Seagrass meadows offshore Ras Ghanada, as elsewhere, are an important component to the ecosystem providing numerous benefits to both aquatic and human life. This work focused on mapping the spatial and temporal distribution of seagrass meadows offshore Ras Ghanada using aerial photography acquired in 1996 and high-resolution satellite images captured in 2006 and 2012. The movements of sand shoals were also tracked, so as to further explain the dynamics of this ecosystem, as it is the area between the shoal crests that hosts the best developed seagrass meadows. The natural limiting factor for seagrass on the Ras Ghanada coastal shelf seems to be the fact that they cannot inhabit the (mobile) crests of the sand shoals, but rather, are restricted to the (more stable) sands of the shoal troughs. In the considered time period, both sand shoals and seagrass meadows migrated predominantly in a southeastern direction. The changes of seagrass that occurred in this study occurred on a fairly rapid timescale, in such that they were able to come back when there was disturbance as long as they had available habitat to move into. Furthermore, although seagrass cover declined by 3.4% from 1996 – 2012, there was a greater increase than decline in the areal coverage of seagrass post-Khalifa port construction in 2010. If sediments offshore Ras Ghanada can remain stable and the waters are not polluted by further construction, seagrasses should continue to thrive in the future.

There has been a good effort made in Abu Dhabi for the last couple of years between government stakeholders to develop a road safety strategy, define rules and responsibilities, and gain a fully coordinated and integrated framework to deal with road safety. According to my point of view, the challenges that might be seen as a problem for the future development of Abu Dhabi can be the management and the usage of traffic safety technologies to reduce serious road traffic accidents. This study focused on the relationship between the use of traffic safety technologies and serious road traffic accidents on Abu Dhabi Highways. The motivation for this research is to implement correctly the traffic safety technologies in Abu Dhabi highways as a part of the need to adopt plans, programmes, and preventive measures to reduce or prevent the occurrence of traffic accidents in order to ensure the safety of individuals and property, in addition to preserving the security of the state and its human and economic components. The overall approach to this study is a mixed methodology, which combines quantitative and qualitative methods. A questionnaire is one method used in this regard, and is designed to be quantitative. In the quantitative method, comparing statistics of fatalities and injuries before and after installation of the speed cameras is used. As a result of this study and by making the connectivity between reviewing the results and findings of the literature review, identifying the questionnaire results, and exploring the before and after statistics led to findings which were used to develop a decision support framework that can be used to advise the regional safety strategy to be sustainable. The design framework was also validated through Abu Dhabi highways by a panel of experts, which was carried out using the focus group method, which was qualitative in nature. It is recommended from this research to invest much in traffic safety technologies, focus more on driver support systems and rapid response systems, improve driver behaviour as a priority in Abu Dhabi highways using traffic safety technologies, and integrate the compatibility of all of the above through an integrated system and specific performance indicators that are measured and followed up on an ongoing basis, and supported by geographic information systems (GIS).

The United Arab Emirates is a new country that has had little time to accumulate a scientific heritage. Meteorologically researched and documented weather material for forecasters is virtually non-existent and that available is fragmented and anecdotal. The thesis tackles this problem by identifying weather phenomena significant to aviation in the Emirates and particularly at Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA). Mechanisms responsible for their development are described and applicable forecasting rules and principles are derived. Surface and upper air observation data at ADIA from 1983 to 2002 were analysed to identify the weather phenomena, their associated weather systems and for statistical analyses. When relevant, observation data at Al Ain was also used. Post-processed numerical weather prediction Global Forecast Service Eta model data are used and when and where possible radar and satellite imagery. A secondary aim is to provide information of the general seasonal climate. This was achieved by means of a literature study of the dominating weather systems and the presentation of surface and upper air mean circulation charts. Fog is the most important weather phenomenon and serious disrupter of aviation at ADIA throughout the year. It does not occur during Shamal conditions, but fog can form well inland on the edge of the Empty Quarter at the Liwa Oasis when the Shamal wind becomes light. Contrary to local belief, fog is unlikely to occur on two, or more, consecutive nights. The Shamal can last for several days and disrupt helicopter flights to the oil rigs, while anabatic and katabatic effects often make it gustier and stronger inland at Al Ain than ADIA. While dust storms occur in strong southerly winds off the desert, the Shamal can bring dust from further afield from the north as can the previously unreported Nashi wind. The sea breeze can extend about 150 km inland to Al Ain and the Liwa Oasis. Thunderstorms associated with winter upper air troughs from the west, are the main producers of rain, while occasional thunderstorms off the Hajar Mountains in the east bring some rain in summer. Tropical depressions are a rare event. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / PhD / Unrestricted

