This study examines how community development and mainstream environmental groups form coalitions in state-level urban environmental legislation and the effect these coalitions have upon larger processes of institutional change. I argue that the alignment of community development and environmental interests is essential in the efforts to flatten the existing power hierarchy around land use decision-making and open up new possibilities for urban form. It helps to form a "counter-institutional" response which combines "pragmatic" and "purist" interests to resolve the social and environmental dilemmas of land use. This study begins by establishing the extent of the institutional divide between community development and environmentalism through an archival analysis of the 1970s debate over national land use legislation. It then presents two case studies of policies which seek to close this divide: (1) the New York Brownfield Opportunity Area Program of 2003 which was initiated by community groups and (2) the California Senate Bill 375 of 2008 which was initiated by environmental groups. The case studies employ interview data, surveys of organizations, observations of public meetings, and document review. The cases examined provide examples of attempts to expand potential governance outcomes by forming "heterarchic" alliances across policy silos in order to make land use regulation responsive to the wider concerns of urban environmentalists. I find that heterarchy is achieved in the California case, but not in the New York case. The varying degrees to which urban and environmental advocacy groups are able to bridge the institutional divide between them is determinant of these outcomes. The extent to which heterarchic governance is achieved, in turn, impacts the ability of each policy to change the institutional structure of land use regulation.

