L'enclavement des territoires de la Politique de la ville fait l'objet d'un débat. D'un côté, l'image des zones urbaines sensibles comme enclavées est forte dans les discours sur la ville et dans les représentations collectives. D'un autre côté, cet enclavement est nuancé, voire réfuté, par de nombreux chercheurs qui suggèrent de se concentrer sur les facteurs socio-économique de l'exclusion de leurs habitants. Positionnée à « l’entre-deux » entre sciences humaines et sociales et géomatique, cette thèse élabore une méthode générique de mesure de l'enclavement dans les espaces urbains à l'aide d'un système d'information géographique. Nous questionnons ainsi l'apport de la géomatique à une problématique relevant jusque-là de disciplines comme la géographie, la sociologie ou l'urbanisme. Nous entendons l'enclavement comme une situation de faible potentiel de contact avec l'altérité, qui réduit les échanges entre une entité et le reste du territoire, et provoque une mise à l'écart de ses habitants. Nous proposons de distinguer trois dimensions de l'enclavement : la Fermeture, l'Isolement et la Différenciation. Ces trois dimensions structurent notre méthode. Chacune renvoie à des axes de recherche différents – les coupures urbaines, les mobilités piétonnes, la caractérisation de la forme urbaine, l'accessibilité, la mesure de ségrégation – que nous mobilisons pour construire des indicateurs géographiques d'enclavement. Nous appliquons ensuite cette méthode aux zones urbaines sensibles. Cette application spécifique nous permet à la fois de valider notre méthode, en recoupant des résultats connus avec d'autres approches (urbanisme, sociologie), et à la fois de contribuer au débat sur l'enclavement des territoires de la Politique de la ville au moyen d'une approche quantitative / In France, there is a debate in Urban Policies: are the “zones urbaines sensibles”, underprivileged urban areas benefiting from specific public policies, suffering from geographical isolation ? On the one hand, these areas are perceived in collective representations as “enclaves” where inhabitants are blocked in their district. On the other hand, this isolation is nuanced, even refuted, by many researchers who suggest focusing on the socio-economic factors of exclusion.With an approach in between social sciences and geomatics, this PhD thesis develops a generic method of measuring geographical isolation in urban spaces by using a geographic information system. We aims to question the contribution of geomatics to a debate that until then belong to disciplines such as geography, sociology or planning.We define geographical isolation as a situation of weak potential for contact with otherness, which reduces the exchanges between an entity and the rest of the territory, and causes the severance of its inhabitants. We propose to distinguish three dimensions of geographical isolation: Enclosing, Remoteness and Differentiation. These three dimensions give a frame to our method. Each refers to different fields of research – “community severance” or “barrier effect”, pedestrian mobility, characterization of urban form, accessibility, segregation measure – that we mobilize to construct indicators of geographical isolation.We then apply this method to the “zones urbaines sensibles”. This specific application enables us both to validate our method, by combining known results with other approaches (planning, sociology), and both to contribute to the debate on the geographical isolation of the “zones urbaines sensibles” with a quantitative approach

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Understanding of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) and their extent within the Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer is poor. To understand the dependence to basic ecological and hydrogeological concepts need explanation. The use of current literature aided in identification and classification. From the literature it has come clear that groundwater dependence centers around two issues, water source and water use determination. The use of Geographical Information System (GIS) showed its potential in proof of water sources. Rainfall data and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the Uniondale area have been used to do watershed delineation, which is in line with locating GDEs on a landscape. Thus the conceptual approach should be a broad one that sets a basis for both investigation (scientific research) and institutional arrangements (management). On the scientific research aspect: 1) Methods used to ascertain groundwater dependence have been identified and described (for example morphological traits, physiological traits, etc.) a) Use of GIS to delineate watersheds in the Uniondale area, putting it as one of useful methods that can be used in locating GDEs in a landscape. b) Use of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) to create both geological and topographic cross-sections. Topographic cross-sections are important to locate ecosystems along a landscape, while geological cross-sections are useful in conceptualising groundwater flow. 2) The Plant Functional Type concept, which puts together plant species regardless of phylogeny but rather on morphological, phenological and physiological/life history trait similarity, has been suggested as a useful concept for the TMG GDEs. On the management aspect: 1) An ecosystem approach to understand groundwater has been identified and modified to suite the TMG GDE management. 2) A retention strategy useful to manage the TMG GDEs effectively has been suggested. There are knowledge gaps that exist in the TMG aquifer about Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems. Thus there is: • A need to identify GDE types that exist based on their degrees of dependency on groundwater. • A need to classify the GDEs using a PFTconcept. • To compile a trait (morphological, phenological and physiological) database for TMG aquifer GDEs.

