Articles

GIS Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Locating Bank Branches

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In banking industry, optimum location of the bank branch plays an important role in ensuring the success of the bank.  It is one of the most important decision making processes.  This issue is highly important because of the vibrant competition, limited budgets and high customer expectations .This study’s objective is to provide a hybrid model for selecting optimal site location using available data sources and well accepted decision models, specifically Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Geographic Information System (GIS).The process identified the most commonly used criteria for bank branch location consideration through literature  review  yielding  demographics,  competition,  transportation,  access  to  public  facilities. Criteria and  sub-criteria  weights  were  quantified  through  pair-wise  comparison  using  expert  judges,  via  ANP.  The database created for the study area (Khartoum Locality) includes data about demographics, competition, transportation, access to public facilities available in the area.  With the help of Esri’s ArcGIS software through using the weighted overlay analysis tool we have identified suitable sites of new bank branches  .The results showed five optimal locations for new bank branch in Khartoum locality; location near Madani St, location close to Bashir Elnefedi St, location at  Firdous East Square 8, and two other sites in Khartoum West (Shajra Avenue).

For the conclusion, these results show the efficiency and applicability of the proposed integrated method.

Measurement of Background Ionizing Radiation in Kogi State, Nigeria

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Radiation is said to be energy that is in motion and manifests itself everywhere we look in the form of waves or particles which can either useful or dangerous. Since radiation has always existed in the environment since the earth’s origin, daily exposure to varied levels of ionizing radiation is inevitable for humans. Therefore, environmental radioactivity measurements are crucial for measuring the background radiation level caused by naturally occurring radioactive sources with terrestrial and cosmic origins because of these effects on living beings. The aim of this paper is to measure and record the background radiation of various locations evenly distributed across the twenty-one (21) local government areas of Kogi State and use the measured value to produce a reliable and easily accessible background radiation contour map for Kogi State using ArcGIS 10.3. Using a portable RDS-31 Multi-survey meter, the dose rate of background ionizing radiation (BIR) was measured in μSv/hr and the result shows that Ankpa LGA has the lowest mean readings of 0.096 μSv/hr and 0.1682 mSv/yr for the annual equivalent dose rates. Yagba East had the highest mean reading of 0.2300μSv/hr and highest annual equivalent dose rates of 0.4030mSv/yr. The result shows that eventhough the AEDE are greater than the 0.07mSv/yr global average value, however they are all below the ICRP’s recommended permitted limits of 1.00mSv/yr. This demonstrates that there are no immediate radiological health effects on the general people as a result of BIR exposure in the examined locations. It is recommended that the various human activities that raise BIR levels in the regions should be reduced and that activity concentrations of natural radionuclides and BIR levels in the state be periodically assessed.

Morphological Changes on Gungata River Watershed due to Anthropogenic Interferences, a part of the Upper Rihand Basin, Chhattisgarh

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The main aims of this research are to identify the morphological changes and development of the Gungata River watershed due to the rapid growth and effects of anthropogenic activities. The natural origin of rivers is sensitive to anthropogenic interference which causes a change in channel morphological characteristics. Human activities have revamped the river geomorphology and made limitless anthropogenic geomorphic features. These features have remarkable characteristics which have sometimes been misbalanced with landscapes produced by natural processes. Modern techniques like remote sensing and GIS were used to identification of morphological changes and their historical comparison etc. High-resolution satellite imagery (LISS-I 5m.), Digital Elevation Model (CARTO DEM 30m) were used to analyze the anthropogenic geomorphic features which provide different opportunities for a better understanding of landscape processes. This research paper has been shown how anthropogenic activities interference with the morphological changes of the Gungata river watershed.

Investigation of Groundwater Potential Using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) Techniques in Fakai Local Government of Kebbi State, Nigeria

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Groundwater is one of the most precious natural resource which supports human health, economic development and ecological diversity. Remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) Techniques have been effectively used for the investigation of the potentiality of groundwater resource in Fakai local government area. The dataset for this research work are Landsat 8 Operational land imager (OLI), ASTER DEM, Topographical map and Geological map from which the essential criteria were obtained. The study used Weighted Linear Combination approach which involves mathematical weighing and ranking of the criteria. Multi-criteria evaluation was carried out on all the criteria using the Weighted Linear Combination approach in ArcGIS 10.4. Spatial analysis was carried out on the derived result using the Suitability Index (SI) value created from pairwise comparison analysis. The suitability map for groundwater recharge in the study area was hence produced using the suitability index. The result shows four classes for the study area. The classes include highly suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable and least suitable. Thus, the area most suitable for groundwater are found most towards the northern part, around the center and some regions in the northern part of the study area this serves as an indicator that most of the study area has good potential for groundwater recharge.