Amidst the backdrop of a for years lasting electricity crisis in South Africa, the study aims to examine the impact of prolonged urban energy infrastructure disruptions on residents on the household level. This investigation will aid a deeper understanding of the interdependencies between infrastructural services, households, and their socio-economic situations in urban landscapes. The study contributes to the literature of urban infrastructural disruptions and explores individual coping mechanisms and resilience strategies of the affected people.  For that, the research poses the following research question: How do urban dwellers react to, are limited by and cope with long-lasting and frequent urban electricity outages in the domestic realm in Cape Town. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of assemblage thinking, social practice theory and the concept of resilience, the thesis takes up a relational approach that emphasizes the complexity of the correlation between electricity networks and the life of urban residents. The researcher conducted seven qualitative in-depth interviews with residents of Cape Town regarding their individual experience with load shedding. The findings have shown that residents actively counteract power outages by assembling alternative energy appliances and the adjustment of routines. It was also visible that the respective socio-economic living situations affected the resilience of residents. Specifically, participants from less affluent backgrounds showed lower resilience in maintaining their usual daily social practices. The paper advocates for the importance of including especially the most vulnerable groups in counter initiatives in a way that would reduce the impact of power outages.

This thesis presents a novel self-powered infrastructural traffic monitoring approach that estimates traffic information by combining three detection techniques. The traffic information can be obtained from the presented approach includes vehicle counts, speed estimation and vehicle classification based on size. Two categories of sensors are used including IR Lidar and IR camera. With the two sensors, three detection techniques are used: Time of Flight (ToF) based, vision based and Laser spot flow based. Each technique outputs observations about vehicle location at different time step. By fusing the three observations in the framework of Kalman filter, vehicle location is estimated, based on which other concerned traffic information including vehicle counts, speed and class is obtained. In this process, high reliability is achieved by combing the strength of each techniques. To achieve self-powering, a dynamic power management strategy is developed to reduce system total energy cost and optimize power supply in traffic monitoring based on traffic pattern recognition. The power manager attempts to adjust the power supply by reconfiguring system setup according to its estimation about current traffic condition. A system prototype has been built and multiple field experiments and simulations were conducted to demonstrate traffic monitoring accuracy and power reduction efficacy. / Master of Science / This thesis presents a novel traffic monitoring system that does not require external power source. The traffic monitoring system is able to collect traffic variables including count, speed and vehicle types. The system uses two types of sensors and implements three different measuring techniques. By combining the results from the three techniques, higher accuracy and reliability is achieved. A power management component is also developed for the system to save energy usage. Based on current or predicted system power state, the power manager selectively deactivates or turns off certain part of the system to reduce power consumption. A system prototype has been built and multiple field experiments and simulations were conducted to demonstrate traffic monitoring accuracy and power reduction efficacy. The experiments have shown that the system achieves high accuracy in every variable estimation and large portion of energy is saved by adopting power management.

<p>U radu je razvijen složeni model vrednovanja i rangiranja varijanti re&scaron;enja koridora infrastrukturnih linijskih objekata. Model karakteri&scaron;e vi&scaron;eakterski i vi&scaron;ekriterijumski pristup. Model je baziran na kriterijumima vrednovanja koji su razvrstani u pravilnu hijerarhiju i čija je relevantnost verifikovana naučnim metodama. Metoda vrednovanja odabrana je inteligentnim pristupom uz pomoć drveta odlučivanja. Model predviđa i analizu osetljivosti odabranog optimalnog re&scaron;enja na promenu težina pojedinih (ili svih) kriterijuma vrednovanja. Naučni doprinos istraživanja ogleda se u primeni AHP metode koja je u Srbiji po prvi put primenjena kao podr&scaron;ka odabiru optimalnog re&scaron;enja koridora infrastrukturnih objekata kao i prikazanoj integraciji sa drugim metodama (stakeholder analiza, anketa, deskriptivna statistika, faktorska analiza).</p> / <p>In this paper a complex model evaluation and ranking of alternative solutions of linear infrastructure corridor structure characterized multi-actor and multi-criteria approach, which is based on the evaluation criteria whose relevance was verified by scientific methods and are sorted in the correct hierarchy. Valuation method chosen is an intelligent approach using the tree decision. The model predicts, and a sensitivity analysis of the selected optimal solution to weight change some (or all) of evaluation criteria. The scientific contribution of the research is the application of AHP method that is in Serbia for the first time applied to support the selection of the optimal solutions corridor infrastructure as shown integration with other methods (stakeholder analysis, survey, descriptive statistics, factor analysis)</p>

