The purpose of this study is to investigate how a larger Swedish municipality administer public art and to what extent the practical work relates to the objectives adopted in the municipal comprehensive plan. A qualitative method conducted by semi structured interviews in three tiers with a politician, an official, a representative of an artist organization and a local artist constitutes the base of the study. The interviews are also complemented with subject relevant literature and analysis of municipal documents to support the findings. Results show that the politician and the official have contrasting views on how to concretize the objectives. The discrepancy may cause a misconception of what to expect from public art investments. Further results indicate that municipal practice on the selection of artists, together with the strict bureaucratic framework, may have negative effect on the diversity of artistic expressions that is viewed as important for an attractive city. After years of poor public art management in the surveyed municipality, a foundation is at the time of writing being established to enable more strategic management. Overall the study presents challenges and opportunities about the future of public art management in a mid-sized Swedish municipality.

This study seeks to examine how the conversion of grain elevators into housing is an effective method of adaptive reuse. It uses theories and concepts on heritage preservation, downtown revitalization, place theory and environmental sustainability. Based on the literature review, there is a need for change in planning policy and there are both advantages and disadvantages to adaptive reuse. The methodology and data sources include examining and analyzing planning documents, surveys for the public and professionals, and demographic data. Case studies included converted grain elevators located in Australia and Norway and also a case study in Canada for the purpose of future recommendations. These methods answer the research question of how do planning policies and the perspectives of planning professionals and the public affect the process of the adaptive reuse of grain elevators into housing? Subsequent questions include topics such as whether adaptive reuse is an effective approach to downtown revitalization, which policies impede or facilitate the process, how perspectives influence decisions, and how demographics are linked to housing availability. The significance of this study on planning practice is that it helps form policy recommendations to address the needs of the public and help improve the efficiency of adaptive reuse in the planning process. In conclusion, the public and professionals were generally in favour of this type of adaptive reuse but many had concerns about cost and gentrification. Also, more policies need to be created that address adaptive reuse specifically. For the future use of the Toronto case study I recommended that converting the grain elevator into housing is the optimal choice. The limitations of this study include data availability, non-responses for surveys, language barriers, case study locations, and time constraints.

With the industrial revolution, the world was acquainted with the concept of speed. &bdquo / Speed

This study seeks to examine how the conversion of grain elevators into housing is an effective method of adaptive reuse. It uses theories and concepts on heritage preservation, downtown revitalization, place theory and environmental sustainability. Based on the literature review, there is a need for change in planning policy and there are both advantages and disadvantages to adaptive reuse. The methodology and data sources include examining and analyzing planning documents, surveys for the public and professionals, and demographic data. Case studies included converted grain elevators located in Australia and Norway and also a case study in Canada for the purpose of future recommendations. These methods answer the research question of how do planning policies and the perspectives of planning professionals and the public affect the process of the adaptive reuse of grain elevators into housing? Subsequent questions include topics such as whether adaptive reuse is an effective approach to downtown revitalization, which policies impede or facilitate the process, how perspectives influence decisions, and how demographics are linked to housing availability. The significance of this study on planning practice is that it helps form policy recommendations to address the needs of the public and help improve the efficiency of adaptive reuse in the planning process. In conclusion, the public and professionals were generally in favour of this type of adaptive reuse but many had concerns about cost and gentrification. Also, more policies need to be created that address adaptive reuse specifically. For the future use of the Toronto case study I recommended that converting the grain elevator into housing is the optimal choice. The limitations of this study include data availability, non-responses for surveys, language barriers, case study locations, and time constraints.

