by Shu-Pan Yu. / Thesis submitted in: November 2001. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.I / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.V / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VI / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.IX / LIST OF TABLES --- p.X / LIST OF PLATES --- p.X / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.XI / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objective --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Environmental Impact Assessment of Roads --- p.3 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- BACKGROUND TO STUDY --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1. --- Introduction --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2. --- Road SEA VIS-A-VIZ Project EIA --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Introduction and Definition of SEA of Road Network --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- SEA as an Improvement on EIA system --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- The Environmental Indicators of Road Project EIA and SEA --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- SEA Approaches --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.5. --- The SEA Process --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3. --- Methodologies and Tools for SEA --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- Needs for Tailor-made SEA Tools --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Desirable Attributes of SEA Assessment Tools --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4. --- Difficulties and Constraints of Road Building in Hong Kong --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.1. --- Traffic Noise Problems in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4.2. --- Noise Emission vs Noise Immission Assessment --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4.3. --- Ecological Resources in Hong Kong --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5. --- Environmental Assessment Systems in Hong Kong --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Noise Assessment in Project EIAs --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Difficulties in Transposing Project EIA Noise Prediction Methodology to SEA --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Road Project Ecological Assessment --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Need for Proactive Nature Conservation --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- SEA Systems in Hong Kong --- p.31 / Chapter 2.6. --- Use of Geographical Information System (GIS) as a Platform --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Potentials and Advantages of GIS Approach --- p.36 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Limitations of GIS --- p.40 / Chapter 2.7. --- Summary --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1. --- Introduction --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2. --- Noise Impacts --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- Previous Overseas Experience of Strategic Noise Assessment Using GIS --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Development of An Appropriate Assessment Methodology for Hong Kong --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3. --- Ecological Impacts --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Past Experience of Strategic Ecological Assessment (SEcA) Using GIS --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Assessment Methodology of Strategic Ecological Assessment --- p.72 / Chapter 3.4. --- Land Acquisition Assessment --- p.78 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Assessment Method --- p.79 / Chapter 3.5. --- Summary --- p.79 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- SYSTEM DESIGN --- p.81 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- System Overview --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Functions of the System --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Design Features of the System --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3 --- System Software --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4 --- System Structure --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Base Maps Insertion --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Traffic Data Input --- p.92 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Noise Assessment --- p.93 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Ecological Assessment --- p.105 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Land Acquisition Assessment --- p.111 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Summary of Overall Impacts --- p.113 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Comparison of Options --- p.114 / Chapter 4.5 --- Summary --- p.115 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- APPLICATION OF THE SYSTEM : A PILOT STUDY --- p.116 / Chapter 5.1. --- Introduction --- p.116 / Chapter 5.2. --- The Crosslinks Project --- p.116 / Chapter 5.2.1. --- The Project Area - North-west New Territories --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.1.1. --- Urban Development in the NWNT --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.1.2. --- Ecological Habitats of the NWNT --- p.119 / Chapter 5.3. --- Execution of the Pilot Study --- p.119 / Chapter 5.4. --- Results and Discussions --- p.125 / Chapter 5.4.1. --- Environmental Assessment of the Crosslinks Project --- p.125 / Chapter 5.4.2. --- Assessment of Alternative Options --- p.133 / Chapter 5.4.3. --- Experience Learned from the Pilot Study --- p.147 / Chapter 5.5. --- Summary --- p.148 / Chapter CHAPTER 6. --- CONCLUSION --- p.149 / Chapter 6.1. --- Design Concepts and Features --- p.149 / Chapter 6.2. --- Limitations of the System --- p.153 / Chapter 6.3. --- Further Research --- p.154 / REFERENCES --- p.156 / APPENDICES --- p.166 / APPEMDIXI NOISE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY --- p.167 / "APPENDIX II R(A), R(B), R(C) NOISE ATTENUATION PATTERNS" --- p.171 / APPENDIX III PUBLICAHONS --- p.175

