2017) A GIS-based approach for earthquake loss estimation based on the immediate extraction of damaged buildings, Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 8:2, 772-791, ABSTRACTWith the remote sensing technology is possible to predict estimations of the expected number of killed or injured people. In this study, a loss estimation method is proposed by combining data from remote sensing technology and geographic information system (GIS). For the image processing, we assume the damage area with a rougher texture when compared with undamaged areas. Extracted textures were later considered as the decision-making basis for the building damage level determination. We prepared the GIS database with information on the land use, structural material and building occupancy. Considering the influence of time in the building occupancy, two periods were considered (activity and inactivity) for each land use. The model estimates casualties based on the population residing in each building and according to the time of the earthquake, structure material of each building and destruction percentage. The approach was tested on Ahar and Varzaghan cities of Iran using 0.5 m resolution pan-sharpened Geo-Eye 1 imagery. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) for the number of injured and killed people was determined, considering field teams' data and predicted data. RMSE for injured population was estimated in 0.040 and RMSE for fatal casualties was estimated in 0.025. KEYWORDSHigh spatial resolution satellite image; texture; fuzzy inference system; GENIE algorithm; casualty estimation model CONTACT Hamid Reza Ranjbar

This study analyzes and investigates the impact of traffic noise on high rise buildings and surrounding areas by the side of Hemmat Highway that links west of Tehran to the east. In this study, a 3D traffic noise simulation model is applied on a GIS system. Visualized noise levels are formulated by the proposed model for noise mapping on all surfaces of the buildings and surrounding ground in a 3D platform. The investigation shows that there is a high traffic noise impact on the foreground and front facades of buildings, rendering these areas unsuitable for residential purposes. The ground area by the sides of buildings and the building side panels receive a lower noise impact. Most of these areas are still not acceptable for residential and even commercial use, only the back yards and back panels, have the lowest traffic noise impact. It also shows that the building height is not an effective factor for reducing motorway noise on the upper part of the building. Finally, construction cantilever barriers with a height of seven meters, close to the outer edge of the highway was presented as an effective way to reduce noise within the allowable range of noise pollution for commercial and residential purposes.

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