With the growing energy demand and the opportunity for exploitation of renewable energy (wind energy), this paper performs the mapping of wind potential in Alagoas. This study is based on the use of anemometer measurements between August/2007 to July/2008, as also computational tools: mesoscale atmospheric model (WRF); numerical model of microscale (WAsP®); data from Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The stations with anemometers were geographically distributed in three mesoregions of the State: Backwoods Sertão (Água Branca), Rural Agreste (Girau do Ponciano and Palmeira dos Índios) and Coast Litoral (Feliz Deserto, Maragogi and Roteiro). WRF simulations have validated by time series (daily average, monthly average and diurnal cycles), statistical analysis and Weibull distributions. It was also evaluated using WAsP as a tool for calculating the spatial wind speed in microscale. The input data in WAsP, in addition to the WRF model simulations and the preparation of various maps, were all treated and developed in the ArcGIS® software. The results showed greater efficiency in the WRF simulation of wind speed for sites to the interior of Alagoas, with bias less than 1 m.s-1. These estimates were more accurate during the summer season (bias less than 0.5 m.s-1) and more disparate in winter, with average error of up to 3 m.s-1. For the Coast, these values were overestimated by more than 3 m.s-1, except in Maragogi. The wind direction from WRF was calculated with accuracy in all sites, being dominant in the east coast, east to northeast in Rural, and southeast in Água Branca. The annual wind map for WRF for Alagoas showed areas with good potential energy, the magnitude of the wind varies between 7-9 m.s-1 at 50 meters high. Application of the WAsP in the microscale showed good resemblance to the maps obtained in the Wind Atlas of the State of Alagoas - AEEA. The models achieved satisfactory results, but still need to be improved in some respects. / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Com a crescente demanda energética e a oportunidade de exploração de energia renovável (eólica), este trabalho realiza o mapeamento do potencial eólico em Alagoas. Este trabalho é baseado no uso de medições anemométricas entre agosto/2007 a julho/2008, além de ferramentas computacionais: modelo atmosférico de mesoescala (WRF); modelo numérico de microescala (WAsP®); dados de sistemas de informações geográficas (SIG). As estações anemométricas foram distribuídas geograficamente nas três mesorregiões do Estado: Sertão (Água Branca), Agreste (Girau do Ponciano e Palmeira dos Índios) e Litoral (Feliz Deserto, Maragogi e Roteiro). As simulações do WRF foram validadas através de séries temporais (médias diárias, mensais, ciclos diurnos), análises estatísticas e Distribuições de Weibull. Avaliaram-se ainda o uso do WAsP como ferramenta para cálculo espacial da velocidade do vento em microescala. Os dados de entrada no WAsP, além das simulações do modelo WRF e da elaboração de diversos mapas, foram todos tratados e desenvolvidos no software ArcGIS®. Os resultados mostraram que houve maior eficiência do WRF nas simulações da velocidade do vento para sítios do interior alagoano, com bias inferior a 1 m.s-1. Estas estimativas foram mais precisas durante a estação do verão (bias menor que 0,5 m.s-1) e mais discrepantes no inverno, com erro médio de até 3 m.s-1. Para o litoral, estes valores foram superestimados em mais de 3 m.s-1, exceto em Maragogi. A direção do vento do WRF foi calculada com acerto em todos os sítios, sendo dominante de leste no litoral, leste a nordeste no agreste, e sudeste em Água Branca. O mapa eólico anual do WRF para Alagoas apresentou áreas com bom potencial energético, cuja magnitude do vento varia entre 7 a 9 m.s-1 em 50 metros de altura. A aplicação do WAsP na microescala mostrou boa semelhança aos mapas obtidos no Atlas Eólico do Estado de Alagoas AEEA. Os modelos atingiram resultados satisfatórios, porém ainda precisam ser aperfeiçoados em alguns aspectos.

Apartheid left a legacy that is spatially skewed. This is reflected in the present patterns of poverty and inequality in South Africa. While a number of global and national initiatives are in place to reduce the levels of poverty and inequality in rural South Africa, this research aimed at the development of a tool that would be able to assist communities themselves in reducing their own levels of poverty and inequality. This research was undertaken in collaboration with the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation and a variety of rural communities in South Africa. The Community Asset Mapping Programme (CAMP) has as its purpose the achievement of sustainable and responsible high impact social change within communities. CAMP enables community members to map their own assets and empowers them to use these assets sustainably to create a better life for themselves. Communities are empowered to identify their own entrepreneurship and livelihood strategies and opportunities in an attempt to generate their own wealth. Unlike many existing asset mapping applications, CAMP advocates that the success of any roots-driven change depends on the inclusion of processes that will provide a cognitive shift in terms of a variety of processes such as wishes, fears, trust, self-worth, and power mapping, all providing different components that ensure a process of sustainable change within communities. The research presents an argument that if communities are to achieve effective roots-driven change they would require partnerships with Non Profit Organisations, government, civil society, business, and institutes of higher learning, who are willing to stand aside and allow communities to decide their own priorities in their journey to achieve their own wealth, but who would be willing to provide funding, mentorship, skills, and a continuous monitoring process over the medium to long term. / Sociology / Ph.D. (Geography)

Apartheid left a legacy that is spatially skewed. This is reflected in the present patterns of poverty and inequality in South Africa. While a number of global and national initiatives are in place to reduce the levels of poverty and inequality in rural South Africa, this research aimed at the development of a tool that would be able to assist communities themselves in reducing their own levels of poverty and inequality. This research was undertaken in collaboration with the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation and a variety of rural communities in South Africa. The Community Asset Mapping Programme (CAMP) has as its purpose the achievement of sustainable and responsible high impact social change within communities. CAMP enables community members to map their own assets and empowers them to use these assets sustainably to create a better life for themselves. Communities are empowered to identify their own entrepreneurship and livelihood strategies and opportunities in an attempt to generate their own wealth. Unlike many existing asset mapping applications, CAMP advocates that the success of any roots-driven change depends on the inclusion of processes that will provide a cognitive shift in terms of a variety of processes such as wishes, fears, trust, self-worth, and power mapping, all providing different components that ensure a process of sustainable change within communities. The research presents an argument that if communities are to achieve effective roots-driven change they would require partnerships with Non Profit Organisations, government, civil society, business, and institutes of higher learning, who are willing to stand aside and allow communities to decide their own priorities in their journey to achieve their own wealth, but who would be willing to provide funding, mentorship, skills, and a continuous monitoring process over the medium to long term. / Geography / Ph. D. (Geography)