3D MODELING AND PRODUCTION SCHEDULING OF KHEWRA SALT MINES

In this study, AutoCAD based 3D Modelling of production scheduling, visualization of mining, and geological features in Khewra Salt Mines are showing. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), photogrammetry and GIS Softwares are used to generate 3D surface modelling of Khewra Salt Mining Area. Khewra Salt Mines is the oldest and largest mine of sub-continent in the Salt Range with huge salt reserves from industrial quality to piece grade. Being a state-of-the-art mine consisting of 17 levels, 70 chambers with hundreds of tunnels, a layman pattern of development and manual mining procedure is followed with handy-made planes and maps. Hundreds of levels and cross-section maps were unified to a single 3D Model, presenting all mining features like tunnels, chambers, levels, inclines, and geological deposition of different salt seams with their thickness and qualities, overburden, and surface feature. The quantity of salt excavated since the beginning of mining is calculated for corroboration, and the remaining amounts of different qualities of salt are determined from the model. 3D topographic Modelling can also be used for area, volume calculations, and planning of remedial actions for rainwater inundations inside the mine.

GEOLOGICAL AND PETROGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SORAP MASSIF GABBROS, RAS-KOH OPHIOLITE, BALOCHISTAN, WESTERN PAKISTAN

This study discussed the Sorap Massif which is the ophiolitic fragment composed of the upper mantle and lower crustal section of an ophiolitic sequence. An ophiolitic sequence in Sorap Massif consists of harzburgite, dunite, large distant units of serpentinized wehrlite intrusion and outcrop of confined layered gabbro covered by the Quaternary sand dunes. The basal part of gabbroic intrusion is in contact with mantle rocks and the upper part is juxtaposed with the Kuchakki Volcanic Group. On outcrop-level and in hand specimen, the gabbros exhibit needle-like ferromagnesian minerals including hornblende associated with plagioclase and pyroxene. Petrographically the gabbros are classified into norite, gabbro norite and gabbro. The mineral constituents of norite are plagioclase, orthopyroxene and amphibole, gabbro norite is consists of equal constituents of orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene, plagioclase and amphibole and the gabbro is composed of clinopyroxene, plagioclase and amphibole. The high constituents of minerals such as pyroxene, amphibole and low constituents of olivine in the Sorap gabbros indicates that these gabbros are formed by the immature part of the oceanic plate with dehydration of the oceanic plate subduction.

EVOLUTION OF KARAKORAM SEQUENCE, HUNZA VALLEY NE PAKISTAN: EVIDENCES FROM FIELD MAPPING AND MICRO-ANALYTICAL WORK

The Karakoram metamorphic Complex (KMC) in the southern Karakoram block is one of the best examples of Barrovian type metamorphism that comprises numerous exhumed metapelite units where a series of low to high grade (green schist to sillimanite facie) rocks are exposed. This sequence shows a complex polyphase history of metamorphism and deformation which offer deeper understanding of collision orogeny. Karakoram metamorphic Complex contains metapelites, meta-carbonates, meta-igneous and amphibolite layers, cross-cut by granite sheets in the northern part. This complex is bounded to the north by the Hunza plutonic unit which is the central portion of the massive east-west trending Karakoram axial batholith and to the southwest by the Main Karakoram thrust (MKT). In this contribution, we provide detail geological mapping, petrography, geochemistry and micro-analytical work using Electron Prob-micro analysis in the central Hunza Valley.

DAMMING HUNZA RIVER BY MASSIVE ATTABAD LANDSLIDE, STORY OF A RISK MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE FROM HUNZA, PAKISTAN

The mountainous region of northern Pakistan is seismically active as Indian plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian plate. Various geological phenomena are active due to the mountain building and landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters in the Karakoram range. The northern part of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, falling in this region is no exception to that. Attabad was a remote village situated on the right bank of Hunza River at a ground distance of almost 125 km from Gilgit city. The area falls into Darkut-Karakoram metamorphic complex composed of granites, granodiorite, and gneiss. A devastating landslide occurred on 4th January 2010, as mode of circular failure which blocked the Hunza River forming a lake behind. The debris material hit the opposite rock cliff, due to narrow gorge the landslide mass travelled downstream 1.5km with huge debris surges, hitting 8 houses in lower Attabad which came under rubble and 19 people died. Aga Khan Agency for Habitat previously FOCUS Pakistan developed an inventory of active landslides across the KKH in Hunza in 2000-2001, however this landslide was not identified. Later in 2002 after the Astore earthquake initial cracks developed at the top of the slope. The 8th October Kashmir earthquake destabilized and U-shaped demarcation appeared across the slope. Anthropogenic activities like irrigation of lands, seepage of water from rain and snow melt water further destabilized the land. Finally, an earthquake in November 2009 in Hindukush region triggered the landslide and brittle failure occurred on 4th January 2010.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AND VISUALIZATION OF PLANT CELLS

The mechanical properties (like sensory texture etc.) of plants/fruits directly depend on their microstructures. Therefore, it is very important to well understand the geometry and topology of cells in order to control the microstructure for better mechanical response. In this research, techniques of digital image processing and segmentation in conjunction with mathematical morphology models are used to visualize and analyze the 3D cells of potato. ImageJ and MATLAB are used throughout in this study. The labeled image stacks are essential for studying quantitative characterization of 3D cells, MATLAB is used to label each image stacks. By using MATLAB 12420 cells were segmented within a short period of time and labeled each cell uniquely.

