flow modeling in Swat River at five discharge gauge station. As an appropriate intelligent model is identified, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) is evaluated by comparing it to regression analysis and the available field data. ANNs namely feed forward back propagation neural network (FFBPNN) and regression analysis are introduced and implemented. The research study successfully compared the performance of the ANN and regression models that validated the utility of the two modeling techniques as effective applications to stream flow forecasting.

Pehur high-level canal, NWFP, Pakistan

This paper describes the design, construction and commissioning of a major irrigation project in Pakistan. It is the final stage of the Tarbela Dam project and follows two centuries of irrigation development in the Indus Valley. The Pehur high-level canal (PHLC) is now operational after a five-year construction period which began in 1997. The purpose of the project is to bring 30 m3/s of water from the Indus River at Tarbela Dam to the lower reaches of the existing Upper Swat canal (USC) system. This not only alleviates water shortage in the existing 100 000 ha Upper Swat scheme but will allow additional areas totalling about 25 000 ha to be brought under irrigation upstream of the confluence with PHLC. The combined system Tarbela–PHLC and Swat river–USC is a complex one that is aimed at optimising water use from the two different sources, which are in restricted supply at different times of the year. Accordingly the design philosophy of PHLC is different to all other major canals in Pakistan. The project included several novel principles of design, construction and operation, such as automatic downstream control, large parabolic canals and low-pressure pipelines for irrigation distribution. The main project comprises two tunnels totalling 6 km, two large inverted siphons, each over 3 m dia. and about 2 km long, 26 km of concrete-lined parabolic canal (the largest of its kind in the world) and reconstruction of the existing 45 km long Maira branch canal. Cross-regulation of main and branch canals is provided by 13 pairs of self-regulating float-operated gates. The rugged terrain necessitated about 40 cross-drainage structures in the form of culverts and super-passages. Also included was rehabilitation of the existing minor canal system covering 40 000 ha and the development of about 5000 ha of new irrigation based on a buried pipeline distribution network. Commissioning was delayed by difficult tunnelling conditions, and several design modifications were required in commissioning the canal control gates. The more unconventional facets of the project's design were initially met with scepticism by the engineering establishment, but have been mostly vindicated by the project's successful completion.

Swabi salinity control and reclamation project

At the beginning of the last century, in the tribal territory of India's North West Frontier Province, British engineers constructed the Upper Swat Canal system. The project comprised diversion works on the River Swat to provide 2400 cusec (68 m3/s) via a canal network to irrigate over 300 000 acres (121 400 ha) of fertile rainfed land. The civil engineering is bold and imaginative, incorporating tunnels, multi-span aqueducts in stone masonry, steel siphons under major river gorges and notch fall structures, all superb examples of the engineering excellence of that era. This paper describes the rehabilitation and upgrading of the system which was carried out by the Government of Pakistan between 1991 and 1999 under a US$162 million project, funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Swabi salinity control and reclamation project

At the beginning of the last century, in the tribal territory of India's North West Frontier Province, British engineers constructed the Upper Swat Canal system. The project comprised diversion works on the River Swat to provide 2400 cusec (68 m3/s) via a canal network to irrigate over 300 000 acres (121 400 ha) of fertile rainfed land. The civil engineering is bold and imaginative, incorporating tunnels, multi-span aqueducts in stone masonry, steel siphons under major river gorges and notch fall structures, all superb examples of the engineering excellence of that era. This paper describes the rehabilitation and upgrading of the system which was carried out by the Government of Pakistan between 1991 and 1999 under a US$162 million project, funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Quaternary Glacial Record in Swat Kohistan, West Pakistan

During three Pleistocene glaciations, large valley glaciers originating at altitudes of 12,000 ft or more occupied the northern part of the Swat River drainage basin and terminated at altitudes as low as 5800 ft. Discrimination and subdivision of the three principal drift sheets is based on various relative-age criteria, including moraine and terrace morphology, weathering characteristics of surface stones, and degree of soil development. The areal and altitudinal distribution of the three drifts, which are designated Laikot (oldest), Gabral, and Kalam, indicates a less extensive glacier cover during each successive glacial age (510 mi 2 , 473 mi 2 , and 430 mi 2 , respectively). Laikot Drift is poorly preserved, strongly weathered, and retains little or no depositional morphology. Moraines and outwash terraces built during the Gabral and Kalam advances are well preserved in two intermont valleys at Kalam and Utrot and permit subdivision of the two younger drifts into two and three units, respectively, of lesser stratigraphic rank. Moraines of Gabral age tend to be broad and smooth and have few surface stones, whereas those of Kalam age are bouldery and sharp-crested. The altitude of the equilibrium-line (ELA) for existing glaciers in Swat Kohistan ranges from 13,000 to 14,000 ft. Assuming accumulation-area ratios of 0.6 ± 0.1 for Pleistocene glaciers in this region, steady-state ELA9s during former glaciations are estimated to have been some 3000 to 3600 ft below their present levels.