Studien var en uppföljning av en trygghetsvandring i stadsdelen Brynäs i Gävle som gjordes 2008 med medverkan av boende i stadsdelen och tjänstemän från kommunen. Syftet med denna undersökning var att ta reda på hur de boende uppfattar trygghet i stadsmiljö utifrån sig själva och med avseende på vissa i förväg formulerade punkter. Syftet var också att utvärdera hur boende i stadsdelen Brynäs uppfattar tryggheten i området efter de förändringar som Gävle kommun gjort i den byggda miljön. Resultaten visade att det viktigaste för tryggheten var generellt att ha kontroll på och överblick över vad som händer runtomkring en. Denna känsla kunde minska eller öka genom olika faktorer i den byggda miljön. Med tanke på detta kändes öppna platser tryggare än trånga och belysning ökade tryggheten till viss del. Det var också viktigt är att området kändes välskött och att det fanns mycket folk runtomkring en. Trafiksituationen på Brynäs uppfattades som väldigt otrygg. Angående oskötta miljöer kom diskussionerna ofta in på socialt utsatta miljöer och människor i sådana miljöer, som upplevdes som brottsbenägna. Människor som vistades i stadsmiljö var minst lika viktiga som miljöerna – miljöerna var ett medel för att dölja eller avslöja dessa människor.Resultaten visade också att informanterna till största delen inte märkt de förändringar som Gävle kommun genomfört. / This study was a follow up on a project on satefy in Brynäs, performed by the community of Gävle. The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of safety in Brynäs by the people living there, from the persons´ spontaneous points of view and from certain subjects already specified from present research. The aim of the study was also to examine how people on Brynäs percieve some interventions in the built urban environment in Brynäs that the community of Gävle made between 2008 and 2010. The results showed that the most important factors that make the environment feel safe was that it should give people an overview of the surroundings. The informants said that overview of the surroundings made them feel in control of what happens around them. The informants thought a lot about areas with low socioeconomic status and the people living there as correlated with increaesed risks of crime. The people appearing in urban environments were as important for the perceptions of safety as the environments themselves – the environment could hide or show people able to comitting crimes to other people. The informants had mostly not noticed the interventions in the built environment made by the community of Gävle.

Abstract Boreal urban forests are becoming more and more fragmented and, at the same time, are exposed to low-level but long-term nitrogen and sulphur deposition. Natural mid-boreal forests are dominated by few tree and shrub species, while herbs and grasses are rare. Soils in mid-boreal forests are rich in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, forming a symbiotic relationship with forest trees, which is important for the nutrient cycle especially in nutrient-poor ecosystems. Aims of this thesis were 1) to study differences between mid-boreal urban and rural forests in composition of macrofungi and structure of plant communities, 2) to explore whether responses of Scots pine seedlings to excess N are mediated via soil or via air, and 3) to study if partial removal of vegetation and humus layer alleviates the adverse effects of excess N on plant and fungal communities, and promotes performance and regeneration of Scots pine in urban forests. The growth responses of seedlings and their mycorrhizal colonization were studied in both field and greenhouse experiments. Peroxidase (POD) activity was used as a root stress indicator. Urban forests were poor in number of fruiting ECM fungal species, but rich in herbs and grasses in the field layer, as compared to rural forests. These differences were thought to result from changes in soil properties. ECM fungal colonization in Scots pine roots did not respond significantly to high nitrogen load in soil, but high root POD activity indicated changes in root physiology. ECM macrofungal diversity in urban forests was not markedly increased during a five-year survey after a partial humus removal treatment. On the other hand, fruiting of Cortinarius semisanguineus is a positive response to the treatment. Scots pine seedling emergence was poor due to rapid revegetation at the urban sites, but the treatment promoted both root and shoot growth of planted Scots pine seedlings in urban forests. Decreased root POD activity in Scots pine seedlings in the humus removal treatment possibly indicates lowered root stress. Soil manipulations may result in a risk of nutrient leakage, and a risk of invasion by non-typical plants. Also, small stand size with high recreation pressure causes a risk for tree regeneration in urban forest stands. These risks need to be considered when planning management of urban coniferous forests.

