Soil erosion is a major global environmental problem that is increasing year by year in Turkey. Preventing soil erosion requires political, economic and technical actions / before these actions we must learn properties and behaviors of our soil resources. The aims of this study are to estimate annual soil loss rates of a watershed with integrated models within GIS framework and to map the soil erosion risk for a complex terrain. In this study, annual soil loss rates are estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) that has been used for five decades all over the world. The main problem in estimating the soil loss rate is determining suitable slope length parameters of USLE for complex terrains in grid based approaches. Different algorithms are evaluated for calculating slope length parameters of the study area namely Kocadere Creek Watershed, which can be considered as a complex terrain. Hickey&amp / #8217 / s algorithm gives more reliable topographic factor values than Mitasova&amp / #8217 / s and Moore&amp / #8217 / s. Satellite image driven cover and management parameter (C) determination is performed by scaling NDVI values to approximate C values by using European Soil Bureau&amp / #8217 / s formula. After the estimation of annual soil loss rates, watershed is mapped into three different erosion risk classes (low, moderate, high) by using two different classification approaches: boolean and fuzzy classifications. Fuzzy classifications are based on (I) only topographic factor and, (II) both topographic and C factors of USLE. By comparing three different classified risk maps, it is found that! in the study area topography dominates erosion process on bare soils and areas having sparse vegetation.

A number of approaches of assessment associated with IS effectiveness have been examined, fundamental guidelines for research in this area have been derived, and a novel model of IS effectiveness has been proposed. A process based assessment method (PB-ISAM) based on the proposed effectiveness model has been elaborated. The new model and the new assessment method have been evaluated via three case studies. Specific implications have been drawn concerning the relationships between processes and the information system assessed. The three case studies have provided insight into the IS effectiveness field and for future work.

台灣因地理位置、氣候與地形等因素，孕育了豐富的森林資源。林務局廣設永久樣區以瞭解森林資源之分布與蓄積情形，永久樣區每隔五年進行全面性調查，調查所得資料繁多，惟永久樣區之植物資源調查資料僅記錄樣區之坐標位置與樣區內植物之分布情形，並未建立相關圖面資料，以至於無法與其他圖籍資料進行套疊分析。 本研究以MapServer、Zope等自由軟體與自行開發之軟體工具，處理圖形與相關屬性資料，以建構符合OGC（Open Geospatial Consortium）提出之網路地圖服務（Web Map Service，WMS）與網路圖徵服務（Web Feature Service，WFS）規格的WebGIS伺服端系統，並且整合各項森林資源表簿調查資料與圖籍資料，建構一包含森林永久樣區與樣木之空間與屬性資料的森林資源調查管理系統，以提供管理者經營管理與規劃之良好工具。 / There are plentiful forest resources in Taiwan because of the unique geographic location, climate and terrain. In order to acquire the information of distribution and storage of forest resources, the Forest Bureau sets up a lot of sample plots, and these sample plots will be fully surveyed every five years. Numerous data were collected, however only the coordinates of sample plots and the distribution of vegetation within those sample plots were recorded. It is not possible to perform map overlay analysis with the other map data because of lacking spatial data of sample plots. In this research, a WebGIS (web-based GIS) system was developed entirely from free software including MapServer, Zope, Apache and PostgreSQL/PostGIS. This WebGIS system is based on the OGC OpenGIS architecture (WMS and WFS), therefore it is easy to share geospatial data with the other GIS systems for various applications. Furthermore, a forest resources management system was established, which integrates the attribute data from field investigation and generates spatial data of sample plots and sample trees automatically.

The general aim of this research is to investigate approaches to: •improve small area market demand (i.e. SAMD) prediction accuracy for the purchase of automobiles at the level of each Census Collection District (i.e. CCD); and •enhance understanding of meso-level marketing phenomena (i.e. geographically aggregated phenomena) relating to SAMD. Given the importance of SAMD prediction, and the limitations posed by current methods, four research questions are addressed: •What are the key challenges in meso-level SAMD prediction? •What variables affect SAMD prediction? •What techniques can be used to improve SAMD prediction? •What is the value of integrating these techniques to improve SAMD prediction? To answer these questions, possible solutions from two broad areas are examined: spatial analysis and data mining. The research is divided into two main studies. In the first study, a seven-step modelling process is developed for SAMD prediction. Several sets of models are analysed to examine the modelling techniques’ effectiveness in improving the accuracy of SAMD prediction. The second study involves two cases to: 1) explore the integration of these techniques and their advantages in SAMD prediction; and 2) gain insights into spatial marketing issues. The case study of Peugeot in the Sydney metropolitan area shows that urbanisation and geo-marketing factors can have a more important role in SAMD prediction than socio-demographic factors. Furthermore, results show that modelling spatial effects is the most important aspect of this prediction exercise. The value of the integration of techniques is in compensating for the weaknesses of conventional techniques, and in providing complementary and supplementary information for meso-level marketing analyses. Substantively, significant spatial variation and continuous patterns are found with the influence of key studied variables. The substantive implications of these findings have a bearing on both academic and managerial understanding. Also, the innovative methods (e.g. the SAMD modelling process and the model cube based technique comparison) developed from this research make significant contributions to marketing research methodology.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2004. / "Submitted as fulfilling the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree"-- t.p. "March 2004" Includes bibliographic references.

