Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Vita. Title from PDF title page (January 15, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-70)

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Nov. 21, 2008). Includes bibliographical references.

As florestas se apresentam como a melhor cobertura do solo para a manutenção da qualidade natural das águas superficiais, proporcionando serviços ecossistêmicos de regulação e provisão desse recurso. A conversão de florestas em usos antrópicos tende a reduzir a qualidade da água, devido ao aporte de nutrientes e sedimentos provenientes da movimentação e manejo do solo. A presença de vegetação na área ripária pode reduzir esses efeitos, através da prestação de alguns serviços de proteção dos corpos d\'água. O objetivo deste trabalho foi detectar a influência da mata ciliar na composição físico-química da água em microbacias agrícolas. O trabalho foi dividido em duas partes, a primeira buscou avaliar o estado da vegetação florestal na área de estudo e o seu potencial na prestação de serviços e a segunda parte avaliar o efeito da vegetação em parâmetros físico-químicos da água. As unidades de estudo foram definidas na bacia do rio Corumbataí, a partir do mapeamento do uso do solo do ano de 2000 pelo método de amostragem adaptativa, onde as unidades deveriam apresentar um mínimo de 70% de matriz e 10% de cobertura florestal. Foram selecionadas seis unidades de 16 km2, três unidades com matriz de pasto e três unidades com matriz de cana-de-açúcar. Com as unidades definidas foram realizados os mapeamentos por fotointerpretação para cinco datas (1962, 1978, 1995, 2000 e 2008), a partir desse mapeamento foi possível calcular as mudanças do uso do solo e índices para os fragmentos florestais identificando sua trajetória. Também foram utilizados mapas de solos e geologia, e realizado o mapeamento do relevo para reconhecimento dos aspectos físicos e químicos do terreno. Sete microbacias, de primeira a segunda ordem de drenagem, foram selecionadas e tiveram amostras de água coletadas durante um ano, quinzenalmente, para análise dos parâmetros físico-químicos da água. As diferenças na ocupação do uso do solo e na trajetória dos fragmentos florestais entre as matrizes foram avaliadas através da Análise de Variância e as diferenças entre as variáveis da água foram avaliadas através do teste nãoparamétrico de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney. Os resultados mostraram que a vegetação florestal nas unidades tem aumentado nos últimos anos, dando indícios ao inicio de uma fase de regeneração, conhecida como a segunda fase da transição florestal, porém apenas estudos futuros poderão confirmar essa análise. As matrizes apresentam similaridade em relação à área ocupada por floresta, porém a trajetória dessas florestas foi diferente. O potencial de prestação de serviços por essas florestas em relação à proteção dos riachos é relativamente baixo, onde através da metodologia utilizada foi possível observar que apenas 1/3 da vegetação florestal apresenta-se adequada para a prestação de serviços. A cana-de-açúcar promove o aumento de nitrogênio no riacho, enquanto a pastagem apresenta concentração maior de carbono orgânico dissolvido. A floresta ripária é essencial para a manutenção do ecossistema aquático e está contribuindo para o aumento da concentração de alguns nutrientes na água. / Forests present themselves as the best land use for maintaining the quality of natural surface water, providing ecosystem services of provision and regulation for this resource. The conversion of forests to anthropogenic uses tends to reduce the quality of waters due the nutrients and sediment inputs from moving and soil management. The presence of vegetation in the riparian area can reduce these effects by providing some services as the protection of water bodies. The aim of this study was to detect the influence of riparian vegetation on water physico-chemical composition in agricultural watersheds. The work was divided into two parts, the first sought to evaluate the state of the forest vegetation in the study area and its potential in providing services and the second part to assess the effect of vegetation on physico-chemical parameters of the water. The study units were defined in Corumbataí river basin, from a mapping of the land use in 2000 by adaptive sampling method, where the units should have a minimum 70% matrix and 10% forest cover. Were selected six units of 16 km2, three units with pasture matrix and three units with sugar cane matrix. With the units defined mappings were performed by photointerpretation for five dates (1962, 1978, 1995, 2000 and 2008), from this mapping was possible to calculate the changes in land use and some indices for forest fragments. Were also used maps of soils and geology, and the mapping of relief for recognition of physical and chemical aspects of the terrain. Seven watersheds, from first to second order, were selected and water samples were collected during one year, biweekly, for the analysis of physico-chemical parameters of the water. Differences in occupation of land use and the trajectory of forest fragments between matrices were evaluated using analysis of variance and differences between water variables were assessed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that the forest vegetation cover has increased in recent years, giving evidence the beginning of a regeneration phase, known as the second stage of forest transition, but only future studies can confirm this analysis. The matrices exhibit similarity to the area occupied by forest, however, the trajectories of these forests were different. The potential of services by these forests in relation to protection of streams is relatively low, which through the methodology it was observed that only 1/3 of the forest has been considered appropriate for the provision of services. The sugar cane promotes the increase of nitrogen in the stream, while the pasture has higher concentration of dissolved organic carbon. The riparian forest is essential to the maintenance of the aquatic ecosystem. The forests are contributing to the increase in the concentration of some nutrients in the water.

