Rabia Shabbir - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rabia Shabbir

Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, 2020

I Rabia Shabbir hereby state that my PhD thesis titled Dynamic Modeling of Urban Growth and Trans... more I Rabia Shabbir hereby state that my PhD thesis titled Dynamic Modeling of Urban Growth and Transport System in Selected Cities of Pakistan is my own work and has not been submitted previously by me for taking any degree from Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi or anywhere else in the country/world. At any time if my statement is found to be incorrect even after my Graduate the university has the right to withdraw my PhD degree.

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Transport and Vehicle Engineering, May 23, 2019

International Journal of Sustainable Water and Environmental Systems, 2015

Identification of previously existing traffic accident hotspots is the first step to ensure futur... more Identification of previously existing traffic accident hotspots is the first step to ensure future road safety. The present study focused on providing GIS based geostatistical surveillance for the Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) in Rawalpindi for five years (2009-2013) to determine the high risk areas or hotspots. For this purpose, spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I test), Standard Deviational Ellipse (SDE) and hotspot (Getis-Ord Gi*) analyses were performed on the data obtained from Punjab Emergency Service Department (Rescue 1122). Spatial clusters and hotspots identified during the research lied mostly in the Northern and Northeastern part of the study area encompassing both commercial and residential areas of the city with majority of accident hotspots being near schools, hospitals, airport and highways. The study proposed that serious steps should be taken to improve the road safety conditions in these areas and focus of Emergency Response Providers (ERPs) should be directed there...

Middle East Journal of Scientific Research

This research study analyses energy and environmental influences of three energy scenariosin thre... more This research study analyses energy and environmental influences of three energy scenariosin three different sectors of Pakistan.Coal-fired energy is majorly used in the industrial sector as well as for the power generation in Pakistan. The LEAP (Long Range Energy Alternative Planning System) model was used to estimate total coal energy demand and the fired-coal emissions for the base year 2010and extrapolated till 2030 for the future predictions. This paper focuses on the total coal consumption per sector and the emission factors COx, NOx, SO and CH gas in the corresponding industries. Solar energy and biodiesel are proposed as 2 4 alternatives to the coal energy in LEAP. Solar energy and biodiesel have potential of 2.3% and 1.9% respectively.The principal objective was to estimate the optimal energy source, which limits the future emissions. This study simulates the coal energy demand in order to find out economically viable energy mix with limited impact on environment.

During the recent decade, the anthropogenic activities have become dominating factor towards the ... more During the recent decade, the anthropogenic activities have become dominating factor towards the problem of climate variability and change. This climate variability has become the centre of many scientific studies. The objective of this paper was to investigate the total wheat yield during the time period of 1989-2009 and the overall impact of climate on the wheat yield in the provinces of Pakistan. The key meteorological variables that influenced the wheat yield were identified, the correlation and regression functions between climate relevant wheat yield and these variables were established. The correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between wheat yield and climatic variable and regression analysis revealed that high level of variance in wheat production could be explained by climatic parameters under study. The findings of the research suggested an intensification of research as well as the appropriate measures at raising wheat yields.

Climate in its spatial and temporal inconsistency is one of the chief causes for determining agri... more Climate in its spatial and temporal inconsistency is one of the chief causes for determining agricultural productivity in a region. Climatic impacts should be kept into mind while developing long term agricultural policies. This study aimed at investigating the change in rice production in Pakistan from 1989-2009 using the GIS techniques and the impacts of climate change on rice production. Pakistan is very rich in the production of rice and a lot of foreign exchange is earned through exporting rice. The results showed that rice production increased in Pakistan in all the four provinces of Pakistan. The highest percentage increase was observed in Punjab. However, when the country faced a drought after 2000, the production in KPK and Sindh was decreased which again attained its increasing level in the following years. The correlation of climatic variables with rice production variables indicated a significant relation and the regression analysis revealed that high level of variance in rice production could be explained by climatic parameters under study. This aspect could be linked with some other possible best options to increase the rice production to a higher level in order to ensure sustainable rice production.

