[Environment] Chief Editor Iftikhar A. Raja comsats institute of Information Technology Abbottabad (Pakistan)

ABSTRACT

The urban areas experience more land surface temperature then the vegetation land and act as urban heat island. The measure of land surface temperature through remote sensing is an emerging and efficient technique. Multan city has become an important urbanized commercial and industrial centre in Pakistan. Increasing population, growing commercial and industrialization boosted up the urban construction. The vegetation cover has been changed to urban built-up area causing more thermal emission and heat waves. The land surface temperature and emissivity were calculated using different combinations of image indices from thermal infrared satellite imageries of thirty years for the whole city. Meteorological data of temperature, evapotranspiration and precipitation was also incorporated to find out the accurate variation in urban climate at Spatio-temporal scale. The local difference between the temperature of Multan City and that of surrounding rural areas was also examined. Object base land cover classifications were also applied on satellite Images of the area and city was sliced in different zones according to thermal emission categories from each land cover class. The results of multivariate analysis and time series analysis showed that the change in land use/ land cover of Multan City caused thermal modification in land surface temperature and also increased emissivity value significantly. There was increasing trend in urban temperature and variation in other climatic factors from that of rural areas. It was concluded that increase in the local temperature of the Multan City has caused consequent emergence of urban heat island. There were improper new construction practices in urban areas with the negligence to maintain green belts and vegetation in city area with high density population.

EUE-08

CHANGES IN NATURAL DRAINAGE PATTERN OF KARACHI DISTRICT-A GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS

Sumaira Zafar¹ and Arjumand Z. Zaidi<sup>2

1</sup>Department of Remote Sensing and Geo-information Science

²Institute of Space Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

[e-mail], [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Karachi district used to have an impressive natural drainage network comprising three (3) main river systems and their tributaries. These natural streams were used to drain out the storm water of the city without any difficulty. The scenario has been changed in the recent past years due to an over exploitation of floodplains and riverbeds for other uses. Small streams and nalas have been abandoned due to the development of settlements, industries and agricultural fields. Some of the streams and nalas have vanished and some are encroached by different landuses. Since these streams are now part of urban settlements, their quality has also been deteriorated and, at present, these are serving as wastewater drains. This paper examines the effects of urbanization on hydrologic characteristics of 31 streams located within the boundary of Karachi district. Topographic maps (scale of 1:50,000) of 1970s, developed by Survey of Pakistan, are used to identify the natural water channels’ width and extent. Few scenes of Orbview (1 meter resolution) from Google Earth and Landsat satellite images (15 and 30 meter resolution) are used to identify the major landcovers of the study area. Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the study area is used to identify the existing streams that become active in the rainy seasons. Results of this study show that majority of these streams have been filled with silts and stream beds and floodplains are being used for other activities.
EUE-11

IMPACTS OF URBAN ENVIRONMEENTAL POLLUTION ON LAHORE FORT, PUNJAB PAKISTAN
Rizwana Anjum, Haider Ali*

The Urban Unit, Urban Sector, Planning and Management Services Unit (USPMSU) (Pvt) Ltd.

5th Floor, Office No.3, Shaheen Complex,Egerton Road, Lahore, PAKISTAN

[e-mail]
ABSTRACT

A preliminary investigation of materials, used by Mughals in the Lahore Fort, and their degradation due to environmental agents has been carried out. The stones used have been petro-graphically characterized. Yellow marble or `Khattu is a fossiliferous limestone classified as wackestone/biomicrite. Scientifically speaking all the stones are not marbles. Sang-e-marmar is a true white marble while red sandstone is a quartz-Hematite cemented quartz arenite. The mortar is a variable admixture of calcite and sand with subordinate amounts of gypsum, clay, micas and accessories. Nitrates found in black crusts are due to the action of NO_x on Mortars, limestone and marble. The black crusts also contain gypsum which formed due to the action of SO_x on marble/limestone. Human vandalism, growth of plants and lichens on fort structures and activities of birds are also responsible for deterioration of Lahore Fort. Control of human vandalism, reduction of air pollution and water seepage control are proposed as remedial measures. Repair and restoration of the structures of the Lahore Fort in accordance with original formulae and contemporary conservation methods can help prolong the life of the structures of the Lahore Fort.

EUE-12

MICROSIMULATION OF URBAN TRAFFIC FLOW- A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY ROAD PESHAWAR
Maryam Akbar*, Rawid Khan*, Syed Akhtar Ali Shah**

*Department of Civil Engineering, university of Engineering and Technology Peshawar,

** Department of Urban Planning, University of Peshawar

[e-mail]
ABSTRACT

Traffic cramming is a serious problem in urban areas of Pakistan particularly in Peshawar. A pilot scale survey was performed regarding traffic volume and travel time data, vehicle specifications and geometry of the study area and analysis were performed that can be applied to the remaining section of the University road. Calibration and validation of model was done by comparing the field results of traffic volume and travel time with results obtained from the micro simulation. After analysis for queue delays, travel time and traffic flow versus travel time data for different traffic scenarios, maximum queue lengths and queue stops were observed near U-turning and Right-turning locations. At selected section, the average speed was found considerably lower than the design. An option of roundabout and a flyover were used in analysis. Queue delays travel time reduce near U-turns and all the right turning locations of study area with provision of roundabout or flyover. With provision of flyover, results for traffic flow and delay were improved.