Nowadays, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), about 40% of the population is urban and this region is expected to face the highest growth rates during the next decades. By 2100, the three most populated cities in the world will be located in SSA. As a consequence of the extremely fast transformations experienced during the last decades, SSA cities are facing social and environmental issues combined with a lack of financial means and capacity in urban planning and management. The poorest often constitute a large part of the urban population that is extremely vulnerable to health and disaster risks.In SSA cities, up-to-date and spatially detailed geographic information is often missing. This lack of information is an important issue for many scientific studies focusing on different urban issues and there is a real need to improve the availability of geoinformation for these cities in order to support urban planning, urban management, environment monitoring, epidemiology or risk assessment, etc. The work presented in this thesis aims to develop different frameworks for the production of geoinformation. For this purpose, advantage is taken of Very-High Resolution Remote Sensing imagery (0.5 meters) and open-source software. These frameworks implement cutting-edge methods and can handle a large amount of data in a semi-automated fashion to produce maps covering very large areas of interest. In the spirit of open science, the processing chains are entirely based on open-source software and are released publicly in open-access for any interested researchers, in order to make the methods developed completely transparent and in order to contribute to the creation of a pool of common tools and scientific knowledge. These frameworks are used to produce very detailed land-cover and land-use maps that provide essential information such as the built-up density, or the fact that a neighborhood is residential or not. This detailed geoinformation is then used as indicators of presence of populated places to improve existing population models at the intra-urban level. / Option Géographie du Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

As florestas se apresentam como a melhor cobertura do solo para a manutenção da qualidade natural das águas superficiais, proporcionando serviços ecossistêmicos de regulação e provisão desse recurso. A conversão de florestas em usos antrópicos tende a reduzir a qualidade da água, devido ao aporte de nutrientes e sedimentos provenientes da movimentação e manejo do solo. A presença de vegetação na área ripária pode reduzir esses efeitos, através da prestação de alguns serviços de proteção dos corpos d\'água. O objetivo deste trabalho foi detectar a influência da mata ciliar na composição físico-química da água em microbacias agrícolas. O trabalho foi dividido em duas partes, a primeira buscou avaliar o estado da vegetação florestal na área de estudo e o seu potencial na prestação de serviços e a segunda parte avaliar o efeito da vegetação em parâmetros físico-químicos da água. As unidades de estudo foram definidas na bacia do rio Corumbataí, a partir do mapeamento do uso do solo do ano de 2000 pelo método de amostragem adaptativa, onde as unidades deveriam apresentar um mínimo de 70% de matriz e 10% de cobertura florestal. Foram selecionadas seis unidades de 16 km2, três unidades com matriz de pasto e três unidades com matriz de cana-de-açúcar. Com as unidades definidas foram realizados os mapeamentos por fotointerpretação para cinco datas (1962, 1978, 1995, 2000 e 2008), a partir desse mapeamento foi possível calcular as mudanças do uso do solo e índices para os fragmentos florestais identificando sua trajetória. Também foram utilizados mapas de solos e geologia, e realizado o mapeamento do relevo para reconhecimento dos aspectos físicos e químicos do terreno. Sete microbacias, de primeira a segunda ordem de drenagem, foram selecionadas e tiveram amostras de água coletadas durante um ano, quinzenalmente, para análise dos parâmetros físico-químicos da água. As diferenças na ocupação do uso do solo e na trajetória dos fragmentos florestais entre as matrizes foram avaliadas através da Análise de Variância e as diferenças entre as variáveis da água foram avaliadas através do teste nãoparamétrico de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney. Os resultados mostraram que a vegetação florestal nas unidades tem aumentado nos últimos anos, dando indícios ao inicio de uma fase de regeneração, conhecida como a segunda fase da transição florestal, porém