published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Environmental Management / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

9 pp. / The Using Watershed Assessments to Inform Planning for Rural Watersheds publication provides a process for developing a baseline watershed assessment. In this guide we provide recommendations for engaging with stakeholders to assess natural resource conditions, as well as basic information to collect to create a baseline assessment. Watershed planning is not a simple, quick process. This guide addresses just the first steps of building a watershed assessment– understanding the current conditions and issues facing your watershed. Beyond the watershed assessment phase is the hard work of utilizing the information from the assessment, along with the results of additional stakeholder feedback, to develop an actual watershed plan. This guide provides an outline of how to complete the watershed assessment portion of your watershed planning effort, but does not provide a detailed step-by-step process. Rather, this document is intended as a resource to help guide you in your efforts by providing suggestions based on real-world watershed planning experience.

Maintaining a safe water supply is particularly crucial for karst islands such as Barbados. In order to take proper measures to prevent and reduce saltwater intrusion and to safely extract the right fraction of recharge, karst characteristics must first be fully understood. Geomorphologic investigations of karst surface features of the Porters & Trents groundwater catchments (Barbados) employed GIS technologies to explore the development and distribution of sinkhole features. Contour-based digital elevation models, surface geology, lithology, and remote sensing images were incorporated in this investigation. Seventy-six sinkholes were investigated and occupied approximately 1% (0.16 km2) of the total area (16.41 km2) under study. It was found that age of karstification is not related to age of a terrace. The middle terrace was the one found to be most karstified. Yet, degree of karstification within a terrace is age related. Also, cluster density increases with age of coral within the middle terrace. Density of sinkholes within a cluster also increases with age of coral within the middle terrace. / Finally, this study shows that sinkhole long axis, cluster elongation direction, sinkhole alignment and karst lineament all have a tendency to a northeast alignment. This supports the idea that underlying coral rock fracture and conduits have a northeast orientation.

This thesis is an interdisciplinary study based on the interplay between science, technology and society in order to inform the design of knowledge exploration systems. It provides a rationale for the integration of science knowledge, geographic information, with digital libraries to build knowledge and awareness about sustainability. A theoretical reconceptualization of knowledge building is provided that favours interactive engagement with information and argues against a traditional model of science production and communication that is linear and unidirectional. The elements of contextualization, classification and communication form the core of the reconceptualization. Since many information systems entrench the traditional model of science production, the three elements are considered in light of library and information science and geographic information science. The use of geographic information systems is examined to identify how they can be used as part of a social learning model for scientific, social, cultural, and environmental issues to further assist people in connecting to place and sustainability. Empirical data was collected from four case studies. One case study centred on the design and development of a web-based digital library called the Georgia Basin Digital Library, another two case studies focused on the use of part of this digital library with youth, senior and environmental groups in south-western British Columbia. The remaining case study observed a community deliberation to consider how knowledge exploration systems might support deliberation in future processes. The case study research confirms that collaborative research with communities is a fruitful way to engage with sustainability issues. Such collaborations require consideration of institutional arrangements, information collections, relationship building, technology transfer and capacity building.

Pedestrian injuries and fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes are a significant public health concern, and the urban campus of Georgia State University poses unique challenges to pedestrian safety issues. Previous studies of the built environment have link several features to increased pedestrian crash occurrences. Once identified, these features can be modified to create a healthier environment for pedestrians. This study examines the relationship between specific features of the built environment and pedestrian crash events. Environmental audits were conducted to collect information about the built environment around Georgia State campus, and pedestrian crash data was obtained from GDOT. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to create a visual representation of this data in order to establish spatial relationships between the built environment and pedestrian crash events. Results show both positive and negative correlations between certain built environment features and pedestrian crashes. GIS was established as a useful tool for evaluating the spatial distribution and relationship between the built environment and pedestrian injury within a localized area, and provides a springboard for future research that seeks to study this association on a larger scale.

In early 60-ies of XX th century the computer is born and begin to inculcate in various range of life. Text data have been changed into digital databases. In late nineties computers becomes concurrent with our daily life. In year of 2001 government begins to fund computerizing of secondary schools in Lithuania. According, to analysis of situation in secondary schools computerization, we can admit that the level of computerization is high. Situation with geography computerization is quite comfortable too. It is good situation to begin apply GIS to secondary education. In year of 2002 a document of “Geography education standards for secondary schools” was realized, and GIS, as a part of geography, has his place in this document. Talking about textbooks of geography, it is only one of them that includes information about GIS (prepared by David Waugh), but considering to geography standards, to form informational skills of students, information about GIS in this textbook is insufficient. Looking for information about GIS we regarded of qualitative information standards, that is set by Education evolutionary centre. Information about GIS is divined into several rubric, they are: definition of GIS, history and birth of GIS, shape of data used in GIS, usage of GIS in modern world. It is important to overview all of those rubric as a main information that is needed to gain a modern calibre of geography. Introduction to GIS programs is important too. Because, at the moment, we don’t... [to full text]

Many scientists have used the expediency of geographic information science (GIS) for archaeological analyses, such as predictive site location modeling and producing topographical site surveys. However, the use of GIS to explore the spatial relationships among the architecture, geography and site artifacts has rarely been done. This research focuses on visualizing and analyzing these relationships using GIS. The sites of Tel Beth Shemesh, Israel and the Fincastle Kill Site (DIOx 5), north-east of Taber, Alberta, were used as case studies, as they were very differnt types of sites. Based on field measurments and by using specific GIS applications and software, components of these sites were reconstructed in virtual space as GIS models. Other recorded field data were used as input parameters into the models in order to attain the most accurate representations and analyses of the sites. The analysis at Fincastle Kill Site used two types of GIS models: 1) a viewshed model to assess possible bison hunting techniques and 2) surface interpolation models that delineated correlations between high density and low density areas of archaeological remains. The investigation at Tel Beth-Shemesh used a GIS model to store, visualize, interpret and assess the quality and accuracy of the field data recorded during 2001 - 2004 excavations. Predominately, the work in this thesis did not aim at answering any profound questions about the archaeology of either site, although in some cases it did, but rather focused on developing useful GIS tools for the archaeologist. These GIS models show the value of the applications, and their applicability to archaeological sites around the world. / vii, 119 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.