Marine Environment and Coastal Management

Disaster Management and Environmental Risk

FCE-01

STATUS OF GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas) CONSERVATION IN PAKISTAN
Hafsa Bashir¹, Amber Khan², Asma Jabeen*

Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima

Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
ABSTRACT

This study aims to provide information about status of conservation of green sea turtle and education activities carried out in Pakistan. In Pakistan the sandy beaches of Sindh and Blochistan are important nesting sites for sea turtles. There are two ongoing conservation projects conducted independently by the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD), Ministry of Forest and Wildlife, Govt. of Sindh, and the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Pakistan. The conservation projects focuses on the protection of nesting beaches, elimination of predators, transplantation of nests from open beach to protected enclosures, release of hatchlings, tagging of turtles and reducing the threats. Education and public awareness are made the necessary part of conservation projects. But still there are many things that are needed to be considering in achieving the positive results of conservation efforts.

FCE-02

CHLORPYRIFOS INDUCED BEHAVIORAL AND IMMUNO-HEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES IN COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO)
Ayesha Munir, Imran Hashmi*

Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), SCEE,

National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

[e-mail], [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Environmental pollution caused by pesticides, especially in aquatic ecosystems is a serious problem throughout the world. These contaminants enter into aquatic environment through agriculture runoff and irrigation water subsequently deteriorates water quality. Fish are ideal sentinels largely used as bioindicators for detecting and documenting aquatic pollutants. The fish used as biological model in this study was common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Behavioral and hematological changes were studied in the experimental period. Water quality parameters in experimental tanks were: temperature (25 ± 2°C), pH (7.5 ± 0.4), dissolved oxygen (8.6±0.8 mg/L) and total hardness (234 ± 3 mg as CaCO3/L). Acute toxicity of CPF investigated in semi static tanks for 24, 48, 72 and 96h was 1.53, 1.16, 0.90, and 0.67 μg/L, respectively. Fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations (134, 13.4, 1.34 μg/L) of CPF for 7 d. The exposure of common carp to CPF resulted in rapid gulping of water, loss of equilibrium, increased operculum movement, sudden and erratic swimming movement. Hematological profile showed significant decrease in immunity of fish. Percentage reduction in the phagocytic activity of fish exposed to 1.34, 13.4, 134 μg/L of chlorpyrifos was 24, 52 and 70%, respectively. This study may be used to monitor pollution in aquatic environments.

FCE-03

Extraction of Seaweed Resources along Karachi coast using geospatial Techniques
Muhammad Danish Siddiqui¹, Arjumand Z. Zaidi², Muhammad Abdullah³, Amjad Ali⁴, Pirzada Jamal A. Siddiqui⁵
Department of Remote Sensing and Geo-information Science

Institute of Space Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

Center of Excellence Marine Biology Karachi University

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to map seaweed in the coastal waters of Karachi. Satellite images of Landsat 8 were used for mapping and analyzing seaweed growth along study area. Different band ratios such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Floating Algae Index (FAI) and NIR/SWIR derived from spectral signatures have been used for analysis and mapping of seaweed patches. Image processing results have been compared with ground data for accuracy assessment. The results of the study indicated that near infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands ratio (NIR/SWIR) has identified the field verified seaweeds patches more precisely as compared to FAI and NDVI.

Natural Resource Management

GFM-01

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN FOREST RESORUCE MANAGEMENT OF PAKISTAN
Hafsa Bashir*, Asma Jabeen¹

Department of Environmental Sciences,

Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

[e-mail]*, [e-mail]¹

ABSTRACT

The forest area of Pakistan is 4.6 million hectares (Mha) of the total land area of Pakistan which among which 1.96 Mha of the hill coniferous forests, 1.72 million ha scrub or foot hill forests, 0.234 million ha irrigated plantation, 0.297 million ha riverian, 0.35 million ha mangroves in Indus delta. Due to environmental stresses, the forested area of Pakistan had declined to 2.9%. Pakistan is among those countries whose forested area is declining rapidly. Illegal cutting by timber mafia, for livelihood, urbanization and for basic needs are major causes of deforestation. Educating indigenous community, providing incentives to local people, applying cultural and spiritual rituals, promoting ecotourism, educating and involving females in management practices and provision of alternating fuel resources would decrease the rate of deforestation in Pakistan.

GFM-02

CONSERVATION STATUS OF MUSK DEER (MOSCHUSCHRYSOGASTER) IN PAKISTAN
Sana Ghaffar¹, Hafsa Bashir², AsmaJabeen*

Department of Environmental Sciences,

Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

[e-mail]¹, [e-mail]² [e-mail]*

ABSTRACT

Pakistan geographic location, climate conditions and resource availability accounts positive credit that make this area rich with biodiversity. Many species migrate towards Pakistan in search of food, shelter and protection. Musk deer is one of those species that like to stay in Himalay region, native species of sub-alpine scrub and coniferous tress area including Machira, Neelum valley of AJK, Indus Kohistan, Chitral, Astore, Chilas, and Gilgit. The specie was declared endangered and was listed under Appendix I of CITES. The population of Himalyian musk deer is declining due to its illegal hunting, hunting for musk pods, habitat degradation. The population of musk deer’s was assessed by using camera, e-tagging and by counting. In 1998-1999 population of musk deer was recorded 2-3 animal’s km^-2 which was decreased in 2004 and species reached to 35. Conservation efforts in 2006 increased musk population to 64 in Machiara. Conservation efforts include formation of Salkhala Wildlife Sanctuary (AJ&K),Drosh ,machiara National Park, AJ&K. Projects by Rufford Small Grants Foundationlaunch awareness campaign as well as count habitat and population distribution of the specie. The paper will be helpful in determining the conservation status of Musk deer in Pakistan and will help in devising better conservation for preventing the extinction of musk deer species.

GWQ-03

EFFECT OF HEAVY METALS FROM TANNERY EFFLUENT ON THE GROUNDWATER USING MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN
Ikhtiar Khan*, Muhammad Ateeq* Rakhshan Khurshid **, Asma Shaheen***

*Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

**Department of Biochemistry, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan

*** Department of Earth Science, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]