apenas estudos futuros poderão confirmar essa análise. As matrizes apresentam similaridade em relação à área ocupada por floresta, porém a trajetória dessas florestas foi diferente. O potencial de prestação de serviços por essas florestas em relação à proteção dos riachos é relativamente baixo, onde através da metodologia utilizada foi possível observar que apenas 1/3 da vegetação florestal apresenta-se adequada para a prestação de serviços. A cana-de-açúcar promove o aumento de nitrogênio no riacho, enquanto a pastagem apresenta concentração maior de carbono orgânico dissolvido. A floresta ripária é essencial para a manutenção do ecossistema aquático e está contribuindo para o aumento da concentração de alguns nutrientes na água. / Forests present themselves as the best land use for maintaining the quality of natural surface water, providing ecosystem services of provision and regulation for this resource. The conversion of forests to anthropogenic uses tends to reduce the quality of waters due the nutrients and sediment inputs from moving and soil management. The presence of vegetation in the riparian area can reduce these effects by providing some services as the protection of water bodies. The aim of this study was to detect the influence of riparian vegetation on water physico-chemical composition in agricultural watersheds. The work was divided into two parts, the first sought to evaluate the state of the forest vegetation in the study area and its potential in providing services and the second part to assess the effect of vegetation on physico-chemical parameters of the water. The study units were defined in Corumbataí river basin, from a mapping of the land use in 2000 by adaptive sampling method, where the units should have a minimum 70% matrix and 10% forest cover. Were selected six units of 16 km2, three units with pasture matrix and three units with sugar cane matrix. With the units defined mappings were performed by photointerpretation for five dates (1962, 1978, 1995, 2000 and 2008), from this mapping was possible to calculate the changes in land use and some indices for forest fragments. Were also used maps of soils and geology, and the mapping of relief for recognition of physical and chemical aspects of the terrain. Seven watersheds, from first to second order, were selected and water samples were collected during one year, biweekly, for the analysis of physico-chemical parameters of the water. Differences in occupation of land use and the trajectory of forest fragments between matrices were evaluated using analysis of variance and differences between water variables were assessed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that the forest vegetation cover has increased in recent years, giving evidence the beginning of a regeneration phase, known as the second stage of forest transition, but only future studies can confirm this analysis. The matrices exhibit similarity to the area occupied by forest, however, the trajectories of these forests were different. The potential of services by these forests in relation to protection of streams is relatively low, which through the methodology it was observed that only 1/3 of the forest has been considered appropriate for the provision of services. The sugar cane promotes the increase of nitrogen in the stream, while the pasture has higher concentration of dissolved organic carbon. The riparian forest is essential to the maintenance of the aquatic ecosystem. The forests are contributing to the increase in the concentration of some nutrients in the water.

Changes of land use influence landscape structure, ecological stability, biodiversity and course of biotic and abiotic processes. The intensity of these changes mainly depends on geographic location of the area, land attractiveness and a level of maturity or development of the society. This thesis is focused on evaluation of historical and present changes of land use in Novohradsko and Stropnicko area. This area had in past decades and centuries undergone major landscape changes that are shown on many map sources. These data were elaborated through GIS tools and subsequently analyzed. According to my conclusion, the long- and short-term trends in observed changes of land use have been identified. Since the early 19th Century the arable land area had declined whereas the grasslands had spread out in the studied area. In contrast, recent years resulted in fact that an increase of grass area has stopped which does not coincide with the general effort to grass the LFA.