A COMPARISON OF SERIAL AND PARALLEL SOLUTIONS OF TWO DIMENSIONAL HEAT CONDUCTION EQUATION

We study a comparison of serial and parallel solution of 2D-parabolic heat conduction equation using a Crank-Nicolson method with an Alternating Direction Implicit (ADI) scheme. The two-dimensional Heat equation is applied on a thin rectangular aluminum sheet. The forward difference formula is used for time and an averaged second order central difference formula for the derivatives in space to develop the Crank-Nicolson method. FORTRAN serial codes and parallel algorithms using OpenMP are used. Thomas tridigonal algorithm and parallel cyclic reduction methods are employed to solve the tridigonal matrix generated while solving heat equation. This paper emphasize on the run time of both algorithms and their difference. The results are compared and evaluated by creating GNU-plots (Command-line driven graphing utility).

OPTIMIZATION OF THE CROPPING PATTERN IN CENTRAL YASIN DISTRICT GHIZER, GILGIT-BALTISTAN

In this research study Linear Programming (LP) Model is applied to determine the maximum profit from the three major crops (wheat, maize and alfalfa) in Central Yasin District Ghizer, where agriculture is the main source of income, however, due to population growth the agricultural land is used to construct buildings, which has minimized the land for agricultural use. In such a challenging condition a method to suggest the cultivation of a maximum profitable crop is the need of time. Therefore, LP model is an appropriate method to decide the profitable crop and to maximize the profit. The study was conducted employing quantitative method of research, with the purpose to compare the maximum profit per annum from the major crops, and to determine the beneficial crop among the three major crops in Central Yasin. All the farmers of the study area who grow the crops were the target population of the study and samples from the target population were selected using random sampling technique. Data was collected by conducting survey in the study area, where self-made questionnaires were distributed among the samples individually and responses were noted on the spot. The raw data is organized and analyzed using Microsoft Excel for LP model formulation. The result showed that the average land used for the cultivation of wheat, maize and alfalfa in the study area is 0.924 acres, 0.664 acres and 0.75 acres respectively. Furthermore, results of the LP model showed that alfalfa is the optimal solution rather than wheat and maize, and it (alfalfa) gives an average annual net profit of Rs.195634.488.

REVIEW OF USE OF NANO MATERIAL IN MODIFYING THE PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE

Modern technologies have affected all fields of human activities. Traditionally nanotechnologies deal with material having a dimension in the range of one billionth of a meter or 100 Nano meter in size. It has been widely used in natural sciences and biomedical sciences in the fields like microbiology, medicine, electronic, chemical, and materials sciences. The application of nontechnology and Nano material in Civil Engineering is still under active research in the areas of Concrete Technology, Construction management, water purification systems, Properties of Concrete at early ages and use of modern polymers in producing High Performance Concrete (HPC). The use of Nano material to produce relatively sustainable concrete represents a promising area of research in Nano material. In this paper the State of the Art of application of Nanotechnologies to Civil Engineering and its future prospects with special reference to sustainability in construction.

ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION TRENDS IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN (GB), PAKISTAN

This article explores seasonal as well as annual trends of precipitation in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Pakistan over the period between 1980 and 2012. For the analysis of precipitation trends, non-parametric Mann-Kendall and Sen’s tests were applied. The assessment of precipitation data showed an annual increasing trend of precipitation in GB although this trend is not statistically significant. Seasonal analysis revealed least amount of precipitation occurs in the autumn season which is becoming drier. Trend analysis showed an increasing trend of precipitation in the other three seasons (winter, Spring and summer). The study revealed that the precipitation at Gupis is increasing significantly in winter, spring and summer seasons.

AN OVERALL VIEW ON GEMSTONE MINING IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN. PROBLEMS AND MITIGATIONS

Gilgit-Baltistan has tremendous amount of gemstone wealth and thousands of miners are busy to explore this wealth, but due to unscientific and crude mining methods this mineral wealth goes into waste in many ways, like fractures, damages and total destructions of gemstone due to ill blasting methods and lack of proper training. Gemstone mining is done in all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. According to a careful survey in July 2007, 32 types of Gemstones (Precious and Semiprecious) are found in GB, out of total production of gemstones produced in Pakistan 95% come from GB. According to this survey there are more than 2000 mines which produce different variety of gemstones and numbers of miners involved in this mining industry directly or indirectly are more than 25000. Due to these crude and unscientific mining methods, improper camps without hygienic facilities, lack of proper mining equipment, lack of basic health facilities and safety tools and lack of mining equipment repairing facilities at mining sites, number of problems are arising. These problems include damage to the fauna and flora in mining areas, damage to the eco system due to blasting and flow of people; mountains are becoming vulnerable due to improper mines development, glaciers melting due to use of thermal generators, spreading of human filth and waste like plastic and at last polluting of the water. This research is based on the mitigation of all these problems to some extent. The damage to the fauna and flora may be reduced by controlling spreading of human filth and waste, controlled blasting may be done by using modern blasting techniques, proper mines of international standard may be developed by in forcing the mining rules, use of thermal generators may be prohibited by developing small hydro projects at sites and at last pollution of water may be controlled by training people to adopt the cleanliness drives time to time and equipment repairing facilities at sites as well.