Isfahan is among the cities which has unique formal features in its physical structure.Despite the comprehensive and detailed plans prepared during the recent decades, the role of city scale in controlling and guiding the development of this city has been neglected.One of the most important reasons behind such negligence is the methods used for such planning. The suggested zoning plans, which are land-use based, were not able to use the features of the physical structure as a unique property of the city to improve the quality of the urban spaces. Thus, it is necessary to use a type of zoning which is based on historical and cultural features of the city and apply those qualities during the process of city planning.transect zoning is a new approach for city scaled zonings. It considers the components of physical structure of the city and decentralization in all aspects, which affect the formal structure of the city in urban planning. According to the above mentioned points, the goals of this study are to introduce zoning transect as a method for zoning lands and cities and to improve the transect zoning to be applied on some part of Isfahan in accordance with the local features and practical usage. The questions raised in this study are: What is transect zoning and what is the function of this method? How is it possible to make a transect zoning for Isfahan? The research method is descriptive-analytical. The results of this study show that features which describe the transect zones can be used for more efficient planning. Based on a formal point of view, these features can be used for changing the local features of the city.

Forest management and planning require a proper level of quantitative and qualitative information on forest stands. Such data is usually collected by means of different sampling methods e.g. transect method. This study aims at exploring the most appropriate sampling method for estimating basal area incorporating their on precision and cost in a case study of Dalab forests of Ilam province. To this aim, a representative area encompassing 37.2 hectares of forests was selected and surveyed by a 100% inventory. Three sampling methods (transect based on probability theory, transect with fixed 50 m length and transect with fixed number of 5 trees) were applied. Based on a regular random sampling pattern, 37 samples were selected for each sampling method in a 100 × 100m grid. The results showed significant difference between the measured basal area and those estimated by any of the three sampling methods. The E%2×T criteria was additionally applied for a better evaluation of the applied sampling methods.These cost and precision criteria turned out the transect method with fixed number of 5 trees to be the superior to other tested methods, which can be further suggested for estimation of basal area of trees in Dalab Forests of Ilam province.

Background and Objectives: Soil scientists have developed different mathematical equations and indices to be able to quantify soil development and to organize soil data. Soil properties will change during the soil development, which some changes can be made in the form of mathematical relationships as soil development indices. In this regard, soil morphological characteristics and laboratory data; have been considered by some researchers. Besides, attention to soil micromorphology as a method which can be associated with evidence relating to the sequence of pedogenic events and the processes which are not detectable by laboratory and field data, provided other developmental indices. The amount and distribution of extractable forms of iron in the soil profile are also indicated the stage and degree of soil development. The main objective of the present research was the comparison of different soil development indices (including forms and ratios of iron, magnetic susceptibility, color indices and modified Harden Index) related to different soils located on Kerman-Baft transect.Materials and methods: Eight pedons on different geomorphic surfaces were selected during field studies. All genetic horizons of selected pedons were sampled and were transported to the laboratory for physical and chemical tests as well as magnetic susceptibility studies. The magnetic susceptibility of prepared samples in both high (chfbulk) and low (clfbulk) frequencies was measured by a Bartington magnetometer in soil science laboratory of Isfahan University of Technology. Finally, the percentage of frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility (%cfd) was measured. In addition, undisturbed samples were taken from a number of horizons for soil micro morphological studies. The thin sections prepared for soil micro morphological studies were studied and interpreted based on Stoops guidline (2003) using a HP polarizing microscope.Results: Moving from Kerman toward Baft in the studied transect, due to increasing trend of elevation, more humidity was observed. That is why, pedogenic processes were also increased and iron forms and ratios showed this development trend regardless of local conditions. Due to effect of parent material lithology on soil minerogenic magnetic susceptibility, no significant relationship between this property and soil development indices was found. Correlation of various forms of Iron with three color indices of Harst, Torent and Alexunder showed that Harst Index was better than the other two indices for the study area. Moreover, since the parent materials of different pedons were not the same, the modified Harden Index was not adopted with soil development trend.Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between evolution and the age of the soil with various forms of iron, increasing the crystalline iron oxides from soil profile number 1 (dry climate) to soil profile number 8 (moist climate), represents a further evolution of soils.

transect theory and approach have recently turned into one of the fundamental principles of urban design and planning in the urbanization systems in Europe, the United States and more recently the middle-east, its main goal is reaching the sustainable development patterns in urban areas. A consensus regarding the operationalizability of this theory and approach for creating a sustainable urban form, explains the necessity of analyzing and surveying its generalizability to Iran urbanization system. The following article tries to shed light on this new theory and approach (transect) and to analyze and discuss its probable advances and weaknesses on controlling and guiding urban form through the typology of its lineage theories and approaches.findings of the research show that the transect model is, in fact, a type of linear cross-section which takes advantage of nature ecological principles to lead and control of urban areas based on the urban character. Also, by reviewing the literature of the subject toward the transect model and its background theories and approaches and to defy its similarities and differences; typology was performed based on 8 criteria: philosophical orientation; elements of concern; how to use ecology as a basic discipline of theory or approach; urban design and planning paradigms; purpose of employing cross-sections; type of considered order; considered elements of the place, extent of theory or approach. Analyzing this theoretical framework shows that the transect theory has a relative improvement based on all of the typological criteria except paradigms of urban design and planning and considered elements of the place. Therefore, theorizing or expanding the theory and approach of the transect is recommended in order to solve its shortcomings and weaknesses along with attending to all of the aspects of the place and synchronizing with the paradigm of evolution as the superior paradigm of urban design and planning.