Namibia, like most developing countries, lacks complete and comprehensive sustainable land use plans. This has a negative impact on a range of land use activities. Although Geographical Information System (GIS) is used as a planning tool in Namibia in an ad hoc manner, there is no broader comprehensive framework to guide applications of GIS as a planning tool specifically for land use planning (LUP). The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how integration of participatory mapping and GIS can be used to enhance land use planning in the Hardap Region, Namibia. The study seeks to point out lack of local communities’ engagement in LUP process; lack of policy frameworks and guidelines for Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP); and poor data management. The study adapted quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect relevant data and information related to LUP. Data collected using participatory approaches such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis were applied in an integrated manner in various contexts. FGDs were used to evaluate participants’ knowledge of LUP in the Hardap region. Besides participating in the FGDs, PRA and SWOT analysis, the participants also expressed opinions concerning desirable and undesired land uses in the region. Sketch and photo- mapping methods were found to be suitable approaches to capture local knowledge. GIS was found to be effective in integrating participatory maps produced by the local communities and existing spatial land use data. The results shows that local communities are eager to learn about participatory approaches and are willing to share their views and knowledge on land use in their respective areas. A user-friendly comprehensive georeferenced digital database was created for the Hardap region. This database is used for spatial data management, analyses, maintenance and production of maps. Maps of new development initiatives in the region were produced. The frameworks and guidelines suggested in this study has the potential to guide participatory techniques aided by GIS technology involving local communities in sustainable LUP processes in Namibia. The digital database incorporates experts’ knowledge on the users and implementation aspects, making it a LUP benchmark tool of Namibia. Key recommendations include incorporation of GIS technology in the ILUP, implementation of comprehensive participatory LUP, adoption of guidelines for future LUP, skills training and capacity development, and result-based monitoring. / Geography / D. Litt. et Phil. (Geography)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Urban planning and management require up-to-date information about urban land cover. Producing such geospatial information is time consuming as it is usually done manually. The classification of such information from satellite imagery is challenging owing to the difficulties associated with distinguishing urban features having similar spectral properties. Therefore, this study evaluates the combination of a digital surface model (DSM) derived from LiDAR data and very high-resolution GeoEye-1 satellite imagery for classifying urban land cover in Cape Town. The value of the DSM was assessed by comparing a land cover product obtained from the GeoEye-1 image to a map produced using both the GeoEye-1 image and the DSM. A systematic segmentation procedure for the two classifications scenarios preceded a supervised (using a support vector machine, K nearest neighbour and classification and regression algorithm tree classifiers) and rule-based classification. The various approaches were evaluated using a combination of methods. When including the DSM in the supervised and rule-based classifications, the overall accuracy and kappa vary between 80% to 83% and 0.74 to 0.77 respectively. When the DSM is excluded, the overall accuracy ranges between 49 to 64% whereas kappa ranges between 0.32 to 0.53 for the two classification approaches. The accuracies obtained are always about 20% higher when the DSM is included. The normalised DSM (nDSM) enabled accurate discrimination of elevated (e.g. buildings) and non-elevated (e.g. paved surfaces) urban features having similar spectral characteristics. The nDSM of at least one-metre resolution and one metre vertical accuracy influenced the accuracy of the results by correctly differentiating elevated from non-elevated. The rule-based approach was more effective than the supervised classification, particularly for extracting water bodies (dams and swimming pools) and bridges. Consequently, a rule-based approach using very high spatial resolution (EHSR) satellite imagery and a LiDAR-derived DSM is recommended for mapping urban land cover. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Stedelike beplanning- en bestuur vereis dat inligting oor grondbedekking (land cover) op datum moet wees. Die vervaardiging van hierdie georuimtelike inligting is tydrowend omdat dit gewoonlik met die hand gedoen word. Die onttrekking van sulke inligting vanuit satellietbeelde bied ʼn groot uitdaging omdat stedelike voorwerpe met soortgelyke spektrale eienskappe moeilik is om van mekaar te onderskei. Hierdie studie evalueer die kombinasie van ʼn digitale oppervlak model (DOM) afkomstig van LiDAR-data en ʼn baie hoë resolusie GeoEye-1-satellietbeeld om stedelike grondbedekking in Kaapstad te klassifiseer. Die waarde van die DOM word bepaal deur ʼn grondbesettingsproduk wat vanuit ʼn GeoEye-1-beeld verkry is te vergelyk met ʼn grondbesettingsproduk wat verkry is deur beide die GeoEye-1-beeld en die DOM te gebruik. Sistematiese segmentasie word op die twee benaderings uitgeoefen en dit word gevolg deur ʼn gekontroleerde klassifikasie (steunvektormasjiene, k-naaste aangrensende waarde en klassifikasie en regressie algoritme) en ʼn reël-gebaseerde algoritme. Hierdie verskeie benaderings is geëvalueer met behulp van ʼn kombinasie van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes. Toe die DOM in die gekontroleerde en reël-gebaseerde klassifikasie ingesluit is, het die algehele akkuraatheid en kappa tussen 80% en 83%, en 74% en 77% gewissel. Toe die DOM uitgesluit is, het die algehele akkuraatheid en kappa tussen 49% en 64%, en 32% en 53% vir die twee klassifikasiebenaderings gewissel. Die behaalde akkurraatheidswaardes is altyd 20% hoër as die DOM ingesluit word. Dit is hoofsaaklik omdat die DOM akkurate onderskeiding tussen hoë (bv. geboue) en plat (bv. geplaveide oppervlaktes) stedelike bakens met gelyksoortige spektrale eienskappe in staat stel. Die kwaliteit van die DOM beïnvloed die akkuraatheid van die resultate. ʼn DOM van ten minste een meter resolusie, met een meter of beter vertikale akkuraatheid, word benodig om te verseker dat geboue en ander beboude bakens korrek van mekaar onderskei kan word. Die reël-gebaseerde benadering was meer effektief as die gekontroleerde klassifikasie, veral om waterliggame (damme en swembaddens) en brûe te identifiseer. Gevolglik word ʼn reël-gebaseerde benadering met die hoë resolusie satellietbeelde en ʼn LiDAR-afgeleide DOM aanbeveel om stedelike grondbesetting te karteer.