A exploração indiscriminada da vegetação natural e sucessivas alterações nas leis ambientais contribuíram para colocar grande parte dos produtores rurais em situação irregular no Brasil. Em 2012 após dois anos de negociações, o parlamento brasileiro aprovou novas mudanças no Código Florestal, que reduziu o passivo de vegetação natural acumulado. Entretanto, publicações recentes indicam que, mesmo com as novas alterações, o país ainda apresenta o passivo entre 17 e 21 Mha (milhões de hectares) que precisa ser recomposto. A redação atual do Código Florestal criou uma nova alternativa de regularização por meio de um dispositivo legal (Art. 68 - Lei Federal nº 12.651/2012), que permite avaliar a conformidade das áreas agrícolas de acordo com a lei em vigor no período de abertura da terra. Os possíveis resultados desse dispositivo sobre o passivo ambiental é, no entanto, ainda desconhecido. Objetivou-se com esse trabalho desenvolver uma metodologia capaz de relacionar os principais anos em que ocorreram mudanças nas leis ambientais com a abertura de novas áreas agropecuárias, sobretudo expor os possíveis cenários desse dispositivo sobre o passivo em RL, por meio de modelagem e geoprocessamento. A metodologia foi dividida em duas etapas complementares. Na primeira etapa estimou-se o passivo de vegetação natural nos imóveis rurais, de acordo com o Código Florestal, e na segunda etapa metodológica reconstruiu-se o histórico do uso das terras para o período entre 1940 e 2001 e aplicou-se as restrições legais em diferentes décadas. Foram avaliados quatro períodos (antes de 1934, 1934-1965, 1965-1989 e 1989-2001), sob dois cenários (considerar e não considerar as pastagens naturais), bem como um cenário de isenção na proteção da vegetação nativa no bioma Cerrado para o período (1965-1989). As pastagens naturais se consideradas como vegetação nativa restrita ao uso, influenciam diretamente a necessidade de recomposição, principalmente nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Os resultados obtidos indicam um cenário potencial (máximo e mínimo) de redução na área a ser recomposta de vegetação nativa em Reserva Legal. Do passivo atual de 15,2 Mha calculado na primeira etapa, pode ser reduzido em no máximo 79% e no mínimo 52% com o dispositivo legal (Art. 68). / The indiscriminate exploitation of natural vegetation and several changes in environmental laws contributed to place a large number of rural producers in an illegal condition in Brazil. In 2012 after two years of negotiations, the Brazilian parliament approved new changes on the Forest Code, which had the effect of reducing the liability of natural vegetation accumulated. However, recent publications indicate that, even with the new changes, the country still presents a liability between 17 and 21 Mha (millions hectares) that requires reset. The current wording of forest code created a new alternative of regularization through a legal device (Art. 68 - Federal Law no. 12.651/2012), which allows the evaluation of agricultural areas compliance according to law in effect at the time of land clearing. The possible outcomes of this device on current environmental liability is, nevertheless, still unknown. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology able of relate the main years that occurred changes in environmental laws with the opening of new agricultural areas, especially to expose potential scenarios that device over liabilities in LR, through modeling and geoprocessing. The methodology was divided into two complementary steps. The first step estimates liability of natural vegetation in private areas according to current environmental legislation, and the second methodological step reconstructs historical land use for the period 1940-2001 and implement legal restrictions in different decades. We evaluated four periods (before 1934, 1934-1965, 1965-1989 and 1989-2001) under two scenarios (consider and not consider the natural pastures), as well as a scenario for exemption the Cerrado biome from native vegetation protection for the period (1965 - 1989). The natural pastures if considered as native vegetation directly influence the need for restoration, especially in the South and Southeast regions. Results indicate a potential (maximum and minimum) scenario reduction in the area of vegetation to be restored in legal reserve. The current liability of 15.2 Mha calculated in the first step is reduced a maximum of 79% and a minimum of 52% by using the (Art. 68) legal device.

