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The thesis explores the role of Catchment Management Planning [CMP] in promoting sustainable water uses within a river catchment and develops a framework and procedures whereby CMP could be implemented in Malaysia. The study links the concepts of sustainable development and the principles underlying the sustainability of water uses, which are explicit throughout the thesis, with land use, water resources, environmental planning and management controls, using the river catchment or basin as the basis of the framework for water resource management. The mismatch between the intended uses of river water and the prevailing water quality condition of rivers arises from conflicts of interest and can be attributed to the lack of land use and water resource management and control. The thesis emphasises the essential elements of integrating the concept of sustainable development into planning and management activities, while advocating the need for a multidisciplinary and integrative approach to catchment water quality management. The thesis describes the research framework and methodologies, and analyses the concept of sustainable development, the environmental policy for Malaysia, and the land use, water resource and environmental planning and management systems within the Malaysian context. The use of GIS in this area of spatial planning has been very promising, and the thesis demonstrates the functional capabilities of GIS in the identification of pollution problems and problematic areas through water quality modelling and approaches to decision making; this forms the basis for recommended actions in the proposed plan. The plan proposals, which are based on a holistic approach towards sustainability, contain: strategies for improving river water quality through source control and minimising impacts of land use development, while sustaining beneficial river uses; components of planning decision making and implementation; the functions, recommended format and framework for the Malaysian CMP; and opportunities and needs for further research.

Title page, table of contents and summary only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / With the advent of comprehensive transportation studies over the last several years in Australia, some inadequacies in land use p1anning have been high1ighted. In general there is seen to be a need for a more systematic approach and a greater use of models or analytical techniques. This thesis briefly reviews transportation studies and planning techniques and then discusses the development and current status of urban development mode1s, classifying them into three viz; (i) descriptive (ii) predictive models, and (iii) prescriptive models or planning models. It is noted that the models form on1y a part of the of the planning process and that they are really sub-models total system. Using a systems analysis approach, a planning framework or system model is then developed which forms the basis for the preparation of a planning strategy, within which detailed development and transport plans can be evolved. The framework is designed to facilitate the use of models as befits their operational status and to highlight areas where judgements and intuition are required. In developing the p1anning system model a discussion is given on forecasting techniques, problems relating to the definition of objectives and criteria, difficu1ties encountered in obtaining community goals and rational public participation, considerations relating to the formulation of plans, techniques of plan eva1uation inc1uding sensitivity analysis and flexibility tests, and implementation strategy. Two case studies are given to illustrate the efficacy of the procedures proposed. The first example related to the preparation of a strategic plan for a city with an expected population of 200,000 people, whereas the second case study concerns the hypothetical choice between two alternative forms of development over the next five years for metropolitan Adelaide. In the final chapter a brief discussion is given on worthwhile research items. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1523138 / Thesis (M.T.P.) -- University of Adelaide, Department of Architecture and Town Planning, 1971

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<p> The objective of this research was to investigate the role of land cover changes through time in influencing spatial variability of the surface urban heat island of the metropolitan area of Reno-Sparks, Nevada. Free and widely available thermal data from Landsat 7 ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus) sensor was gathered for a period between 2004 and 2017 and processed to at-satellite surface temperature. Using parcel data and the National Land Cover Database, the time series of Landsat data was sampled for areas which had undergone development during that time. This sample was cross-validated with ten iterations of equal sample size, with a mean correlation coefficient of 0.623 (standard deviation of 0.008) versus the model&rsquo;s value of 0.624. A set of generalized linear models was conducted on this sample to determine expected temperature change with land cover class. It was found that recently developed regions within Reno-Sparks are 0.6 &deg;C warmer on average than the undeveloped desert grasses and sage. When wetlands/irrigated greenery were converted to impervious surfaces, it resulted in a positive surface temperature change of over 2 &deg;C. Once developed, no significant difference was found in the surface temperature trends. This research, using remote sensing technologies, has shown that the Reno-Sparks surface urban heat island has undergone local, but measurable growth in the last fourteen years.</p><p>

