The relationship between industry and the city is a damaged one. However, with its existing mix of residents, industry and commerce (albeit segregated from one-another) Pretoria West holds the potential for a unique relationship between industry and the citizens of Pretoria. Only by understanding the role that these industries play within the greater context of the city can the rich character and culture of a place be ampli ed and solidi ed in a development plan. Catalyzed by its heritage, development becomes a manifestation of the character of place that will attract further growth and simultaneously embrace the existing stakeholders. e existing industrial built-environment is often misshapen and illegible and whilst it is di cult to organize (and navigate) the seemingly disorganized site, it is possible to resolve; through understanding historic boundaries and development patterns that can be utilized as organizational grids. In this case historic erf divisions and consolidations can be utilized as an organizational tool at a large scale and should serve as a guide to where future structures should be erected in order to maintain a legible built environment. When designing future additions, understanding the historic expansion of these industrial buildings holds the key to a harmonious relationship between old and new. With minimal architectural intent these buildings supply little for the architect to grapple onto, but with material spans and structural repetition forming the underlying ordering principle; it is possible to create a logical and ordered extension of the past. / Die verhouding tussen industrie en die stad is beskadig en as gevolg word industrië stelselmatig verwyder van die stad. Die mengsel tussen inwoners, industrie en handel in Pretoria Wes (albeit geissoleer van mekaar) gun egter die potensiaal tot ‘n unieke verbandskap tussen industrie en die inwoners van Pretoria. Slegs deur die rol te erken wat die industrië speel ten opsigte van die stad se groter konteks, kan die karakter en kultuur van so ‘n omgewing versterk en vasgevang word in ‘n ontwikkelings plan. Erfenis dien as katalisator vir ontwikkeling van die karakter van plek wat in beurt verdere nansiële groei sal aanhits. Die bestaande industriële bou-omgewing is misvorm en onvoorspelbaar. Alhoewel so ‘n omgewing nie aan die individie toeleen om weg te vind of organiseer nie, is dit moontlik deur die ontginning van historiese grense en ontwikkelings patrone wat kan dien as organiseerings mates. Historiese erf indelings en konsolodasies kan gebruik word om te dien as ‘n gids vir toekomstige toevoegings, om sodoende die nuwe argitektuur uit die bestaande te laat vloei. Die resultaat is ‘n leesbare en geordende bou-omgewing. Die ontwerp van die nuwe verbeelding steun op die morfologie van die bestaande omgewing om ‘n harmoniese verhouding tussen oud en nuut te skep. Materiale se span afstande neem die rol van die onderliggende orde stelsels aan as gevolg van die gebrek aan aansienlike argitektoniese bedoelings in die bestaande omgewing. Sodoende is ‘n leesbare en logiese uitbreiding van die verlede en na die toekoms moontlik in ‘n omgewing wat ontstaan het sonder ontwerp vir ervaring van mense. / Mini Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

In diesem Beitrag wird das Korridorverfahren im vertikalen Finanzausgleich der Länder hinsichtlich seiner impliziten Eigenschaften analysiert. Ausgegangen wird hierbei von einer asymmetrischen Informationsstruktur, bei der die Kosten der Bereitstellung lokaler öffentlicher Güter nicht allgemein bekannt sind, ebenso wenig wie deren Umfang, Qualität und Struktur. Zwar setzt das Korridorverfahren die Kenntnis dieser Informationen seitens des Landes nicht voraus, es kann jedoch gezeigt werden, dass dieser vermeintliche Vorteil stets mit einer Reduktion des Erwartungswerts der Korridorverteilung unter das statistische Mittel der realen kommunalen Budgetdefizite erkauft wird, was auch für den Vergleich der entsprechenden Wachstumsraten gilt. Dazu nehmen wir eine Formalisierung des Korridorverfahrens vor, das in der Folge als generalisierte Verteilung einer transformierten Zufallsvariable interpretiert und in spezifische Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilungen implementiert wird, was wiederum die exakte Bestimmung seiner charakteristischen Maße erlaubt. Als eine wesentliche Implikation der deduzierten Resultate ist zu konstatieren, dass das Korridorverfahren entgegen der Intention als Maß zur Bestimmung „der angemessenen Finanzausstattung“ der Kommunen im vertikalen Finanzausgleich nicht geeignet ist und die kommunale Aufgabenerfüllung in dynamischer Sicht in Frage steht.

