Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the case of the Cape Town Central City Provincial Government Revitalisation Initiative (CCPGRI) as a means to further understanding of socio-technical transitions. The departure point for this research is the recognition that the current economic growth and development trajectory is unsustainable. Despite this, deeply institutionalised frames of reference for decision-making reinforce and perpetuate the utilisation of (incumbent) sociotechnical systems which diminish finite resources and deteriorate eco-system services. The theoretical notion of decoupling, however, offers an alternative economic development paradigm. Decoupling has been identified, within this thesis, as the guiding framework through which adaption strategies should be carried out. This was indentified through a comprehensive literature review and an assessment of Cape Town's critical networked infrastructure. Networked infrastructure conveys flows of resources across vast urban spaces, in a linear configuration, thus conditioning resource flows and consumption. The case of Cape Town, however, illustrates that a linear configuration of infrastructure is both financially and environmentally unsustainable. Moreover, the case provides the empirical evidence for decoupling, reinforcing the argument for the adoption of the notion as an alternative development paradigm. Networked infrastructure has furthermore been identified as a socio-technical system, and therefore is considered as the component requiring a system transition and the subsequent intervention point for decoupling economic growth from resource consumption. From an implementation perspective, socio-technical system transitions, achieved through innovation, are the necessary component for realising sustainable urban development. It is argued that innovation, necessary for socio-technical system transitions, should be the product of sustainability-orientated innovation systems (SOIS's). SOIS's are implicitly linked to decoupling through the shared goal of enabling greater sustainability. The Cape Town CCPGRI has been extrapolated onto the multi-levelled perspective (MLP) model and is used to further understanding about how socio-technical system transitions are achieved. Findings indicate that socio-technical systems transitions are possible in urban areas that have multiple niche innovations developing simultaneously. Of significance is the presence of an intermediary, who is able to facilitate and manage the development of niche innovations emerging from SOIS's. It is therefore argued that high quality networking is critical for achieving socio-technical transitions which emerge from SOIS's. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die geval van die "Cape Town Central City Provincial Government Revitalisation Initiative" (CCPGRI) as 'n manier om die begrip van sosio-tegniese oorgange te bevorder. Die vertrek punt vir hierdie navorsing is die insig dat die huidige verloop van ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling onvolhoubaar is. Ten spyte hiervan versterk en verleng geïnstitusionaliseerde verwysingsraamwerke vir besluitneming die gebruik van (opgelegde) sosiotegniese sisteme wat uitputbare bronne verminder en ekosisteem dienste laat agteruitgaan. Die teoretiese idee van ontkoppeling bied nogtans 'n alternatiewe paradigma vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling. Hierdie tesis identifiseer ontkoppeling as die rigtinggewende raamwerk waardeur aanpassing strategië uitgevoer behoort te word. Dit is geïdentifiseer deur 'n omvattende literatuurstudie en 'n beoordeling van Kaapstad se kritiese infrastruktuur netwerk. Netwerke van infrastuktuur vervoer die vloei van bronne in 'n liniêre konfigurasie oor wye stedelike ruimtes en kondisioneer daardeur die vloei en verbruik van bronne. Die geval van Kaapstad illustreer egter dat 'n liniêre konfigurasie van infrastruktuur beide finansieel en omgewingsverwant onvolhoubaar is. Verder voorsien hierdie geval die empiriese bewyse vir ontkoppeling en versterk daardeur die argument vir die aanvaarding van die idee as „n alternatiewe paradigma vir ontwikkeling. Infrastruktuur netwerke is verder geïdentifiseer as 'n sosio-teniese sisteem en word daarom geag as die komponent wat 'n sisteem oorgang vereis en die gevolglike punt van ingryping om ekonomiese groei van bron verbruik te ontkoppel. Uit „n implemetering oogpunt is die oorgang van sosio-tegniese sisteme, voltrek deur innovering, die noodsaaklike komponent om volhoubare stedelike ontwikkeling te realiseer. Daar word geredeneer dat innovering – noodsaaklik vir sosio-tegniese sisteem oorgang – die produk behoort te wees van volhoubaar georiënteerde