This study analyses and interprets the location of the 18 historical execution sites in the Swedish province of Västergötland. The purpose of the study is to analyse eventual patterns in the sites’ locations which could help future research and protection of the sites as well as locating additional sites. The main question is how the placement of execution sites in the landscape relates to previously discussed theories on the selection of the execution sites. The study will be a GIS-based analysis of geographical data, historical maps, and relevant literature in the hope of finding patterns and reasons for the execution sites’ location. The study will use and compare earlier theories regarding the location of execution sites such as being located on heights, near roads and crossroads, boundaries, water, bogs, on unfertile soil and on prehistoric gravesites as well as the locations’ connection to ideas of accessibility and visibility. The results show that execution sites are often located on heights in the landscape, near roads and crossroads, on unfertile soil and near water and bogs. The other criteria, being near boundaries and being located on prehistoric gravesites appear to be less significant for the selection of execution sites of Västergötland.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / The seaweed Gracilaria gracilis has been shown in previous studies to have potential for mariculture along the West Coast of South Africa. However, the selection of suitable sites is crucial for the success of a farming enterprise. The variables important in the success or sustainability of suspended raft culture, and the environmental factors influencing these variables, were identified through a literature review. A suitable site was defined as a site with surface water temperature of between 10 and 17 "C, water depth of between 2 and 10 m below surface, and wave heights of less than 4 m. Data and information about these factors were obtained from sources such as the Sea Fisheries Research Institute, the SADCO database, the CSIR and from volunteers in St Helena Bay. The objectives of this study were to convert available data into formats that could be used in a Geographical Information System (GIS), and to predict suitable and available sites for suspended cultivation of Gracilaria gracilis in Saldanha Bay, Langebaan Lagoon and St. Helena Bay. Data were converted to digital format and data layers created. Each data layer represented suitable and unsuitable areas. Areas with existing mariculture, harbours, ship traffic zones and other uses were excluded to determine the real available areas. The Saldanha Bay-Langebaan lagoon system and St Helena Bay, have sites that show potential for suspended cultivation of G. eracilis. The total sizes of the areas selected as suitable are 975.4 ha in Saldanha Bay and 474.8 ha in St. Helena Bay. Some sites predicted as suitable are located in areas known to be subject to conditions not suitable for seaweed mariculture, and led to the conclusion that the accuracy of input data or method of analysis must be improved.

Nowadays the competition between cities is something very common, especially between cities of different countries. But this competition it can be observed even between cities of the same country or between districts of the same city. Based on this phenomenon municipalities try to change and become more sustainable (socially and environmentally), implement more green spaces in their urban core, create vibrant local environments and launch campaigns in order to create liveable districts, improve their local economy and survive this growing competition. In other words, cities want to become more attractive.In Sweden cities are also part of this global trend and since they are growing economically they try to create an urban environment that is desirable for its citizens. In Stockholm’s Översiktsplan there are different main goals, such as “The growing city (växande stad)” which is analyzed as “An attractive big city” or “Good public spaces (God offentlig miljö)” which is analyzed as “Mixed use urban space”, “Inviting public space”, “Living local centers” leading to the question how do these correlate and how do they affect each other.The reason of this research is to understand what is an attractive area in a city and find out a way to measure attractiveness by using spatial or non-spatial factors who play a major role on how a city is perceived. It is known based on existing research and literature, that many different factors are involved for a place to be considered as attractive, such as the distance from the means of transport, the distance to public amenities, house affordability, vibrant lifestyle, the distance from market places, social equality, the distance from the city center, the proximity to nature and many others, but there is no index that uses all these factors and calculates an attractiveness score.So this research aims in the creation of an attractiveness index, by formulating a lot of different indicators (social, geographic, economic, etc) based on the Översiktsplan goals and the calculation of attractiveness of different areas in Stockholm. The areas are SoFo District in Södermalm, Skarpnäck suburb in the south and Tensta suburb in the north. The main goal of this research is to improve the urban quality in Stockholm by identifying problematic areas, in order to increase the awareness about urban quality and the way to accomplish this research is the use of Multi-Criteria Evaluation in collaboration with Geographic Information Systems.Based on all the above the research question in this thesis will be: How city’s block attractiveness is measured with the use of Multi-Criteria Evaluation and the implementation of Geographic Information Systems?

