This dissertation investigates the need for a change in popular perception of what an institutional building should and could look and feel like. This is achieved through the exploration of ways to create a therapeutic environment that houses a sub-acute facility which provides operational after care for patients discharged from Louis Pasteur Private Hospital in the Pretoria CBD. As well as providing for certain functional requirements, the architectural exploration aims to enrich and encourage the healing process of patients within the city with a rich mixture of stimulating and therapeutic experiences and qualities. Through the exploration and incorporation of various theories, these aims are set as an end goal not only throughout the design process, but are also used to guide the technical development and solutions that are used within the finalization of the facility. With a constant concept of creating a space for healing within the city of Pretoria, a Centre for Healing is created which holds these ideals at the core of its existence. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Architecture / unrestricted

This dissertation explores Johannesburg's inner-city precinct of Joubert Park. It intends to bridge the gap between the everyday community of the park and the extraordinary heritage and memory of the site. Through a grassroots investigation of 1he existing community, the project looks to empower the everyday person and create a platform for their development, specifically focusing on economy and education in the city. The project makes use of the theories of spatial justice as a tool to analyse and understand the community's relationship with the space they occupy and the social environment in which they exist. Architecturally, the project seeks to use this socio-spatial understanding as a guideline of how to create a spatially just and empowering environment in the inner city. Additionally, looking to establish a model for the development of the existing inner-city fabric that begins to foster a relationship between building, street edge, andl pedestrian. Exploring not just the physical upliftment of the fabric, but the well-being and of the existing community and their needs, goals and aspirations. / Die verhandeling ondersoek die Johannesburg se middestad buurt van Joubertpark. Dit beoog om die gaping tussen die alledaagse gemeenskap van die Park en die buitengewone erfenis en geheue van die omgewing te oorbrug.Deur 'n voetsoolvlak ondersoek van die bestaande gemeenskap, is die projek se doel die bematigi111g van die alledaagse persoon en behels 'n platform vir die ontwikkeling daarvan,daar is n spesifike fokus op die ekonomie en onderwys in die stad. Die projek maak gebruik van die teoriee van ruimtelike geregtigheid as 'n 1instrument om te ontleed en te verstaan wat die gemeenskap se verhouding is met die ruimte wat hulle bewoon en die sosiale omgewing waarin hulle bestaan. Argitektonies, beoog die projek om hierdie sosio-ruimtelike begrip te gebruik as 'n riglyn om 'n ruimtelik net en bemagtigende omgewing te skep in die middestad. Daar word oak beoog om 'n model te vestig vir die ontwikkeling van die bestaande middestad konsepte om 'n verhouding te bevorder tussen die geboue, straat rand, en voetgangers. Ondersoek van nie net die fisiese opheffing van die struktuur nie, maar die welsyn van die bestaande gemeenskap en hul behoeftes, doelwitte en aspirasies. / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

In his thesis, Mother bird hovering over the city: space, spirituality and a community-based urban praxis, the promovendus adopted a trans-disciplinary, praxis-approach to consider participatory, critical and liberationist planning and city-building processes. His journey was about the soul of the city, embodied in its spaces and its people. It reflected on unfolding urban spaces, tracing dynamics in the Berea-Burgers Park neighbourhood of Tshwane’s inner city between 1993 and 2016. The narratives emerging from this neighbourhood was brought into conversation with a range of other narratives, hoping to discern and propose a vision for a community-based urban praxis. The journey originated from a deliberate option for the city’s most vulnerable people, hoping to contribute towards a city characterised by radical forms of inclusion, sustainability and justice. It recognised that space is not neutral and spatial constructs are shaped by deep value frameworks that are prejudiced, exclusive and oppressive, or equalising, inclusive, and life-affirming. What the promovendus sought to discern and outline was a spirituality that can infuse planning praxis and spatial thinking: making spaces that will mediate dignity, justice and well-being. Part I of the study considered a new epistemology, identity and methodology, expressed in the metaphor of “becoming like children”, requiring a new selfunderstanding for those involved in planning, city-building or place-making, but also amongst urban citizens and vulnerable urban dwellers: to reclaim their own voice and agency in processes of city-making. In Part II of the study, after describing and deconstructing urban spaces and discourses in a contextual-narrative way, a spirituality and ethic of urban space are developed. It argues for a radical shift from planning as bureaucracy and technocracy, to planning as immersed, participatory artistry: opening up to the “genius” or (S)pirit of space – the Mother bird – hovering over urban spaces, responsive to urban cries, of humans and earth alike, and inviting us to be co-constructors of new and surprising spaces, mending and making whole. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Town and Regional Planning / PhD / Unrestricted

