The aims of this research are to examine and explore perceptions of the built environmental impacts of heritage tourism in urban settlements; to explore the practice of heritage tourism management; and to examine the consequences of both for the sustainability of the heritage environment. The literature review explores the concepts of heritage management, the heritage production model, the tourist-historic city, and sustainability and the impact of tourism on the built environment. A theoretical framework is developed, through an examination of literature on environmental impacts, carrying capacity, sustainability, and heritage management; and a research framework is devised for investigating the built environmental impacts of heritage tourism in urban settlements, based around five objectives, or questions. The research methodology is explained. Fieldwork took place in Ludlow, Shropshire from 2006 to 2010. It included an analysis of the national and local planning policy framework; and the phenomenon of the small English heritage town, of which Ludlow is a prime example. Linked surveys were undertaken in Ludlow of visitors, business providers, and managers of heritage tourism. The study establishes (a) the concept of 'perceived impact' of heritage tourism on the built environment is a stronger analytical and management tool than the concept of carrying capacity; and (b) that understanding stakeholder's perception of the built environmental impacts of heritage tourism provides empirical evidence that can contribute a new dimension to debates on the definition of 'heritage'; (c) takes forward the typology of the built environmental impacts of tourism as developed by Hunter and Green, using empirical data to show what different stakeholders think about the relative importance of different aspects of heritage.

This thesis assesses long-term runoff projections from global multi-model ensembles used in hydrological impact studies. Firstly, the study investigates global-scale changes in frequency of high and low flow days towards the end of the current century, quantifying the relative contribution to uncertainty from global climate (GCMs) and global impact models (GIMs). Results show increases in high flows for northern latitudes and in low flows for several hotspots worldwide. Overall, GCMs provide the largest uncertainty; but GIMs are the greatest source of uncertainty in snow-dominated regions. Secondly, the ability of a set of GIMs to reproduce observed runoff is evaluated at the regional scale, indicating that GIMs capture well trends in low, medium, and high flows, but differ from observations with respect to medium and high flows timing. Thirdly, the contribution to uncertainty from GCMs, GIMs, Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), and internal variability is quantified for transient runoff until 2099. Over the USA, GCMs and GIMs are responsible for the largest uncertainty. Efforts to improve runoff projections should thus focus on GCMs and GIMs. In particular, GIMs should be evaluated in the region of study, so that models reproducing unrealistic runoff can be excluded, potentially yielding greater confidence in ensemble projections.

The field of nanotechnology has seen much growth in recent years as nanoparticles have found usage in many applications. This has led to increases in nanoparticle production and as such it is ever more likely that these nanoparticles will find their way into the aquatic environment. In this work, sterically stabilised polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) 7 nm gold nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesised and characterised as prepared by their surface plasmon resonance (SPR), size, aggregation, morphology and surface charge. They were then exposed to changes in environmentally relevant conditions (pH, ionic strength, Ca concentration and fulvic acid presence) and the results quantified. These sterically stabilised NPs showed no aggregation with changes in pH or inorganic ions, even under high (0.1 M) Ca concentrations. In addition, the presence of fulvic acid resulted in no observable and significant changes in SPR, size, aggregation or surface chemistry, suggesting limited interaction between the PVP stabilised nanoparticles and fulvic acid. Due to the lack of aggregation and interaction, these NPs are expected to be highly mobile and potentially bioavailable in the environment. The second half of this investigation focused upon how these NPs were transported within a recirculating flume with both a plane bed structure and with a bedform present. This showed that the nanoparticles moved freely between the stream and the bed and appear to be under the influence of water flow rather than simply diffusion.