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

城市氣候信息對可持續城市規劃十分重要。但是城市氣候在城市規劃上的應用仍然十分有限。都市氣候圖是一種信息和評估工具，它融合了城市氣候信 息和城市規劃要素，利用兩維空間地圖將存在的城市氣候現象和問題展現出來。通過文獻綜述可知都市氣候圖的研究源於1970 年代， 目前大部分相關研究主要針對低密度城市進行。現今隨著城市人口的持續增加和快速城市化發展， 緊湊城市和高密度城市生活將是未來不可避免的趨勢。這就迫切需要開展針對高密度城市的都市氣候圖應用研究，例如香港。 / 本研究使用的氣象數據來自香港天文台，規劃數據則從香 港政府規劃署獲得。基於前期香港都市氣候分析圖和風信息圖層所獲得的分析 和評估結果，該研究繪製了可應用在分區大綱圖的香港都市氣候規劃建議圖和重點規劃建議，並探討了具體的規劃控制策略，涵蓋樓宇密度（容積率、樓宇高度和基地建築覆蓋率）、 綠化（綠化帶，都市綠洲和開放空間的連接及綠色網格）、樓宇後移、通風廊道（河道、風道和通風廊）、非建築用地,樓宇間距和樓宇通透性。根據香港城市氣候的特點，結合香港分區大綱圖的邊界和 區劃，設立了分區大綱圖的4 個規劃策略類型，劃分了18 個組團，並形成詳細的都市氣候規劃建議圖。每個組團又再細化成若干次區域，並配有詳細的規劃改善建議。香港都市氣候規劃建議圖和18 個組團的詳細都市氣候 規劃建議圖以及相應的規劃建議為香港搭建了一個城市氣候規劃應用框架，有效的引導規劃和發展進程，確保規劃師和決策管理著採用適合的城市氣候評估結果。 / 本研究發現香港都市氣候規劃建議圖可為城市規劃師和決策管理者在宏觀、區域及策略性的層面上提供有益的城市氣候信息平台。根據相關的氣候規劃建議和策略，便於規劃師和決策管理著選取適宜的規劃手段，進而有針對性地改善城市氣候狀況，特別是針對敏感地區。同時，該研究結果有助於在分區大綱圖的層面上開展規劃 探討及決策。另外該研究方法和所提出的相關規劃建議針對高密度城市 狀況，均可供其他相似城市參考， 特別是珠江三角洲地區。現已有三個城市：高雄、澳門和阿納姆的都市氣候圖研究借鑒並採用了該研究的研究成果。 / Urban climate is of great importance for the sustainable urban planning. However, urban climatic application has a low impact on urban planning. The Urban Climatic Map (UCMap) is a climatic information and evaluation tool to integrate urban climatic factors and town planning considerations by presenting climatic phenomena and problems on two-dimensional spatial maps. Literature reviews that the UCMap studies have been developed since the 1970s, but most UCMap studies focus on low density cities. Due to increasing urban population and rapid urbanization nowadays, compact living and high density city lives are inevitable trends around the world. This makes it an urgent issue to study how to apply UCMap to high density cities, such as Hong Kong. / The study used meteorological data from Hong Kong Observatory and planning data from Planning Department of the Government of Hong Kong SAR. Based on the climatic analysis from the Urban Climatic Analysis Map and Wind Information Layer, this study developed an Urban Climatic Recommendation Map (UC-ReMap) and formulated key planning recommendations for Hong Kong, which could then be applied at the level of Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). Planning controllers including density (plot ratio, building height, and site coverage/ground coverage), greenery (green belt, green oasis and linkage of open space & green network), building setback, ventilation corridor (water channel and air path & breezeway), non-building area, building separation and building permeability are discussed and incorporated into the key planning recommendations. Furthermore, four categories of OZPs, 18 groups of OZPs and detailed UC-ReMaps were elaborated according to their urban climatic characteristics. Each group was evaluated further into sub-zones with detailed planning advices. All UC-ReMaps and planning recommendations can provide an urban climatic planning framework for Hong Kong and guidance for the planning and development process; it also ensures that appropriate urban climatic considerations are taken into account. Based on above framework, this study furthers the field by applying Urban Climatic Map into the town planning of Hong Kong. / The study finds that the UC-ReMap of Hong Kong provides a useful urban climatic information platform at the comprehensive, territorial and strategic levels for planners and policy makers. According to the climatic planning recommendations, appropriate plan actions could be conducted to improve the urban climatic conditions of the specific territory, particularly the sensitive areas. These facilitate the planning related discussion and decision-making process at the OZPs. Moreover, the research method and planning recommendations developed in this study, which are in the context of high-density cities ,offer a lit of implications for possible application in other similar places, especially the region of Pear River Delta. The gained research experience and learned application lessons have been applied into several other governmental research projects beyond HongKong, such as Kaohsiung, Macau and Arnhem. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Ren, Chao. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiii / ACRONYMS --- p.xiv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.15 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction and Motivation --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2 --- Issues and Problems --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4 --- Methodology --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- Data --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Theory --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Working Procedures --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- The Scope of the Study --- p.21 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Delimitation --- p.22 / Chapter 1.5 --- Significance and Benefits --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6 --- Organizations of the Thesis --- p.22 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE --- p.25 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2 --- Review of the Development of Urban Climatic Map Study --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3 --- The Structure of Urban Climatic Map System --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Climatope --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Urban Climatic Analysis Map (UC-AnMap) --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Urban Climatic Recommendation Map (UC-ReMap) and Planning Recommendations --- p.35 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summery --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- REVIEW OF EXSITING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION AND PLANNING OF HONG KONG --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2 --- Review of General Climatic-Environmental Condition of Hong Kong --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- General Urban Climate Information of Hong Kong --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Meteorological Record from HKO --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- Urban Climatic Data from Spot Field Measurements --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- General Topography Information of Hong Kong --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- General Greenery Information of Hong Kong --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3 --- Town Planning System of Hong Kong --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.58 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- URBAN CLIMATIC PLANNING RECOMMENDATION MAP AND KEY PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HONG KONG --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2 --- Process and a Parametric Understanding --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Reference Data for UCReMap of Hong Kong --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.1.1 --- The UC-AnMap for Hong Kong --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.1.2 --- Wind Information Layer --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3 --- Key generic interpretation of the UC-AnMap for planning purpose --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Density --- p.70 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Greenery --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Building Setback --- p.79 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Non-Building Area --- p.81 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Building Separation & Building Permeability --- p.83 / Chapter 4.4 --- Key Issues and Analysis --- p.83 / Chapter 4.5 --- UC-Re MAP Strategic and District Planning Recommendations --- p.85 / Chapter 4.6 --- A General Commentary and Notes of the UC-ReMap --- p.92 / Chapter 4.7 --- Cares in Interpreting the HK UC-Remap --- p.94 / Chapter 4.8 --- Four Categories of OZPs --- p.94 / Chapter 4.9 --- Process of Detailed UC-ReMap and Planning Advices --- p.98 / Chapter 4.10 --- 18 Groups of OZPs --- p.100 / Chapter 4.11 --- Verification of the detailed UC-ReMap and planning recommendations --- p.102 / Chapter 4.12 --- Summery --- p.105 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- DETAILED UCREMAP AND PLANNING ADVICES FOR 18 GROUPS OF OZPS --- p.107 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2 --- 18 Groups of OZPs & Detailed Planning Advices --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- The 1st Group of OZPs --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- The 2nd Group of OZPs --- p.108 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- The 3th Group of OZPs --- p.114 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- The 4th Group of OZPs --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- The 5th Group of OZPs --- p.123 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- The 6th Group of OZPs --- p.127 / Chapter 5.2.7 --- The 7th Group of OZPs --- p.133 / Chapter 5.2.8 --- The 8th Group of OZPs --- p.138 / Chapter 5.2.9 --- The 9th Group of OZPs --- p.144 / Chapter 5.2.10 --- The 10th Group of OZPs --- p.150 / Chapter 5.2.11 --- The 11th Group of OZPs --- p.157 / Chapter 5.2.12 --- The 12th Group of OZPs --- p.163 / Chapter 5.2.13 --- The 13th Group of OZPs --- p.168 / Chapter 5.2.14 --- The 14th Group of OZPs --- p.174 / Chapter 5.2.15 --- The 15th Group of OZPs --- p.182 / Chapter 5.2.16 --- The 16th Group of OZPs --- p.189 / Chapter 5.2.17 --- The 17th Group of OZPs --- p.196 / Chapter 5.2.18 --- The 18th Group of OZPs --- p.203 / Chapter 5.3 --- Summery --- p.210 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.212 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.212 / Chapter 6.2 --- Research Summary --- p.212 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- The UC-ReMap of Hong Kong and Key Planning Recommendations --- p.212 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Four Categories of OZPs --- p.212 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- 18 Groups of OZPs --- p.213 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Detailed UC-ReMap and Detailed Planning Recommendations for Each Group of OZPs --- p.214 / Chapter 6.3 --- Discussion --- p.214 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Advantages --- p.214 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Limitations --- p.215 / Chapter 6.4 --- Research Contributions --- p.216 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Providing Strategic Climatic Planning Recommendations for Planner and Designers --- p.216 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Serving as an Example for other High Density Cities --- p.217 / Chapter 6.5 --- Conclusion --- p.217 / Chapter 6.6 --- Further Work --- p.218 / Chapter BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.220 / Chapter APPENDIX 1 --- p.230 / Chapter APPENDIX 2 --- p.231 / Chapter APPENDIX 3 --- p.232 / Chapter APPENDIX 4 --- p.238