<p> This research examined the geographic variability as well as the individual-and neighbourhood-level determinants of overweight and obesity in Canada. Overweight and obesity represent a significant public health problem with grave implications for individuals as well as populations. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached epidemic proportions with the most substantial increases observed in economically developed countries. The World Health Organization indicated that globally 1.6 billion adults (age 15+) are overweight and at least 400 million adults were obese. In a Canadian context, recent data from Statistics Canada confirms that over the past twenty-five years, adult obesity rates in Canada have doubled (23% ), while childhood obesity rates have nearly tripled. </p> <p> Until recently, research has focused on biological and behavioural determinants of obesity, and currently there is a great deal of knowledge regarding the relationships between weight status and various risk factors at the individual-level (e.g. age, sex, socioeconomic deprivation, diet, physical activity). However, the majority of existing research has ignored the potential role played by the environment in the development of these conditions, despite a growing consensus that environmental and/or societal constraints may be major influences on increasing prevalence rates. </p> <p> Using data from the Canadian Community Health Surveys and the Desktop Mapping Information Technologies Incorporated spatial database, this research addressed the following objectives: (I) to examine sex-specific spatial patterns of overweight/obesity in Canada as well as investigate the presence of spatial clusters (2) to investigate the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity in Canada using spatial analysis and geographical information systems (GIS) and (3) to identify heterogeneities associated with the relationships between individual and socioenvironmental determinants and overweight and obesity at the individual-and community-levels. </p> <p> Results revealed marked geographical variation in overweight/obesity prevalence with higher values in the Northern and Atlantic health-regions and lower values in the Southern and Western health-regions of Canada. Significant positive spatial autocorrelation was found for both males and females, with significant clusters of high values or 'hot spots' of obesity in the Atlantic and Northern health-regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Results also demonstrate the important role of the built-environment after adjustment demographic, socio-economic and behavioural characteristics. With regard to the built environment measures, landuse mix and residential density were found to be significantly associated with BMI. This study also demonstrated significant differences at the area-level of analysis, supporting related research that has suggested that individual-level factors alone cannot explain variation in obesity rates across space. In particular, average dwelling value was related to BMI independently of individual-level characteristics. Ultimately, this research has demonstrated that Canadian urban environments play a small but significant role in shaping the distribution of BMI. Yet, reversing current trends will require a multifaceted public health approach where interventions are developed from the individual-to the neighbourhood-level, specifically focusing on altering obesogenic environments. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

During recent years green energy has been spoken about a lot, especially whether we have access to it or not and how we should solve the accessibility problem if so. One thing is for sure, whether we aim to rely on green energy or energy production through fossil fuels we are soon running low, at least according to the predictions.    Sweden have had an increasing electricity production from wind energy during the last decade and it is not seeming to slow down. However, if one looks at the energy needed until the year of 2040 one can quite fast realize that the development of energy production facilities must speed up even more. On the other hand, we need to do it in a sustainable way, not compromising other national and public interests. To facilitate this, Energimyndigheten in cooperation with Naturvårdsverket have published a strategy called Nationell strategi för en hållbar vindkraft (National strategy for a sustainable wind power) in which they suggest further regionalization to be carried out by the county administrative board.    Against this background, this analysis investigates the municipalites of Skellefteå, Lycksele and Robertsfors in the county of Västerbotten to find opposing interests to the establishment of windfarms. The analysis is carried out using Geographical information systems (GIS) in which second-hand data is being analyzed through an overlay analysis.  The results indicate that environmental values such as biodiversity etc. and national interests regarding reindeers and Sami are most common in all the municipalities. Also, all the municipalities are considered to have quite good conditions to meet the regional development needs of wind power in the county of Västerbotten. However, further examination of the conditions must be done to determine this. Many interests have a claim on the land use in all the municipalities.   This analysis is a first step to regionalize (municipality level) the national strategy and from my point of view a helpful basis for the municipalities to update their comprehensive plan regarding wind energy. This is necessary to get a sustainable development and to meet the regional development needs of wind energy in Västerbotten county.