Energy, 2010

... The level of the energy intensity depends on the energy efficiency of the vehicles such as ..... more ... The level of the energy intensity depends on the energy efficiency of the vehicles such as ... privatetransport means such as cars and motorcycles, a significant modal shift from private to ... model was run under alternative scenarios to obtain estimates of transport energy demand in ...

Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2022

Accelerated urbanization and haphazard expansion of cities results in infrastructure damages, det... more Accelerated urbanization and haphazard expansion of cities results in infrastructure damages, deterioration of agriculture land and water quality, and many microclimatic changes. The unparalleled growth in population put pressure on leap-frog development and uneven distribution of public facilities. The present study endeavored the urban land suitability map for urban services planning in Khushab and Mianwali district, Pakistan. The suitability assessment is carried out through geostatistical modeling and multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) including analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). Various influencing criteria, i.e., social considerations, utilities, physical existence of an area, and environmental aspects were considered including population density, proximity to educational institutes, medical services, and distances to water bodies and road networks, land use/land cover (LULC), and slope, elevation parameters for evaluating land suitability of targeted area of interest. The findings of the current investigation reveal that the core portion of the studied area are more suitable for providing urban amenities while the areas at peripheral side does not have adequate facilities for urban expansion. Moreover, peripheral sides are mostly occupied by mining areas; therefore, abandoned mines should be replaced by protected areas. The study not only facilities the provision of information on the existing urban land use patterns but also on suitability of land for the future urban establishments.

Land cover classification and change detection analysis of rawal watershed using remote sensing data

SpringerPlus, 2016

One of the detailed and useful ways to develop land use classification maps is use of geospatial ... more One of the detailed and useful ways to develop land use classification maps is use of geospatial techniques such as remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). It vastly improves the selection of areas designated as agricultural, industrial and/or urban sector of a region. In Islamabad city and its surroundings, change in land use has been observed and new developments (agriculture, commercial, industrial and urban) are emerging every day. Thus, the rationale of this study was to evaluate land use/cover changes in Islamabad from 1992 to 2012. Quantification of spatial and temporal dynamics of land use/cover changes was accomplished by using two satellite images, and classifying them via supervised classification algorithm and finally applying post-classification change detection technique in GIS. The increase was observed in agricultural area, built-up area and water body from 1992 to 2012. On the other hand forest and barren area followed a declining trend. The driving force behind this change was economic development, climate change and population growth. Rapid urbanization and deforestation resulted in a wide range of environmental impacts, including degraded habitat quality.

Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, 2016

This study provides an analysis of the soil, vegetation types and species distribution along Rawa... more This study provides an analysis of the soil, vegetation types and species distribution along Rawal Dam, Rawal Lake and its three tributaries (Bani Gala, Chattar and Bari Imam Streams and its tributaries), with a focus on the environmental factors that control species distribution. After identifying the study area's herbaceous vegetation and analyzing the soil's physical and chemical parameters, the variable data were connected into a relationship. TWINSPAN (Two Way Indicator Species Analysis) classified the herbaceous vegetation into seven different communities with which; the formulated groups in DCA (Deterended Correspondance Analysis) were coherent. CCA (Canonical Correspondance Analysis) produced the relationship of soil parameters such as pH, organic matter, Potassium, Manganese, Zinc, and Iron with the herbaceous vegetation. The most effectual and varied parameter was the Potassium and Manganese that was available among the heavy metals. Thus, this study analyzed the overall relationship among soil, vegetation and the species present at the selected site.

Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2013

Fungi, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium chrysoge... more Fungi, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium chrysogenum, resistant to heavy metals like Cr and Pb were isolated after screening soil samples from peri-urban agricultural areas. The objective of soil sample screening was to investigate the status of heavy metals and to identify the heavy metal-tolerant fungi. The results revealed that the majority of the isolates were resistant to Pb and Cr, and only few of them were able to grow. Among the isolated fungal strains, Aspergillus niger was the most tolerant against Pb, with MIC of 600 mg/l, and Aspergillus flavus against Cr, with MIC of 400 mg/l, which makes them attractive potential candidates as bioremediation agents.