innovering sisteme. Hierdie sisteme is implisiet verbind aan ontkoppeling deur die gedeelde doel om groter volhoubaarheid moontlik te maak. Die Kaapstadse CCPGRI is op die meervlakkige perspektief model ge-ekstrapoleer en is aangewend om begrip te bevorder van hoe sosio-tegniese sisteem oorgang bereik word. Bevindings dui daarop dat sosio-tegniese sisteem oorgang moontlik is in stedelike gebiede waar meervoudige niche innoverings gelyktydig ontwikkel. Die teenwoordigheid van 'n tussenganger, wat die ontwikkeling van niche innoverings wat voortspruit uit die volhoubaar georiënteerde innovering sisteme kan fasiliteer en bestuur, is belangrik. Daar word dus geredeneer dat hoë kwaliteit netwerk daarstelling krities is vir die uitvoer van sosio-tegniese oorgange wat uit volhoubaar georiënteerde innovering sisteme voortspruit.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The particular global context that is fundamentally altering the world is one in which the combined resource requirements of cities are unprecedented. This thesis communicates the thoughts, ideas and research observations on contemporary urbanisation dynamics through a synthesis of various perspectives. This conceptual fusion, as an attempt to provide a holistic overview of contemporary urban dynamics, forms the basis for developing a framework from which the multiple dimensions of cities can be addressed. This theoretical framework, which includes empirical analyses on the state of cities, is then applied to Johannesburg as a case study for deepening the understanding of urban dynamics and to assess implementation of the theoretical framework in reality. Despite being guided by the general aims of investigating current urban growth trends and the conceptual frameworks with which urban systems could be better understood, the complexity of the task at hand defied a static and linear research process. The ideas that emerged through the research journey, as opposed to a process, were synthesised using a literature review from which the framework of managing complex social-ecological systems was developed. Central to this framework is the metaphor of resilience, which through the idea of systemic adaptability, prioritises the need for both social and ecological opportunity to be enhanced. This is critical in the face of cross-cutting global challenges and in terms of cities as archetypical complex social-ecological systems. In reviewing literature on contemporary urbanisation dynamics, it was found that the socio-economic, spatial and ecological tensions characterising developing country cities, require strategies to enhance urban resilience rooted in local social and ecological capabilities that differ from developed nations’ contexts. These practical concerns were the catalyst for suggesting green infrastructure as a framework in which the joint social and ecological values of green assets are valued equally. This in line with the logic of enhancing a system’s overall systemic adaptability. The theoretical frameworks included in the literature review, therefore, emerged through the weaving back and forth of thoughts, debates and practical concerns about creating resilience between people and nature in the urban landscapes of developing countries The methodological implications of a green infrastructure framework resulted in the need to determine the total economic value of ecosystem services, as the benefits that society accrues through ecosystem functioning. Valuing both the social and ecological benefits of such ecosystem derivatives, not only relates to the concept of mutual resilience building, but makes the economic case for investment in natural assets. Through experience with this methodology, it emerged that valuation exercises of ecosystem services require primary research that connects physical data on ecosystem functioning to tangible economic values. In the chosen case study, however, this original research is yet to take place and methodologies for valuing Johannesburg’s green assets had to unfold based on data availability. The development of a methodology within a methodology is a major feature of this paper, which is guided by the logic that for overall systemic resilience to be sustained, investment in natural assets needs to explicitly account for the total economic values of ecosystem services. The conclusions suggest that Johannesburg is nevertheless in a unique position to capitalise on the concept of green infrastructure, from which social and ecological opportunity can be mutually enhanced. In a paradoxical way, the city’s tree-planting boom that resulted in the construction of the world’s largest urban forest in natural savannah grassland, has created inventories of ecological