<p>This paper discusses the issue of threats to National Park Service resources that originate outside the boundaries of the parks, with specific emphasis on protection of scenic resources. A model planning process for protection of scenic resources beyond park boundaries is developed and the Blue Ridge Parkway is examined as a case study. The opportunities and problems associated with the application of the model process to the Parkway are also examined and discussed.</p> / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis ecology was examined on the South African side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari, with the use of public questionnaires and field forms. Statistically significant differences were found between data that were collected by public respondents and the researcher when using the same questionnaire. Questionnaires are useful for gathering large amounts of data, but should be carefully structured to ensure the quality of the data. Feeding was the most common activity of springbok and the frequency thereof varied during the day and between seasons. Environmental conditions and seasonal changes affected the feeding behaviour of springbok in the southwestern Kalahari. Springbok fed in direct sunlight in the mornings and moved into the shade during the afternoon. More time was spent feeding in the shade during the warmer months than during the colder months, especially under northerly to northeasterly wind directions. Herd sizes were found to increase during the cold-dry season and decreased during the hot-wet season. Springbok and blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus taurinus displayed niche separation by competition avoidance. Springbok utilized natural licks. Night-time observations of springbok were made during different seasons and habitats on the South African side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in 2003. Nocturnal feeding behaviour was described in the context of other similar studies. Feeding times were highlighted, yet the role and importance of nocturnal feeding remains unclear. The nutritional content of some southwestern Kalahari food plant species were determined. The nutrients in the sampled plants showed a wider fluctuation range than plants in other regions. Phosphorus levels in the Kalahari were found to be low in general and calcium levels were higher than in other regions. Browse species contained higher crude protein levels than grass species. The nutritional value of the plants was lowest during the cold-dry season and highest during the hot-dry one. The nutritional status of springbok in the southwestern Kalahari was assessed by using faecal profiling. The faecal nutritional status for springbok populations in different habitats and seasons was examined. Faecal nutrient levels confirmed springbok as mixed feeders with a diet composition that was between that of true browsers and grazers. Faecal concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen were similar to that of springbok in other areas, but phosphorus intake was shown to be low, particularly during the cold-dry season. Phosphorus appears to be a limiting nutrient and may cause nutritional stress in springbok in the southwestern Kalahari during dry periods. / Dissertation (MSc (Botany))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Plant Science / unrestricted

Invasive alien species are considered the second greatest threat to global biodiversity after habitat loss. South Africa is not immune from such threats and it is estimated that 10 million ha (8.28%) of land has been invaded to some extent by invasive alien species. Although South Africa has been invaded by several taxa, it is the effect of invasive trees and shrubs that has been environmentally and economically most damaging. The concerns raised due to the effects of biological invasion are not only restricted to off-reserve areas, but also protected areas where invasive alien organisms often pose a greater threat than habitat loss. Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa’s flagship conservation area has been invaded by numerous plant taxa. The most damaging of these is Opuntia stricta (Cactaceae) and current sources estimate that the weed has invaded approximately 35 000 ha of conserved land, despite the initiation of a biological control programme against it. However, little is known about the effect of O. stricta on biodiversity in the KNP despite the large number of resources allocated to its eradication, including a successful biological control programme against it. In this study, I investigated the effect of O. stricta infestation on beetle (Order Coleoptera) and spider (Order Araneae) assemblages across four treatments of varying O. stricta infestation levels (heavy infestation, medium infestation, surrounded sites and pristine sites). Species characteristic of each treatment (indicator species) were identified using the indicator method. In addition, spiders were collected to gauge the effectiveness of three collecting methods (pitfall traps, leaf litter sifting and active searching) in a savanna characterized by O. stricta invasion. One hundred and thirty one spider species (1050 individuals) and 72 beetle species (2162 individuals) were collected in the treatments. I found no significant differences in species richness, species density and species assemblages for both beetles and spiders across the treatments. In addition, no beetle or spider species were found to be characteristic indicator species for a given treatment, which further indicates that arthropod assemblages are similar when compared across treatments. These results indicate that O. stricta does not appear to have a significant effect on beetle and spider assemblages at its current infestation level, possibly because of the similarity in vegetation structure across the treatments. Regarding spiders, different collecting methods captured different species and only 17% of the species were shared, indicating that the methods complement each other. Therefore, in order to sample the spider community, all three methods should be employed. Of the 131 spider species collected, 54 species (41%) are new records for the KNP. In light of the results, it is suggested that KNP’s successful biological control programme has played an important role in reducing the extent of the O. stricta infestation and should be continued to further mitigate the impacts of O. stricta. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

