Many countries in the Third World are faced with the grave problem of providing adequate housing in sufficient quantity at a low cost in line with their economies and the resources of the people. From early ages soil has been used as a major building material for low cost dwellings and more recently, by using cement or lime as a soil stabiliser, reasonable building blocks have been produced. These blocks have been produced using a relatively low compacting pressure and have proved to be of limited satisfaction. Stabilised blocks are weak in the 'wet state' after dernoulding, and prone to damage whilst 'green'; however, after controlled curing, the undamaged blocks are generally usable. From experience it has been observed that the lime stabilised blocks deteriorate rapidly in a hot/wet climate whereas there is hardly any deterioration in a hot/dry climate. Manually operated block making machines have used a compacting pressure of around 2 MN/rn 2 and research has demonstrated that with a machine operating with a compacting pressure of 10 MN/rn2 good quality, durable stabilised soil building elements could be produced.

Thesis (M.S. - Hydrology and Water Resources)--University of Arizona, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-82).

Thesis (M.Env.St.)--University of Adelaide, Mawson Graduate Centre for Environmental Studies, 1998. / Bibliography: leaves 165-170.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1998. / Thesis submitted for the degree of doctor of philosophy. Erratum sheets in back pocket. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--University of Göteborg, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

The contribution of energy from biomass sources is projected to increase in Britain to assist in meeting renewable energy targets and reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. With increasing concerns over the sustainability of food crop-based biofuels, purpose-grown lignocellulosic biomass crops such as Miscanthus and short rotation coppice (SRC) willow have been promoted as more sustainable feedstocks for the production of heat and electricity as well as for the future production of liquid biofuels. With the introduction of the Energy Crops Scheme, land-use change (LUC) for lignocellulosic biomass crop production has become increasingly common in Britain in recent decades. However, there is limited understanding of the impact this has on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and limited predictability concerning the overall trajectory, magnitude and rate of SOC changes under a range of different conditions. Using a chronosequence of 93 biomass crop plantations in England and Wales, mainly of 1 to 14 years age, empirical models were developed to determine the short term trajectory of SOC stocks following LUC from arable and grassland to SRC willow and Miscanthus production. SOC stocks were calculated for each site using a fixed sampling depth of 30 cm and estimated changes were inferred by comparing with typical pre-change SOC stocks. These results indicate that only LUC from arable crops to SRC willow demonstrated an overall increase in SOC stocks, by an estimated 15.3 ± 2.2 t C ha-1 (± 95% confidence intervals) after 14 years and 68.8 ± 49.4 t C ha-1 after 22 years. LUC from arable crops to Miscanthus and from both arable crops and grassland to SRC willow and Miscanthus demonstrated no overall net effect on SOC stocks. Soil texture and climate data were measured for each site and multivariable models were created to assess the influence of different environmental conditions on SOC trajectory. In most cases the addition of these explanatory variables improved the model fit, and the models provide some preliminary estimates of more region-specific changes in SOC following LUC. Since LUC to biomass crops often causes a loss of SOC, at least in the short term, the potential for pyrogenic carbon (PyC) to ameliorate this effect was investigated. Studies indicate that PyC can interact with and stabilise native SOC, a process termed negative priming, although the potential for PyC to reduce LUC-induced losses of SOC by negative priming has not yet been assessed. Although negative priming has been observed in many studies, most of these are long term incubation experiments which do not account for the impact of environmental weathering of PyC on interactions with native SOC. Here the aim was to assess the impact of environmentally weathered PyC on native SOC mineralisation at different points in LUC from arable crops to SRC willow. Soil was sampled to a 5 cm depth from multiple recently established SRC willow plantations approximately 2 years after amendment with PyC. Cumulative CO2 flux was measured weekly from incubated soil and soil-surface CO2 flux was also measured in the field. The results demonstrate a PyC-induced increase in CO2 flux for the surface 5 cm of soil. However, no net effect on soil-surface CO2 flux was observed in the field. Although the mechanisms for these contrasting effects remain unclear, they do not suggest that PyC can reduce LUC-induced SOC losses through negative priming.