and social resilience that represent the multifunctional value of green assets, if valued explicitly. Recognition of these values shows that ecological assets extend beyond publicly delineated open space and that Johannesburg’s culture of greening is potentially playing a significant role in sustaining the resilience between its people and nature. However, until the detailed base research is conducted on the connections between Johannesburg’s green assets and their associated social and ecological dividends, these assets remain potential inventories of resilience whose values are yet to be fully determined. The recommendations of this thesis are therefore largely to strengthen the research and data bases on Johannesburg’s green assets. Original research is needed so that precise valuation exercises of Johannesburg’s ecosystem services can take place. This research is also the foundation from which a more robust and empirically sound case can be made for motivating investment in Johannesburg’s strategically unique green infrastructure, in the context of social-ecological challenges and the global movement towards green economies, jobs and cities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die spesifieke globale konteks wat die wêreld ten diepste verander, is ’n konteks waarin die gekombineerde behoeftes van stede ongekend is. Deur ’n samevatting van verskeie perspektiewe bied hierdie tesis gedagtes, idees en navorsingswaarnemings oor die hedendaagse stadsdinamika. Hierdie samevoeging van konsepte, as ’n poging om ’n holistiese oorsig van hedendaagse stadsdinamika te bied, vorm die grondslag vir die ontwikkeling van ’n raamwerk van waaruit die veelvuldige dimensies van stede benader kan word. Hierdie teoretiese raamwerk, wat empiriese analises van die stand van stede insluit, word dan toegepas op Johannesburg as ’n gevallestudie om die stadsdinamika beter te verstaan en die gebruik van die teoretiese raamwerk in die praktyk te evalueer. Die gedagtes wat uit die navorsing voortgespruit het, word saamgevat deur ’n oorsig te gee van literatuur waaruit die raamwerk vir die bestuur van komplekse sosio-ekologiese sisteme ontwikkel is. Die kern van hierdie raamwerk is die metafoor van weerstandsvermoë (“resilience”) wat, deur die gebruik van die konsep sistemiese aanpasbaarheid, die behoefte aan sowel meer sosiale as ekologiese geleenthede as die belangrikste prioriteite identifiseer. Dit is deurslaggewend in die lig van deursnee- globale uitdagings en in terme van stede as argetipiese komplekse sosio-ekologiese sisteme. In die oorsig van literatuur oor die hedendaagse stadsdinamika is daar gevind dat die sosio-ekonomiese, ruimtelike en ekologiese spanning wat stede in ontwikkelende lande kenmerk, strategieë vereis wat stadsweerstand, wat uit plaaslike sosiale en ekologiese vermoëns spruit, sal verhoog. Hierdie praktiese kwessies was die katalisator om ’n groen infrastruktuur voor te stel as die raamwerk waarbinne die gesamentlike sosiale en ekologiese waardes van groen bates ewe veel waarde dra, wat in pas is met die logiese gedagte om ’n sisteem se algehele sistemiese aanpasbaarheid te verhoog. Die teoretiese raamwerk wat ingesluit is in die literatuur wat bestudeer is, het dus na vore gekom deur die uitruil van gedagtes, debatte en praktiese benaderings tot hoe weerstandigheid geskep kan word tussen mens en natuur in die stedelike landskappe van ontwikkelende lande. Die metodologiese implikasies van ’n groen infrastruktuur-raamwerk het dit noodsaaklik gemaak om die totale ekonomiese waarde van ekosisteemdienste, as die voordele wat die samelewing deur ekosisteme ontvang, te bepaal. Die belangrikste navorsing om letterlike inligting oor Johannesburg se ekosisteemdienste aan tasbare ekonomiese waardes te verbind, moet egter nog gedoen word, en metodologieë om die stad se groen bates te evalueer moet ontwikkel word afhangende van die beskikbaarheid van inligting. Die ontwikkeling van ’n metodologie binne ’n metodologie is ’n belangrike kenmerk van hierdie tesis, wat gelei word deur die logiese gedagte dat belegging in natuurlike bates baie duidelik die totale ekonomiese waarde van ekosisteemdienste moet bepaal as algehele sistemiese weerstandsvermoë gehandhaaf wil word. Die gevolgtrekkings dui daarop dat Johannesburg nietemin in ’n unieke posisie is om finansiële voordeel uit die konsep van ’n groen infrastruktuur te trek. Op ’n teenstrydige manier het die stad se grootskaalse poging om bome aan te plant, wat gelei het tot die wêreld se grootste stedelike woud in ’n natuurlike grasvlakte, inligting gebied oor ekologiese en sosiale weerstandigheid, en dit verteenwoordig die multifunksionele waarde van groen bates as daar uitdruklik waarde daaraan geheg word. ’n