Poon Mei-yan, Pauline. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-118). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.v / List of Tables --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Plates --- p.xi / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The problem: deficiencies of EIA process --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Necessity of EIA follow-up --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives and scope of the study --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5 --- Significance of the study --- p.6 / Chapter 1.6 --- Thesis outline --- p.7 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- EIA FOLLOW-UP PRACTICES: TRENDS AND FUNCTIONS / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- EIA follow-up - the conceptual background --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Working definitions of monitoring and auditing --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Types of monitoring --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Types of auditing --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Trends of EIA follow-up practice --- p.11 / Chapter 2.4 --- Functions of EIA follow-up --- p.13 / Chapter 2.5 --- Role of EIA follow-up in EIA --- p.16 / Chapter 2.6 --- Ingredients of an effective EIA follow-up system --- p.18 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Independence of the monitoring and audit team --- p.18 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Proactive project management --- p.18 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Clearly defined EIA follow-up programme --- p.19 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Well-designed monitoring scheme --- p.20 / Chapter 2.6.5 --- Good information flow and feedback mechanism --- p.21 / Chapter 2.7 --- EIA follow-up practice in some countries --- p.21 / Chapter 2.8 --- EIA follow-up practice in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Necessity of EIA follow-up in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Characteristics of EIA follow-up in Hong Kong --- p.23 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- How EM&A is implemented in Hong Kong? --- p.23 / Chapter 2.9 --- Conclusion --- p.27 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- METHODOLOGY / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2 --- Selection of the study area --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Pak Skek Kok reclamation project --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4 --- The EM&A programme --- p.37 / Chapter 3.5 --- Methods of assessing the EM&A programme --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6 --- Use of the monitoring data --- p.47 / Chapter 3.7 --- Limitations of the study --- p.50 / Chapter 3.8 --- Conclusion --- p.51 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF THE PROJECT / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2 --- Impact audit --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Noise impacts --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Dust impacts --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3 --- Compliance audit --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Daytime noise level --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Evening noise level --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- 24hr-average TSP level --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- 24hr-average RSP level --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- 1hr-average TSP level --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4 --- Implementation audit --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Implementation of noise mitigation measures --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Implementation of dust mitigation measures --- p.75 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Effectiveness of dust mitigation measures --- p.78 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.83 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- EVALUATION OF THE EM&A PROGRAMME / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2 --- Fulfillment of the stated objectives of the EM&A programme --- p.85 / Chapter 5.3 --- Effectiveness of the EM&A programme --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Independence of the monitoring and audit team --- p.90 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Proactive project management --- p.90 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Clearly defined EIA follow-up programme --- p.93 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Well-designed monitoring scheme --- p.94 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Good information flow and feedback mechanism --- p.100 / Chapter 5.4 --- Recommendations for improving EM&A in Hong Kong --- p.101 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusion --- p.103 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary of findings --- p.104 / Chapter 6.2 --- Discussion of findings --- p.106 / Chapter 6.3 --- Suggestions for further studies --- p.109 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.113

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 379-409) / 2 v. : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Develops a framework for evaluating environmental impact assessment (EIA) and organisational change, and examines the influence of the EIA system on two government organisations within South Australia, Transport SA and ETSA . Finally analyses patterns of organisational change process in South Australia in comparision with experience in the United States. / Thesis (Ph.D.(Arts))--Adelaide University, Dept. of Geographical and Environmental Studies, 2001