The establishment of a UNESCO Biosphere indicates a shift from traditional conservation of individual areas towards a more regional approach and an inclusive planning and management regime. This study sets out to investigate the effects of the Biosphere Reserve designation in Mount Carmel, Israel, with special regard to settlement development and stakeholder management. The implications of the Biosphere Reserve designation have been explored through GIS analysis, using LANDSAT satellite data, and through interviews, observations and participatory checking. The empirical findings were analysed in relation to the Biosphere Reserve Statutory Framework, and to theories on territorialisation, space production and participatory planning. The findings suggest that the Biosphere Reserve designation have had very limited effects in the case of Mount Carmel. Settlements have continued to expand into protected areas, and there is no organised structure for stakeholder participation. This study underlines the value of considering context and history in the establishment of protected areas, and the importance of establishing the Biosphere Reserve concept among the different stakeholders. / GLEAN - A Global Survey of Learning, Participation and Ecosystem Management in Biosphere Reserves

La logistique est une fonction majeure du système économique pour la production et pour la distribution des marchandises, elle donne naissance à une nouvelle branche industrielle. Elle est aussi un facteur clef de l'organisation spatiale, requérant une intention adéquate dans les démarches de planification. Une comparaison entre les expériences chinoises et françaises traitant des "parcs logistiques" éclaire les enjeux et les problèmes de l'insertion de la logistique dans l'aménagement urbain et régional. Cette thèse vise à faire un bilan des expériences de la manière dont sont prises en compte, par les pouvoirs publics, la logistique et ses spécificités dans la planification urbaine et régionale / Logistics is a key function in economic development, for production and for distribution, it gives birth to an emerging new industry. Logistics is also a key factor of spatial functioning and organization, requiring an adequate attention and priority in planning. A comparison of Chinese and French experiences dealing with "freight villages" throws light on the major stakes and questions of introducing logistics into urban and regional planning agenda. This thesis tries to take stock of experiences of ways to take into account logistics and his characteristics in urban and regional planning

Informal settlements are a relatively new phenomenon in Yemen, first documented in the 1980s (El-Shorbagi, 2008; 2007). They have since grown at a very rapid rate. Sana'a City, the nation's capital, alone has an estimated 35 informal settlements that together contain 20.5 percent of that urban center's population (El-Shorbagi, 2008; 2007). To date, the Yemeni government has paid limited attention to informal settlements. The government has not developed any specific planning policies to address their needs, partly due to meager resources and professional capacities, and partly as a consequence of conflicting (and higher priority) needs (World Bank, 2010a). The unchecked growth of informal settlements has alarmed local and national authorities as well as international organizations and recently caused officials in these entities to begin to consider seriously how to address this new community reality. This dissertation explores the engagement of state and non-state actors in informal settlement governance in Sana'a. The analysis offered here employs Mahwa Aser, the largest and most controversial informal settlement in Sana'a, as an exemplar for a broader set of concerns for all of Sana'a\s informal communities. The dissertation provides a nuanced portrait of Yemeni government capacities, policies, and practices related to Sana'a's informal settlements generally and to Mahwa Aser particularly via the perspectives and activities of multiple stakeholders, including, importantly, the community's residents. It explores the active governance roles of non-governmental and international organizations seeking to provide services in these communities as well. It also explores ways to build informal community residents' capacities to work with government and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and international governmental organizations (IGOs) to address their many basic needs. The analysis draws on personal interviews with key stakeholders, including long-time residents of Mahwa Aser, responsible government officials, and relevant leaders of NGOs, INGOs, and IGOs in Yemen, U.S.A., and Egypt. The author also examined government and international organization reports and documents to gain insight into the governance challenges linked to continued growth of informal communities in Yemen. The study identifies a number of factors that have led to worsening living conditions in Mahwa Aser and other informal settlements in Sana'a. Taken together they suggest the Yemeni government and its partners may need to work far more self-consciously with informal community residents to establish shared goals and clear expectations. Those entities engaged collectively in governing these communities in Sana'a and in Yemen more generally will need to develop reliable policies and coherent programs within a transparent governance framework if the very difficult living conditions in such communities are to be improved. In particular, governance actors will need to devise ways and means to develop government capacities and resources even as they work to address community infrastructure and service needs in a sometimes daunting socio-cultural and economic context. / Ph. D.

