A vegetation survey was conducted at plant community level within the boundaries of Richards Bay Municipal area during 2001 to 2002. Relevés was randomly selected and floristic information was recorded for 310 sample plots and was referenced by GPS. The data were captured in TURBOVEG data base, for vegetation data and classified using the TWINSPAN numerical classification algorithm. Phytosociological tables were compiled using the MAGATAB computerized table management program. Thirteen plant communities were identified, described and characterized by diagnostic and dominant species occurring in them. The study in general showed that vegetation in the Richards Bay Municipal area has deteriorated considerably over the last 30 years. The study indicated that wetland communities occupy a relatively small area and has become relatively degraded within the study area. It is recommended that Richards Bay Town Council plan the Metropolitan Open Space System (MOSS) bringing the ecological areas of importance into consideration and that all new developments in the Richards Bay area be subjected to proper ecological investigation as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Science / unrestricted

Contemporary urban development seems to, globally and simultaneously, aim for the same results; densification, connections and an active urban life. In Stockholm this is emphasized through the comprehensive plan, The Walkable City. This thesis aims to research the com- plexities of open space, in-between areas and cultural practices on borders of territories. I have visited two neighborhoods, one in Stureby, Stockholm and one in Madison, Wisconsin as part of an art-based research where places for cultural practices have been observed and performed by me as a way to investigate in-between areas and what role they take in everyday lives. I have met with inhabitants for observations and interviews as well as performing an everyday life of my own when staying in Madison for two weeks. I have used a few different pictures of neighborliness to see what exists between the frame of the pictures and the situation, and related this to Miwon Kwon’s notion about places situated next to each other. I have also looked into the concept of territory, the ambiguous space between them and the communication that occurs on interfaces. In Stockholm's comprehensive plan and the research of Alexander Ståhle, I see an aiming for densification through connections, e.g. in walkability. I emphasize on a difference between connections and communication. With this thesis I suggest to change the topic of a planning discussion going on in Stockholm as well as globally, from how to create walkability to how to make use of interfaces of ambiguous open space when densifying cities.

Open space planning has been present within the United States for over a century. Traditionally, open space planning efforts tend to focus more exclusively on either socially-based (e.g., recreational, scenic, or park planning) or ecologically-based (e.g., preserves, habitat networks or more general conservation planning) planning efforts. This separation of ecological and social frameworks in open space planning is reinforced by a persistent cultural model, where community and conservation are seen as opposing forces instead of partners. While recent open space planning efforts have begun to integrate social and ecological frameworks into one plan, the majority of our knowledge on integrated open space planning comes from individual case studies. Thus, a synthesized toolbox for how to practice this planning field is lacking. Given this lack of synthesized knowledge of integrated open space planning, an exploratory effort was undertaken to begin to view this newer planning field through a comprehensive lens. The goal of this research was to identify the state of integrated open space planning and begin to assess whether this state was leading toward "landscape integrity," which suggests that healthy social and ecological systems must function together to be sustainable. Framed within an adapted Pressure-State-Response framework, this thesis employed mixed methods and multiple perspectives to engender a holistic framework that identifies the pressures, state of, and potential responses surrounding integrated open space planning. Pressures synthesized from practice and theory include key barriers and facilitators to achieving integration. For the first time, the state of integrated open space planning has been identified from a synthesis of thirty planning processes, practices, and tools utilized in this new planning field. This framework provides planners with a framework upon which sharing and communication can now take place regarding how integrated open space planning can be institutionalized. Finally, this understanding of the pressures and state reveals potential responses for this newer planning field, including the need for increased collaboration to build this new field of open space planning into a mainstream planning field and increased research into bridging the gaps between theory and practice identified through this thesis. This study found two integrated open space planning models and a breadth of literature supporting a movement away from the community versus conservation dichotomy. While this movement is not yet mainstream, both paradigm shifts and the rapidly changing landscapes in which we live are reinforcing this trend. With the expanded view and holistic framework illustrated by this research, planners are afforded a similar language upon which they can discuss the tools and processes central to integrated open space planning.

No description available.