Agricultural production has contributed over time to food security and rural economic development in developing countries particularly supporting the countryside. Evidence show that crop yields are declining in the Lower River Benue Basin of Nigeria. This study conducted a land use evaluation and suitability mapping for production of yam, cassava and also assessed the possible socioeconomic impediments that may hinder or enhance sustainable agricultural development in the Lower River Benue Basin. The study adopted physical assessments and socioeconomic approach coupled with mapping which incorporated processing of satellite imagery. Statistical methods were used to measure the status, trends, level of dispersion, and relationships between the variables of physical and socioeconomic parameters. Modelling techniques for determining potential impacts assessment, agricultural suitability index, adaptive capacity index, finally producing suitability maps. Geo-informatics processes were used to produce a digital elevation model, land use and land cover map, and normalised difference vegetation index map. The results were thematic maps, weighted percentages of attribute data, and suitability maps produced through weighted overlay. An intensive analysis of climatological data depicted a progressive intensity of rainfall, and a decreasing trend in the number of rain days; a gradual temperature rise; and high relative humidity during the planting season which is about 168 days. Laboratory analysis show that soils in the study area require fertility enhancement with inorganic fertilisers to encourage better crop yield. Results show that the Lower River Benue Basin is suitable for yam, cassava, and rice cultivation as classified on maps of suitable areas. Rice had the highest suitability percentages (38.30%). The study area was found to be moderately suitable for each of the crops examined by more than 40% for each crop. Cassava had the least suitability percentages (34.47%). Evidence suggests that agricultural development in the Lower River Benue Basin is under threat from potential impacts of climate variability and change, population growth, and infectious diseases. The agricultural suitability index of the study area regards the study area as suitable (70.5%) and the adaptive capacity index of the study area was moderate (50.83%), but it was found that serious attention need to be given to farm technology and infrastructure. Mitigation strategies and recommendations which are beneficial to the sustainable development of agriculture have been provided in line with the established characteristics of the Lower River Benue Basin. / Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Management)

Namibia, like most developing countries, lacks complete and comprehensive sustainable land use plans. This has a negative impact on a range of land use activities. Although Geographical Information System (GIS) is used as a planning tool in Namibia in an ad hoc manner, there is no broader comprehensive framework to guide applications of GIS as a planning tool specifically for land use planning (LUP). The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how integration of participatory mapping and GIS can be used to enhance land use planning in the Hardap Region, Namibia. The study seeks to point out lack of local communities’ engagement in LUP process; lack of policy frameworks and guidelines for Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP); and poor data management. The study adapted quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect relevant data and information related to LUP. Data collected using participatory approaches such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis were applied in an integrated manner in various contexts. FGDs were used to evaluate participants’ knowledge of LUP in the Hardap region. Besides participating in the FGDs, PRA and SWOT analysis, the participants also expressed opinions concerning desirable and undesired land uses in the region. Sketch and photo- mapping methods were found to be suitable approaches to capture local knowledge. GIS was found to be effective in integrating participatory maps produced by the local communities and existing spatial land use data. The results shows that local communities are eager to learn about participatory approaches and are willing to share their views and knowledge on land use in their respective areas. A user-friendly comprehensive georeferenced digital database was created for the Hardap region. This database is used for spatial data management, analyses, maintenance and production of maps. Maps of new development initiatives in the region were produced. The frameworks and guidelines suggested in this study has the potential to guide participatory techniques aided by GIS technology involving local communities in sustainable LUP processes in Namibia. The digital database incorporates experts’ knowledge on the users and implementation aspects, making it a LUP benchmark tool of Namibia. Key recommendations include incorporation of GIS technology in the ILUP, implementation of comprehensive participatory LUP, adoption of guidelines for future LUP, skills training and capacity development, and result-based monitoring. / Geography / D. Litt. et Phil. (Geography)