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The number of obese youth in Canada has tripled over the past 30 years. Two contributing factors to obesity are physical inactivity and poor nutrition. To improve these negative health behaviours, the factors that contribute to their development must be understood and intervened upon. Researchers are focusing on the built environment as one potential factor. The built environment refers to human made physical structures and infrastructure of communities that can influence health behaviours. These include the roads, buildings, parks and recreation facilities, and food retailers of which people can use through work, play, or eating. The purpose of this thesis was to determine how the built environment influences physical inactivity and fast food consumption in 11-15-year-old Canadians. Physical inactivity and fast food consumption were assessed in a national study called the Canadian Health Behaviour in School Aged Children Survey. Over 6000 youth in grades 6 to 10 were examined. Information on several built environment features were obtained in the neighbourhoods of these 6000 youth using Geographic Information Systems. Measures included walkability indices, parks and other outdoor play spaces, recreation facilities, aesthetics, and fast food restaurants. Relationships between behaviours (physical inactivity, excessive fast food consumption) and neighbourhood built environments were examined using complex statistical tests. Results indicated that youth living in highly walkable neighbourhoods, neighbourhoods with few or no cul-de-sacs, and neighbourhoods with a modest amount of park space were most likely to be physically inactive. Youth living in neighbourhoods with a moderate or high density of fast food restaurants were more likely to be excessive fast food consumers than youth living in neighbourhoods with no fast food restaurants. Approximately 15-30% of physical inactivity and excessive fast food consumption within the population was attributed to features of the neighbourhood built environment. This thesis demonstrates that several features of the neighbourhood built environment influence obesity-related health behaviours in youth. Results may guide future policy development and intervention research targeting the built environment. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-08-01 22:35:22.486

The health sector has not yet begun to explore the full potential of geographical information system (GIS) technology for health research and planning. The goal of this thesis is to demonstrate this potential in Africa through the application of GIS to the most important health issues in the continent. In excess of 23,000 homesteads are mapped and interviewed throughout Hlabisa district, Kwa-Zulu Natal using differential global positioning systems (GPS). I use the GIS to analyse mode health care usage patterns. 87% of homesteads use the nearest clinic and travel an average distance of 4.72 km to do so. There is a significant logarithmic relationship between distance from clinic and usage by the homesteads (r2 = 0.774, p<0.0001). I propose the distance usage index (DUI) as a composite spatial measure of clinic usage. The index is the sum of the distances from clinic to all actual client homesteads divided by the sum of the distances from clinic to all homesteads within its distance-defined catchment. The index encompasses inclusion, exclusion and strength of patient attraction for each clinic. The DUI highlights significant disparities in clinic usage patterns across the district (mean = 110%, SD =43.7). The results of the study have important implications for health planning in Africa. I use GIS/GPS technology to quantify the spatial implications of a shift towards community-based treatment of tuberculosis using the DOTs strategy in Hlabisa. The mean distance from each homestead in the district to nearest supervision point is measured using a GIS. The shift in treatment strategy from hospital to community-based between 1991-1996 reduces the mean distance to treatment point from 29.6 km (94% of the population > 5km) to 1.5 km (entire population < 5km). GIS effectively documents and quantifies the impact of community-based tuberculosis treatment on access to treatment. I produce the first quantifiable evidence of a relationship between distance to roads and HIV prevalence using a GIS. HIV prevalence was measured through anonymous surveillance among pregnant women in Hlabisa and stratified by clinic attended. Assuming women attend the nearest clinic, the mean distance from homesteads to a primary or secondary road for each clinic catchment is strongly correlated with HIV prevalence (r = 0.66; p = 0.002). Further research is needed to better understand this relationship both at ecological and individual levels.I develop a methodology that has numerous applications to health systems provision in developing countries where limited physical access to primary health care is a major factor contributing to the poor health of populations. I use an accessibility model within a GIS to subdivide an area into units of equal workload using a range of physical and social variables. The methodology could be used to ergonomically design programmes for home-based care and tuberculosis directly observed treatment. It could also be used as a basis for more efficient distribution of community health workers. I use high-resolution long-term rainfall and temperature data to produce the first malaria seasonality (length, start and end of transmission season(s)) maps for Africa. I relate the model to population data and estimate the population exposure in a variety of transmission settings. I investigate the relationship between predicted length of transmission season and parasite ratio from 2335 geo-referenced studies of children <10 years across Africa. The research is the first to correlate actual malaria survey data with model predictions at a continental scale. The seasonality model corresponds well with historical expert opinion maps and case data. A significant logarithmic relationship is detected between predicted length of transmission season and parasite ratio (r2=0.712, p=0.001). I recompute the changes in the disease likely to occur as a result of global warming. The seasonality model constitutes an important first step towards an estimate of continental intensity of transmission. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, 2000.