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Several factors can modify the qualitative features of water resources in watershed areas. Such changes are due to natural processes and from human activities such as agriculture, livestock and removal of riparian vegetation which interfere in the original conditions of use and soil cover. Because of these practices in springs areas the water quality may be degraded. In such context, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different uses and soil covers on the physical, chemical and biological features in the water of springs located in the Arroio Manoel Alves watershed, Itaara town, RS. Therefore, six springs (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5 and N6) as its pipeline (CC), were monitored under different land uses and covers (agriculture, buildings, eucalyptus, grass, native forest, water resource and access roads). The study was developed between January 2015 and January 2016, with a bi-weekly water sampling and analysis of the following qualitative parameters: temperature, turbidity, pH, EC, OD, BOD5,20, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, TS, DS, SS, PO4-, NO2-, NO3-, SO42- and Cl-. There were installed two rain gauges to quantify the rainfall in the watershed, which corresponded to the annual total of 2267,2 mm. The flow rates were hourly monitored reaching maximum values of 5,67 L.s-1, the N1, N2, N3, N4 and N6, 14,17 L.s-1 to N5 and 255,5 L.s-1 to CC. The retention curves and the resolution of the framework classes 357/2005 CONAMA revealed that the N5 and the CC overcame class 4 for variable turbidity. For BOD5,20, all areas exceeded the limits of class 4 for the major part of the period. For E. coli, N6 remained in class 4 at most of the time. For the DS parameter, the N1, N2, N3, N4 and N6 did not fit in classes 1, 2 and 3 in the analyzed period. WQI got "average" standards in the springs N3, N4 and N6, and "good" standards for N1, N2, N5 and CC. FA formed three components in N1, designated as climate, weathering and diffuse pollution factors. The N2 showed three components, explained by weathering, climate and pollution diffuse factors. The N3 was explained by the superficial, environment and microbiological factors. The N4 obtained the three components, characterized by leaching, diffuse pollution and decay factors. For N5 three components formed were described by decomposition, weathering and microbiological factors. In N6, the components were classified by superficial, environment and microbiological factors. For CC, formed three components, explained by diffuse pollution, weathering and climate factors. In general, the methodologies used for evaluation and analysis of the influence by use and soil covers on water quality of monitored areas shown to be satisfactory, where the N3 had livestock activity interference, the N6 of rural household s effluents and, N1 and N2, indicated results of forest protection on water quality. The N5 expressed influence of external factors on water quality, the N4, characterized by low concentrations of pH and DO, and the pipeline, demonstrated influence by the flow rates, the tributaries and by the land use and soil covers of the watershed. / Diversos fatores podem alterar as características qualitativas dos recursos hídricos em áreas de bacias hidrográficas. Tais alterações são decorrentes de processos naturais, assim como de atividades antrópicas (agricultura, pecuária, retirada da mata ciliar), as quais interferem nas condições originais de uso e cobertura do solo. Em áreas de nascentes, devido a essas práticas, a qualidade das águas pode ser degradada. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a influência dos diferentes usos e coberturas do solo nas características físicas, químicas e biológicas das águas de nascentes localizadas na microbacia hidrográfica do Arroio Manoel Alves, no município de Itaara, RS. Para tanto, monitoraram-se seis nascentes (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5 e N6) e o respectivo exutório (CC), sob diferentes usos e coberturas do solo (área agrícola, edificações, eucalipto, gramínea, mata nativa, recurso hídrico e vias de acesso). O estudo desenvolveu-se entre janeiro de 2015 e janeiro de 2016, com coletas de água quinzenais e análise dos parâmetros qualitativos temperatura, turbidez, pH, CE, OD, DBO5,20, coliformes totais, Escherichia coli, ST, SD, SS, PO4-, NO2-, NO3-, SO42-, Cl-. Instalaram-se dois pluviômetros para a quantificação da precipitação pluviométrica na microbacia, a qual correspondeu ao total anual de 2267,2 mm. As vazões foram monitoradas em frequências horárias alcançando valores máximos de 5,67 L.s-1, para a N1, N2, N3, N4 e N6, de 14,17 L.s-1 para a N5 e de 255,5 L.s-1 para a CC. As curvas de permanência e as classes de enquadramento da Resolução 357/2005 do CONAMA, revelaram que a N5 e a CC superaram a classe 4 para a variável turbidez. Para a DBO5,20, todas as áreas excederam os limites da classe 4. Em relação a E. coli, a N6 permaneceu como classe 4 em maior parte do tempo. Para os SD, a N1, N2, N3, N4 