The diploma thesis is about Study of the city park using natural materials. In the literary search, natural materials are broken down according to their properties. Unburnt clay, straw and other materials are given more space in work than wood or stone, which are generally known as materials.The materials are thus analyzed both in terms of their characteristics and history, which clarifies the reason and philosophy of their use together in the context of the chapter on sustainable development and energy balance of material. The thesis also deals with the analysis of several existing buildings and objects in parks or gardens, where it was possible to evaluate the behavior of natural materials in practice. The core part of the study of the city park in Prague near the Ďáblice Observatory is supported by a number of analyzes and graphical outputs. The proposal focuses primarily on engaging the public in the creation of a park, whose idea is to literally grow out of itself. Natural materials such as clay, wood or straw are used as the main resources.

During the vegetation period of 2018, grass areas in the Koliště Municipal Park in Brno were monitored in order to verify the effect of the selected maintenance management on their condition. Two experimental habitats were selected in the park according to the type of maintenance, namely mulched grass and mowed with harvesting. The data and results show that mulching has a positive effect on grassland quality. The unsuitable height of mowing in the mowed grass was negatively affected by the appearance and health of the grass area.

Diploma thesis provides evaluation of applications of environmental aspects in road motor vehicle taxation and charging, with special focus on passenger cars and motorcycles, in the European Union countries. Thesis presents comparative analysis of taxes and charges system applied within the acquisition, ownership and motoring of passenger cars and motorcycles in individual European Union countries. Integral part of the thesis aims to analyse vehicle fleets of European Union countries, with an emphasis on their state, composition and age. Four proposals for adjusting the road tax in the Czech Republic based on the environmental aspect – carbon dioxide emissions – are presented following the previously made surveys.

In the Kruger National Park (KNP), pansteatitis in sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), was shown to be a serious problem in the inlets to large man-made lakes fed by rivers arising in the polluted catchments of the Olifants and Sabie rivers. An increasing prevalence of pansteatitis was recorded in catfish from the Olifants River gorge. A low prevalence was found in catfish upstream of the gorge at two further sites. No pansteatitis was detected in catfish from a rain-filled dam distant from the potential pollution sources affecting the Olifants River and in rivers arising outside of the park that were not dammed. Analysis of stomach content indicated a higher prevalence of fish in the diet of catfish affected by pansteatitis than in those not affected. Significant pathology in catfish was limited to changes associated with a generalised necrosis and inflammation of adipose tissues (pansteatitis), and there was evidence that lesions accumulated over time. Similar pathology was found in a captive population of catfish with known nutritional pansteatitis. Pathology in other organs that might have been attributed to pollution could not be demonstrated. Examination of blood smears and measurement of haematocrit, blood haemoglobin, serum vitamin E and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase values did not prove useful as monitoring tools, probably because of the episodic exposure to oxidative stress and the chronic nature of the condition. Pansteatitis-affected catfish, kept in an experimental pond for 11 months after the inciting nutritional cause had been removed, retained steatitis lesions almost unaltered. Whereas lipolysis appeared to be reduced by pansteatitis, adipogenesis appeared to be unaffected. Juvenile catfish confined in experimental tanks with sediments from sites where pansteatitis occurred remained healthy, and no pathology developed after 14 months, suggesting that sediments were not directly toxic. The results of the study present the first record of pansteatitis in both wild and farmed African sharptooth catfish and emphasize the ecological importance and complexity of nutritional oxidative stress in a disturbed aquatic environment. Nutrient entrapment and the consumption of phytoplankton-feeding fish rich in polyunsaturated fats, particularly silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes), a species alien to Africa but present in the Olifants River, is proposed as the dietary cause of the pansteatitis. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Paraclinical Sciences / unrestricted