O estudo de caso do processo de criação e consolidação do Programa de Revitalização de Nascentes (PRN) analisa uma política pública para revitalizar nascentes em ambiente urbano por intermédio de práticas conservacionistas, iniciada no município de São José dos Campos SP, em 2006. A pesquisa abrange o período de 6 anos, de 2006 a 2012. Segundo a Prefeitura Municipal de São José dos Campos/Secretaria de Meio Ambiente (2012) estão em processo de revitalização 33 áreas de preservação permanente (APPs) de nascentes, onde foram plantadas mais de 45.000 mudas de árvores nativas da Mata Atlântica, totalizando, aproximadamente, 230.000 m2 de áreas reflorestadas no ambiente urbano do Município. O PRN possui um Programa de Educação Ambiental específico, do qual participaram no período de análise 29 escolas da rede pública de ensino (estadual e municipal), duas Unidades da Fundação Hélio Augusto de Souza - Fundhas e uma Organização Não Governamental. A pesquisa visa, então, contribuir para a definição de bases conceituais e metodológicas para o estabelecimento de políticas públicas para revitalização de nascentes pautadas em processos participativos. Para avaliar o desempenho do PRN, inicialmente, fez-se o resgate de seu histórico; definiu-se o grupo amostral, contendo 8 dessas 33 áreas, bem como 8 unidades públicas de ensino, onde foram realizadas as seguintes etapas para coleta de dados: estudo comparativo, por meio de registros fotográficos e imagens de satélite, nas datas inicial e final relativas às intervenções ocorridas em cada uma das áreas selecionadas; entrevistas semiestruturadas, com questões distintas para cada um dos 4 grupos participantes: técnicos, alunos, professores, pessoas das comunidades (moradores vizinhos ou frequentadores das áreas públicas). Esta etapa incluiu o levantamento dos desdobramentos no Município em relação aos incrementos ao PRN ou às políticas públicas municipais. Nas entrevistas foram ouvidos 45 alunos, 9 professores, 30 pessoas e 10 técnicos. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam: a evolução positiva do PRN no que tange às políticas públicas municipais; a satisfação dos envolvidos quando comparados resultados do trabalho às transformações decorrentes das intervenções socioambientais realizadas; que os entrevistados apoiam a continuidade do Programa; que a estratégia metodológica foi eficaz para a criação de vínculos afetivos, de geração do senso de corresponsabilidade de alunos e professores para com as nascentes nas quais trabalham; a percepção de que a revitalização de nascentes em ambiente urbano é necessária, urgente e que deveria ser igualmente desenvolvida em outros municípios; que foi percebida a melhora nas condições ambientais das APPs em processo de revitalização, verificação esta confirmada pelos levantamentos in loco realizados. Concluiu-se que o Programa de Revitalização de Nascentes de São José dos Campos constitui um programa estratégico, que se fundamenta em processo educacional participativo, cuja metodologia de intervenção se mostrou robusta por estar pautada em conhecimentos científicos, e alinhada às políticas públicas para meio ambiente, recursos hídricos, biodiversidade e educação ambiental, que apresentam interfaces entre si, e suas respectivas regulamentações, nas três esferas da gestão pública (municipal, estadual e federal), podendo ser replicada em outras localidades como política pública, readequando-se às peculiaridades e aspectos ecológicos, local e regional. / The case-study of the consolidation and creation process of the Revitalization Program of Springs (RPS) analyses a public policy to revitalize springs in urban environment by means of conservationist practices started in 2006 in the municipality of São José dos Campos SP. The research covers the period of 6 years, from 2006 to 2012. According to the Environment Secretariat of São José dos Campos City Hall (2012), there are 33 permanent preservation areas of springs in the process of revitalization. More than 45.000 of native tree seedlings from Atlantic Rainforest have been planted in approximately 230.000 square meters of reforested areas in the municipalitys urban environment. The RPS includes a specific Environmental Education Program involving 29 public schools (state and municipal), 2 units of Hélio Augusto de Souza Foundation (Fundhas) and 1 non-governmental organization. The research aims to contribute to the definition of methodological and conceptual bases of public policies to revitalize springs involving participatory processes. To assess the RPS, initially, it was elaborated a historical review, a sample group was defined with 8 of these 33 areas, as well as 8 public school units where the following steps to collect data have been taken: comparative study by means of satellite images and photographic records at the initial and final dates regarding the interventions occurred in each selected area; semi-structured interviews, with different questions for each of the 4 participating groups: technicians, students, teachers and people from the community (neighbors or public area visitants). This stage included the survey of the new developments regarding the RPS increments or the municipal public policies. The interviewees were: 45 students, 9 teachers, 30 people from the community and 10 technicians. The research outcomes indicate: the RPS positive evolution in relation to the municipal public policies; the satisfaction of the participants when the work outcomes are compared to the resulting transformations of the social and environmental