As the dry season progresses across southern Africa, the availability and quality of food declines for large herbivores. Female white rhinos compensate for these declines by expanding and/or shifting their home ranges. These changes may be to incorporate habitat types that contain high quality food or quite simply more food. To determine the factors that drive these seasonal changes in home ranges, I focused on dry season changes in the availability and quality of grass in habitats utilised by white rhinos in the Ithala Game Reserve, South Africa. I expected that if food quality was the main driver, white rhinos would follow optimal foraging principles and incorporate habitat types with the highest nutritional quality into their dry season home ranges. Alternatively, due to their large body size (>1000 kg) and thus ability to survive on low quality food, they may rather incorporate habitat types with high food availability. In contrast to previous studies, I found that during the dry season female white rhinos did not increase the size of their home ranges, but rather shifted their home range boundaries. This resulted in individuals increasing the amount of Bushveld and decreasing the amount of Wooded Grasslands within their dry season home ranges. When I explored the different factors that could explain these patterns, I found that changes in the crude protein content of grass was the key factor driving the incorporation and exclusion of habitat types in the home ranges. During the dry season, white rhinos incorporated the habitat that had the smallest seasonal reduction in crude protein content, while excluding the one with the largest decrease in crude protein. As a result, my results suggest that the search for high quality best explains the seasonal home range shifts of female white rhinos in the Ithala Game Reserve. / Thesis (M.Sc.Ecology)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / In light of an increasing scientific and social focus on unsustainable human practices, mankind’s dominant relationship with the natural world is now being challenged. Few phenomena demonstrate this destructive relationship better than the growing number of animals being driven to extinction through human actions. The most notable of these, within the South African context, is the devastation of rhinoceros populations caused by illegal poaching, particularly in the Kruger National Park. In dealing with this issue, we have a unique opportunity to embody and catalyse a sustainable paradigm shift. Such a shift would seek to transition mankind into a symbiotic rather than parasitic relationship with the natural world. It would promote the use of cutting edge technologies for the benefit both human and non-human actors, breaking down the separation between man and nature. The resultant hybridised ecosystem would stand as an exemplary manifestation of the long theorised ‘cyborg’ entity, not as individual, but as a new form of habitat and, ultimately, societal organisation. Contextualising such a ‘Cyborgian Nexus’ as a solution to the scourge of rhino poaching is the chief subject of this research report. The Matsulu Centre for Rhino Defense is proposed as a Connected Conservation Centre in the disadvantaged Matsulu community, bordering the Kruger National Park. Its aim is to be the heart of a sophisticated system of cutting edge technologies which allow park rangers to overcome the poaching threat. Through its program as well as its architecture, the project aims to become a recognizable icon of a new relationship between man and nature. One in which human innovation allows for the natural world and the human world to coexist sustainably to the mutual benefit of both. / GR2017

I byggbranschen har nya metoder för projektering utvecklats genom införandet av moderna och mer kraftfulla BIM-verktyg. Flera av dagens konstruktioner modelleras enligt tredimensionella principer.Tekla Structures är ett kraftfullt BIM-verktyg som klarar av att hantera både huskonstruktioner och anläggningskonstruktioner. Trots detta kan programmet inte hantera broar med dubbelkrökning på ett effektivt sätt. Projektörer behöver därför utgå från flera program för att kunna hantera komplexa brokonstruktioner.För att kunna utnyttja fördelar med Tekla Structures, behöver programmet att utvecklas eller kompletteras med andra tredjepartsprogram. Detta projekt syftar till att integrera nya arbetssätt och införa en metodik, i form av parametriserade modellering i Tekla Structures. En sådan form av modellering tillåter användaren att modifiera parametrar för en önskad modell.Ett skript är skapad genom ett visuellt programmeringstillägg, som genererar parametriskbaserade bromodeller. Brokonstruktionstyp som modellerades i detta projekt är en plattrambro.Resultatet av projektet pekar mot att parametriserad modellering är ett effektivt sätt att modellera och en lösning för att bland annat hantera broar med dubbelkrökningar. / New methods for project designing in the building construction industry have been developed by introducing modern and powerful BIM tools. Several of today’s constructions are designed according to three-dimensional principles.Tekla Structures is a powerful BIM tool that is capable of managing both house and infrastructure constructions. Despite this, the program cannot handle bridges with a horizontal and vertical curvature efficiently. The designers must instead rely on several other applications to manage complex bridge constructions.In order to use the advantages of Tekla Structures, the software needs to be evolved or complimented by other third party softwares. This project aims to integrate new working technics and introduce a method based on parametric design in Tekla Structures. Such form of modeling enables the modification of parameters to a desired model for the user.A script is created through a visual programming extension that generates a parametric based bridge models. The bridge type in this project was designed, is an integral bridge.The project has proved that parametric based design is more effectively and a solution to manage bridges with horizontal and vertical curvature.