When implementing major European transport corridors, such as the Core network corridors (CNC) which is a part of the European Trans-European Network for Transports (TEN-T), the number of stakeholders affected is huge. A governance framework for the CNC’s implementation was introduced in EU Regulation No. 1315/2013, and is now being enacted. Sustainable development and stakeholder involvement are crucial areas in the implementation. This interview study investigated the need for complementary governance, here meaning governance in addition to the governance framework set in the regulation. The interviews involved 23 individuals from the Baltic Sea Region, who are affiliated to the four categories public authority, infrastructure organisation/company, private company and other organisation. The results confirm the importance of an inclusive approach. Further, the results showed a need to ensure that all three social, economic and ecological dimensions of sustainability are considered. Summarising the interview results, four areas for attention in the further CNC implementation process were identified: more and directed information, extended involvement of private sector transport stakeholders, extended involvement of regional and local stakeholders, and involvement of stakeholders located geographically outside the immediate corridor. Complementary governance can be a tool to address these areas, as governance structures and processes can involve stakeholders and steer towards desired outcomes. The interviewees own ideas for complementary governance are presented in this paper. The CNC implementation is currently an on-going process and these results will be further utilised in the process, as a basis for stakeholder discussions of changes in practice.

Many downtowns in North America have been severed from the rest of the city and from the contextual relationship to their surroundings. Sundered from their context, the ecological characteristics of a site are frequently taken for granted, and the disengagement of its public spaces erodes the downtown's character as well as the urban fabric. Downtown Clearwater has lost the vitality and vibrancy that once characterized it as a lively district. Because of recent developments in the downtown area, public spaces have been lost between parking lots, high rises and a small number of sporadic residential pockets. Some of the most important streets fail to create connections for the pedestrians to the surrounding public spaces and areas of interest; as a result some local businesses have dried up, affecting Downtown Clearwater's economy and its community. There is also a disconnection of the downtown with its context and it is evident that some of the major ecological and environmental characteristics of the site have been ignored through its development. This thesis studies how the ecological characteristics of a site can be integrated into the core of its design and experience. The Thesis proposes to revitalize Downtown Clearwater with a new system of green corridors that will promote activity and circulation. The corridors will define a new invigorating framework of points of interest supported by surrounding land uses. The main objectives of the project are to create a new urban destination, enhance the pedestrian experience, reconnect public spaces, cleanup water runoff and organize circulation of bicycles and pedestrians.The thesis emphasizes the design and development of a specific node and section of the green corridor system to explain the design.

The Distal-less homeobox (Dlx) genes encode a group of transcription factors that are involved in various developmental processes including forebrain development. Dlx genes are arranged in convergently transcribed bigene clusters with enhancer sequences located in the intergenic region of each cluster. The expression patterns of Dlx1/Dlx2 and of Dlx5/Dlx6 are attributed in part to the activity of I12a/I12b and I56i/I56ii intergenic enhancers, respectively. In an effort to determine how Dlx intergenic enhancers interact with the promoter regions of each cluster, I employed the Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C) technique on developing forebrain at E13.5 and E15.5. My 3C analysis provided potential enhancer-promoter interaction, in cis, that are consistent with previously known regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, trans interactions may exist between Dlx1/Dlx2 and Dlx5/Dlx6 clusters in the developing forebrain at E13.5, thus providing a possible novel cross-regulatory mechanism between these two loci. I have also investigated the phenotypic consequences of Dlx enhancer deletion(s) on forebrain development by characterizing mice with I56ii and I56ii/I12b enhancer deletions. Enhancer deletions significantly impair Dlx expression as well as that of Evf2, Gad2 and of the striatal markers Islet1 and Meis2. Enhancer deletion(s) also reduce the expression of ISLET1 and CTIP2 proteins and Semaphorin 3A, Slit1 and Ephrin A5 that are thought to provide guidance cues in the corridor cells. Overall, these changes may disrupt the guidance of the thalamocortical axons. The data presented here further our understanding of the interactions between Dlx intergenic enhancers and promoter regions. Enhancer deletion(s) furthers our understanding of Dlx regulatory networks necessary that ensure proper Dlx expression, which, in turn may be involved in a genetic pathway underlying the synthesis of GABA, which may be further essential in maintaining the GABAergic phenotype.

This thesis explores the role of water in urban landscape architectural design and identifies strategies that will conserve and optimise the use of water in the built environment. This is done through selecting a site in Pretoria at the intersection of the Apies River channel and Nelson Mandela drive and designing an Urban Water Centre that explores; exposes and celebrates water in the urban context. The design creates opportunities for kids from nearby schools, students from TUT, residents from the area, pedestrians and tourists to interact on a physical and emotional level with water. Educating people about water conservation is an important aspect of the project and raising awareness is the first step. The design addresses the city-wide need for green public open space and provides opportunities for urbanites to connect with water and the Apies River. This connection is established through the facilitation of significant encounters with water. These include physical contact play with water, creating interest and anticipation around rain events and through translating some of the associated attributes of water into a solid surface. The design approach is influenced by studying the Sustainable Sites Initiative’s ecosystem service approach. Green Star SA is investigated for a possible application to landscape architecture. The findings from the Sustainable Sites Initiative are enhanced by General Systems Theory and then used to generate systems that supports the desired experiences. The first and largest system lifts some of the base flow from the Apies River channel with a waterwheel, where after it is purified in a constructed wetland and a chlorine-free disinfecting process. The clean water is then displayed in a play pond that partially drains through a gravity driven vortex generator. The vortex generator aerates and cools down the water while adding movement; sound and a sense of the passage of time to the human experience. From the vortex, water flows into a constructed pebble lined stream that children can play in and experience stream ecology. The pebbles and vegetation refers back to the Apies River before it was lined with concrete. From the stream the water rejoins the channel. The second on site water system addresses rainwater. The design creates anticipation and curiosity associated with rain events. Rainwater from one of the on site buildings are harvested and displayed in a rain-meter garden. A first-flush system intercepts the first dirty water where after it drizzles down a rain-curtain into a rain-meter system. The rain-meters are large bullet resistant glass tank-like containers, calibrated to show how many millimetres of rain have fallen during the shower. A rain-sensor drains the water into a temporary wetland and lets in percolate into the underground storage tank. The third on site water system treats grey water from buildings through a stepped constructed wetland and displays the cleaned water in a jubilant motion activated display at one of the pedestrian entrances. Water from the rain-meter system; the grey water system and harvested surface runoff all contributes towards meeting the water needs of irrigation and buildings. Other eco-system service strategies identified in the study are applied in the design. These include the protection of on site biomass along with the introduction of region appropriate planting; design for- and use of waste reducing materials and the integration of on site systems to enrich the experience. Copyright / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Architecture / unrestricted