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Urban green space plays a vital role in the stability of the environment. Green spaces are increasingly becoming an integral part of the efforts to promote sustainability because of the different areas of benefits they provide. Sustainable city ranking systems were used to identify the most sustainable urban extents within the US. Landsat TM 4-5 imagery and textural classification are used as techniques in identifying, classifying and analyzing urban green spaces within nineteen urban extents. Patch analyst was used to analyze the location, structure and fragmentation green spaces within each urban extent. The aim is to determine to what degree urban green spaces can be considered to be an integral part of the sustainability of sustainable urban extents across the US and ascertain whether or not more sustainable urban extents do have more urban green spaces. The results of the study have shown that urban extents that are ranked highly v on sustainable ranking systems do not necessarily have to have large proportion of green spaces. Results have also shown that urban extents that are ranked high on sustainable rankings will not necessarily be affected by increase in population or decrease in urban green space. Finally human modified green spaces have simple geometric shapes compared to natural unaltered green spaces that have more complex geometric shapes. / by Gillian Bloise. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Hydrologic models were used to examine the effects of land cover change on the flow regime of a watershed located in North-Central Texas. Additionally, the effect of spatial resolution was examined by conducting the simulations using sub-watersheds of different sizes to account for the watershed. Using the Army Corps of Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), two different modeling methods were evaluated at the different sub-watershed resolutions for four rainfall events. Calibration results indicate using the smaller spatial resolutions improves the model results. Different scenarios for land cover change were evaluated for all resolutions using both models. As land cover change increased, the amount of flow from the watershed increased.

The prevailing development pattern of sprawling suburbs prevents sustainability and can no longer be tolerated . Since the end of WWII the "American Dream" to own a single - family home on a large lot away from the blight of downtowns has greatly reduced the quality of life of North Americans. To reverse this trend sustainable development/ sustainability must be society’s goal. This means that the actions of society - particularly where community development/design is concerned - must promote environmental integrity, economic vitality , and social well - being . The recent New Urbanism Movement which focuses on community development/design makes this important realization . In doing so, it has fostered a series of alternative methods of community development/design which promote environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being. The most prominent examples are Traditional Neighbourhood Development, Transit Oriented Development, and, more recently in Canada, the Metropolitain Purlieu . However, these concepts are not panaceas to sustainability and can gain further insight from earlier development/design projects such as Village Homes in California . By combining the best of the ideas from these concepts and supplementing them with further ideas a concept which further enhances environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well - being is developed. However, such a concept is only useful if it can be successfully implemented. Thus, prominent barriers to sustainable community development/design such as uncertainty over cost and marketability , and inadequate regulations / guidelines to allow for or promote alternative methods of development/design must be overcome. One method of achieving this is through the use of the performance point system which is devised here. Regardless of the method of implementation used to enhance the environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being of a community, it is clear that immediate action is required . Without it, the quality of life of North Americans will continue to deteriorate and sustainability will not be realized .

The prevailing development pattern of sprawling suburbs prevents sustainability and can no longer be tolerated . Since the end of WWII the "American Dream" to own a single - family home on a large lot away from the blight of downtowns has greatly reduced the quality of life of North Americans. To reverse this trend sustainable development/ sustainability must be society’s goal. This means that the actions of society - particularly where community development/design is concerned - must promote environmental integrity, economic vitality , and social well - being . The recent New Urbanism Movement which focuses on community development/design makes this important realization . In doing so, it has fostered a series of alternative methods of community development/design which promote environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being. The most prominent examples are Traditional Neighbourhood Development, Transit Oriented Development, and, more recently in Canada, the Metropolitain Purlieu . However, these concepts are not panaceas to sustainability and can gain further insight from earlier development/design projects such as Village Homes in California . By combining the best of the ideas from these concepts and supplementing them with further ideas a concept which further enhances environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well - being is developed. However, such a concept is only useful if it can be successfully implemented. Thus, prominent barriers to sustainable community development/design such as uncertainty over cost and marketability , and inadequate regulations / guidelines to allow for or promote alternative methods of development/design must be overcome. One method of achieving this is through the use of the performance point system which is devised here. Regardless of the method of implementation used to enhance the environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being of a community, it is clear that immediate action is required . Without it, the quality of life of North Americans will continue to deteriorate and sustainability will not be realized . / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate