J. B. Alam

Bio: J. B. Alam is an academic researcher from King Abdulaziz University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Data envelopment analysis & Crop yield. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 16 publications receiving 200 citations. Previous affiliations of J. B. Alam include Shahjalal University of Science and Technology & Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

Study on traffic noise level of sylhet by multiple regression analysis associated with health hazards

Abstract: study reports the level of traffic-induced noise pollution in Sylhet City. For this purpose noise levels have been measured at thirty-seven major locations of the city from 7 am to 11 pm during the working days. It was observed that at all the locations the level of noise remains far above the acceptable limit for all the time. The noise level on the main road near residential area, hospital area and educational area were above the recommended level (65dBA). It was found that the predictive equations are in 60-70% correlated with the measured noise level. The study suggests that vulnerable institutions like school and hospital should be located about 60m away from the roadside unless any special arrangement to alleviate sound is used.

Unplanned urbanization: Assessment through calculation of environmental degradation index

Abstract: Urbanization is an inevitable phenomena for the country like Bangladesh. The push and pull factors help to migrate people from rural area to urban area. As a result haphazard and unplanned urbanization create environmental degradation. Survey data reveals that inadequate solid waste disposal services, lack of adequate public water supply, traffic congestion, water logging, air pollution, noise pollution, hill cutting are the main problems in the city area. Concentration of dust as well as SOx, NOx exceeded the allowable limit at the selected points. Groundwater level of Sylhet city has a considerable lowering over the last few decades. It has lowered from 3380 mm below ground in 1982 to 7880 mm below ground. Sylhet is located in highly seismic risk zone but most of the buildings and other structures in this area are constructed without considering earthquake risk. Environmental degradation index was calculated based on economical condition of the country.

Energy demand and economic consequences of transport policy

Abstract: Transport sector is a major consumer of energy. Concern of energy scarcity and price fluctuations enhanced significance of transport sector in national planning. This paper analyses energy demand for transport services in Bangladesh for different policy scenarios. Aggregate transport demand model is integrated into Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning model to forecast consequences of transport policy on energy demand and economy. Demand for imported energy for transport sector is observed to increase from 1.7 million ton of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2005 to 11.8 Mtoe in 2030 for business-as-usual scenario. In increased fuel price scenario, cost of importing fuel for transport sector is projected to increase from 1.37 to more than 14.9 % of Gross Domestic Product during the same period. Country’s energy demand may be reduced by 2 and 4 Mtoe in 2030 by improvement of waterway and railway, respectively. Moreover, by using compressed natural gas in motor vehicles cost of importing fuel may be reduced by US $5 billion annually in 2030 and a further reduction of transport sector energy demand by 9 % can be achieved through eliminating subsidy on fuel.

Analysis of port authority efficiency using data envelopment analysis

Abstract: Port authorities (PAs) generate revenues by guiding, coordinating and exploiting their resources, facilities and infrastructure of their ports. In this article, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), we assess and analyze the efficiency of PAs in generating revenues. Despite the plethora of studies on port efficiency, there has been no study to focus on PAs and compare, in terms of efficiency, their revenue generation mechanism. For that purpose, we present two different modeling approaches: one that relates revenues to the basic throughput and activity of the port and another that takes into consideration land, infrastructure and labor indicators. For the implementation of this approach we use a sample set of international landlord, multi-activity ports. The analysis first discriminates between efficient and non-efficient ports and for the latter it identifies their benchmarks and provides target values for their revenues. Furthermore, in a post-DEA stage the article examines the relation between efficiency and the size of a port.

Adsorption of 2,4-D and carbofuran pesticides using fertilizer and steel industry wastes.