e N6 classificaram-se nas classes 1, 2 e 3 em todo o período analisado. O IQA obteve padrões médio nas nascentes N3, N4 e N6, e bom , para N1, N2, N5 e CC. A AF formou três componentes para a N1, designados como fator clima, intemperismo e poluição difusa. A N2 resultou em três componentes, explicados pelos fatores intemperismo, clima e poluição difusa. A N3 foi explicada pelos fatores superficial, ambiente e microbiológico. A N4 obteve três componentes, caracterizados pelos fatores lixiviação, poluição difusa e decomposição. Para a N5 os três componentes formados foram descritos pelos fatores decomposição, intemperismo e microbiológico. Na N6, os componentes classificaram-se pelos fatores superficial, ambiente e microbiológico. Para a CC, formaram-se três componentes, explicados pelos fatores poluição difusa, intemperismo e clima. De modo geral, as metodologias utilizadas para avaliação e análise da influência dos usos e coberturas do solo na qualidade das águas das áreas monitoradas demonstraram-se satisfatórias, onde a N3 teve interferência da atividade pecuária, a N6 de efluentes de residências rurais e, a N1 e N2, indicaram resultados da proteção florestal na qualidade das águas. A N5 expressou influência de fatores externos na qualidade das águas, a N4, caracterizou-se pelas baixas concentrações de pH e OD e, o exutório, demonstrou influência das vazões, dos afluentes e dos usos e coberturas do solo da microbacia.

O presente estudo objetivou quantificar a área de o florestamento necessário para compensar as perdas de águas devidas principalmente ao escoamento superficial nas sub-bacias hidrográficas do Fojo e das Perdizes, município de Campos do Jordão SP. As estimativas foram baseadas na metodologia do Florestamento Compensatório para Retenção de Águas de Chuvas em Microbacias Hidrográficas (FLOCRAM), que considera o total médio anual de precipitação, o uso e ocupação do solo, o percentual internacional de 20,55% da água do ciclo hidrológico destinado a infiltrar no solo e a capacidade de infiltração de água no solo. A análise morfométrica revelou que as sub-bacias em estudo são de 4 Ordem, possuem formas alongadas e são pouco sujeitas a enchentes. Juntas as sub-bacias têm uma área total de 2.666,59ha, correspondendo a 9,26% da área do município de Campos do Jordão. Os principais usos e ocupação do solo são: área de floresta com 1.257,89ha, área urbanizada com 434,43ha, área de reflorestamento com 432,45ha, área de campo com 265,08ha e área de pasto com 126,80ha. Os valores médios de infiltração de água no solo foram de 852mm/h para o solo com cobertura do tipo floresta, de 390mm/h para a cobertura vegetal do tipo reflorestamento, 108mm/h para o campo e 36mm/h para a cobertura vegetal do tipo pasto. Segundo a metodologia adotada, com os 20,55% de toda a água que precipita sobre a bacia que deveriam infiltrar no solo, calculou-se a perda de água padrão para estas sub-bacias e constatou-se que a área a mais de floresta necessária para compensar as perdas de água em excesso é de 128,97ha. Com isso, estima-se que a área total de floresta necessária para compensar as perdas de água, principalmente pelo escoamento superficial, é de 1.386,86ha. A aplicação da metodologia de florestamento compensatório leva a necessidade de compensação contínua até atingir a totalidade da área em estudo. / The present study aimed to quantify the forestation area needed to compensate water loss due, mainly, to the superficial runoff in the sub-basins of Fojo and Perdizes, city of Campos do Jordão - SP. The estimates were based on the methodology of Compensatory Forestation for Retention of Rain Water in Watersheds (FLOCRAM), which considers the annual total average of precipitation, the use and occupancy of soil, the international percentage of 20,55% of the water cycle destined to infiltrate the soil and the infiltration capacity of the soil. Morphometric analysis showed that the sub-basins under study are from 4th Order, have expanded shapes and have low risk to flood. Together the sub-basins have a total area of 2.666,59ha, corresponding to 9,26% of Campos do Jordão area. The main uses and soil occupation are: forest area with 1.257,89ha, urbanized area with 434,43ha, reforestation area with 432,45ha, field area with 265,08h, and pasture area with 126,80ha. The average values of infiltration of water in the soil was 852mm/h for soil with forest covering, 390mm/h for vegetation covering, of the type of reforestation, 108mm/h for the field and 36mm/h for the plant covering of the type of pasture. According to the methodology used, with 20,55% of all the water that precipitates on the seat that should permeate the soil, it was estimated the standard loss of water for these sub-basins and it was concluded that the forest area needed to compensate the water loss in excess is 128,97ha. Therefore, it is estimated that the total forest area needed to compensate the loss of water mainly by ice superficial runoff is 1.386,86ha. The applying of the methodology of compensatory forestation takes the need for continuing compensation until reach the whole area under study.