<p> This exploratory and descriptive research intended to examine ways to engage a vulnerable young adult population in environmental and ecological education and in community planning and public participation processes. A goal was to understand how to be more inclusive in the decision-making process at the community level based on ethical principles prescribed within the practice of equity planning and environmental and social justice. Merging the methodologies of applied action learning and action research, nested case studies were developed. Three cases within environmental and ecological education encompassed community gardening, horticultural therapy, and community mapping. The three cases within community planning and participatory processes included participating in a general plan or comprehensive plan update, a federal public hearing, and applying to sit on a federal agency working group. This research found ways to invite uniquely abled people into public participation processes through adaptive surveys, novel meeting places, and engagement opportunities. A nexus exists between environmental education and understanding community such that vulnerable participants are able to become involved in public processes and participate at a level that demonstrates their ability to understand their community as well as their needs. Participating in experiential and informal learning, practicing and integrating skills, and demonstrating knowledge and abilities, uniquely abled participants were empowered toward building confidence in public speaking, sharing knowledge about themselves and their community, developing skills in self-reliance, and building social capital. Because of this vulnerable population&rsquo;s needs, they brought up problems and solutions that prompted other participants to realize they could also benefit from this population&rsquo;s input. Using GIS tools, limitations of public transportation were identified and now can be resolved through the planning process. As the participants became more involved at the community level, their interest in and knowledge of the environment increased. The systems of community participation and environmental immersion reinforced on the other much like a feedback loop, stabilizing an otherwise disconnected community, bringing about an equilibrium that provides an enriching and diverse environment where all its citizens are better connected and more equipped to live well in their environment. </p><p>

<p> Land-use change has significantly contributed to rising global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations by reducing carbon (C) storage and increasing C emissions from soils. Soils represent the second largest C pool on Earth, with drylands comprising approximately 21% of the globe&rsquo;s soil organic carbon (SOC). While research regarding the effects of land-use change on SOC in more mesic regions has typically shown an overall reduction in SOC, it is relatively unclear how the land use change from native vegetation to irrigated cropland will affect SOC dynamics in semi-arid regions. Surface soils (0-10 cm) and subsoils (90-100 cm) of an alfalfa field that has been under irrigation for more than five decades, and of an adjacent unmanaged shrubland were collected at the University of Nevada, Reno Main Station Field Laboratory on the eastern boundary of Reno, Nevada. Soils were fractionated using particle size and density fractionation methods and each fraction was analyzed for C, nitrogen (N) content and C and N isotopic composition. Soil CO₂ concentrations and effluxes were measured monthly in the same sites for the 12-month duration of the study.</p><p> Carbon and N analysis of particle size and density fractions revealed that irrigation and management significantly reduced the amount of C and N in the soil. The amount of C in the labile fractions from both the particle size fractionation and density fractionation was significantly smaller and the relative amount of C in recalcitrant fractions was larger in the alfalfa field compared to the native vegetation. The differences in &delta;¹³C values of both stable and labile soil organic matter reflected differences between dominant vegetation types, but these differences were only significant for density fractions. Both fractionation methods revealed differences in &delta;¹⁵N values between soil types, again reflecting differences in vegetation. An eight-week laboratory incubation at constant temperature and water content revealed that the shrubland soil had a higher potential rate of decomposition than the alfalfa field soil, even though alfalfa SOM had a lower C/N ratio, likely as a result of water limitations at the field site allowing for greater accumulation of labile C in the shrubland soil. Additionally, decomposition of organic matter in the buried A horizon from each site was limited by substrate quality rather than environmental conditions. Land conversion to irrigated agriculture resulted in larger soil CO₂ concentrations and effluxes, especially during the growing season. This was true despite shrubland soils having larger amounts of labile C available for decomposition. The source of respired CO₂ for each soil type remains unclear, though CO₂ &delta;¹³C values reflected differences in &delta;¹³C isotopic values for the SOM and vegetation between the two sites. The results from this study suggest that converting a semi-arid shrubland into irrigated cropland may cause an overall loss of SOC that can contribute to rising atmospheric CO₂ levels, though the relative amounts of recalcitrant C may increase in semi-arid soils following management.</p><p>