This study aims to make a temporal and spatial analysis of condemnation post mortem partial and total of chickens in a slaughterhouse of Federal inspection located in the West of Santa Catarina. The data basis used in the presented study was daily register of occurrences of condemnation of chickens in the period that starts in september, 2006 and goes until august, 2007 following the criteria of sentences stetted by the Federal Inspection Service. Descriptive analysis based on measures of frequency distribution and tendency analysis through time series techniques with the use of moving average was defined to the temporal analysis of condemnations. The special analysis was accomplished trough Geographic Information System (GIS) for the store, organization and manipulation of the Federal inspection data, as well as the use of geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) of each production s unit and the georreferenced map from the study s area to the specialization of the producers and from the pathological condemnation that has higher occurrence. The results demonstrated that the temporal analysis of the condemnation through moving average for the gathering of three to three months diminish data s dispersion in the distribution of the monthly frequency and define best the tendency of each factor of condemnation studied. In the spatial analysis, SIG allowed the specific localization from each producer, the origin of the lots slaughtered, the incidence in which the condemnation occurred in each lot, spatial localization from each condemnation, the viewing form the areas of higher concentration and intensity and also the monthly behavior that every pathology presented. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar uma análise temporal e espacial de condenações post mortem parciais e totais de frangos em um matadouro-frigorífico de Inspeção Federal localizado na região Oeste do estado de Santa Catarina. Os dados utilizados na presente pesquisa foram registros de ocorrências diárias de condenações de frangos no período de setembro de 2006 à agosto de 2007, obedecendo aos critérios de condenações estipulados pelo S.I.F (Serviço de Inspeção Federal). Analises descritiva com medidas de distribuição de freqüência e análises de tendência por meio de técnicas de séries temporais com uso de médias móveis foram realizadas para a análise temporal das condenações. Para a análise espacial foi utilizado um Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG) para o armazenamento, organização e manipulação dos dados do S.I.F., bem como a utilização das coordenadas geográficas (latitude e longitude) de cada unidade de produção e o mapa georreferenciado da região de estudo para a espacialização dos produtores e das condenações patológicas de maior ocorrência. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a análise temporal das condenações através das médias móveis pelo agrupamento de três em três meses diminuíram a dispersão dos dados na distribuição de freqüência mensal e definiram melhor a tendência de cada fator de condenação estudado. Na análise espacial, o uso do SIG permitiu localização pontual de cada produtor integrado, origem dos lotes abatidos, incidência em que as condenações ocorreram em cada lote, localização espacial de cada condenação, visualização de áreas de maior concentração e intensidade e o comportamento mensal que cada patologia apresentou.

As discussões relacionadas às temáticas ambientais vêm tomando amplo espaço na sociedade nos últimos anos. No Brasil, um dos grandes reflexos que pôde ser observado foi à discussão em torno do Código Florestal (Lei Federal 12.651, de 25 de maio de 2012). Nesta discussão, um dos pontos mais polêmicos foram às novas definições em relação às Áreas de Preservação Permanente às margens dos cursos hídricos que, da mesma forma que ocorria na Lei Federal 4.771, de 15 de setembro de 1965, estão associadas a parâmetros métricos, que tomam por ponto de partida a largura dos cursos hídricos. No congresso nacional, duas forças bem demarcadas travaram uma longa batalha: o grupo dos ambientalistas, buscando resguardar condições mínimas de preservação e conservação ambiental e, o grupo dos ruralistas, que tomou por bandeira a produção de alimentos (e a sua falta) caso não se ocupasse a totalidade das áreas das propriedades rurais. Neste sentido, o objetivo geral da presente tese foi o de estruturar uma metodologia que considerasse os elementos da paisagem e do zoneamento ambiental como ferramentas para a definição dos parâmetros a serem adotados para a delimitação das Áreas de Preservação Permanente relacionadas ao entorno dos cursos hídricos, em distintas áreas da bacia hidrográfica do arroio Taquari-Miracatu, no sudoeste do Rio Grande do Sul, servindo como base para a estruturação de políticas públicas, normas técnicas e diretrizes de aplicação, que visem atender a diversidade socioeconômica e ambiental do território brasileiro. Para alcançar tal objetivo, buscou-se suporte teórico e metodológico nos conceitos de zoneamento ambiental e paisagem. A tese foi estruturada em níveis taxonômicos de análise, partindo da região hidrográfica do rio Uruguai, passando pelas bacias hidrográficas do rio Ibicuí e do arroio Taquari-Miracatu, até chegar às cinco áreas amostrais definidas como laboratório para a aplicação da metodologia em proposição. Como resultado desta análise e aplicação, foi possível verificar que os parâmetros legais hoje existentes, que se aplicam sobre as áreas amostrais, apresentam uma variação métrica de 30 a 50 metros a partir de cada margem do curso hídrico, o que não garante a função que as áreas ciliares devem exercer. Os resultados apresentados pela tese demonstram que, considerando parâmetros como solos, planícies fluviais e aluviais, usos