The aim of this project report is to investigate and identify the needs of the historic area (focus area) in the City of Milpitas, to positively contribute to the City’s planning process, and to make recommendations for the focus area’s future development. In the first chapters, City and focus area research results are presented. Currently, there is a lack of exclusive regulatory standards for attractive development in the City’s historic core. The project report then discusses the results of a short empirical everyday user survey, a parcel-by-parcel land use survey, and a walkability analysis. Research results indicate that the focus area could benefit from historic identity preservation, additional public open space and recreation, and economic development. The project report then identifies three case studies and analyzes each under an urban design framework regarding walkability and gateway development. Here, the project report draws on a number of sources regarding positive place making and urban design to highlight the focus area’s opportunities and constraints. In conclusion, the project report argues that the City’s location in the Bay Area and proximity to Silicon Valley requires accommodation and competition for development while coordinating current focus area development to contribute to an overall well-designed site plan with a focus on walkability and an attractive gateway image. Recommendations are provided in the form of design guidelines.

The current study is an empirical study of preference for campus open space around the drill field on Mississippi State University (MSU) campus. 83 students at Mississippi State University were selected as research objects. Based on the literature review, a research process was designed to employ VEP, content analysis and multivariate analysis---Biplot to explore the interested research problems. The study identified two most preferred landscape scene types - "Legibility" and "Coherence" using Kaplan?s "information processing model". A statistical analysis tool for multivariate analysis-Biplot was used to reveal the landscape preference patterns for campus open space as well as how certain landscape features can contribute these patterns. The study found factors such as gender, educational and cultural background can heavily affect these patterns. The result indicated that "vegetations" including tree, seasonal flowers and open grassland, were the most preferred landscape feature on campus open space. Finally, the limitations of this study were discussed and some recommendations for future landscape preference study were provided.

This thesis will study the resident’s perceptions of a community park in the new urbanism community of Mt Laurel, Alabama by evaluating the thirteen principles established by William Hollingsworth Whyte for creating successful urban parks. The thirteen principles established by Whyte for creating successful spaces are: •The parks proximity/relationship to the street •Location of the sidewalks to the street •Its ability to consistently sustain a constant flow of people through its boundaries •Its amount of defined spaces rather than large open spaces •Its amount of sitable space, in terms of ledges, steps, planters, chairs etc. •The parks sense of security among its users •The incorporation of water features within the parks boundaries •The extent of tree canopies within the park for shading purposes •The availability of food concessions •The parks number of waste receptacles •Routine performers •Outdoor cafes in the park •Occasional art and music exhibits