Abstract: The removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and carbofuran from aqueous solution was studied by using fertilizer industry waste (carbon slurry) and steel industry wastes (blast furnace slag, dust, and sludge) as adsorbents in batch. Adsorption was found to be in decreasing order: carbon slurry, blast furnace sludge, dust, and slag, respectively. Carbonaceous adsorbent prepared from carbon slurry exhibited the uptake capacity of 212 and 208 mg g−1 for 2,4-D and carbofuran, respectively at 25 °C and pH 7.5. Adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics were investigated as a function of initial pH, temperature, and pesticide concentrations. Equilibrium data fitted well to the Langmuir equilibrium model in the studied concentration range of 2,4-D and carbofuran at all the temperatures studied. Two simplified models, including pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, were used to test the adsorption kinetics. Adsorption of 2,4-D and carbofuran on carbon slurry at 25, 35, and 45 °C could be best fitted in the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Pore diffusion was confirmed as the essential rate-controlling step with the help of Bangham's equation.

Productivity Analysis in the Service Sector with Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract: Throughout the book, my colleagues and I have endeavored to address the DEA theory needed by the end-users, key model design issues, correct interpretation of DEA results, and advanced concepts of current research focused on further development of DEA. The examples are chosen from the service sector. Specifically represented areas are banking, education, property management, hospitality, tourism, health insurance, socially responsible investments, public transportation, pension funds, information technology, public hospitals, Olympics, telecommunications, public library, police stations, energy, retail, and research centers. Chapter titles follow the naming convention of providing the topic or purpose of the chapter first, followed by the listing of the industries or areas where illustrations have been set.

Cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies between 1995 and 2010.

Abstract: Belief is that chronic disease prevalence is rising in Bangladesh since death from them has increased. We reviewed published cardiovascular (CVD) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) studies between 1995 and 2010 and conducted a meta-analysis of disease prevalence. A systematic search of CVD and T2DM studies yielded 29 eligible studies (outcome: CVD only = 12, T2DM only = 9, both = 8). Hypertension (HTN) was the primary outcome of CVD studies. HTN and T2DM were defined with objective measures and standard cut-off values. We assessed the study quality based on sampling frame, sample size, and disease evaluation. Random effects models calculated pooled disease prevalence (95% confidence interval) in studies with general population samples (n = 22). The pooled HTN and T2DM prevalence were 13.7% (12.1%–15.3%) and 6.7% (4.9%–8.6%), respectively. Both diseases exhibited a secular trend by 5-year intervals between 1995 and 2010 (HTN = 11.0%, 12.8%, 15.3%, T2DM = 3.8%, 5.3%, 9.0%). HTN was higher in females (M vs. F: 12.8% vs.16.1%) but T2DM was higher in males (M vs. F: 7.0% vs. 6.2%) (non-significant). Both HTN and T2DM were higher in urban areas (urban vs. rural: 22.2% vs. 14.3% and 10.2% vs. 5.1% respectively) (non-significant). HTN was higher among elderly and among working professionals. Both HTN and T2DM were higher in ‘high- quality’ studies. There is evidence of a rising secular trend of HTN and T2DM prevalence in Bangladesh. Future research should focus on the evolving root causes, incidence, and prognosis of HTN and T2DM.

Rethinking sustainable urban development: towards an integrated planning and development process

Abstract: A city is the most dramatic manifestation of human activities on the environment. This human-dominated organism degrades natural habitats, simplifies species composition, disrupts hydrological systems and modifies energy flow and nutrient cycling. Sustainable urban development (SUD) is seen as a panacea to minimise these externalities caused by widespread human activities on the environment. The concept of SUD has been around over a considerably long time as the need to adopt environmentally sustainable behaviours made the international community commit to it. However, to date such development has not been achieved in large scales anywhere around the globe. This review paper aims to look at the SUD concept from the lens of planning and development integration to generate new insights and directions. The paper reports the outcome of the review of the literature on planning and development approaches—i.e. urban planning, ecological planning, urban development, SUD—and proposes a new process to support the efforts for achieving SUD—i.e. integrated urban planning and development process. The findings of this review paper highlight that adopting such holistic planning and development process generate a potential to further support the progress towards achieving sustainability agendas of our cities.