do solo entre outros, esta distância pode chegar a mais de 1000 metros contados da margem do curso hídrico. O uso das geotecnologias foi um importante ferramental para a elaboração tanto do zoneamento ambiental como da própria definição das APPs. Como possibilidades futuras, cabem a busca por um procedimento metodológico que possa atender as demandas estaduais e nacionais bem como a integração de dados socioeconômicos com o intuito de qualificar o zoneamento a ser elaborado. / The discussions related to the environmental issues are taking ample space in society in recent years. In Brazil, one of the great reflexes that could be observed was the discussion on the Forest Code (Federal Law 12,651, of May 25, 2012). In this discussion, one of the most controversial points were the new definitions in relation to permanent preservation areas along the water courses, just as occurred in Federal Law 4771, of September 15, 1965, are associated with metric parameters, which It takes as its starting point the width of the rivers. At the national congress, two well demarcated forces fought a long battle: the group of environmentalists, seeking to safeguard the minimum conditions of environmental preservation and conservation, and the group of large farmers, who took the flag food production (and its lack) if not to occupy all the areas of rural properties. So, the general aim of this thesis was to design a methodology to consider the elements of landscape and environmental zoning as a tool for defining the parameters to be adopted for the delimitation of permanent preservation areas related to the environment of water courses, in different areas of the watershed of the Taquari-Miracatu basin in southwestern Rio Grande do Sul, serving as a basis for structuring public policies, technical standards and application guidelines, which aim to meet the socioeconomic and environmental diversity of Brazil. To achieve this goal, it sought theoretical and methodological support the concepts of environmental zoning and landscape. and methodological support the concepts of environmental zoning and landscape. The thesis was structured in taxonomic levels of analysis, started on the Uruguay River hidrological region, through the watershed of the river Ibicuí and Taquari-Miracatu, until you reach at the five sampling areas defined as a laboratory for the application of the methodology being proposed. As a result of this analysis and application, we found that today's existing legal parameters, which are applied to the sample areas, have a measuring range of 30 to 50 meters from each edge of the water course, which does not guarantee the function of the riparian areas. The results presented by the thesis show that, considering parameters such as soil, floodplains, land use and others, this distance can reach over 1000 meters counted from the edge of the water course. The use of geotechnology was an important tools for the development of both environmental zoning as the very definition of the APPs. As future research possibilities, fit the search for a methodological procedure that can meet local and national demands and the integration of socio-economic data in order to qualify the zoning to be prepared.

La présente recherche a pour objectif de définir l'influence que peut avoir le management des risques de la supply chain aval sur la performance des entreprises agro-industrielles. Elle adopte une démarche comparative internationale entre le Cameroun (pays en développement) et la France (pays développé) pour scruter les concepts habituellement développés en amont de la supply chain (entreprise - fournisseur). Fondée sur le réalisme scientifique, deuxième courant post-positiviste, elle allie la théorie au terrain d'application pour appréhender les concepts inobservables. Sur la base d'une combinaison des données qualitatives obtenues à travers des entretiens semi-directifs auprès des manageurs de la supply chain, et quantitatives obtenues via l'administration d'un questionnaire sur des échantillons d'entreprises, elle examine les liens entre les construits envisagés. Ceci à travers l’analyse du contenu lexical et l'analyse par les équations structurelles à l’aide de la méthode des moindres carrées partiels (Partial Last Square, PLS). Il ressort des différentes analyses que le management des risques stratégiques influence positivement et significativement la performance des entreprises agro-industrielles. Ce lien est à la fois direct et indirect via la relation client. Par contre, le management des risques opérationnels entretien une relation négative mais non significative avec la performance. De même, la relation entretenue avec la clientèle influence négativement la performance contrairement à la théorie. Mais le management des risques stratégiques et une partie des risques opérationnels (prévisions) influencent significativement la relation client de l'entreprise. Cette relation est modérée par l'implémentation des systèmes d'information efficaces. Les promotions de vente n'influencent pas le lien relation client - performance, mais constituent un antécédent de la relation client de l'entreprise. Ces résultats proposent sur le plan théorique, une autre lecture de la théorie des coûts de transaction et de l’agence à travers l’impact positif du management de la sous-traitance sur la performance. De même la recherche suggère de ne pas isoler certains construits lorsqu'on envisage une recherche sur la théorie de la supply chain. Sur le plan managérial, les managers doivent se départir des activités dont ils ne sont pas détenteurs des compétences clés telles que les activités de transport à travers un développement des partenariats avec les LSP. Ils doivent aussi privilégier l'implémentation des systèmes d'information efficaces, ce qui constitue un gage de réussite dans l'orientation client de l'entreprise. Les recherches postérieures pourront s'intéresser à intégrer, à côté du CRM, les aspects de confiance, d'avantage concurrentiel, de la qualité du produit dans le modèle pour obtenir une meilleure mesure de leur impact sur la performance financière et non financière de l’entreprise. / This research aim to determine the influence of downstream supply chain risk management on performance of agro-industrial firms. It adopts an international comparative investigation between developing economy (Cameroon) and developed economy (France) to examine the concepts actually improved upstream of the supply chain. Based on scientific realism, the second post-positivist paradigm, it combines theory with field investigation to understand unobservable constructs. Using a combination of qualitative data obtained through semi-direct interviews with supply chain managers, and quantitative data obtained through the survey of agro-industrial companies’ sample, it examines the possible links between Constructs. This is done through the lexical analysis and by the Structural Equation Modeling using the Partial Least Square method (PLS). Results show that strategic risks management positively and significantly influences the performance of agro-industrial firms. This link is both direct and indirect through customer relations. On the other hand, the operational risks management negatively (but not significantly) affects performance. Similarly, the customer relationship negatively affects firm performance, the contrary of theoretical predictions. But the management of strategic risks and part of the operational risks (forecasts) significantly influence the company's customer relationship. This relationship is moderated by the implementation of effective information systems. Sales promotions do not affect the relationship between customer and performance, but are antecedent of the customer relationship of foods companies These results propose another theoretical perspective of transaction costs and agency theories through the positive impact of outsourcing management on performance. Similarly, research suggests to not isolating certain constructs when considering a research on supply chain theory. From managerial implications, managers must divest themselves of activities where they do not possess key competences such as transport activities through the development of partnerships with LSPs. They must also privilege the implementation of effective information systems as a guarantee of success in the customer orientation of the company. Subsequent research may focus on integrating aspects of trust, competitive advantage, and product quality into the model, in order to better measure their impact on the financial and non-financial performance of CRM.

Vulnerability to weather-related hazards is a considerable humanitarian, economic and environmental concern for cities, especially in developing countries. However, there is a limited understanding of urban vulnerability and its specific implications. This study assesses the spatio-temporal vulnerability caused by climatic and societal change in Chile’s key coastal urban areas. In this urban vulnerability assessment, both regional and local approaches were undertaken, the former to give a broad sense of the possible futures that these cities face and the latter to explore, using all available and reliable data, how climatic and societal change affected one of these metropolitan areas. For the time points 2025, 2055 and 2085, the regional assessment shows that vulnerability is likely to vary across different scenarios and time frames. A significant future increase in exposure to hazards is mainly moderated, to a greater or lesser extent, by an increase in the adaptive capacity of the cities in question. Cities in central and southern Chile are more vulnerable. The local assessment provides a detailed evaluation of recent past vulnerabilities in the Concepción Metropolitan Area (CMA). In the local assessment, an urban indicator framework was first designed and then employed to explore changes in exposure and sensitivity of areas within CMA and the general ability of the urban system to adapt to different hazards. Five weather-related hazards were explored: coastal flooding, fluvial flooding, water scarcity, heat stress and wildfire, using a flexible methodology based on spatial fuzzy modelling with geographic information systems. Hazard-specific vulnerability and overall vulnerability indices were created. The local assessment results indicate a high vulnerability in the CMA that decreased slightly between 1992 and 2002. The combined socio-economic factors of sensitivity and adaptive capacity influenced the index more than the biophysical factors of exposure. Changes in age structure and economic growth had a greater influence on vulnerability that other variables. Overall vulnerability varied across municipalities and hazards, with wildfires and water scarcity influencing overall vulnerability the most. Fuzzy modelling enabled realism and flexibility in the standardization and aggregation of indicators with different attributes. It permitted the exploration of the individual and aggregate influence of the indicators that comprise the indices. ArcGIS software favoured transparency and simplicity in the aggregation of multiple entry criteria, facilitating spatial representation through maps, which can help identify indicators, components and hazards or combinations thereof that influence municipal vulnerability. The results can be used to improve and promote dialogue among policy-makers and stakeholders regarding the prioritization of resources for urban development in ways that can reduce vulnerability to climate change.