The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation comprised of six countries, five of which are classed as having a low development level and one of which is classed as medium. The region has low rates of human development and electrical connectivity but is committed to meeting the universal access and clean energy goals of Sustainable Development Goal 7. This thesis seeks to explore the renewable energy potential of the EAC at a regional level. There is little study of the energy situation of the EAC as a specific region, contrasting this work to the majority of similar analyses that focus on the national or sub-Saharan level. The potential for solar PV and wind power in the EAC was examined through an analysis of existing energy systems, a simplified multi-criteria analysis through geographical information systems, and a comparison with similar work by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The region was shown to have a small but growing electricity sector and a primary energy system dominated by traditional biomass. The mapping analysis identified large areas across all studied countries as potentially suitable for on- or off-grid renewable energy. It also highlighted issues with the results of IRENA’s work in its current form. Solar PV and wind energy potential across the EAC is shown to be high, with a low carbon electricity sector consequently a possibility for the region in the future. / Den Östafrikanska Gemenskapen (EAC) är en mellanstatlig organisation av sex länder. Fem av de länderna har en låg utvecklingsnivå och en är klassificerad som medelnivå. Regionen har låg mänsklig utveckling och tillgång till elkraft men har bestämt att uppfylla globala målen 7: säkerställa tillgång till ekonomiskt överkomlig, tillförlitlig, hållbar och modern energi för alla. Denna uppsats utforskade potentialen för förnybar energi i den EAC på en regional nivå. Potentialen för solenergi och vindkraft i EAC undersöktes genom en analys av befintliga energisystem, en förenklad multikriterianalys genom geografiska informationssystem (GIS) och en jämförelse med liknande arbete från den International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). En liten men växande elsektor och ett primärt energisystem dominerat av traditionell biomassa identifierades i regionen. Kartläggningsanalysen identifierade stora områden i alla studerade länder som lämpliga för förnybar energi på, eller utanför, elnätet. Analysen fann också problem med resultaten från IRENAs arbete med Global Atlas of Renewable Energy projektet. Det finns god potential för sol- och vindkraft i EAC och möjligheten av ett lågkoldioxidenergisystem är diskuterade som en potential framtid för regionen.

Denna kandidatuppsats syftar till att ge insiktsfulla perspektiv på fenomenet järnvägsrelaterade bränder i Sverige. Syftet med denna studie är, genom dataanalysmedel, att utforska i vilken utsträckning tillåtna tåghastigheter, spårens lutning och omgivningen påverkar frekvensen av startade bränder i hela det svenska järnvägssystemet. Geografiska informationssystem (GIS) möjliggör denna studie genom utförandet av analyser över järnvägsnätet i sofistikerade dataprogram. Trafikverket och Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap (MSB) har levererat statistisk och geografiska data som är av yttersta betydelse för genomförandet av denna studie. Kvantitativa metoder och rumsliga analyser används för att undersöka hur sambandet mellan järnvägsrelaterade bränder och en rad yttre faktorer ser ut i Sverige. Resultatet som härstammar från denna studie tyder på ett kausalt samband mellan den största tillåtna hastigheten vid järnvägssträckor och frekvensen rapporterade bränder. Även ett varmare väder i allmänhet, och låg nederbörd i synnerhet, visar ett starkt samband med förekomsten av bränder. Det finns ett svagare samband mellan lutningen på järnvägsspåren och frekvensen rapporterade bränder. Denna studie baseras på rapporterade bränder, det är möjligt att det kan finnas bränder som inte observerats och rapporterats som kan påverka resultatet.

Mozambique is in the process of setting up maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in an attempt to improve access of women living in remote areas. It is expected that MWHs will increase institutional deliveries and consequently, decrease maternal mortality caused by the delay in reaching obstetric care. However, no evidence for this assumption has been found in the literature. The objective of this research was, using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to assess the impact of MWHs in increasing institutional deliveries coverage. GIS technology is a valuable methodology to analyse access, especially in contexts where official records are weak. An ecological study, using a sample of 28 health facilities, was conducted in six districts in northern Mozambique. The findings suggest that MWHs could contribute to increasing institutional deliveries coverage in a range of 4% to 2 %. However, they do not appear to increase access of women living in remote areas. / M.A. (Public Health)