O uso de vasto material cartográfico, como fotografias aéreas dos anos de 1962, 1972, 1978, 1995 e 2000, levantamento planialtimétrico cadastral, georreferenciado a uma rede cadastral, carta geológica e pedológica do Município, Legislação Federal, Estadual e Municipal e com o apoio do software Spring, possibilitou estudar a evolução de uma região representada pelos Bairros Santa Teresinha, Vila Sônia e Parque Piracicaba, todos do Município de Piracicaba, SP, apresentava características rurais até meados de 1960, quando passou a ter suas terras loteadas e transformadas em área urbana. Sendo um dos vetores de crescimento do Município, a velocidade com que as áreas foram modificadas foi bastante grande e em pouco tempo o que era rural passou a ter problemas de grandes cidades. Inúmeros loteamentos de formas e padrões variados foram aparecendo e a urbanização foi realizada sem obedecer a nenhum critério técnico, exceto as leis vigentes. A implantação de loteamentos de interesse social contribuiu para o grande adensamento de lotes na área. Quanto às áreas destinadas ao lazer da população, quase todas foram implantadas segundo a legislação vigente na época da aprovação de projeto, porém, como não houve uma severa fiscalização por parte de poder público e pelos moradores, do total de áreas destinadas a sistema de lazer, apenas 22,3% estão disponíveis para uso e 37,07% foram utilizadas indevidamente. O uso indevido constituiu na construção de centros comunitários, unidades de saúde, escolas e principalmente invasões, sendo estas últimas transformadas em favelas o que piorou ainda mais as condições de lazer existentes no local. Analisando as áreas de sistema de lazer, quanto à classificação, foram aplicadas duas metodologias distintas, sendo selecionadas pelo fato de ser a mais citada pela literatura (Jantzen) e outra por ter sido proposta no Plano Diretor de Desenvolvimento de Piracicaba (PDD) e os resultados, no caso de Jantzen, trazem uma discordância entre os costumes brasileiros e legislação vigente. No caso do proposto no PDD, um pouco mais próxima aos costumes de nosso país, porém apresenta alguns problemas de ordem técnica. As áreas de preservação permanente referentes a drenos intermitentes, existentes na área estudada, foram praticamente ignoradas, até a atualidade, tendo sido quase toda aterrada para a locação de lotes. A população passou de 1.130 habitantes a 38.850 habitantes em um prazo de 40 anos e a densidade populacional apresenta grandes concentrações, em várias partes da área em estudo, principalmente no Bairro Vila Sônia, que chega a apresenta densidade de 361hab/ha, maior que a de alguns bairros da região central do Município de São Paulo. Os índices de áreas verdes encontrados estão bastante aquém do exigido por vários autores, porém semelhantes a muitos municípios onde foram aplicados os cálculos seguindo a mesma metodologia. Com os dados levantados, elaboraram-se propostas para a ocupação do solo das áreas peri-urbanas, quanto à locação de novos parques e à proteção de áreas de preservação permanente. Na área já urbanizada, realizou-se proposta de prioridade na implantação de sistemas de lazer. / The use of vast cartographic material, as aerial pictures of the years of 1962, 1972, 1978, 1995 and 2000, rising cadastral planialtimétrico, georreferenciado to a cadastral net, geological and pedologic letter of the Municipal district, Federal Legislation, State and Municipal and with the support of the software Spring, made possible to study the evolution of an area represented by the neighborhood Santa Teresinha, Vila Sônia and Parque Piracicaba, all of the Municipal district of Piracicaba, SP, presented rural characteristics even middles of 1960, when he/she started to have your lotted lands and transformed in urban area. Being one of the vectors of growth of the Municipal district, the speed with that the areas were modified it was quite big and in little time that was rural he/she started to have problems of great cities. Countless divisions into lots in ways and varied patterns went appearing and the urbanization was accomplished without obeying her/it any technical criterion, except the effective laws. The implantation of divisions into lots of social interest contributed to the great adensamento of lots in the area. With relationship to the areas destined to the leisure of the population, almost all were implanted at that time according to the effective legislation of the project approval, however, as there was not a severe fiscalization on the part of being able to public and for the residents, of the total of areas destined to leisure system, 22,3% are only available for use and 37,07% were used improperly. The improper use constituted in the construction of community centers, units of health, schools and mainly invasions, being these last ones transformed at slums that it still worsened more the existent leisure conditions in the place. Analyzing the areas of leisure system, with relationship to the classification, they were applied two different methodologies, being selected by the fact of being the more mentioned by the literature (Jantzen) and other for it being proposed in the master plan of Development of Piracicaba (PDD) and the results, in the case of Jantzen, bring a disagreement between the Brazilian habits and effective legislation. In the case of the proposed in PDD, a little closer to the habits of our country, however it presents some problems of technical order. The areas of permanent preservation referring to intermittent drains, existent in the studied area, they were practically unknown, until the present time, having been almost all terrified for the lease of lots. The population passed from 1.130 inhabitants to 38.850 inhabitants in one period of 40 years and the population density presents great concentrations, in several parts of the area in study, mainly in the neighborhood Vila Sônia, that arrives her it presents density of 361hab/ha, larger than the one of some neighborhoods of the central area of the Municipal district of São Paulo. The indexes of green areas found are quite on this side of the demanded by several authors, however similar to many municipal districts where were applied the calculations following the same methodology. With the lifted up data, proposals were elaborated for the occupation of the soil of the peri-urban areas, with relationship to the lease of new parks and the protection of areas of permanent preservation. In the area already urbanized, he/she took place priority proposal in the implantation of leisure systems.