interventions which have been undertaken; the interviewees support the program continuity; the methodological strategy was effective to create affective links to generate the sense of shared responsibility between students and teachers concerning the springs they take care of; the perception that the revitalization of springs in urban environment is necessary and urgent and that the RPS should be developed in other cities; the perception that environmental conditions have been improved in the permanent preservation areas of springs which are in the process of revitalization. This perception was confirmed by the surveys which were taken in loco. It was concluded that the Revitalization Program of Springs in São José dos Campos is a strategic program based in a participatory educational process whose methodology of intervention has proved to be robust as it is based in scientific knowledge and is aligned with public policies for environment, water resources, biodiversity and environmental education which are interconnected by themselves and with their respective regulations related to the three public administration spheres (municipal, state and federal). The RPS may be replicated to other municipalities as public policy by readjusting to the peculiarities and the regional, local and ecological aspects.

Rapporten presenterar en analys av Tändsticksområdet i Jönköping ur ett stadsutvecklingsperspektiv, med syfte att lyfta betydelsen av kulturhistoriska miljöer för hållbar utveckling av stadsdelar. Studien utfördes som fallstudie, med intervjuer, observationer och dokumentstudie som datainsamlingstekniker. Data sammanställs i grafiska scheman med analysmetoderna SWOT och Gehl’s tolv kvalitetskriterier. Avgränsningar har skett genom att undersöka ett specifikt, avgränsat geografiskt område och intervju av verksamheter där medverkande varit aktiva på Tändsticksområdet i minst tio år. Utifrån analysen har det visats att Tändsticksområdet är i behov av förändring. Under de senaste tio åren har det inte utförts några stora förändringar och bristande underhåll har lett till förfall av området. Genom SWOT-analysen som sammanställts utifrån intervjuer och observationer har prishöjningar och kommunala prioriteringar konstaterats som hot. Områdets styrkor anses vara dess geografiska placering och byggnadsminnesförklaringen som täcker samtlig bebyggelse. Svagheter som identifierats är den instängda utformningen med murar och bommar. De möjligheter som har identifierats är utveckling av samverkan för att skapa en helhet i området och verksamheterna emellan. Analys baserat på de tolv kvalitetskriterierna visade att de största bristerna i området är kopplat till utformningen av stadsrummet. I områdets urbana miljö ges få möjligheter till att kunna stanna upp och spendera tid utomhus. Det leder till att Tändsticksområdets gator och torg främst nyttjas som passage genom området eller till verksamheterna. De brister som pekats ut stödjs av teori gällande aktiviteter i kulturhistoriska miljöer, kulturhistorisk betydelse och hållbar utveckling av stadsdelar. Studien har visat att kulturhistoria har stor betydelse för invånare och kan inkorporeras i deras vardagliga rörelsemönster genom att skapa fler möjligheter till aktivitet i området. Det krävs fortfarande flera åtgärder för att Tändsticksområdet ska nå en hållbar utveckling. / The report presents an analysis of Tändsticksområdet in Jönköping from a city development perspective, with the purpose to raise the importance of culturally meaningful environments for sustainable development of districts. The study was performed as a case study, with interviews, observations, and a document study as data collection techniques. Data has been gathered in graphic schemes based on the analysis methods SWOT and Gehl’s twelve quality criteria. Boundaries has been set by investigating a specific, limited geographic area and interview of businesses where participants have been active in Tändsticksområdet during a minimum of ten years. Based on the research, it has been shown that Tändsticksområdet needs change. In the last ten years, no major changes have been executed and lack of maintenance has led to a disrepair of the area. Through the SWOT analysis compiled from interviews and observations, price increases and municipal priorities have been identified as threats. The area's strengths are its geographical location and the “building heritage declaration” that covers all buildings. Weaknesses identified are the enclosing formation with walls and traffic barriers. The opportunities that have been identified are developed of cooperation to create ensemble in the area and between the businesses. Analysis based on the twelve quality criteria showed that the biggest deficiencies in the area are linked to the inadequate design of the urban space. In the area's urban environment, there are few opportunities to stop and spend time outdoors. This leads to that Tändsticksområdets streets and squares are primarily used as passages through the area or to the businesses. The shortcomings that have been pointed out, are supported by theory regarding activities in cultural-historical environments, cultural historical significance, and sustainable development of city districts. The study has shown that cultural history is of great importance to inhabitants and can be incorporated into their everyday movement patterns by creating more opportunities for activity in the area. Several measures are still required for Tändsticksområdet to reach a sustainable development.