Erkenning van hierdie waarde wys dat ekologiese bates verder strek as ’n openbare afgebakende oop ruimte en dat Johannesburg se groen kultuur moontlik ’n deurslaggewende rol speel om die weerstandsvermoë tussen sy mense en die natuur volhoubaar te maak. Voordat noukeurige grondnavorsing oor die verband tussen Johannesburg se groen bates en hulle gepaardgaande sosiale en ekologiese voordele egter nie uitgevoer is nie, bly hierdie bates potensiële beskrywings van weerstandsvermoë waarvan die waarde nog nie ten volle bepaal is nie. Die aanbevelings van hierdie tesis is daarom hoofsaaklik dat navorsing voortgesit word, en dat die kennisgrondslag van Johannesburg se groen bates verbreed word sodat ’n presiese evaluering van ekosisteemdienste gedoen kan word as die grondslag van sterker en empiries gestaafde redes om in die stad se groen infrastruktuur te belê.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the 21st century, cities play a vital role in social, economic and environmental changes. They are the largest places of human settlement and it is expected that more than 80 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 (UNEP, 2012). At the same time, as the role of cities significantly increases, it also contributes to negative outcomes on the planet. In particular, the current cities’ demand for materials and energy consumption accounts for almost 80 percent of the world’s consumption and it leads to serious environmental problems. The main problems are climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, and ecosystem degradation. In response to these urban issues, sustainable cities have emerged as an alternative way of urban life. Since cities consume a massive amount of energy, an efficient resource management system has to be established for the sustainable urban future. In addition, finding ways to reconcile economic growth, social well-being and the sustainable use of resources is imperative in urban sustainability. Since people’s lifestyle and their material footprint are dependent on the urban design, construction and operation of urban infrastructures, ways to make an urban infrastructural system more sustainable will contribute to the transition towards sustainable cities. In this study, the thesis applies Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to one of the sustainable cities, Songdo, South Korea. Before delving into the analysis, it explores the overview of the New Songdo City (NSC) project and describes its sustainable urban infrastructures. Then it examines the material flow of inputs and outputs of the city in order to reveal their sustainability and suggests a guideline for the realisation of sustainable cities. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies are used to assess and compare the material and energy flow trends for this city. The results indicate that the general material consumption in Songdo is higher than the average in South Korea. It reflects the high-income households’ consumption patterns in Songdo. In addition, one could see that the sustainable networks have merely contributed to the overall consumption. The findings from this study can be used to formulate sustainable development policies and strategies in terms of increasing the efficiency of resource and energy use in urban areas. Furthermore, this research is expected to provide a platform for realisation of sustainable cities by highlighting the important role of urban infrastructures and their material resource flow. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die 21ste eeu speel stede 'n belangrike rol in die sosiale, ekonomiese en omgewingskwessies veranderinge. Stede is die grootste vorm van menslike nedersetting en daar word verwag dat meer as 80 persent van die wêreld se bevolking in stede sal woon teen 2050 (UNEP, 2012). Op dieselfde tyd, namate die rol van stede aansienlik verhoog, dra dit ook by tot negatiewe uitkomste op die planeet. Veral huidige stede se vraag na materiaal en energie reken vir byna 80 persent van die wêreld se verbruik, en dit lei tot ernstige omgewingsprobleme. Die grootste probleme is klimaatsverandering, biodiversiteit verlies, verwoestyning en die agteruitgang van ekostelsels. In reaksie op hierdie stedelike kwessies het volhoubare stede na vore gekom as 'n alternatiewe vorm van stadsbewoning. Aangesien stede 'n massiewe hoeveelheid energie gebruik, moet 'n doeltreffende hulpbronbestuur stelsel vasgestel word. Daarbenewens, is dit noodsaaklik om maniere te vind om ekonomiese groei te integreer met sosiale welsyn en die volhoubare gebruik van hulpbronne. Aangesien mense se lewenstyl en hul impak op die omgewing afhanklik is van die stedelike infrastruktuur, sal maniere om hierdie infrastruktuurstelsel meer volhoubaar te maak bydra tot die oorgang na volhoubare stede. In hierde studie word, stedelike materiaalvloeiontleding toegepas op een van die volhoubare stede, Songdo, Suid-Korea. Voor die analise, sal 'n oorsig van die nuwe Songdo stad projek en die stad se volhoubare infrastruktuur gegee word. Dan word die vloei van materiaal in-en uitgange van die stad ondersoek om hul volhoubaarheid te illustreer, en stel dit 'n riglyn voor vir die verwesenliking van volhoubare stede. Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe metodologie word gebruik om die materiaal en energie vloei tendense vir hierdie stad te bepaal en vergelyk. Die resultate dui daarop dat die algemene materiaal verbruik in Songdo hoër is as die gemiddelde in Korea. Dit weerspieël die hoë-inkomste huishoudings se verbruikspatrone in Songdo. Daarbenewens kan 'n mens sien dat die volhoubare netwerke slegs bygedra het tot die algehele verbruik. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie kan gebruik word om die volhoubare ontwikkeling van beleid en strategieë te formuleer in terme van die verhoging van die doeltreffendheid van die hulpbron-en energie gebruik in stedelike gebiede. Verder word verwag dat hierdie navorsing 'n platvorm in terme van die realisering van volhoubare stede sal voorsien deur die belangrike rol van stedelike infrastruktuur, en die materiaal hulpbron vloei te beklemtoon.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The sustainability of a human settlement is a multidimensional problem, dealing not only with settlement spatial or housing dimensions, but also with spatial characteristics, geographic location, environmental considerations, economic viability, institutional capacity, human development, and social relationships and aspirations. With the ability to address spatial restructuring, effect integration and optimise the use of infrastructure, the South African government, through its New Comprehensive Plan for the Creation of Sustainable Human Settlements, promulgated in 2004, has identified integrated residential development, essentially comprising medium-density mixeduse housing opportunities, as the core contributor to the creation of sustainable human settlements. Through its land release programmes, government seeks to stimulate the development of integrated and sustainable human settlements. The evaluation criteria applied in the assessment of development proposals however differ between the various spheres of government. The criteria evaluating the inherent sustainability of a development proposal have not been evident in the literature review of the advertised proposals. With no overall assessment framework in place to assess the overall sustainability of integrated residential development projects, there has been an evident lack of consistency in the evaluation of such proposals. Furthermore, the lack of consistency and the lack of a consistently applied evaluation framework does not allow for adequate monitoring and evaluation after development. The aim of this investigation was to facilitate the development of an appropriate and adaptable framework that can guide government in evaluating an integrated residential development proposal in terms of its sustainability and the extent to which it endeavours to achieve government’s desired outcomes. An empirical study was conducted through evaluation research and comparative studies to investigate the indicators informing the creation of sustainable and integrated residential developments. Primary data were acquired through questionnaires to targeted public and private sector stakeholders involved in integrated residential developments, and were supplemented by a literature review on the aspects informing the sustainability of housing development. The research found that there is a lack of consistency and integration in the evaluation of proposals for integrated residential developments. Similarly, the key aspects and means of measuring sustainability were found not to be integrated into the evaluation process. The degree to which a development proposal was considered to be sustainable therefore is, and will remain, unknown until it is researched. Without the ability to measure the level of perceived sustainability pre- and post-implementation of development proposals, and with cognizance of the newness of integrated residential developments as a housing model, it is doubtful whether there will be progress towards the realisation of ideal sustainable human settlements. To facilitate the realisation of sustainable human settlements, the proposed framework seeks to establish a consistent means of evaluating an integrated residential development proposal pre- and post-development.