Around 20 years ago subnational actors connected in Northern Sweden/Finland founding the Bothnian Corridor Project and lobbying successfully for support from the European Union/on the European level. This research paper will investigate the story of success from the perspective of the subnational actors. The case of the Bothnian Corridor is of interest because the Swedish subnational actors are often considered as weak or not so formalised. The Research Paper will investigate the processes which led to the activity on the European level and will review how the communication between the European level and the subnational actors is functioning.There are three driving processes. The first one is that there was a need in renewing the railroad system and the regions had a common interest. The second one is the establishment of regions as a subnational actor with a formalised responsibility for regional development. In the beginning of the 2000s the third process started where a stronger focus on regions and regional development on the European level became visible. Those driving forces are identified by this paper as the base of the Bothnian Corridor Project.The other aspect the paper is investigating is the communication between the different policy levels. There can be the picture drawn that the communication between the subnational players and the EU is cooperative; they both see the potential in this relationship. They are very open to working together which is just possible because the North Sweden European Office explained each other position to both parties and did "interest translation" and the national level is setting up limitations for the communication.

Methods are needed to predict the spatial distribution pattern(s) of forest harvests to improve large-scale timber inventories through the incorporation of spatial distribution information. In this study, land cover type change detection methods were carried out using information from 1972 thru 2005 east-central Mississippi Landsat TM data to detect the spatial distribution of clearcut forest harvests. A random pattern was observed for clearcut harvests and this and other statistical data gathered in the study will be integrated into an existing forest inventory and transportation network database. The resulting harvested and forested area predictions generated by the database will assist with determining the sustainability and availability of forest resources for existing and future forest product mills and the creation of transportation networks needed to supply raw materials and distribute end products. Other implications include assessment of the quality and spatial components of wildlife habitat and a tool for forest certification programs.

One of the most urgent long-term issues is the impact of climate change and learning how to mitigate and adapt to its effects through adopting new development approaches over time. Learning more about sustainability and green buildings will hopefully help cities and towns address these future challenges of achieving local developments while decreasing global warming rates. Because there is at present relatively little data in Massachusetts about use of more sustainable practices in particular communities and regions, this thesis looks at the MetroWest Corridor region in Massachusetts as a case study to learn more about its new development methods: in what ways and to what extent do MetroWest towns include sustainable building practices in their planning codes? The MetroWest Corridor is discussed through basic review of its history and current projects within the region. This study included distribution of surveys to thirty municipalities in the region, and the information collected helped to clarify what and how much has been done to promote green building practices. The limited findings from this study indicate that a simple survey by itself will not provide a complete understanding about sustainable projects in terms of what is known or done by local planners. However, with more thorough research methods, there are ways to better identify current local sustainable building projects, policies and programs in Massachusetts, even if they were only partly understood from these limited prelminary survey results.

Highway-rail grade crossings are safer than ever, but collisions between motor vehicles and trains persist. Some collisions could be prevented by actively maintaining such grade crossings, yet many at-grade rail crossings are only evaluated following collisions. Those crossings that experience no collisions may go decades without being inspected. In recent years, the Congress has allocated funds for a national High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program, and it is in the public’s interest for state road/highway agencies to inspect all highway-rail crossings in high-speed rail corridors to ensure that the warning systems in place are commensurate with the crossings’ needs. The objectives of this research are to a) determine the adequacy of traffic control devices at highway-rail grade crossings along the restored Vermonter tracks in Massachusetts; and b) to recommend crossings for closure and/or grade separation if it is determined that the traffic control devices are inadequate at an intersection. The major findings of this paper are that a majority of the at-grade rail crossings need some improvements to be in compliance with MUTCD standards. Additionally, four at-grade crossings are identified for closure, grade-separation, and/or additional traffic control devices beyond MUTCD standards.