In times of crisis, what tools do planners and designers have to inspire a sense of well-being? How can we heal community through dialogue, recognizing the ongoing need for connection with or without a crisis? Are there ways to uncover unknown concerns and values in a community? The engagement approaches many planners and designers rely on do not typically aim to access these deeper questions in society. Surveys, public meetings and focus groups seek tangible results that target specific issues. They are often conducted out of context, taking the public out of the environment at issue to answer questions on a defined topic. What tools do professionals designing our urban environments have for discovering unknown issues in a more spontaneous and practice-based way in places where community exists? Through the Eudaimonic Tree Pilot I explored these questions, using the framework of eudaimonia to guide my process. The objective of my study began with my desire to inspire a sense of well-being, eudaimonia, in my community during a time of great loneliness and mental health decline due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This historic moment left many people feeling disconnected and hopeless, exacerbating a national trend that started well before COVID (Ammar et al., 2021). In response, I produced three installations using trees in the landscape to offer the public a means of expression. Each tree housed a different prompt rooted in eudaimonic sentiments and blank note cards for public response. Their messages hung from tree limbs and became an embodiment of the collective consciousness. This study of public engagement through participatory art unearthed profound implications for the planning and design fields. Some of the primary takeaways suggest that participatory art can catalyze community dialogue; spontaneity heightens co-creation; and highly co-created initiatives are likely to generate a eudaimonic effect. This process was led by results as they emerged, highlighting previously unknown resolutions and considerations. This heuristic, emergent methodology could be used more often by planning and design professionals as a means to perform design research that embraces the ephemeral and eudaimonic aspects of communities.

Yes / Tranquil environments can provide relief from stresses of everyday of life and can be considered restorative environments. This paper considers the effects of “greening” urban environments to enhance tranquillity and ultimately well-being and health benefits. A number of studies have been conducted at the Bradford Centre for Sustainable Environments at the University of Bradford which have examined the effects of natural features on ratings of tranquillity. These include quantifying the effects of the percentage of natural and contextual features and soundscape quality on rated tranquillity. Recently the resulting prediction equation TRAPT (Tranquillity Rating Prediction Tool) has been used to examine a number of scenarios including city parks and squares, country parks and moorland areas and validated using tranquillity ratings made by visitors to these green spaces and their reported levels of relaxation. In this paper TRAPT is used for predicting tranquillity in city squares of different sizes, to examine rated tranquillity behind natural (green) and manufactured noise barriers and to predict changes in urban streets of introducing avenues of trees, hedges and grass verges. Using such scenarios this paper demonstrates how the application of TRAPT can enable changes in tranquillity to be estimated. This can provide planners, environmentalists, civic leaders and concerned citizens with a further tool to guide improvements in the urban environment by “greening” measures and noise reduction of various kinds and to help counter threats such as over development, tree removal or traffic densification that might threaten existing benefits. / Bradford Centre for Sustainable Environments in the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics at the University of Bradford.