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 379-409) / 2 v. : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Develops a framework for evaluating environmental impact assessment (EIA) and organisational change, and examines the influence of the EIA system on two government organisations within South Australia, Transport SA and ETSA . Finally analyses patterns of organisational change process in South Australia in comparision with experience in the United States. / Thesis (Ph.D.(Arts))--Adelaide University, Dept. of Geographical and Environmental Studies, 2001

Thesis (LLM. (Development and Management Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Refer to the document

Thesis (DPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Through my research I have developed an alternative conceptual approach to project-level environmental assessment in South Africa, which begins to move beyond modernism in its philosophical, procedural and substantive aspects. This approach draws on the ideas of certain radical philosophers, and three innovative thinkers, namely: Bent Flyvbjerg, Amartya Sen and Paul Cilliers. The overall purpose of project-level environmental assessment (i.e. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)) is to predict the impacts on the environment of proposed development, and to recommend ways to mitigate its negative consequences and enhance its positive effects. However, there are a number of recurring problems in the practice of EIA which include: achieving interdisciplinarity in the assessment process; effectively undertaking stakeholder engagement; and accurately predicting the impacts of proposed developments. Addressing uncertainty and adequately considering the implications of cumulative and social impacts are also often poorly addressed in environmental assessment procedures. In this thesis, I describe these problems as symptomatic of the modernist roots of environmental assessment, an argument, or similar, which has been made by others in related domains (e.g. philosophy), as well as in the international field of environmental assessment itself. I identify the following three main problematic assumptions of the modern worldview that are currently constraining the effectiveness of this field: A system can be understood by observing the behaviour of its parts; All processes flow along linear, deterministic, predictable and orderly paths; and Technical, objective, natural science-based information and processes are separate from, and superior to, non-technical, subjective, and value-based information and processes. Drawing on my investigation of the core ideas of radical ecologists and of the work of Bent Flyvbjerg, Amartya Sen and Paul Cilliers, I challenge the modernist assumptions listed above and propose an alternative conceptual approach to environmental assessment, which involves the formulation of a ‘sustainability argument’. I explain the philosophical tenets (for example, humans and nature are seen as part of an interrelated social-ecological system) and general principles on which this approach rests (for example, the normative nature of all knowledge of social-ecological systems should be recognised), as well as its key characteristics (for example, the team that undertakes the study should comprise disciplinary specialists, key stakeholders and at least one ‘sustainability practitioner’ who coordinates the development of the argument). These tenets, principles and characteristics are designed to guide the development of context-specific processes, for the formulation of a sustainability argument that informs project-level development decisionmaking. The ‘sustainability argument’ approach moves beyond the human-nature (or developmentenvironment) divide inherent in current environmental assessment, in which the impact of the former on the latter is determined. The focus is shifted to understanding how the social-ecological system is likely to alter, under different conditions, as a result of the proposed development, which is seen as a potential change in the system. In addition, the way in which the social-ecological system is likely to affect the implementation of this change is described. These effects are evaluated in relation to contextually defined sustainability values, which are identified by key stakeholders through a participatory process, and guided by the principles proposed as part of the sustainability argument approach. The principles include a view of humans and nature as part of an interrelated social-ecological system in which diversity, both human and natural, is valued as a pre-requisite to sustainability. Human needs are defined beyond the provision of basic goods and services, to include the promotion and enhancement of the valuable functionings and capabilities of an individual, as described by Sen (1988b). Nature is valued, not only for its role in enabling the achievement of these functionings and capabilities, but also for the fact of its existence, as part of the overall social-ecological system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In my navorsing het ek alternatiewe, konseptuele benadering tot omgewingsbeoordeling op projekvlak in Suid Afrika ontwerp, wat begin om verby die filosofiese, prosedurele en substantiewe aspekte van die modernisme te beweeg. Hierdie benadering berus op die idees van sekere radikale filosowe, en drie innoverende denkers, naamlik: Bent Flyvbjerg, Amartya Sen en Paul Cilliers. Die oorkoepelende doelstelling van omgewingsbeoordeling op projekvlak (i.e. Omgewingsimpakstudie (OIS)) is om die impakte op die omgewing van voorgestelde ontwikkeling te voorspel, en om voorstelle te maak om die negatiewe gevolge daarvan te beperk en die positiewe gevolge te