Journal of King Saud University - Science, 2016

Abstract The vulnerability evaluation is always an initial step toward sustainable development. T... more Abstract The vulnerability evaluation is always an initial step toward sustainable development. Therefore, the regionalization of the assessment to rationally utilize and develop water resources and planning for the amelioration of the vulnerability status is very important and has practical significance. The present study was aimed to analyze the vulnerability status of the water resource system in Rawalpindi and Islamabad with the help of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) keeping in view the complex, integrated, comprehensive and hierarchical nature of vulnerability evaluation of water resources. The vulnerability index developed as a combination of climatic and socio-economic factors selected on the basis of their significance, relevance and scientific credibility. The water resources in both areas were found relatively vulnerable with the socio-economic factors enhancing the effect of climatic factors. The vulnerability of water resources is of special significance and needs a lot of attention of researchers and policy makers.

The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Science, 2015

Evaluation of watersheds and development of a management strategy require accurate measurement of... more Evaluation of watersheds and development of a management strategy require accurate measurement of the past and present land cover/land use parameters as changes observed in these parameters determine the hydrological and ecological processes taking place in a watershed. This study applied supervised classification-maximum likelihood algorithm in ERDAS imagine to detect land cover/land use changes observed in Simly watershed, Pakistan using multispectral satellite data obtained from Landsat 5 and SPOT 5 for the years 1992 and 2012 respectively. The watershed was classified into five major land cover/use classes viz. Agriculture, Bare soil/rocks, Settlements, Vegetation and Water. Resultant land cover/land use and overlay maps generated in ArcGIS 10 indicated a significant shift from Vegetation and Water cover to Agriculture, Bare soil/rock and Settlements cover, which shrank by 38.2% and 74.3% respectively. These land cover/use transformations posed a serious threat to watershed resources. Hence, proper management of the watershed is required or else these resources will soon be lost and no longer be able to play their role in socioeconomic development of the area.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2015

One of the features of medical geography that has made it so useful in health research is statist... more One of the features of medical geography that has made it so useful in health research is statistical spatial analysis, which enables the quantification and qualification of health events. The main objective of this research was to study the spatial distribution patterns of malaria in Rawalpindi district using spatial statistical techniques to identify the hot spots and the possible risk factor. Spatial statistical analyses were done in ArcGIS, and satellite images for land use classification were processed in ERDAS Imagine. Four hundred and fifty water samples were also collected from the study area to identify the presence or absence of any microbial contamination. The results of this study indicated that malaria incidence varied according to geographical location, with eco-climatic condition and showing significant positive spatial autocorrelation. Hotspots or location of clusters were identified using Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. Significant clustering of malaria incidence occurred in rural central part of the study area including Gujar Khan, Kaller Syedan, and some part of Kahuta and Rawalpindi Tehsil. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship of risk factors with the disease cases. Relationship of different land cover with the disease cases indicated that malaria was more related with agriculture, low vegetation, and water class. Temporal variation of malaria cases showed significant positive association with the meteorological variables including average monthly rainfall and temperature. The results of the study further suggested that water supply and sewage system and solid waste collection system needs a serious attention to prevent any outbreak in the study area.

Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2015

Water quality assessment has always been a dominant part of environmental quality management. The... more Water quality assessment has always been a dominant part of environmental quality management. The present study involved the suitability assessment and mapping of groundwater quality for agricultural activities and drinking purposes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad area. A total of 22 samples were collected from borewells and open wells, and these water samples were further analysed for physical and chemical characteristics on the basis of which different indices were developed. Water quality index was calculated for overall water quality quantification from the perspective of human consumption. The results showed that a greater proportion exhibited poor quality for drinking due to overexploitation of groundwater resource, agricultural impact and direct release of contaminants. Further, evaluation of groundwater for its suitability for irrigation showed that majority of the groundwater was suitable for irrigation purposes.

Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2015

Microorganisms play an important role in the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated wastewate... more Microorganisms play an important role in the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated wastewater and soil. In this research, isolation of heavy metal-resistant fungi was carried out from wastewater-treated soil samples of Hudiara drain, Lahore. The purpose of the present investigation was to observe fungal absorption behavior toward heavy metal. The optimum pH and temperature conditions for heavy metal removal were determined for highly tolerant isolates of Aspergillus spp. along with the initial metal concentration and contact time. Biosorption capacity of A. flavus and A. niger was checked against Cu(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The optimal pH was 8-9 for A. flavus and 4-5.4 for A. niger, whereas optimal temperature was 26 and 37 • C, respectively. Moreover, the biosorption capacity of A. flavus was 20.75-93.65 mg g −1 for Cu(II) with initial concentration 200-1400 ppm. On the other hand, biosorption capacity of A. niger for Pb(II) ranged from 3.25 to 172.25 mg g −1 with the same range of initial metal concentration. It was also found that equilibrium was maintained after maximum adsorption. The adsorption data were then fitted to Langmuir model with a coefficient of determination >0.90. The knowledge of the present study will be helpful for further research on the bioremediation of polluted soil.

Planning to come across the future electricity demand at household level is indispensable require... more Planning to come across the future electricity demand at household level is indispensable requirement for the scheduling the power system growth. The present study provided the framework of current and future electricity demand at rural and urban domestic level in Pakistan. Electricity demand in urban and rural areas was simulated by using data of 2010 which was taken as base year by using LEAP model. Projection up to next 30 years was calculated and results were compared for future demand. LEAP was run under three scenarios. Business-as-usual scenario was taken as reference and other two were renewable energy scenario; wind and solar energy, as alternative for electricity production. Pakistan has greater wind and solar energy potential for electricity generation. The results have repercussions with respect to future electricity demand and extension. Energy demand in 2010 was 25 thousand GWh which extrapolated up to 170,000 GWh in 2036 by using LEAP model. Conferring to the results ...

Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, 2020

I Rabia Shabbir hereby state that my PhD thesis titled Dynamic Modeling of Urban Growth and Trans... more I Rabia Shabbir hereby state that my PhD thesis titled Dynamic Modeling of Urban Growth and Transport System in Selected Cities of Pakistan is my own work and has not been submitted previously by me for taking any degree from Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi or anywhere else in the country/world. At any time if my statement is found to be incorrect even after my Graduate the university has the right to withdraw my PhD degree.

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Transport and Vehicle Engineering, May 23, 2019

International Journal of Sustainable Water and Environmental Systems, 2015

Identification of previously existing traffic accident hotspots is the first step to ensure futur... more Identification of previously existing traffic accident hotspots is the first step to ensure future road safety. The present study focused on providing GIS based geostatistical surveillance for the Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) in Rawalpindi for five years (2009-2013) to determine the high risk areas or hotspots. For this purpose, spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I test), Standard Deviational Ellipse (SDE) and hotspot (Getis-Ord Gi*) analyses were performed on the data obtained from Punjab Emergency Service Department (Rescue 1122). Spatial clusters and hotspots identified during the research lied mostly in the Northern and Northeastern part of the study area encompassing both commercial and residential areas of the city with majority of accident hotspots being near schools, hospitals, airport and highways. The study proposed that serious steps should be taken to improve the road safety conditions in these areas and focus of Emergency Response Providers (ERPs) should be directed there...

Middle East Journal of Scientific Research

This research study analyses energy and environmental influences of three energy scenariosin thre... more This research study analyses energy and environmental influences of three energy scenariosin three different sectors of Pakistan.Coal-fired energy is majorly used in the industrial sector as well as for the power generation in Pakistan. The LEAP (Long Range Energy Alternative Planning System) model was used to estimate total coal energy demand and the fired-coal emissions for the base year 2010and extrapolated till 2030 for the future predictions. This paper focuses on the total coal consumption per sector and the emission factors COx, NOx, SO and CH gas in the corresponding industries. Solar energy and biodiesel are proposed as 2 4 alternatives to the coal energy in LEAP. Solar energy and biodiesel have potential of 2.3% and 1.9% respectively.The principal objective was to estimate the optimal energy source, which limits the future emissions. This study simulates the coal energy demand in order to find out economically viable energy mix with limited impact on environment.