Nos travaux de recherche s’inscrivent dans le cadre des représentations sociales comme prisme analytique de l’acceptation des politiques publiques appliquées aux problématiques de mobilité urbaine durable. Face à la mise en place du 30km/h par la Ville d’Angers, nous cherchons à saisir les déterminants psychosociaux en jeu dans les pratiques des usagers. Nous nous intéressons notamment au lien que la mobilité urbaine entretient avec l’amélioration de la qualité de vie et la construction de quartiers idéaux.Dans un premier temps, nous étudions la structure de la représentation sociale du quartier idéal et celle de la zone30 à l’aide d’une approche pluriméthodologique. Nous analysons ensuite les motivations qui permettent d’expliquer les pratiques tout en nous focalisant sur les effets de masquage et démasquage de certains aspects normatifs en jeu dans la représentation des zones 30.Dans un troisième temps, nous étudions les processus communicationnels afin d’optimiser les messages des campagnes de communication. Enfin, nous proposons l’étude de deux outils. Le premier a pour objectif de permettre aux collectivités d’analyser de façon pertinente la manière de mettre en place le 30km/h sur son territoire à partir d’indicateurs objectifs. Le second s’intéresse à la valence des représentations et à la dimension motivationnelle des individus, permettant d’orienter la mise en place d’actions pertinentes afin d’en optimiser l’implantation.Nos résultats révèlent l’importance de la communication dans les processus de restructuration des représentations sociales et supposent la nécessité d’un changement de paradigme nécessaire dans la présentation des problématiques de mobilité. / Our research fits into the social representations’framework as an analytic prism of public policies’acceptance related to the sustainable urban mobility issue.With regard to the implementation of the 20mph (30kph) by the City of Angers, we study the psychosocial determinants towards the users’ practices. We are interested in the relationship that urban mobility maintains with the quality of life improvement and the construction ofideal neighbourhoods.In the first step, we study the social representation structure of the ideal neighbourhood and the one of 20mph zone (or 30kph zone) with a pluri-methodological approach. In the second step, we are interested in the individuals' motivations for explaining social practices. We focus on the masking and unmasking effects of normative aspects existing in the social representation. In the third step, we study communicational processes in order tooptimize awareness campaigns messages. Finally, we consider two tools. The first one allows public administrations to analyse and build a relevant strategy toimplement the generalization of 20mph zones on their territory through objectives indicators. The second onefocuses on the social representation valence and theindividuals’ motivational dimension. This information appears to be very important for orienting the elaboration of relevant actions in order to optimize its implementation.Our results reveal the importance of communication in restructuration processes of social representations. They also suggest the necessity of a paradigm change in the presentation of urban mobility issues.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree Master of Science in Development Planning to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / A sustainable approach to development brings together social, economic and environmental aspects. However this does not occur in a vacuum, development decisions take place in a palimpsest of underlying decisions and a myriad of conflicting uses and tensions. The sustainable development of parks entails making trade-offs within a conflicting environment. This study reflects on officials’ practices in the processes of park developments. It evaluates the decision-making terrain for park developments to understand the challenges, the advantages and the limitations in achieving an integrated and sustainable park. To this end, I have reviewed JCPZ (Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo) officials’ practices in the park development of an urban wetland in Mshenguville, Soweto. The methodology used for this paper is mainly the case study approach and reviewing archival documents used for the development process. What makes this case study interesting is that this park has some contested, proposed and appropriated land uses such as golf, cattle grazing, and an eco-park. The research report mainly shows that a balance or win-win approach to development is not easy to attain especially in highly contested developments but rather a compromise can be reached provided that the other forces ( stakeholders) within the sustainability triangle (particularly social, economic and environmental) persistantly negotiate their space to be included in the development plan. / XL2018

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Witwatersrand, 2016 / This thesis is concerned with the relationship between informal settlements and green infrastructure. It uses the concept of just sustainability to explore the ways green infrastructure can contribute to more just and sustainable informal settlement interventions. The study draws on a case study design, with three low-income areas in Johannesburg serving as case studies. The first, Kya Sands, is an informal settlement that has not experienced substantive intervention. The second, Ruimsig, is an informal settlement that has experienced in situ intervention through reblocking. The third, Cosmo City, is a green-field housing development where households from informal settlements were relocated. The thesis utilised qualitative methods (semistructured interviews, transect walks, focus group discussion) for data collection across the case studies. These were supplemented by a quantitative component for data collection in an individual case and in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants. The three cases reveal how the low-income residents in these areas derive a range of ecosystem services from natural ecosystems. A range of ecosystem disservices also came to the fore. In Ruimsig settlement, reblocking involved spatial reconfiguration that created opportunities for greening. Co-producing the in situ intervention involved some processes and outcomes related to equity and inclusion but also included situations that were exclusionary. Relocation from informal settlements into a new housing environment in Cosmo City formally created spatial opportunities for greening and reduced dependency on the natural ecosystem for certain basic resources. However, the course of events leading up to relocation and postoccupancy trajectory of green spaces reveal shortfalls in relation to justice and incognisance on socio-ecological and socio-economic realities at the planning stage. Juxtaposition between the cases of Ruismig and Cosmo City shows that in situ intervention can fulfill more principles of just sustainability in comparison with relocation. This thesis argues that careful assessment of the relationship between poor households living in informal settlements and green infrastructure — their interaction with natural ecosystems should influence the approach to informal settlement interventions. The cases reveal that achieving just sustainability in relation to green infrastructure in informal settlement intervention is not straight-forward, but not impossible. Progress towards just sustainability in the form of improvement in quality of life and in the environment requires navigating (with foresight rather than hindsight) the intricacies and dynamics obtainable in contexts into which informal settlements are embedded. / MT2017