[pt] A contaminação dos solos e águas subterrânea tem sido um tema pertinente nas questões ambientais atuais, visto que, estes são recursos vitais tanto para a produção de alimentos quanto para o equilíbrio do ecossistema. O processo de degradação dessas fontes naturais está chamando a atenção da sociedade e se acentuou com o crescimento contínuo das cidades, pois, as áreas que antes eram destinadas as indústrias estão aos poucos sendo ocupadas por edificações residenciais, de lazer e/ou comerciais. Essa mudança de uso e ocupação do solo é um grande problema vivido em quase todas as cidades do mundo. Em meio a essa realidade, a essa problemática, este trabalho de dissertação irá abordar o caso da zona portuária da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, que está passando por esse processo devido às obras do projeto Porto Maravilha. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar as possíveis contaminações provenientes das atividades passadas realizadas na região do Porto do Rio de Janeiro. A metodologia consistiu em um levantamento histórico da área, de todas as possíveis atividades realizadas no local, de todos os produtos que lá passaram e de todas as mudanças que ocorreram ao longo do tempo. Foi realizado uma compilação dos dados históricos e dos atuais, para poder caracterizar as possíveis fontes de contaminação encontradas na zona portuária do Rio de Janeiro, ou seja, se essas contaminações são passivos ambientais antigos ou se foram gerados com as atividades realizadas atualmente nas áreas. / [en] Contamination of soil and groundwater has been a relevant issue in the current environmental issues, since these are vital resources for both food production and for the balance of the ecosystem. The process of degradation of these natural sources are calling the attention of society and was accentuated by the continued growth of the cities, because the areas that were destined industries are gradually being occupied by residential buildings, recreational and/or commercial. This change in land use and occupation is a major problem experienced in almost all cities in the world. Amid this reality, this problem, this dissertation will address the case the port area of the city of Rio de Janeiro, who is going through this process due to the works of the Porto Maravilha, which has over years preparing the area to make it more accessible to the population and also to receive the events that are being held in the city as the World Cup that took place in 2014 and the Olympic Games the will take place in 2016. The project Porto Maravilha is preparing the port area, which for many years was a relegated town, to integrate the development process of Rio de Janeiro. The purpose of this project is to promote the restructuring of the site, through the expansion, joint and the requalification of public spaces in the region, aimed at improving the quality of life of current and future residents and environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of the area. The project covers an area of 5 (five) million square meters, located in the Port area of the city of Rio de Janeiro. As discussed throughout the literature, comprising Chapter 2 of this work, the port area is what we call a link between city and port. The city seen port is considered simply a port where incoming and outgoing goods, men and information and city view of the harbor, is considered a haven for sailors, merchants, port refuges boats authorities and a place for loanding and unloanding goods (VILLAÇA, 1996).

Medieval castle ruins undoubtedly create the face of the Czech landscape. Moreover, the few previous studies on this topic have shown that ruins are unique and extraordinary biotope. This work aims to characterize castle vegetation on thirty examined localities (thirty ruins). Phytosociological relevés and soil samples were collected, soil depth was measured and the cover of individual layers was observed - all of this on three spots on each locality. One of the places covered castle and the other ones the nearby forests (each one was chosen differently than the other). The castle walls were sampled separately. The results show that castles not only increase the diversity of forests by hosting a higher number of species but also by a different species composition - castles have a rather large set of species with high fidelity to ruins areas. Approximately half of the uniqueness of the ruins can be explained by the soil qualities, such as higher pH, higher quantity of calcium and magnesium, the other half remains unclear notwithstanding the usage of various explanatory variables. It is certain that castle ruins are from a biological point of view exceptional, unique and they surely deserve the attention which we owe them so far.