Halil Akıncı

The geographic distribution of cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: Kastamonu, Turkey

The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of cases diagnosed with Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) with the help of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and to establish an epidemiological risk map. Data for 434 cases diagnosed with CCHF between 01.01.2004 and 31.12.2013 were subjected to statistical analysis SPSS 13.0 software. A digital map of Kastamonu was transferred onto ArcGIS 10.0 software in order to establish a risk map for CCHF. The highest cumulative incidence of CCHF is 41.29/10,000, and in people living at altitudes of 1001-1200 meters. ROC analysis of altitudes above sea level of residences with CCHF cases revealed an area under the curve of 74.5% (95% CI: 0.72-0.76, p<0.05). At a cut-off point of 836.5 meters, sensitivity was 0.74 and specificity 0.76. Cumulative incidence of CCHF was significantly positively correlated with number of animals per head (r=0.76) and area of agricultural land per head (r=0.59) (p<0.05). No significant correlation was determined between cumulative incidence and forested area percentages. This study reveals that both men and women living at more than 836.5 meters above sea level and working in agriculture and animal husbandry are at risk of CCHF between May and July. Detailed examination of the ecology of vector ticks is now needed in order to fully determine the epidemiology of the disease.

Designing a flood forecasting and inundation-mapping system integrated with spatial data infrastructures for Turkey

Turkey currently lacks a fully functional flood forecasting system (FFS). However, the studies necessary for establishing such a system are still being performed by the Turkish State Meteorological Service. The main purpose of this study was to determine the technical architecture of the FFS intended to be developed in Turkey and to design a flood forecasting and inundation-mapping system integrated with spatial data infrastructure (SDI). Because SDIs provide interoperability among the institutions by enabling collective use of data and services, this enables decision makers to take correct and rapid decisions regarding the forecasting. In the design of the system, the Web services architecture presented by the open geospatial consortium that develops international standards for SDI realizations was taken as a basis. Designed with flexibility and an expandable architecture, the system will enable instant access to up-to-date data from different institutions through Web services and meets the requirements of a real-time FFS. While the criteria requiring the expansion of the designed system were explained, its implementation was left for future studies.

3B Kent Modelleri İçin Yeni Bir Silüet Analizi Modülünün Geliştirilmesi

Uc boyutlu kent modelleri; arazi yuzeyleri, yerlesim bolgeleri, binalar, bitki ortusu, altyapi ve peyzaj ogeleri gibi kentsel alanlara ait nesneleri iceren dijital temsilleridir. Uc boyutlu kent modelleri, bilgisayar oyunlari ve egitim amacli kullanildigi gibi kentsel planlama, afet yonetimi, tesis yonetimi, lojistik, guvenlik, telekomunikasyon, konumsal servisler, gayrimenkul degerlendirmeleri gibi bircok farkli uygulamada sunum, uretim, analiz ve yonetim gorevlerinde de kullanilmaktadir. 3B konumsal analizlerden biri olan siluet analizi, kentsel alan duzenlemesi ve peyzaj planlamasi icin onemli analizlerdendir. Siluet analizleri, ozellikle kentsel alanlarda kent simgesi haline gelmis onemli binalarin siluetinin korunmasi icin kullanilmaktadir. Yaygin kullanilan Cografi Bilgi Sistemleri yazilimlarindan biri olan ArcGIS, sahip oldugu 3D Analyst modulunun sundugu fonksiyonlar sayesinde cesitli gorunurluk analizlerinin gerceklestirilmesine olanak saglamaktadir. Ancak, 3D Analyst modulunde binalarin siluet gorunumunu olusturacak bir fonksiyon bulunmamaktadir. Bu calismada, ArcGIS yazilimi icin Python programlama dili kullanilarak bir siluet analiz modulu gelistirilmis ve bu modulun kullanilacagi bir arac cubugu tasarlanmistir. Siluet analiz modulu, gozlem yapilan noktadan belirli bir gorus alaninda kalan binalarin siluet goruntusunu uretebilmekte ve ayni alanda yapilmasi dusunulen yeni binalarin siluete etkilerini tespit edebilmektedir. Ayrica siluet analiz modulunun kullanilmasi ile yeni yapilan binanin kent siluetini bozup bozmadigi belirlenebilmekte ve yeni binalarin maksimum yuksekligi ve kat adedi hesaplanabilmektedir. Boylelikle kentsel planlama surecinde ve imar planlarinin uygulanmasinda karsilasilan kentsel siluetin bozulmasi problemlerinin cozumune onemli katki saglanmistir.

Correction to: The use of hedonic pricing method to determine the parameters affecting residential real estate prices

The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained errors.

The use of hedonic pricing method to determine the parameters affecting residential real estate prices

Owning residential real estate is very important not only for satisfying the need for shelter—a fundamental human right—but also it is considered as a good investment. It is true that real estates are heterogeneous because of their various structural, positional characteristics, as well as their local conditions, all of which affect the value of real estates. These are among the reasons for undertaking studies to determine the degree of importance and the parameters affecting the value of residential real estate. By using one of the widely used methods, hedonic pricing method (HPM), this study seeks to determine the structural and environmental characteristics that are effective on residential real estate sale prices in Artvin city center. With the highest number of residential real estate sales in 2015, the Orta neighborhood, in the Central District of Artvin, was chosen as the study area. The relationship between 18 parameters were analyzed, on the basis of the actual sales value, acquired from the purchasers of 81 residential properties in this neighborhood and taking into account the structure of Artvin city. In this context, using the functional form of HPM, semi-logarithmic model was generated. When examining the model, it was determined that four out of the supposedly effective 18 parameters were statistically significant and they were able to explain 84% of the variations on price. Moreover, the parameters of floor area, age, distance to primary school, and distance to city center were effective on the sales prices in the semi-logarithmic model. In addition, the results revealed that the structural characteristics are more influential on real estate prices than the environmental and accessibility features within Orta neighborhood in Artvin.

Production of Landslide Susceptibility Map using Bayesian Probability Model

Artvin is one of the provinces in Turkey where landslides occur most frequently. There have been numerous landslides characterized as natural disaster recorded across the province. The areas sensitive to landslides across the province should be identified in order to ensure peoples safety, to take the necessary measures for reducing any devastating effects of landslides and to make the right decisions in respect to land use planning. In this study, the landslide susceptibility map of the Central district of Artvin was produced by using Bayesian probability model. Parameters including lithology, altitude, slope, aspect, plan and profile curvatures, soil depth, topographic wetness index, land cover, and proximity to the road and stream were used in landslide susceptibility analysis. The landslide susceptibility map produced in this study was validated using the receiver operating characteristics ROC based on area under curve AUC analysis. In addition, control landslide locations were used to validate the results of the landslide susceptibility map and the validation analysis resulted in 94.30% accuracy, a reliable outcome for this map that can be useful for general land use planning in Artvin.