Denna studie är en kandidatuppsats i Samhällsbyggnadsteknik vid Högskolan Dalarna. Forskning har visat på att det finns behov av att arbeta tvärsektoriellt för att uppnå en hållbar stadsutveckling. Ett sätt att göra detta är genom dialogprocesser. Denna studie ämnar undersöka vilka effekter dialogprocesser, baserade på SymbioCity Approach, har på kommunal planering efter det att processen genomförts.  Studien har genomförts genom litteraturstudier i ämnet, deltagande observationer under en dialogprocess samt 11 semistrukturerade intervjuer av deltagare från två olika dialogprocesser.  Studien har visat på att dialogprocesser baserade på SymbioCity Approach är ett användbart verktyg för en hållbar stadsutveckling. Processen kan utmynna i resultat som ökad institutionell kapacitet, ökad tvärsektoriell inblick och förståelse samt ökat socialt kapital.   Studien har också visat att viktiga faktorer som kan påverka resultatet av dialogprocessen bland annat är: huruvida man har en lämplig syftesformulering, att rätt resurser medverkar samt att man håller en nivå på dialogen som överensstämmer med dess syfte. Vidare har det framkommit att processen behöver planeras noga för att kunna utmynna i önskat resultat och att olika aktörer kan ha olika förväntningar på och bild av resultaten. / This study is a bachelor thesis in Civil Planning and Construction at Högskolan Dalarna. Studies has shown that there’s a need for a multisectoral working process to achieve a sustainable urban development. One way to do so is through collaborative planning processes. This study examines the use of collaborative processes, based on SymbioCity Approach, in civil planning projects in two Swedish municipalities. It tries to examine what effects the process has on the municipalities planning.  The study has been conveyed through literature studies on the subject, participating observations of a collaborative planning process and 11 semi-structured interviews with participants from two planning processes.  The study has shown that collaborative planning processes based on SymbioCity Approach is a useful tool for sustainable urban development. A process like this may result in increased institutional capacity, increased multisectoral knowledge and understanding, and increased social capital.   The study also shows that important factors that may influence the results of the process are: whether a purpose has been properly articulated, if the right resources are participating and whether the level of the content of the process coincides with the purpose of the process. Furthermore, the study shows that the process needs to be properly planned to reach its full potential. It also found that different stakeholders might have different expectations and idea of what the results of the process might look like.

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'analyser la mise en oeuvre de la notion de développement durable dans l'espace urbain et la pertinence de son application en urbanisme. À partir d'une observation comparée qui prend pour cadre empirique deux terrains, Nîmes (France), et Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada), cette recherche étudie la problématique de l'appropriation de la notion de développement urbain durable dans les représentations des acteurs locaux, son intégration dans la planification territoriale, et son éventuelle traduction en projets urbains « durables ». En effet, si le cadre des réglementations nationales mises en place au cours des dernières années, tout comme les volontés et les orientations exprimées au niveau des organismes internationaux, font de la notion de développement durable un véritable outil d'aménagement du territoire, son appropriation et sa traduction concrète en projets opérationnels au niveau local peinent à être visibles.Cette recherche montre, que l'utilisation par les acteurs locaux de cette notion répond à l'injonction des protocoles internationaux, de la loi et de la réglementation en vigueur. Ce qui implique un ensemble de procédures, d'ingénierie, de moyens et de savoir-faire à s'approprier à l'échelle locale. Elle démontre que ces stratégies conçues au niveau des échelles supra locales, sont souvent incompatibles avec les réalités locales. Cela interroge la capacité de la notion de développement durable à atteindre les objectifs attendus, et met en cause sa pertinence comme notion majeure dans le développement territorial. / The objective of this thesis is to analyze the implementation of the notion of sustainable development in urban areas and the relevance of its application in urban planning. On the basis of a comparative observation of two case studies, Nimes (France) and Sherbrook (Quebec, Canada), the research analyses how the local actors appropriate the concept of sustainable development, its integration in the process of urban planning, and its translation in sustainable urban project. Even if the national and international guidelines and regulations developed in recent years, purse the integration of the notion of sustainable development into urban planning, its appropriation and translation into concrete operational projects at the local level is still limited.This research shows that the adoption of the concept of sustainable development by local actors is largely provoked by the injunction of the international protocols, national laws and regulations. This process implies the local adoption of a new set of procedures, engineering, resources and expertise. Yet the strategies that are developed at national level are often incompatible with the local realities. Therefore, the thesis questions the ability of the concept of sustainable development to achieve the expected goals and its relevance as a major concept in urban development.