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka självbiografiska positiva och negativa platsminnen relaterat till platsidentitet och de tio fenomenologiska dimensionerna. Autobiografiska minnen är minnen som refererar till viktiga livsperioder och utgör en del av vår identitet. Total 81 kvinnor och 28 män i åldern 39 – 76 år deltog i studien. Designen för analyserna av kvantitativa data var en mellanpersonsdesign, med en oberoende variabel Plats (positiv/negativ) och två beroende variabler platsidentitet (emotionell/kognitiv komponent) samt de tio fenomenologiska dimensioner i det självbiografiska minnet. Mätinstrumentet bestod av en enkät i tre delar som innehöll frågor baserat på tidigare forskning. Resultatet visade en effekt av Typ av Platsminne. Effekten var associerad med både den emotionella och kognitiva komponenten i platsidentiteten. Resultatet visade också en effekt av Typ av Plats på de tio fenomenologiska dimensionerna. Effekten var associerad med sex av dessa. Det kvalitativa resultatet visade att positiva platsminnen innehåller minnen från rurala miljöer medan negativa minnen i huvudsak var urbana miljöer. Resultatet visade även att en övervägande del av minnena i huvudsak innehöll barndomsminnen oavsett positiva eller negativa platsminnen. / The aim was to investigate positive and negative place-related autobiographical memories related to place-identity and phenomenological dimensions of the autobiographical memory. Autobiographical memories are memories that refer to important life periods, grounding our identity. 81 women and 28 men. Between-subject-design was used for quantitative data, with an independent variable of Place (positive / negative) and two dependent variables of Place-identity (emotional / cognitive component) as well as the ten phenomenological dimensions of the autobiographical memory. The measuring instrument consisted of a three-part questionnaire that contained questions based on previous research. Results showed an effect of Type of Place associated with both emotional and cognitive components of place identity. We also reported an effect of Type of Place on six of ten phenomenological dimensions. The qualitative results showed that positive memories contain memories from rural environments, while negative memories contain mainly urban environments. The results also showed that a majority of the memories contained mainly childhood associated memories, regardless of positive or negative place memories.

Dans cette recherche, un modèle de propagation d’ondes de choc sur grandes distances sur un environnement urbain est construit et validé. L’approche consiste à utiliser l’Equation Parabolique Nonlinéaire (NPE) comme base. Ce modèle est ensuite étendu afin de prendre en compte d’autres effets relatifs à la propagation du son en milieu extérieur (surfaces non planes, couches poreuses, etc.). La NPE est résolue en utilisant la méthode des différences finies et donne des résultats en accord avec d’autres méthodes numériques. Ce modèle déterministe est ensuite utilisé comme base pour la construction d’un modèle stochastique de propagation sur environnements urbains. La Théorie de l’Information et le Principe du Maximum d’Entropie permettent la construction d’un modèle probabiliste d’incertitudes intégrant la variabilité du système dans la NPE. Des résultats de référence sont obtenus grâce à une méthode exacte et permettent ainsi de valider les développements théoriques et l’approche utilisée / This research aims at developing and validating a numerical model for the study of blast wave propagation over large distances and over urban environments. The approach consists in using the Nonlinear Parabolic Equation (NPE) model as a basis. The model is then extended to handle various features of sound propagation outdoors (non-flat ground topographies, porous ground layers, etc.). The NPE is solved using the finite-difference method and is proved to be in good agreement with other numerical methods. This deterministic model is then used as a basis for the construction of a stochastic model for sound propagation over urban environments. Information Theory and the Maximum Entropy Principle enable the construction of a probabilistic model of uncertainties, which takes into account the variability of the urban environment within the NPE model. Reference results are obtained with an exact numerical method and allow us to validate the theoretical developments and the approach used

Denna avhandling undersökte förhållandet mellan urbana attribut och upplevd livlighet och dess effekt på kvinnors upplevda säkerhet. Med utgångspunkt i teorier om naturlig övervakning [6] och vikten av att ha andra människor närvarande för att öka kvinnors säkerhet [17], utvärderades fysiska gatuattribut som förutspåddes öka miljöns livlighet. Totalt deltog 27 kvinnor i åldrarna 22-31 i utvärderingen av upplevd säkerhet vid 16 stads gatuhörn genom en två-alternativ tvångsvalsmetod i en virtuell miljö. Valen gjordes två gånger för varje hörn och gatorna visades i en manuellt randomiserad ordning. Resultaten visar en hierarki av attribut på gatunivå som påverkar den upplevda säkerheten mer än fasader med fönster på grund av deras större inverkan på livligheten, och fönster visar sig vara viktigare än grönska. Förutom att bekräfta tidigare forskning visar studien också att människor inte behöver vara närvarande för att en miljö ska uppfattas som levande, eftersom attribut som bilar, kaféer, busshållplatser och fönster fungerar som substitut för mänsklig aktivitet och närvaro. / This thesis explored urban street attributes relationship with perceived liveliness and its effect on women’s perceived safety. Drawing on theories of natural surveillance [6] and the importance of having other humans present for women’s increased safety [17], the study evaluated physical street attributes that predicted to increase the liveliness of an urban environment were evaluated. 