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2003.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:09:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 18337196 bytes, checksum: b7b70faf84fb3ae2139e564175792a45 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / One of the problems found in João Pessoa City is the disordered population growth in risky areas and in areas protected by specific legislation, the so-called Subnormal Clusters which, in a general way, is connected to social factors. In the face of this reality, it is necessary to do a bibliographical survey about topics related to socioenviromental and infrastructural aspects that exist at Jaguaribe Basin, area of study, in order to propose the management and planning for river basins through the proposal of actions for several problems, respecting the difficulties and peculiarities of the area, as well as, the integration of scientific and public documents related to the theme, having as the main aim to understand the dynamics of the urban environment and the existing public policies, integrating the various factors that stimulate the area of study. / Um dos problemas encontrados no município de João Pessoa é o crescimento populacional desordenado em áreas de risco e em áreas protegidas por legislação específica, os chamados Aglomerados Subnormais, o que de maneira geral, está ligado a fatores de cunho social. Diante desta realidade, necessário se faz, um levantamento bibliográfico sobre temas relacionados aos aspectos socioambientais e de infraestrutura existentes na Bacia do Jaguaribe, área de estudo, no intuito de propor a gestão e o planejamento por bacias hidrográficas, contribuindo assim, com a proposição de medidas para diversos problemas, respeitando as dificuldades e peculiaridades da área, como também, a integração de documentos públicos e científicos relacionados à temática, tendo como principal intuito compreender a dinâmica do ambiente urbano e as políticas públicas vigentes, integrando os diversos fatores que dinamizam a área de estudo.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Stephanie A. Rolley / Economically insecure times require reduction of energy and land consumption, enhancement of socio-economic and environmental quality of life, and reutilization of neglected existing structures and sites. Traditional planning and design dictates through top-down policy and ordered master planning. In contrast, interactive smart technology simulating human cognitive reactions offers an alternative design framework - an intelligent, adaptive environment – capable of redefining contemporary public open space design. Traversing through the neglected Fifth Ward north of downtown St. Louis, the adaptive reutilization of the abandoned Iron Horse Trestle interurban elevated railroad and subway applies the Sense Respond Adapt Mutate Emerge conceptual framework (the S.R.A.M.E. Strategy) by utilizing existing resources to create an interconnected, emergent open space network. Ten unique sites along the Iron Horse Trestle are initially embedded with sensory devices capable of gathering and synthesizing learned information. The real-time actions translate into physical structural responses. The site specifi c reactions extend outwards as structural adaptations to indeterminate changes from trail users. The evolving structural form connects and mutates the existing structure. Similar to a Choose your own adventure gamebook, the Trestle’s open-ended and reactive programmatic strategies emerge as a series of potential options for future inclusionary, interactive designs. By selectively enhancing, creating, or enabling an open space system reacting to real-time actual user needs over time directly along the Trestle line, the S.R.A.M.E. Strategy offers a potential alternative framework for the indirect revitalization of neglected infrastructural and economic conditions, a residential rejuvenation catalyst, and future socio-economic and ecological sustainable living patterns education tool. The Trestle’s revitalization serves as an education tool critiquing contemporary landscape architecture and general design practice - the static, dictated, and consumptive. Intelligent adaptive environments offer an alternative framework enabling interactive design decision making capabilities to the users as options evolving over time.

Waste, that is any matter whether gaseous, liquid or solid or any combination thereof, originating from any residential, commercial or industrial area identified as undesirable or superfluous by-product, emission, residue or remainder of any process or activity tends to be a hazard to the environment. Waste is generated in all processes which transform materials from one state, form or medium to another. The management of waste in the Sedibeng District Municipality is a very complex problem. There are many reasons for this and these include: the diverse and voluminous waste stream; progressive accumulation of waste in the environment; large numbers of unpermitted waste disposal sites; the severe shortage of hazardous waste disposal sites and shortage of personnel in local municipalities qualified to implement existing legislation. The accumulation of waste in the district not only poses a serious and growing threat to health and quality of life, but also causes infrastructural damage such as the blocking of storm water drains and sewer by litter which ultimately leads to costly road and pavement destruction and increase in maintenance costs. The objective of the study was to investigate waste management activities in the Sedibeng District Municipality and to explore best practices as strategies for recommendations. The Sedibeng District Municipality comprises three local municipalities namely the Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal Local Municipalities. Due to the fact that the Municipality forms part of the industrial hub of the Gauteng Province, there has been an excessive influx of the people into the district and, as a result, more houses had to be built and more normal urban services such as electricity, sanitation, water and waste, had to be provided. The study intended to investigate different waste management strategies that are employed by the three local municipalities that could help reduce the impacts and volumes of waste that are generated by residents before such waste could pollute the environment. A further objective was to explore possible waste reduction mechanisms such as recycling that can help reduce waste volumes before they reach the disposal site. Arising from the problem statement on waste management for this study, it is important that the locus of this study be directed towards the solution of the problem on waste management activities in the Sedibeng District Municipality The following hypothesis was accordingly formulated: Waste management strategies and practices as currently practised in the Sedibeng District Municipality are obsolete, outdated and inadequate to attain a cleaner environment and as a result, there is a need to explore the development of more cost effective strategies in waste management. Comparative study of the different strategies that are employed in the three local municipalities as well as the challenges they face when providing the required service, were made. Similar study was applied to the achievements that are recorded as findings of the study. The challenges and success stories highlighted in the study were found through the use of questionnaires that were distributed to respondents in the three local municipalities. Questionnaires for the study were compiled for both councilors and municipal officials. The research instruments for the study included questionnaires, interviews and consultations with members of the community. Further technique was participant observation, the researcher being responsible for the provision of refuse removal services to the Evaton and Sebokeng communities. Amongst others, it was found that: discrepancies existed in the waste management processes and these include the following: • There was a serious problem of personnel shortage in municipalities as a result of financial constraints that led to nonreplacement of personnel who went on retirement, resigned or died; • Existing equipment do not compliment the growing population figures as well as the sizes of the municipality and as a result, residents opted to dump waste at their backyards as an alternative procedure for disposal of waste from their homes, and • Problems attributed to illegal dumping increase each day and their resolution will be a function of implementation of compliance with legislation. • Community awareness of refuse collection schedule is at minimum, a situation which leads to illegal dumping of waste, and • Tariff on refuse removal is deemed to be prohibitive to African residential areas. The study ends with recommendations for management action on waste, and for further research. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Public Management and Administration))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