O atual modelo de planejamento dos transportes é constantemente confrontado com novos ideais associados à mobilidade sustentável. Assim, inúmeros pesquisadores debruçam-se em busca de indicadores e índices capazes de avaliar e monitorar o desempenho de políticas públicas relacionadas ao tema. Dessa forma foi desenvolvido o Índice de Mobilidade Urbana Sustentável (IMUS), uma ferramenta pautada nos preceitos da mobilidade sustentável com a proposta de tornar-se um apoio à gestão municipal. Por ser um método recente, sua aplicação ainda é limitada. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo concentra-se em realizar o cálculo do índice na cidade de Curitiba, muito conhecida por suas soluções urbanas que associam o planejamento dos transportes ao uso do solo. A aplicação do método na cidade fundamentou-se não apenas em obter o simples score relacionado ao desempenho das condições da mobilidade local, mas também possibilitaram avaliar o próprio método. O valor resultante alcançado foi correspondente a 0,747, confirmando Curitiba como uma cidade com características bastante positivas quanto às políticas urbanas voltadas à mobilidade. Por outro lado, foram identificadas algumas deficiências, especialmente quanto aos modos não motorizados de transporte. O cálculo do IMUS permitiu encontrar também indicadores que não foram capazes de identificar aspectos reconhecidamente favoráveis da cidade, demonstrando que possivelmente esses apresentem problemas de avaliação ou normalização de valores. A aplicação do método também se mostrou eficiente para promover uma avaliação intraurbana entre as diversas regiões da cidade. Nesse aspecto Curitiba demonstrou um saudável equilíbrio, sem apresentar grandes disparidades quanto suas políticas locais. Tal característica mostra-se bastante favorável para identificar Curitiba como um benchmarking da mobilidade sustentável. Finalmente o método foi testado como uma ferramenta de comparação entre cidades distintas, demonstrando também ser eficiente, desde que se mantenha uma estrutura de cálculo compatível entre as cidades que se deseja comparar. / The current transportation planning approach is constantly confronted with new values derived from the concept of sustainable mobility. As a consequence, several researchers have devoted time and effort in the search of indicators and indexes capable of evaluating and monitoring the performance of urban policies related to the theme. The Sustainable Urban Mobility Index (I_SUM) was one of them. It is a decision support tool developed to help municipal administrations in the planning and management of sustainable mobility. As it is a recent method, its application is still limited to just a few cases. The objective of this study is to conduct an application of the index in Curitiba, which is a well-known city due to the quality of its urban planning solutions that associate transport planning to land use. The application of the method in the city was motivated not only by the possibility of having a score showing the performance of the city regarding sustainable mobility, but also by the opportunity of evaluating the method itself. The overall resulting value was 0.747, what confirms that Curitiba has very positive characteristics and effective urban policies regarding sustainable mobility. Conversely, some deficiencies were identified, especially concerning non-motorized transport modes. The I_SUM calculation also allowed the identification of indicators that were not able to identify aspects that are good to the city. That may suggest problems in the assessment or normalization procedures of the index. The method application was also efficient for the evaluation of city subdivisions. Curitiba also performed well in that intra-urban evaluation, with a positive equilibrium of the values throughout the city. It may be an indication that the city policies are homogeneously applied in the entire urban area, what certainly contributes to characterize Curitiba as a benchmark of urban mobility. Finally, when used to compare distinct cities, the method was also efficient. In that case, the calculation was compatible with a structure adjusted to simultaneously represent the compared cities.