Despite widespread recognition of the need to decarbonise existing housing stocks, there remain limitations in the way this problem is theorised and addressed. Practice theory has sought to move away from the individualism and assumptions of rational-choice that have underpinned previous studies, but has still relied on comparisons of accounts of practices between individuals. Furthermore, these practice-based studies have encountered their own challenges with regards to adequately conceptualising 'large' phenomena such as retrofit, as well as addressing issues of variations in practitioner competence, and tractability. Drawing on 31 in-depth interviews and walk-through tours with affluent owner-occupiers who were currently, or had recently undertaken home improvement projects, this thesis examines why, and how some of these projects incorporated low carbon retrofit measures, while others did not. The relationships between the components of practice, both within and between practices are examined to identify how they connect to the wider nexus of practices that extends beyond the home. Particular attention is given to understanding the connective power of teleological influences on home improvements (RQ1); the connections between these teleological influences, home improvement measures and competences (RQ2); and the implications of this enhanced understanding for encouraging higher rates of retrofit (RQ3). Furthermore, the thesis employs a methodology that facilitates adoption of the home improvement measure as the unit of analysis, rather than the individual. It is proposed that this is not only more appropriate to the ontological assumptions underpinning practice theory, but also to specialisations within the construction industry. In conclusion, this thesis proposes a series of teleological constellations (i.e. structures of practices connected by shared goals) that provide a theoretical tool to further our empirical understanding of how low carbon home improvements fit within the wider nexus of practices. These connections, in turn, have implications for the way in which policy seeks to induce higher levels of low carbon retrofit in order to help meet national CO2 reduction targets and contribute to addressing global climate change.

This research explores the (re)production and circulation of geographical knowledge about the conjectured Great Southern Continent – one of the most enduring geographical ideas in the western world despite the fact that it did not exist, other than in books, maps and the human mind. The study examines how the fantastic Continent managed to survive - and even thrive – as an imaginary in Britain despite the absence of any hard evidence. The selected timeframe 1760-1777 covers a period of considerable flux in terms of cultural, imperial and global identities, witnessing a rapid expansion in geographical knowledge, provided in part by the voyages of Captain James Cook and the unprecedented rise of the British popular press who deliver this ‘news’ to the public. Using the twin archives of The Gentleman’s Magazine and daily, tri-weekly and weekly newspapers, this study critically examines the ways in which the landscapes of the Continent were variously imagined, represented and understood by the British public over the final seventeen years of the its ‘life’, ‘death’ and ‘re-birth’ as the Antarctic. Specifically, it interrogates the mechanisms used by the press to (re)produce a public imaginary for the emerging South, and the roles played by the Continent in mid-to-late eighteenth century polite society. The thesis shows how the Continent’s status as an enduring geographical myth renders it an important touchstone in an imaginative global cartography held by the eighteenth century British public. It illustrates how external spaces are powerful constructs for internal identities and epistemologies. The ultimate revelation that this provincea aurea was a barren wilderness of sea and ice triggered arguably one the most important cultural shifts in the Western geographical and imperial imagination since the discovery of the Americas – and, the thesis contends, provided an important proving ground in the battle between traditional scholarly speculation and the empiricism characterising the new scientific method.

An investigation was made into the factors governing plant distribution in two areas containing lead-zinc and in one case, copper, mineralisation in Northern Australia. The distribution of the major units within the savanna vegetation of the study-areas appears to be largely controlled by edaphic and drainage factors. Distinct plant assemblages are developed over the oredeposits. Although the assemblages are restricted to these environments, the individual species also occur in regions apparently devoid of mineralisation. In the area containing both lead-zinc and copper deposits, the same assemblage occurs on both types of mineralisation. The assemblage species are apparently better adapted to withstand higher concentrations of ore-metal in the substrate, and to absorb greater quantities of these metals, than the more widespread plants. Zinc, copper and lead occur in decreasing order of abundance in plants from un-mineralised localities. Plants growing over the ore-deposits can absorb large quantities of all three metals, but the distribution of metal within the aerial parts varies. In some species, an increased rate of absorption of lead and copper occurs when the plants are growing on soils rich in these metals compared with their rate of absorption elsewhere. This may be related to intra-specific variations within the plants.