Cette thèse porte une vision urbanistique et morphologique sur le rapport ville/environnement. Elle se focalise sur le problème de la forme urbaine et sur un espace particulier : interface ville/eau. Elle a étudié le cas de Wuhan - une métropole fluviale en Chine où le réseau hydrographique a déterminé des formes spécifiques. Les analyses sont d'abord centrées sur l'état actuel des interfaces ville/eau : leur déploiement dynamique, leurs caractères spatiaux et les différentes logiques des tissus urbains. Les analyses portent ensuite sur l'évolution des interfaces, en examinant les projets et les modèles spatiaux appliqués durant quatre périodes successives selon quatre politiques : militaire, commerciale, industrielle et environnementale. La thèse se propose ainsi de renouer le dialogue entre la ville et ses eaux. Elle confirme que lorsque les eaux sont consciemment prises en compte, elles peuvent se révéler comme élément stimulant pour le développement urbain de toutes échelles / This thesis takes an urbanistic and morphological vision on the relation city/environment. It focuses on the problem of urban form at a particular space: interface city/water. It studies the case of Wuhan – a Chinese fluvial metropolis where the waters have determined the special urban forms. The analysis focus at first on the current state of the interfaces city/water: their dynamic deployment, their spatial characters and the different logics of the urban fabric. And then the analysis concern in the evolution of these interfaces on reviewing the urban projects and spatial models applied at waterfront in four successive periods with four distinct policies: military, commercial, industrial and environmental. In the end, the thesis proposes to resume the dialogue between the city and its waters. It confirms that when the waters are consciously taken into account, they may be revealed as a stimulant element for the urban development in all scales

Public involvement is defined as a two-way communication aimed at providing information to the public and incorporating the views, concerns, and issues of the public in transportation decision making. According to U.S. Census data, 60% of U.S. counties are considered rural. Rural communities face unique challenges such as scarce resources, technological and geographical issues, and demographic shifts, which can limit effective engagement capabilities. Engagement strategies that are effective for urbanized and metropolitan areas may not be as effective for these rural communities. This study employed a mixed methods research approach to identify readily deployable practices for meaningful rural community engagement in transportation planning. The research methodology involves a literature review, interviews with supervisors from offices of community transportation, interviews with 24 community leaders in four case communities in Tennessee, and two rounds of Delphi community survey. The research process brought together all key stakeholders to build a true consensus of best practices to engage rural communities in transportation planning. Data analysis showed rural communities feel detached and unaware of the role of Departments of Transportation (DOT) in and their plans for community transportation. Engaging rural communities using social media and conducting virtual meetings can reach wider sections of the community. Lack of consistent internet coverage in rural communities, however, means this type of outreach cannot replace in-person engagement. Securing the support of community leaders, building partnerships, and having a presence in the community will increase trust in DOTs and foster better engagement. A list of recommendations is provided that will enhance rural community engagement for longrange transportation planning in predominantly rural states.

Many economies throughout the world were devastated by the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. Ireland in particular experienced a severe collapse in its housing market. Despite the progression of European-influenced planning policy that was meant to promote balanced regional development in Ireland, the country's housing market vastly overbuilt, exacerbating a housing market crash that ended the Celtic Tiger era. Drawing on Europeanization and historical institutionalism as theoretical frameworks, this thesis argues that the link between these EU-influenced policy principles and local Irish planning practice was weak during an important phase of Ireland's economic growth. This conclusion is demonstrated through the analysis of a case study, McEvoy and Smith v. Meath County Council. The findings show that while Ireland's national government created an ambitious National Spatial Strategy modeled on EU principles, non-binding Regional Planning Guidelines allowed local authorities to continue granting zoning changes and permissions. These decisions were therefore uninhibited by the constraints of population projections, consideration for infrastructure provision, and overall good planning practice. This research calls into question the effectiveness of transferring policy principles from the EU to Member States. It suggests more generally that to implement policy and law successfully, policy makers must appreciate the societal and economic context in which these rules will operate.