Hyrcanian forests in northern slope of Alborz support high bird richness and abundance same as central of Europe. In this study, efficiency of different methods including fixed-width transect, variable-width transect, fixed-radius point count and variable circular plot samplings were compared in order to present the most reliable methods for surveying and monitoring of diurnal forest birds in forested Alborz mountains. Three 1 km long transects and fifteen fixed and variable radius points which located 250m far from each other along the transects was performed. Each transect and point was visited 3 times during august 2008. One-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the data. The results revealed significant differences of bird richness and abundance between the points and transects sampling methods (F3,104=9.85, P=0.00 and F3,104=57.35, P=0.00 for bird richness and abundance respectively). In contrast, no significant differences in richness and abundance between variables and fixed transects as well as between fixed-radius point count and variable circular plot samplings were found. Overall our results suggest transect method yielded greater bird richness and abundance than point count method, therefore, they can be more useful for preparation birds listing in forest ecosystems, but this also depends on habitat characteristics.

To determine a suitable method, based on precision and cost, of inventory in Western oak forests, a random-systematic sampling with circle shape (already used, in the region) as well as transect method (recommended method in these kinds of forests) were selected for comparison. Parameters evaluated were number per hectare, crown cover and basal area (suitable parameters for these forest types).Considering all the sampling factors, a grid of 100×100 m and plot areas of 2000m2 were determined for random-systematic sampling. Length of transect was determined as 50m in transect method.To compare the results of these two sampling methods with the real population statistical parameters, a 100% inventory was taken over a 37.03-hectare area while using both methods over the same area.The results show that the population mean was similar to those of samplings for all parameters, the means being within the range of confidence intervals. However in both sampling methods and in all cases, the inventory errors were greater than those at the acceptalbe level (10%).To compare the related costs, the total man-hour employed in each method was evaluated. Total time used in transect method was 714 minutes and in random-systematic method it was 3027.5 minutes.With respect to precision, random-systematic sampling with circle shape plots is of less error than transect method in all cases.To precisely evaluate the two methods, the product of E2 (Square of sampling error) times T (total inventory time) was used. This ceofficienct was less in transect method than in randome-systematic sampling with circle shape plots in all cases.

Energy and water availability were identified as the first order controls of evapotranspiration (ET) in ecohyrodrology. With a  ~1, 000 km precipitation gradient and distinct wet-dry climate, the North Australian Tropical transect (NATT) was well suited for evaluating how energy and water availabilities constrain water use by vegetation, but has not been done yet. In this study, we addressed this question using Budyko framework that quantifies the evapotranspiration as a function of energy-limited rate and precipitation. Path analysis was adopted to evaluate the dependencies of water and carbon fluxes on ecohydrological variables. Results showed that the major drivers of water and carbon fluxes varied between wet and dry savannas: down-welling solar radiation was the primary driver of the wet season ET in mesic savanna ecosystems, while soil water availability was the primary driver in inland dryland ecosystems. Vegetation can significantly regulate water and carbon fluxes of savanna ecosystems, as supported by the strong link of LAI with ET and GPP from path analysis. Vegetation structure (i.e. the tree: grass ratio) at each site can regulate the impact of climatic constraint on ET and GPP. Sites with a low tree: grass ratio had ET and GPP that exceeded sites with high a tree: grass ratio when the grassy understory was active. Identifying the relative importance of these climate drivers and vegetation structure on seasonal patterns of water use by these ecosystems will help us decide our priorities when improving the estimates of ET and GPP.

In different periods, urban form as substantial dimension of urban design has been core issue involving all urban designers with different approaches. The literature reviewing indicates that urban form can be treated with various approaches under positive or normative point of view. According to the issues involved in urban measurement, different point of views lead to explore three interrelated aspects of urban s tudy-the Measurement, Evaluation, and Representation of urban form. In addition there is a need to adopt a strategic approach in dealing with urban issues. Therefore, the paper considering with normative point of view put emphasis on urban form evaluation. In recent years, mos t recent innovation of new urbanism so called “ transect” has been a very common theory and approach in urban design and planning specifically in America and Europe, although it is being used in a limited way in the Middle East. The transect approach described in this paper is based on a publication known as the Lexicon, a multi-authored compendium of New Urbanis t definitions and codes. Urban design and planning seek to create an immersive environment. This type of environment can be created by specifying and arranging the elements which comprise that environment in a way that is true to locational character which seems to be intrinsic to the place. To be immersive in urban environments is identified with their level and intensity of urban character. There is no scrutiny of how urban form has been created in accordance with transect theory and transect approach is characterized while much more research has been done on transect theoretical framework. Therefore the paper presents an overview of transect as theory and approach, exploring how urban form can be evaluated in accordance with transect. In this regard, transect indices are identified by using three-s teps research methodology that is characterized in determination of “ dimensions” , “ components” and “ indices” . Principles of transect are categorized in “ substantial” and “ procedural” dimensions. This research uses “ ecology” as a basic discipline for interpretation of “ components” . In other words, “ ecology” has been a reliable criterion to extract indices. In this regard, basic concepts of ecology conceptualizing transect are recognized— “ ecosys tem” , “ community” , “ diversity” , “ succession” , and “ coevolution” . Afterwards, critical issues and concepts that have to be redefined in order to interpret of “ components” and “ indices” are determined by comparative comparison between transect and ecology as basic discipline. In addition, it’ s done to redefine basic concepts in macro level – scale and context – in transect in according to what they are meaning in ecology. Therefore, transect indices are extracted from these basic concepts as “ components” . They are as follows: “ juxtaposition” , “ locational sequence” , “ suitability between urban elements types and urban character of environment” that has been defined by “ number of types been found” and “ population of elements with specific type” , “ suitability between urban elements compared to each other” , “ diversity of transect zone types” , “ diversity of urban elements types” , “ climax” , “ transition” , and “ coevolution of urban elements” . Eventually the paper present a framework in order to quantify these indices according to relative abundance formula.