The existence of the rhino is under serious threat. South Africa has experienced a dramatic increase in rhino poaching since 2008. With the current trend of poaching, rhino in South Africa will soon become extinct. The current strategies to protect rhino have proved to be ineffective. The common view is that rhino poaching is morally wrong, and associated with greed and evil intentions and that rhino poaching must be stopped; however, there are two schools of thought regarding two main approaches (in association with current strategies) to be used in order to stop or limit poaching. The first school of thought supports the CITES ban on international trade in rhino horn, and believes that rhino poaching can only be stopped by eliminating demand (the “conventional approach”). The second school of thought is in favour of the legalisation of international trade, and argues that any solutions to the rhino poaching problem must address the underlying economic forces. This is called the sustainable approach. The research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the ban on international trade in rhino horn, as well as the viability of legalising international trade. The effectiveness of the current strategies was also investigated. A qualitative research design was used, and eighteen participants were selected in order to obtain information by means of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires.The first school of thought supports the CITES ban on international trade in rhino horn, and believes that rhino poaching can only be stopped by eliminating demand (the “conventional approach”). The second school of thought is in favour of the legalisation of international trade, and argues that any solutions to the rhino poaching problem must address the underlying economic forces. This is called the sustainable approach. The research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the ban on international trade in rhino horn, as well as the viability of legalising international trade. The effectiveness of the current strategies was also investigated. A qualitative research design was used, and eighteen participants were selected in order to obtain information by means of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. A literature review was also conducted, for the purpose of evaluating the responses of participants, and also for the purpose of validity and reliability. The findings indicated that the scales tip in favor of a well-managed, legalized trade, inter alia, to make funds available to rhino owners, rhino custodians and the government, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to reduce the reward and increase the risk to the poacher. Findings also indicated that a legalized trade cannot be implemented in isolation; it goes hand in hand with increased security and improved law enforcement, while strategies such as dehorning and translocation still have a role to play. Finally, findings also indicated that communities need to be involved in the sustainable use approach. These communities are currently excluded from the benefits derived from the neighboring protected areas, thereby making them susceptible to being recruited as poachers. / Environmental Sciences / Ph. D. (Environmental Management)

This dissertation reports on the findings of a study conducted in order to understand the impact of the attitudes and perceptions of some residents in Bloemfontein, towards rhino poaching and anti-rhino poaching initiatives in South Africa. Prominent theoretical models, such as the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the decomposed theory of planned behaviour (DTPB), and the Rosenberg and Hovland Tripartite model of attitudes and perceptions, were used to help understand Bloemfontein residents’ attitudes and perceptions towards rhino poaching and anti-rhino poaching ini-tiatives in South Africa. Data was collected from residents in areas such as the Central University of Technology, the University of the Free State, the Waterfront Mall and the Mimosa Mall, respectively. A total of 252 usable responses were obtained, and the sta-tistical package for social sciences (SPSS) as well as a descriptive statistical instrument, were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that residents’ attitudes and perceptions to-wards rhino poaching and anti-rhino poaching initiatives contribute significantlytowards their intentions to act positively or negatively in curbing or reducing rhino poaching crime in South Africa. The research findings also showed that while there are differences in attitudes and perceptions between residents across different demographic groups, demographic factors alone are weak predictors of residents’ attitudes and perceptions towards rhino poaching. The study found that perceived trust, practical approaches, intentions to act and effective community involvement significantly contribute to residents’ positive attitudes and perceptions towards anti-rhino poaching initiatives in South Africa. The implications of other factors such as corruption, economic challenges, willingness of the authorities to act, and the heightened demand for rhino horn trade, have been discussed, and suggestions for future research are made. / Environmental Sciences / M.A. (Environmental Management)

This diploma thesis aims to explore possibilities of using IT in real estate and projection practice. It deals with simplification of difficult or insolvable tasks. It focuses on rapidly developing field of photogrammetry and its further processing via software. The work presents methods of measurement of existing realties without using standard methods (tape line, laser). Instead of these tools, the author uses photographic data and program PhotoModeler for surveying and creating a 3D model of the facade. The thesis verifies further serviceability of gained data up to the render phase of the surveyed building facade.

This diploma thesis is about designing the structure of roof of swimming stadium. Three solutions are created - concrete arc with tie, steel truss slab and concrete pretensioned membrane. One choosed solution - concrete pretensioned membrane - is afterwards developed. In the beginning there are several designs of geometry fulfilling the requirements for given type of structure being created. In part of static calculation, the parametrical mathematical model in form of macro in APDL language for Ansys software has been created. Afterwards all the parameters (initial state of cables, level of pretension, dimensions of membrane and peripheral frame, etc.) has been optimized in order to the membrane be fulfilling criterias for ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state. Afterwards other selected parts of structure has been checked. On basis of designed geometry and design checks in static calculation the drawings of conctruction and designed parts has been created. In the end, the 3D model of the structure has been created in graphical software Rhinoceros. Then visualizations of structure in concstruction stages and after completion has been rendered.

The document describes developing graphical application with limited size. It describes suitable techniques for a polygonal mesh's compression. The second part is focused on practical usage of this techniques for developing scene in 3D modeling environment and also describes how to transfer this model to the executable file. The work attends to optimalizations of source code compilation and executables compression at the final chapters.