Gegenstand dieser Studie ist eine Gruppe von acht Felsgräbern und zwei Schaftgräbern im Zentralbereich von Dra’ Abu el-Naga (Central Dra’ Abu el-Naga, CDAN) auf der thebaischen Westseite. Die Errichtung dieser Anlagen geht auf die Zeit des ägyptischen Neuen Reichs zurück, doch wurden sie über viele Generationen nach der Bestattung der ursprünglichen Grabinhaber weiter benutzt. Die Einleitung (Chapter 1) skizziert den Rahmen der Untersuchung und umfasst drei Teile: Zunächst werden Hintergrundinformationen zur geographischen Lage und physischen Gestalt des Fundareals geliefert. Schließlich werden Verlauf und aktueller Stand der Forschungen in CDAN skizziert. In folgenden Hauptkapitel (Chapter 2) werden die vom ägyptische Ministry of State of Antiquities (MSA) in dem Areal durchgeführten Ausgrabungen behandelt. Durch die Konzentration auf die Analyse der vorkommenden Architekturelemente und deren Einordnung in die in CDAN vorkommenden Stiltypen konnten unserem Wissen. Im dritten Hauptteil (Chapter 3) setze ich mich mit den Überbleibseln und Spuren der antiken Bestattungsgebräuche auseinander, also in erster Linie mit Objektgruppen auseinander. Im Letztem Hauptteil (Chapter 4) Wiederbenutzung der Grabanlagen in späteren Perioden. Abschließen wird die Bedeutung der neu entdeckten Grabanlagen für den Gesamtkontext der Archäologie von CDAN beleuchtet. Dabei haben sich neue Erkenntnisse zu den spezifischen Verwendungen und Funktionen sowie Nachverwendungen monumentaler Bestattungen in CDAN ergeben – gerade auch dadurch, dass sich der Betrachtungszeitraum vom Neuen Reich bis zur Moderne erstreckte und so unser Blick für die vielfältigen Bezugnahmen und Entwicklungen geschärft wurde. Die vier Hauptkapitel werden durch einen Katalog der behandelten Objekte ergänzt. / In this thesis, a group of eight rock cut tombs and two shaft-tombs located in Central Dra’ Abu el-Naga (CDAN) at the West Bank of Luxor were studied. The construction of these tombs dates mainly to the period of the New Kingdom (NK, c. 1550-1070 BCE), but they continued to be in use for many generations after the death of the original tomb owners. The framework of this study, as sketched in Chapter 1, is characterized by three approaches: the first section is titled The geographical and geological nature of DAN. The overview of The history of excavation at CDAN Finally, the focus is on the history of research on the necropolis of CDAN. In Chapter 2, the excavations conducted in the area by the Egyptian Ministry of State of Antiquities (MSA) are described. I described and discussed the architectural elements of the newly excavated tombs. At the end, the architectural styles that prevailed in the CDAN were described, as a step in clarifying the development of the history of the area. In Chapter 3, deals with the relics and traces of ancient burial customs, especially with the objects like statues, pottery, coffins, shanties, funerary cones, and other funerary equipment, which came to light during the excavations in the area. Particular attention was given to their dating. The last section, Chapter 4, the frequent re-use of the tombs in later periods, as illustrated, e.g., by ceramics and other small finds. At the end, the significance of the newly discovered tombs is highlighted. Further insights into the specific usages and functions of monumental tombs in CDAN in general were gained, and to increase the understanding of the connections, interrelationships and developments, this started from NK and ended to very modern time. The four main chapters are followed by a catalogue of objects.

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This thesis aims at investigating the importance of effective implementation of health safety and hygiene legislations and practices in Health Care delivery systems. A new System Based Approach for Strategic Implementation of Occupational Health & Safety Practices is proposed in this thesis. The underlying principle of the approach is based on involvement and inputs from staff and management rather than by pre-specified requirements and objectives. Furthermore, the development process is a closed loop process that provides a mechanism for continuously evaluating system performance and monitoring activities that have considerable impact on health and safety practices. A case study was conducted in the medical laboratories of five major hospitals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Data were collected through questionnaires, staff interviews, and reviewing laboratory safety reports compiled over a three years period. The main conclusions from this study are: 1. The proposed approach has proven to be useful in analyzing existing health and safety systems. The methodology and tools proved to be instrumental in defining inefficiencies and determining the status of the Health & Safety policies & practices in the selected medical laboratories. 2. Effective implementation of the proposed approach has shown improvements in productivity, operational cost, service quality, staff and management satisfaction. 3. The case study has demonstrated that a developing country such the UAE, with no previously existing Health & Safety legislation and little risk prevention culture, can rapidly and effectively introduce effective industry specific H&S by adopting an integrated systems based approach. 4. UAE has highly advanced and economically developing base, there is a general willingness at senior level within the UAE to achieve high levels of competence and standards in all industrial sectors. 5. CAP is a system based management tool which has been implemented globally, but only limited in the gulf region; CAP has been implemented by the author and colleges within Zayed Military Hospital between 2003-2007.

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International terrorism is a relevant and acute issue to deal with for most states across the globe. The horrors and fear of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 in New York and Washington left governments with new priorities and challenges to cooperate and coordinate efforts to combat terrorism. Governments in Southeast Asia have been faced with the threat of terrorism for several decades, although it has increased during the last decade. This case study sets out to trace and analyze terrorism in Southeast Asia from a neo-realist perspective. The first research question deals with the fact that the region is being referred to as the “second front” on the war on terror, or as a “terrorist haven”. Further, by using a neo-realist framework, an analysis of the situation and the actions of governments in the region will be provided. Finally, according to neo-realist theory, regional cooperation is only peripheral to the actual struggles of power and balancing that states are involved in. Yet the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is arguably an actor in combating terrorism in the region. Therefore, one of the objectives is to analyze these initiatives and to provide reflections for further action.