Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 338-369). Also available in print.

Master thesis. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (M.E.S.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Environmental Studies. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-189). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ71603.

Kukeri is a documentary film investigating the Surva tradition performed in the Pernik region of Bulgaria. The film was shot in Bulgaria, in the winter of 2011/2012, over the course of three weeks, and will be completed in August of 2012. During this creation process, I acted as the creator, director, and guide, and facilitated an artistic process that was shared with my cinematographer, Drew Xanthopoulos. Surva is a ritual performance whose purpose is to chase away evil spirits, ensure a good harvest, health, and perpetuate the life cycle: birth, death, and rebirth. Much of the performance is strictly regulated by tradition and rooted in an agrarian society that is thousands of years old. The society is quickly changing due to urbanization and globalization, and this is having drastic effects on the tradition itself. Inspired by a sense of homesickness for my Bulgarian culture, this project was a study of the transitory aspects of cultural tradition. It assayed topics of ethnography, anthropology, and folk costume, but at its root were more complex topics of the value of cultural traditions and the effects of globalization on one of the oldest rituals in the world. / text

Previous studies have shown that municipal water can provide a substantial surface water and groundwater recharge source for the Edwards aquifer in central Texas. Knowledge of how water sources to urban watersheds change with urbanization is essential for sustainable water resource management. The range for 87Sr/86Sr values for Austin municipal water (0.7086–0.7094) is distinct from that of naturally occurring phreatic groundwater (0.7076-0.7079) and stream discharge in many rural watersheds (0.7077– 0.7084). Many streams in urbanized Austin watersheds have elevated 87Sr/86Sr values (0.7085–0.7088) relative to these rural streams. These differences demonstrate the potential for Sr isotopes to serve as a tracer of municipal water inputs to urban streamflow. A few urban streams and springs, however, have 87Sr/86Sr values higher than those of municipal water. Soil is the likely source of these elevated values. Spatial variability in the distribution of high 87Sr/86Sr soil and temporal variability in soil-exchangeable Sr contributions to groundwater may result in naturally high streamflow 87Sr/86Sr values, making the identification and quantification of municipal water as a streamflow source using Sr isotopes unreliable in some instances. Temporal variability in climatic conditions and resulting changes in effective moisture can result in distinct natural groundwater 87Sr/86Sr and Mg/Ca ratio variations, due to differences in overall groundwater residence times and water-rock interaction. Unlike natural water sources, municipal water inputs to urban watersheds peak during the summer (and periods of drought) when natural recharge inputs (precipitation) are minimal or nonexistent. Thus, proportions of natural vs. municipal water sources in the streamflow of some highly urbanized streams vary seasonally, resulting in distinct 87Sr/86Sr and Mg/Ca temporal trends, based on the recharge source. In some urban watersheds, municipal water appears to be a significant streamflow component during dry periods. However, temporal variation in natural Sr inputs to vadose and phreatic groundwater may result in the overestimation of municipal water contributions to streamflow and groundwater recharge during relatively wet periods. / text

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Landscape modification, especially those human-dominated changes, has been widely considered as one of the key drivers inducing the degradation of environment and ecosystem. The consequent habitat loss and fragmentation, which are closely related to ecological process, have attracted much scholarly attention. However, very few studies have systematically examined their causes and consequences at the landscape level. Integrating human activities into consideration in a holistic way remains poorly understood in particular. This thesis reports a systematic study of habitat loss and fragmentation under urbanization. This research distinguishes itself from previous works in its investigation of the spatio-temporal dynamics of causes and consequences of habitat loss and fragmentation, and its endeavor to disentangle habitat fragmentation from simple habitat loss in terms of their processes and effects. The Shenzhen River cross-border watershed, shared by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shenzhen, is used as a case to illustrate how these ideas can work in practice. The study period spans from 1988 to 2008.The main contents of the study include analysis of the processes and causes of habitat loss and fragmentation, and dynamic consequences on water quality and ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation at spatial and temporal scales. Various methods are employed, mainly including conventional and newly developed landscape metrics (such as the Urbanization Isolation Effect (UIE) and Habitat Isolation Degree (HID)), a spatial statistical approach based on the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model, spatio-temporal analyses and cross-border comparison. Major findings of the research are highlighted as follows. First, habitat loss and fragmentation show great spatial heterogeneity as well as temporal variation due to extensive and rapid urban sprawl in the study area. Second, by adopting the GWR model, it is found that human-related factors have played a significant role in determining not only the “amount” but also the “location” of habitat loss. Third, by using two new landscape metrics, namely the UIE and HID, both the extent (urban sprawl) and intensity (population density) of urbanization are suggested to have significant influences in habitat isolation. Fourth, water quality in the watershed is recognized to be closely correlated with habitat loss and fragmentation, and the correlations show major discrepancies between the Hong Kong and the Shenzhen sides. Moreover, by proposing a compound indicator (NP/MPS) for measuring habitat fragmentation (independent of simple habitat loss), it is found that habitat loss has exerted a bigger influence on water quality degradation than habitat fragmentation. Fifth, by integrating habitat connectivity into the evaluation of ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation, both the habitat size and connectivity are recognized to be important in explaining the degradation of ecosystem services value. Habitat size has played a dominant role in the overall change of ecosystem services value, whereas the role of connectivity (fragmentation) is more critical when the “stepping stones” sites are lost. The study provides a new framework to examine the habitat loss and fragmentation under urbanization at the landscape level. The efforts show great effectiveness in providing sound and useful information for future landscape planning, biodiversity conservation and watershed management. / published_or_final_version / Geography / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The urban population of the Nepal, like most of the Asian countries, is increasing rapidly owing to an influx of migrants from other parts of the regions who come to the capital in search of employment, education, better health services and security. The decade long conflict not only triggered rapid urbanization of cities by migration from rural parts of the country but also hindered the development of new cities and towns. Today, Nepal is in a transition phase and political transformation will take place sooner or later and there will be opportunities for development of new towns and cities as the country is progressing towards federal system. For the past few decades Kathmandu, the capital city has seen unprecedented changes in terms of urbanization. Kathmandu recorded the highest population growth rate in a decade with 60.93 percent and a population density of 4408/sq.km (CBS, 2011). In the absence of a strong planning and regulating body, lack of proper housing facilities and development of economic and social activities, degradation of environment and the undesirable urban sprawl is ever spreading. Houses are being built with no proper provision of road, water supply, drainage, electricity and telephone facility. From private led to government led projects, there have been a lot of land developments in the city to meet the land and housing demands. Land pooling or land readjustment scheme is regarded as one of the most successful tools for land development as it is a public private partnership scheme and involves community in the planning process. However, there are a number of issues and problems that exist in the land pooling areas as well. So far, there are no studies done to measure or evaluate the socio-economic impacts of such projects on the community and the neighborhood. In this context, this study aims to delve on the socio-economic impacts of land pooling projects on the community. The study has been carried out taking an example of Nayabazar land pooling project, which has been considered as one of the successful and fastest in implementation. The research has been carried out to measure different indicators of socio-economic impact assessment mainly change in demography, change in aesthetic quality of neighborhood, change in employment, income, change in retail/housing markets etc. The research has been carried out by conducting questionnaire surveys, interviews from key informants, informal focus group meetings and secondary data sources. The study recognized the issues behind the impacts of land pooling on the community both socially and economically. The literature framework and analysis facilitated to generate recommendations for to mitigate such impacts, which are taking place in Nayabazar land pooling area. One of the major findings of the study has been the lack of strong and decisive institution to take charge of management and further development of the study area. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

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