Waste, that is any matter whether gaseous, liquid or solid or any combination thereof, originating from any residential, commercial or industrial area identified as undesirable or superfluous by-product, emission, residue or remainder of any process or activity tends to be a hazard to the environment. Waste is generated in all processes which transform materials from one state, form or medium to another. The management of waste in the Sedibeng District Municipality is a very complex problem. There are many reasons for this and these include: the diverse and voluminous waste stream; progressive accumulation of waste in the environment; large numbers of unpermitted waste disposal sites; the severe shortage of hazardous waste disposal sites and shortage of personnel in local municipalities qualified to implement existing legislation. The accumulation of waste in the district not only poses a serious and growing threat to health and quality of life, but also causes infrastructural damage such as the blocking of storm water drains and sewer by litter which ultimately leads to costly road and pavement destruction and increase in maintenance costs. The objective of the study was to investigate waste management activities in the Sedibeng District Municipality and to explore best practices as strategies for recommendations. The Sedibeng District Municipality comprises three local municipalities namely the Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal Local Municipalities. Due to the fact that the Municipality forms part of the industrial hub of the Gauteng Province, there has been an excessive influx of the people into the district and, as a result, more houses had to be built and more normal urban services such as electricity, sanitation, water and waste, had to be provided. The study intended to investigate different waste management strategies that are employed by the three local municipalities that could help reduce the impacts and volumes of waste that are generated by residents before such waste could pollute the environment. A further objective was to explore possible waste reduction mechanisms such as recycling that can help reduce waste volumes before they reach the disposal site. Arising from the problem statement on waste management for this study, it is important that the locus of this study be directed towards the solution of the problem on waste management activities in the Sedibeng District Municipality The following hypothesis was accordingly formulated: Waste management strategies and practices as currently practised in the Sedibeng District Municipality are obsolete, outdated and inadequate to attain a cleaner environment and as a result, there is a need to explore the development of more cost effective strategies in waste management. Comparative study of the different strategies that are employed in the three local municipalities as well as the challenges they face when providing the required service, were made. Similar study was applied to the achievements that are recorded as findings of the study. The challenges and success stories highlighted in the study were found through the use of questionnaires that were distributed to respondents in the three local municipalities. Questionnaires for the study were compiled for both councilors and municipal officials. The research instruments for the study included questionnaires, interviews and consultations with members of the community. Further technique was participant observation, the researcher being responsible for the provision of refuse removal services to the Evaton and Sebokeng communities. Amongst others, it was found that: discrepancies existed in the waste management processes and these include the following: • There was a serious problem of personnel shortage in municipalities as a result of financial constraints that led to nonreplacement of personnel who went on retirement, resigned or died; • Existing equipment do not compliment the growing population figures as well as the sizes of the municipality and as a result, residents opted to dump waste at their backyards as an alternative procedure for disposal of waste from their homes, and • Problems attributed to illegal dumping increase each day and their resolution will be a function of implementation of compliance with legislation. • Community awareness of refuse collection schedule is at minimum, a situation which leads to illegal dumping of waste, and • Tariff on refuse removal is deemed to be prohibitive to African residential areas. The study ends with recommendations for management action on waste, and for further research. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Public Management and Administration))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

MPM / Oliver Reginald Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies.

Thesis (LLM. (Development and Management Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / This mini-dissertation articulates the socio-economic challenges faced by South Africans, such as poverty, unemployment and lack of infrastructural development. The mini- dissertation establishes that tourism is an engine that drives socioeconomic transformation thus elimination poverty, creating employment and bringing about infrastructural development. It highlights tourism law, policies and international instruments that ensure that factors such as environmental protection, travelling, skills development, and so on ensure that tourism is promoted and thrives to transform the lives of historically disadvantaged South Africans. It identifies tourism impediments that stand as obstacles hindering tourism to provide socio-economic transformation and makes a moderate attempt to offer sustainable solutions. It recommends that the Department of Tourism through co-operative governance with other organs of state should strengthen implementation of legislation, institutions and policies vested within its power to ensure that tourism is developed to create employment and alleviate poverty. As a comparative analysis the approaches of Australia and Canada were utilised and useful lessons were drawn from them.