No processo histórico de urbanização de Campo Grande, MS e dos seus espaços livres públicos de recreação e conservação, alguns aspectos como a pequena receptividade da população e um uso incipiente desses espaços públicos, contribuíram para desencadear um questionamento sobre os procedimentos adotados e a atuação profissional no campo do planejamento, na elaboração de projetos e sobre o processo de construção desses espaços livres urbanos. A partir da identificação de que falta uma interpretação integrada para uma adequada compreensão da cidade, a tese se desenvolve com uma visão sistêmica como princípio de análise, considerando a cidade como um conjunto de elementos físicos e imateriais que interagem no espaço. Há em geral um jogo de forças, interesses, que promovem as mudanças na paisagem e na realidade urbana. O objetivo da tese é avaliar as ações desenvolvidas na atividade de planejamento, projeto e gestão do sistema de espaços livres públicos em Campo Grande, MS que proporcionam a adequada preservação da natureza e a realização das atividades recreativas, esportivas, culturais, propiciando o encontro e o relacionamento social. O método baseia-se na análise de fontes documentais primárias (mapas, dados cartográficos, acervos de projetos, registros fotográficos, originais de leis) e secundárias (revisão bibliográfica e entrevistas com técnicos e administradores) sobre o último século. A avaliação geral sobre o sistema de espaços livres públicos de recreação e de conservação de Campo Grande mostra que ele possui alguns aspectos dominantes e que o caracteriza: observa-se que a população mais abastada busca suprir a recreação individualmente, nos lotes e por isso, não demanda esse tipo de soluções nas praças, onde predominam as ajardinadas. A contradição aparece na região ocupada pela população mais carente habitante de lotes menores e que, portanto, demanda mais infra-estrutura de recreação. Entretanto, as áreas públicas nessa região caracterizam-se pelo uso indevido e a implantação de equipamentos nos lotes vagos. Apesar disso, a aplicação da legislação urbana associada à ação de algumas administrações municipais favoreceu a constituição de um sistema rico e demarcado pela construção de lugares públicos singulares, que servem de referencial para as cidades médias brasileiras. / In the historic urbanization process of recreational and conservational open spaces in Campo Grande, MS some issues as the low acceptance by its inhabitants and lack of use of these spaces, contributed to develop a questioning process about the procedures adopted and the professional acting on planning, design process and on construction process of these urban open spaces. This study began when it was identified a lack of an integrated interpretation of the city to get a adequate comprehension about its relationships. So, the thesis is developed with a systemic view as an analysis principle, considering the city as a group of joined-up elements, those are physical and immaterial and they interact in various types of relationships. There are tendencies and interests that promote the changes in the landscape and in the urban reality. This work aims to evaluate the actions developed in planning, design and management activities of public open spaces in Campo Grande, MS that provide an adequate environmental preservation and the implementation of recreational, sportive, cultural activities, creating opportunities to meeting and social relationships. The method is based on the primary sources documents analysis (maps, cartographic data, projects archive, photographic archive, original laws) and secondary sources (bibliography review and interviews with administrators and technicians) about the last century. The evaluation of Campo Grandes recreational and conservational public open spaces system shows that it has some dominant aspects: the richer population solves the necessity of recreation individually in their private areas and because of that, do not demand this type of solutions in near local urban plazas, where the predominant type is the plaza with gardens. The contradiction is in more poor areas, where the population lives in small areas and demand more recreational infrastructure. But, the public spaces in this region frequently are used in a bad way and the equipments are built in private but non occupied areas. Despite these issues, the application of urban legislation associated to some municipalities actions made possible the constitution of a rich system characterized by the construction of unique public places that are references to medium Brazilian cities.

Este trabalho busca demonstrar a importância do Sistema de Espaços Livres na estruturação do ambiente urbano, tendo como recorte espacial um bairro consolidado da cidade de Maceió. Destacam-se os conflitos e potenciais encontrados no Sistema de Espaços Livres Públicos (SELP) desta cidade e, de um modo mais específico, da área selecionada para análise: o bairro Benedito Bentes. Esta análise compreende também uma leitura das formas de apropriação dos espaços livres públicos, especialmente as ruas, e estudos sobre a frequência de uso de determinados espaços - em particular os campos de futebol criados pelos próprios moradores em áreas ainda não ocupadas por edificações, que revelam a necessidade de implantação de espaços destinados ao lazer e à recreação para suprir a demanda existente, constatada por meio deste estudo. / This work focuses in the importance of the Open Space System in the structuring of the urban environment, based on a consolidated neighborhood of Maceió city. Detach the conflicts and potential found on Public Open Space System of this city and, specifically, selected area for analysis: the Benedito Bentes neighborhood. This analysis also comprises an observation about appropriation forms Public Open Space, especially the streets, and studies of use frequency of certain spaces - in particular, the football fields created by the dwellers in areas not occupied by buildings, which show the need of deployment of spaces for leisure and recreation to cater existing demand, evidenced by this study.