During the recent decade, the anthropogenic activities have become dominating factor towards the ... more During the recent decade, the anthropogenic activities have become dominating factor towards the problem of climate variability and change. This climate variability has become the centre of many scientific studies. The objective of this paper was to investigate the total wheat yield during the time period of 1989-2009 and the overall impact of climate on the wheat yield in the provinces of Pakistan. The key meteorological variables that influenced the wheat yield were identified, the correlation and regression functions between climate relevant wheat yield and these variables were established. The correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between wheat yield and climatic variable and regression analysis revealed that high level of variance in wheat production could be explained by climatic parameters under study. The findings of the research suggested an intensification of research as well as the appropriate measures at raising wheat yields.

Climate in its spatial and temporal inconsistency is one of the chief causes for determining agri... more Climate in its spatial and temporal inconsistency is one of the chief causes for determining agricultural productivity in a region. Climatic impacts should be kept into mind while developing long term agricultural policies. This study aimed at investigating the change in rice production in Pakistan from 1989-2009 using the GIS techniques and the impacts of climate change on rice production. Pakistan is very rich in the production of rice and a lot of foreign exchange is earned through exporting rice. The results showed that rice production increased in Pakistan in all the four provinces of Pakistan. The highest percentage increase was observed in Punjab. However, when the country faced a drought after 2000, the production in KPK and Sindh was decreased which again attained its increasing level in the following years. The correlation of climatic variables with rice production variables indicated a significant relation and the regression analysis revealed that high level of variance in rice production could be explained by climatic parameters under study. This aspect could be linked with some other possible best options to increase the rice production to a higher level in order to ensure sustainable rice production.

Energy, 2010

... The level of the energy intensity depends on the energy efficiency of the vehicles such as ..... more ... The level of the energy intensity depends on the energy efficiency of the vehicles such as ... privatetransport means such as cars and motorcycles, a significant modal shift from private to ... model was run under alternative scenarios to obtain estimates of transport energy demand in ...

Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2022

Accelerated urbanization and haphazard expansion of cities results in infrastructure damages, det... more Accelerated urbanization and haphazard expansion of cities results in infrastructure damages, deterioration of agriculture land and water quality, and many microclimatic changes. The unparalleled growth in population put pressure on leap-frog development and uneven distribution of public facilities. The present study endeavored the urban land suitability map for urban services planning in Khushab and Mianwali district, Pakistan. The suitability assessment is carried out through geostatistical modeling and multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) including analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). Various influencing criteria, i.e., social considerations, utilities, physical existence of an area, and environmental aspects were considered including population density, proximity to educational institutes, medical services, and distances to water bodies and road networks, land use/land cover (LULC), and slope, elevation parameters for evaluating land suitability of targeted area of interest. The findings of the current investigation reveal that the core portion of the studied area are more suitable for providing urban amenities while the areas at peripheral side does not have adequate facilities for urban expansion. Moreover, peripheral sides are mostly occupied by mining areas; therefore, abandoned mines should be replaced by protected areas. The study not only facilities the provision of information on the existing urban land use patterns but also on suitability of land for the future urban establishments.

Land cover classification and change detection analysis of rawal watershed using remote sensing data

SpringerPlus, 2016

One of the detailed and useful ways to develop land use classification maps is use of geospatial ... more One of the detailed and useful ways to develop land use classification maps is use of geospatial techniques such as remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). It vastly improves the selection of areas designated as agricultural, industrial and/or urban sector of a region. In Islamabad city and its surroundings, change in land use has been observed and new developments (agriculture, commercial, industrial and urban) are emerging every day. Thus, the rationale of this study was to evaluate land use/cover changes in Islamabad from 1992 to 2012. Quantification of spatial and temporal dynamics of land use/cover changes was accomplished by using two satellite images, and classifying them via supervised classification algorithm and finally applying post-classification change detection technique in GIS. The increase was observed in agricultural area, built-up area and water body from 1992 to 2012. On the other hand forest and barren area followed a declining trend. The driving force behind this change was economic development, climate change and population growth. Rapid urbanization and deforestation resulted in a wide range of environmental impacts, including degraded habitat quality.

Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, 2016

This study provides an analysis of the soil, vegetation types and species distribution along Rawa... more This study provides an analysis of the soil, vegetation types and species distribution along Rawal Dam, Rawal Lake and its three tributaries (Bani Gala, Chattar and Bari Imam Streams and its tributaries), with a focus on the environmental factors that control species distribution. After identifying the study area's herbaceous vegetation and analyzing the soil's physical and chemical parameters, the variable data were connected into a relationship. TWINSPAN (Two Way Indicator Species Analysis) classified the herbaceous vegetation into seven different communities with which; the formulated groups in DCA (Deterended Correspondance Analysis) were coherent. CCA (Canonical Correspondance Analysis) produced the relationship of soil parameters such as pH, organic matter, Potassium, Manganese, Zinc, and Iron with the herbaceous vegetation. The most effectual and varied parameter was the Potassium and Manganese that was available among the heavy metals. Thus, this study analyzed the overall relationship among soil, vegetation and the species present at the selected site.

Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2013

Fungi, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium chrysoge... more Fungi, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium chrysogenum, resistant to heavy metals like Cr and Pb were isolated after screening soil samples from peri-urban agricultural areas. The objective of soil sample screening was to investigate the status of heavy metals and to identify the heavy metal-tolerant fungi. The results revealed that the majority of the isolates were resistant to Pb and Cr, and only few of them were able to grow. Among the isolated fungal strains, Aspergillus niger was the most tolerant against Pb, with MIC of 600 mg/l, and Aspergillus flavus against Cr, with MIC of 400 mg/l, which makes them attractive potential candidates as bioremediation agents.

Journal of King Saud University - Science, 2016

Abstract The vulnerability evaluation is always an initial step toward sustainable development. T... more Abstract The vulnerability evaluation is always an initial step toward sustainable development. Therefore, the regionalization of the assessment to rationally utilize and develop water resources and planning for the amelioration of the vulnerability status is very important and has practical significance. The present study was aimed to analyze the vulnerability status of the water resource system in Rawalpindi and Islamabad with the help of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) keeping in view the complex, integrated, comprehensive and hierarchical nature of vulnerability evaluation of water resources. The vulnerability index developed as a combination of climatic and socio-economic factors selected on the basis of their significance, relevance and scientific credibility. The water resources in both areas were found relatively vulnerable with the socio-economic factors enhancing the effect of climatic factors. The vulnerability of water resources is of special significance and needs a lot of attention of researchers and policy makers.

The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Science, 2015

Evaluation of watersheds and development of a management strategy require accurate measurement of... more Evaluation of watersheds and development of a management strategy require accurate measurement of the past and present land cover/land use parameters as changes observed in these parameters determine the hydrological and ecological processes taking place in a watershed. This study applied supervised classification-maximum likelihood algorithm in ERDAS imagine to detect land cover/land use changes observed in Simly watershed, Pakistan using multispectral satellite data obtained from Landsat 5 and SPOT 5 for the years 1992 and 2012 respectively. The watershed was classified into five major land cover/use classes viz. Agriculture, Bare soil/rocks, Settlements, Vegetation and Water. Resultant land cover/land use and overlay maps generated in ArcGIS 10 indicated a significant shift from Vegetation and Water cover to Agriculture, Bare soil/rock and Settlements cover, which shrank by 38.2% and 74.3% respectively. These land cover/use transformations posed a serious threat to watershed resources. Hence, proper management of the watershed is required or else these resources will soon be lost and no longer be able to play their role in socioeconomic development of the area.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2015