27 females aged 22-31 participated in evaluating the perceived safety of 16 urban street corners using a two-alternative forced-choice method in a virtual reality environment. The choices were made twice for each corner, with the streets displayed in a manually randomized order. Findings reveal a hierarchy of street-level attributes affecting perceived safety more than windowed facades due to its greater impact on liveliness, and windows being more important than greenery. Along with confirming previous research, it is also found that people do not need to be present for an environment to be perceived as lively as attributes like cars, cafes, bus stops and windows serve as proxies for human activity and presence of others.

När man inom stadsplanering strävar efter att förtäta städer och urbana miljöer blir balansen mellan stad och natur allt viktigare, särskilt som befolkningen växer och behovet av täta städer lika så. Också medvetenheten om funktionerna i dessa grönområden blir betydelsefulla när naturen och dess tjänster ska planeras in som resurser i samhället på en begränsad yta. För att bevara de många värden och ekosystemtjänster som naturen tillhandahåller åt samhället behöver dessa områden skötas på ett lämpligt sätt. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka naturvård med hjälp av häst i urbana miljöer och de värden det skapar. Vidare utreds hur naturvård kan skapa förutsättningar för olika ekosystemtjänster och gröna värden. Som metod användes en litteraturstudie och en fallstudie bestående av intervjuer och en dokumentstudie med granskning av plandokument. Slutsatsen som drogs från studien är att naturen skapar många värden – ekologiska, sociala och ekonomiska – för samhället och att dessa behöver tas omhand för att samtliga värden ska kunna åtnjutas även framöver. Naturvård med häst är ett på många sätt effektivt sätt att sköta natur och grönområden och därigenom bevara och utveckla de värden och tjänster för vidare nyttjande. Naturvård med häst bidrar även i sig med sociala och pedagogiska värden då djuren är uppskattade av människor och det stimulerar lärande och ny kunskap. Naturvård med häst kan bli mer kostsamt än andra metoder beroende på beställd åtgärd när entreprenör anlitas men vinsterna i de olika värdena anses kunna väga upp den kostnaden. Det finns många värden att hämta från att integrera häst i naturvården helt eller delvis. / In urban planning, there is currently a challenge with keeping the balance between the urban city and the surrounding nature, especially as the population grows and with it the need of cities with high densities. The increasing awareness of the functions that the urban greenspaces provide is important as ecosystem services are planned as resources for the city on a very limited area. To be able to conserve and develop the values and ecosystem services provided by nature it needs to be taken care of in a suitable way. The aim of this study is to investigate urban nature conservation methods with the use horses and what values these methods provide. Also, the conditions for ecosystem services and green values created by nature conservation are investigated. The methods used are a literature study as well as a case study consisting of interviews and a document study.   The conclusion made from the study is that nature provides many values, both ecologic, social and economic, and these values are in need of proper nature conservation to be able to persist and develop in the future. Nature conservation with horses is an effective way to manage nature and maintain and develop values and services in the future. It also provides social and pedagogical values as the horses are appreciated by people and they stimulate learning and taking in new knowledge, especially about nature and ecosystem services. Nature conservation with horses seems more expensive than other methods, depending on the service executed by hired contractor. The gains in the many conserved values are however considered higher than the costs. There are many values that can be acquired by integrating the use of horses in nature conservation, either as a whole or partial.