This thesis is based on research that utilises social innovation theory to examine the role and potential of community gardens and community supported agriculture (CSA) in transitioning toward more sustainable food systems, with a geographical focus on Wales. The research originates from the rationale that there is an urgent need for transforming the current food systems into more sustainable ones, and that community-based socially innovative initiatives may become drivers for such a transformation. The main objective is to demonstrate what is the socially innovative role of community gardens and community supported agriculture in Wales and what is their potential for making a societal change toward food sustainability, thus aiming to contribute to the wider debates on the role of the social economy and its potential for socio-economic transformation. The empirical approach applied is qualitative case studies based on 38 semi-structured interviews and participant observation in four community gardens and four community supported agriculture initiatives. The data is analysed by using ALMOLIN (Alternative Model for Local Innovations) as an innovative analytical tool mapping the dynamics of social innovation and processes of social initiatives. The research intends to contribute to the literature of community gardens and community supported agriculture by examining these initiatives from the social innovation perspective. In addition, it intends to contribute to the social innovation literature with the case of community food growing. A final contribution is addressing the geographical gap in the community food growing literature by focusing on Wales as an under-researched area and using large number of case studies to allow a comparison between its different regions and types of initiatives. The study further makes a range of theoretical and policy recommendations.

In Riyadh City, as an effort to reduce the excess dependency on private vehicles, in 2012 city’s authorities have approved the construction of a public transport system and travel demand management strategies. On this basis, this study question is “what are the procedures and approaches that have to be undertaken to ensure public transport uptake in Riyadh City?” To answer the study question, a relevant literature has been reviewed in order to identify major successes of public transport services around the world. In addition, two empirical studies were conducted in Riyadh during the study course include a series of semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders and a web-based-general-public survey. The study findings were consolidated and discussed to provide concrete answers to the study question. The study found considerable support by stakeholders and the general-public for introducing public transport services and reshaping the existing travel strategies. It was also found that the future planning of the public transport system in Riyadh City has to pay considerable attention to social and cultural perspectives of its citizens; for safety and separate family carriages. The study also found that improving infrastructure to enhance accessibility to and from transit stations, selecting appropriate TOD sites, parking charges are effective strategies. Finding from a stated preference experiment showed that the likelihood of shifting people from private cars to public transport in Riyadh City would increase by a reduction in public transport cost, number of changes, and increase in the service frequency. Most importantly, there are cultural aspects involving perceptions towards public transport that play an important role in people’s intention to use public transport. For example, it found that highly qualified individuals were more likely to perceive public transport as a 'taking a step down into the World' and this is a point in which public transport authorities need to focus in order to ease this perception. Finally, this is the first time to derive estimates of the value of travel time savings for Riyadh City.

This thesis aims to examine the relationships between health, place, and animals, within the context of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. The conceptual framework of ‘therapeutic landscapes’ has been used by geographers to understand the dynamic interrelations between health and place. To more critically unpack the heterogeneity of ‘therapeutic landscapes’ and engage with their more-than-human constitutive elements, I mobilise a relational approach, informed by post-structuralist thinking, examining how ‘therapeutic spaces’ emerge relationally, co-constituted by a variety of heterogeneous agencies. Aiming to show how therapeutic affect can emerge in everyday spaces, I locate my research within CSA, an alternative system of food production. My interest in a more-than-human approach has particular relevance when considering CSAs as the place of animals in such systems is neglected within existing research. I mobilise qualitative research, exploring why animals come to be present within these alternative food networks. Animals are implicated within CSAs for diverse reasons, with the farms acting as spaces for human-animal encounters. I discuss the generative potential of situated relationships between humans and animals in leading to the production of new bodily capacities or the closing down of existing ones, affecting how people understand and experience health. I also consider non-humans’ experiences of these relationships, exploring who ‘therapeutic spaces’ are ‘therapeutic’ for. I discuss the ways in which animals can become entangled in ‘therapeutic’ relationships based around anthropocentric and parasitic notions of health. However, equally, human-animal relationships can emerge as mutually beneficial, producing new bodily capacities for heterogeneous actants in a mutual ‘becoming therapeutic together’. Overall, this thesis contributes new understandings to human geography, recognising animals as lively and dynamic co-constituents in the co-production of therapeutic geographies and community based food systems. Human-animal relations can define, enable, and enact what different actants may become, shaping their capacities to affect and be affected.

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