bevorder. Tog is daar aantal herhalende probleme in die praktyk van OIS, wat die volgende insluit: Die bereiking van interdissiplinariteit in die proses van omgewingsbeoordeling; die versekering van effektiewe deelname van belangegroepe; en die akkurate voorspelling van die impakte van voorgestelde ontwikkeling. Die hantering van onsekerhede en die voldoende oorweging van die implikasies van kumulatiewe en sosiale impakte word ook nie voldoende aangespreek in die ontwerp van omgewingsbeoordeling nie. In hierdie tesis beskryf ek hierdie probleme as simptome van die modernistiese grondslag van omgewingsbeoordeling, wat soortgelyke punt maak as die argument wat nie alleen deur ander in verwante velde (e.g. filosofie) ontwikkel is nie, maar ook in die internasionale veld van omgewingsbeoordeling self. Ek identifiseer die volgende drie problematiese kernaannames van die moderne wêreldbeeld, wat tans die doeltreffendheid van omgewingsbeoordeling beperk: Sisteem kan verstaan word deur die gedrag van sy dele waar te neem; Alle prosesse volg liniêre, deterministiese, voorspelbare en geordende patrone; en Tegniese prosesse en objektiewe, natuurwetenskaplik-begronde inligting is apart van, en verhewe bo, nie-tegniese prosesse en subjektiewe en waardegebaseerde oorwegings. Op grond van my ondersoek van die kernidees van radikale ekoloë, asook die werke van Bent Flyvbjerg, Amartya Sen en Paul Cilliers, daag ek die bogenoemde modernistiese veronderstellings uit, en stel alternatiewe benadering tot omgewingsbeoordeling voor, wat die formulering van ‘volhoubaarheidsargument’ insluit. Ek verduidelik die filosofiese uitgangspunte (byvoorbeeld dat die mens en die natuur, in onderlinge wisselwerking met mekaar, gesien moet word as deel van geïntegreerde sosio-ekologiese sisteem) en algemene beginsels waarop hierdie benadering berus (byvoorbeeld dat die normatiewe aard van alle kennis van sosio-ekologiese sisteme erken behoort te word), asook die kenmerkende eienskappe daarvan (byvoorbeeld dat die span, wat die studie onderneem, saamgestel moet word uit kenners vanuit verskillende dissiplines, sleutelbelanghebbendes, en ten minste een ‘volhoubaarheidspraktisyn’ wat die ontwikkeling van die argument koördineer). Hierdie uitgangspunte, beginsels en eienskappe is ontwerp om die ontwikkeling van konteksspesifieke prosesse te stuur, en vir die formulering van volhoubaarheidsargument wat besluitneming oor ontwikkeling op projekvlak informeer. Die ‘volhoubaarheidsargument’ benadering beweeg verby die mens-natuur (of ontwikkelingomgewing) onderskeid inherent aan die huidige praktyk van omgewingsbeoordeling, waar die impak van die eersgenoemde op die laasgenoemde bepaal word. Die klem verskuif na begrip vir die manier waarop die sosio-ekologiese sisteem moontlik gaan verander, onder sekere toestande, as gevolg van die voorgestelde verandering, wat beskou word as moontlike verandering in die sisteem. Boonop word die manier waarop die sosio-ekologiese sisteem waarskynlik die implementering van die verandering gaan beïnvloed ook beskryf. Hierdie effekte word geëvalueer met betrekking tot konteks-gedefinieerde volhoubaarheidswaardes, wat deur deelnameproses geïdentifiseer word deur sleutel belanghebbendes, en gelei deur die beginsels wat voorgestel word as deel van die volhoubaarheidsargument benadering. Die beginsels sluit beskouing van mense en die natuur as deel van interverwante sosio-ekologiese sisteem waarin diversiteit, beide menslik en natuurlik, gewaardeer word as voorwaarde vir volhoubaarheid in. Menslike behoeftes is gedefinieer as meer as net die voorsiening van basiese goedere en dienste om die bevordering en verbetering van die waardevolle funksioneringe en vermoëns van individu, soos beskryf deur Sen (1988b), in te sluit. Die natuur word gewaardeer, nie slegs vir die rol wat dit speel om die verwesenliking van hierdie funksioneringe en vermoëns moontlik te maak nie, maar ook vir die feit van die natuur se bestaan, as deel van die algehele sosio-ekologiese sisteem.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The dissertation traces the development of environmental assessment and environmental ethics as these disciplines have evolved independently in response to the global environmental crisis. The aim is to determine the extent to which they can promote the integration of the dissociated objective and subjective spheres of human valuation of the environment. This is a necessary condition, it is argued, for arresting the pathology in the human-environment relationship. The study concludes that both disciplines were initially trapped in narrow, monistic approaches, which rendered them largely ineffective. However, their evolutionary advancement, and a common grounding in a radical conceptualization of sustainable development, greatly enhances their usefulness in environmental decisionmaking. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verhandeling ondersoek die evolusionêre ontwikkeling van omgewingsimpakbepaling en die filosofie van omgewingsetika, na die ontstaan van die twee disiplines in reaksie tot die globale omgewingskrisis. Die studiedoelwit is om te bepaal tot watter mate hulle die integrasie van die gedissosieerde objektiewe en die subjektiewe sfere van menslikeomgewingswaardering kan bevorder. Daar word geredeneer dat sodanige integrasie noodsaaklik is om die patologie in die verhouding tussen die mens en sy omgewing te stuit. Die belangrikste gevolgtrekking is dat beide disiplines, tydens hulle aanvangsstadia, vasgeval was in 'n monistiese benadering wat hul doeltreffendheid belemmer het. Die onlangse ontwikkeling van omgewingsimpakbepaling en omgewingsetika, sowel as 'n gemeenskaplike uitgangspunt binne 'n radikale vertolking van volhoubare ontwikkeling, versterk grootliks hulle bruikbaarheid vir omgewingsbesluitneming.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management