One of the features of medical geography that has made it so useful in health research is statist... more One of the features of medical geography that has made it so useful in health research is statistical spatial analysis, which enables the quantification and qualification of health events. The main objective of this research was to study the spatial distribution patterns of malaria in Rawalpindi district using spatial statistical techniques to identify the hot spots and the possible risk factor. Spatial statistical analyses were done in ArcGIS, and satellite images for land use classification were processed in ERDAS Imagine. Four hundred and fifty water samples were also collected from the study area to identify the presence or absence of any microbial contamination. The results of this study indicated that malaria incidence varied according to geographical location, with eco-climatic condition and showing significant positive spatial autocorrelation. Hotspots or location of clusters were identified using Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. Significant clustering of malaria incidence occurred in rural central part of the study area including Gujar Khan, Kaller Syedan, and some part of Kahuta and Rawalpindi Tehsil. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship of risk factors with the disease cases. Relationship of different land cover with the disease cases indicated that malaria was more related with agriculture, low vegetation, and water class. Temporal variation of malaria cases showed significant positive association with the meteorological variables including average monthly rainfall and temperature. The results of the study further suggested that water supply and sewage system and solid waste collection system needs a serious attention to prevent any outbreak in the study area.

Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2015

Water quality assessment has always been a dominant part of environmental quality management. The... more Water quality assessment has always been a dominant part of environmental quality management. The present study involved the suitability assessment and mapping of groundwater quality for agricultural activities and drinking purposes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad area. A total of 22 samples were collected from borewells and open wells, and these water samples were further analysed for physical and chemical characteristics on the basis of which different indices were developed. Water quality index was calculated for overall water quality quantification from the perspective of human consumption. The results showed that a greater proportion exhibited poor quality for drinking due to overexploitation of groundwater resource, agricultural impact and direct release of contaminants. Further, evaluation of groundwater for its suitability for irrigation showed that majority of the groundwater was suitable for irrigation purposes.

Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2015

Microorganisms play an important role in the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated wastewate... more Microorganisms play an important role in the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated wastewater and soil. In this research, isolation of heavy metal-resistant fungi was carried out from wastewater-treated soil samples of Hudiara drain, Lahore. The purpose of the present investigation was to observe fungal absorption behavior toward heavy metal. The optimum pH and temperature conditions for heavy metal removal were determined for highly tolerant isolates of Aspergillus spp. along with the initial metal concentration and contact time. Biosorption capacity of A. flavus and A. niger was checked against Cu(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The optimal pH was 8-9 for A. flavus and 4-5.4 for A. niger, whereas optimal temperature was 26 and 37 • C, respectively. Moreover, the biosorption capacity of A. flavus was 20.75-93.65 mg g −1 for Cu(II) with initial concentration 200-1400 ppm. On the other hand, biosorption capacity of A. niger for Pb(II) ranged from 3.25 to 172.25 mg g −1 with the same range of initial metal concentration. It was also found that equilibrium was maintained after maximum adsorption. The adsorption data were then fitted to Langmuir model with a coefficient of determination >0.90. The knowledge of the present study will be helpful for further research on the bioremediation of polluted soil.

Planning to come across the future electricity demand at household level is indispensable require... more Planning to come across the future electricity demand at household level is indispensable requirement for the scheduling the power system growth. The present study provided the framework of current and future electricity demand at rural and urban domestic level in Pakistan. Electricity demand in urban and rural areas was simulated by using data of 2010 which was taken as base year by using LEAP model. Projection up to next 30 years was calculated and results were compared for future demand. LEAP was run under three scenarios. Business-as-usual scenario was taken as reference and other two were renewable energy scenario; wind and solar energy, as alternative for electricity production. Pakistan has greater wind and solar energy potential for electricity generation. The results have repercussions with respect to future electricity demand and extension. Energy demand in 2010 was 25 thousand GWh which extrapolated up to 170,000 GWh in 2036 by using LEAP model. Conferring to the results ...