This dissertation traces the transition of colonial Cairo from a marginal space to the British regime to an object of colonial governance and the site of technological and social intervention. It examines what caused this transition, how it shaped the spatial and social landscape of a booming metropolis, and how these developments produced and sustained opportunities, contradictions, and spaces for contestation and opposition. This dissertation challenges the current literature on British Cairo, which treats the colonial era (1882-1922) as a homogeneous expression of the regime’s retreat and of capital-led growth, by providing an account of the regime’s program of infrastructural reorganization and schemes of public housing and town planning. Because the literature largely ignores this history, it does not detect the colonial regime’s increasing discomfort at capital-led urban development or the regime’s late attempt to refashion its relation to capital and to take charge of Cairo’s future growth. The first part of this dissertation examines the pressures and crises that led to this transition. A protracted biological crisis that saw waves of cholera epidemics and high death rates underscored the need for constructing and improving infrastructures of sanitation and service provision. And capital’s forceful entry into the city led to a speculative property bubble, a housing crisis, and uncoordinated urban expansion, which made the disjointed framework of urban administration and the absence of regulations all the more evident. These crises made the colonial regime liable to critiques from elites, proponents, and certainly from the nascent anticolonial movement. The second part examines projects of sanitation and schemes of housing and town planning that the regime turned to since the beginning of the twentieth century and that embodied a changing approach to the city. During the latter two decades of the occupation, the colonial regime invested in upgrading Cairo’s water supply and constructing the city’s first sewage network. This dissertation traces not only how these infrastructural technologies worked but also how they became sites of contestation over power and knowledge. It examines the reception of infrastructures by urban dwellers across the social spectrum, the techno-social debates they occasioned among expert managers and designers, including above all engineers and public hygienists, and the social visions they embodied. Finally, the regime broached projects of public housing and town planning that constituted, in one sense, the culmination of a program of infrastructural reorganization, and in another, an attempt to give coherence to urban governance and assume leadership over the city’s development. By offering material improvement, these schemes were also meant to neutralize political discontent, which nonetheless erupted with the 1919 revolution.

The aims of the research were to assess the influence of urban design on the Better Cities Program (BCP) and to explore and document the achievements of the Program in terms of urban design. This in turn led to the exploration of some 34 case studies of the BCP initiatives known as Area Strategies throughout Australia. The research outcomes provided an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Program�s objectives and processes in relation to urban design and prompted suggested options or modifications, which could enhance outcomes in future initiatives. The thesis is an overview of the Program�s genesis and procedures, including comment on economic, political and social concerns, and draws from this broad analysis the specific issues and outcomes related to urban design practice. It was perceived that whilst not centrally an urban design program the BCP fell short of known urban design principles that could reasonably be expected to be present, given that the achievement of better cities is dependent in large part on better urban design. To maintain a comprehensive overview and sense of continuity the research included urban design evaluations of two projects from the earlier Department of Urban and Regional Development (DURD) period. This was done in order to review the state of urban design at that time and to discover whether fresh insights and approaches may have occurred over the intervening 25 years. To structure the research, a number of interlinking methods were implemented. These included literature reviews, interviews, questionnaires and case studies of the Program�s projects - called Area Strategies - and their ranking through a matrix. Methods extended to a comparative analysis of the Program�s objectives with those of DURD. The Area Strategies were interrogated from three positions, namely: by evaluation of these initiatives based on an Empirical approach; by critical literature where available, but mostly from a more abundant source of descriptive literature and by expert opinion through many interviews, discussions and the Questionnaire responses. The methods were essential in order to collate, analyse and categorise the gathered information for the purpose of evaluation, summarising and framing of conclusions. Central to the thesis was the reliance on the �enduring strands�, being those essential and timehonoured fundamental elements of the urban fabric. These enduring strands became the evaluation tools of the case studies, and comprised the following: buildings and their groupings, the public domain, issues of safety and security, activities, conservation and heritage, the role of landscape, architectural responses to the environment, ecological responses, circulation, public art, social responses and management processes. The discipline of urban design as distinct from city planning and architecture, developed signifi- cantly during the second half of the twentieth century and it received Commonwealth recognition during the life of the Program through the publication of the findings of Prime Minister Keating�s Urban Design Task Force. The thesis compares the recommendations of the Task Force and those of the research and finds sufficient parallels to affirm that both endeavours share a common basis. It is not the role of the thesis to recommend an urban design policy for potential future programs, but it does point to the way urban design might be better integrated in such programs. This research provides support for the argument that if urban design concerns had occupied a more central position in the range of objectives of the Better Cities Program, then the outcomes would have been more satisfactory in many of the projects. With greater recognition of the critical contribution of urban design skills, outcomes of future programs of this nature could potentially be significantly enhanced.

Amenity trees provide physical, social and economic benefits to people sharing their environment. To maintain the benefits that many people have come to expect of trees in their urban landscapes, a viable and dynamic tree population is required. To this end it is necessary to plant new trees or replace existing trees when they require removal. The challenge when replacing mature trees is not simply the process of planting a tree when one is removed, but of the continual replacement of the entire tree population in a planned and managed fashion. In urban landscapes this is not a natural process, and human intervention is required.

Thesis (M.U.P.)--State University of New York at Buffalo, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-74). Also available online via the ProQuest Information and Learning Company website.

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of social entrepreneurs or core visionaries in generating conceptual, financial, and community support and acceptance for a Healthy City/Community initiative in the Bryan/College Station area. This initiative affords all community members the opportunity to participate in long-term regional goals. Crucial questions were: what criteria were seen as beneficial to the community that would garner support to proceed with a Healthy City initiative, what would be desirable and more feasible - to enter into an agreement with an existing entity, an existing medical health provider, related entity or subsidiary, or to set up a new, independent entity to oversee the initiative, where would funding come from, what was the time commitment, and who would evaluate the initiative's success? Another purpose of this study is to explore how a Healthy City's process was adapted and developed for use in the Brazos Valley and how the initial community leaders or initiative "champions" went about initiating and organizing the movement, including identifying manpower needs, whether through the use of volunteers or the hiring of professionals, consultants, or full time staff to coordinate the various activities. Also of interest were the criteria that the initiative's leaders would use to divide their Healthy City's agenda or potential goals into topical components to be studied and analyzed by community representatives for inclusion (or not) into the final, formal Vision Statement for the community for succeeding by 2020. This was a qualitative study; interviews and observations of meetings were the information gathering methods used. According to the results, most participants found their involvement meaningful and enjoyable, but they also feared that no actions would come from the goals set by the community. Areas for further research or investigation might include: subsequent phases enacted by the Brazos 2020 Vision, changes made in dealing with future options after the Final Report was completed or distributed, resulting funding opportunities and movement of key leaders after the Brazos Valley initiative had entered subsequent phases. Another focus might be to continue to research or investigate the timeline for Brazos 2020 Vision up to the year 2020.

Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the relationship between the cities’ GDP and prices. We would like to find out the differences between China Telecom’s broadband prices and areas. If there are differences, are those differences considered from the cities’ GDP? The outcome of this dissertation will provide information about new project price of China Telecom after Network three in one. Design/methodology/approach: The study deals with the relationship between China Telecom Company telecommunication prices and areas. This refers to the use of China Telecom Company’s broadband prices and the information from three different areas. The hypotheses are tested with survey data from three different areas in China. Findings: The results show that the cities’ GDP and the price of China Telecom service are related. Originality/value: This thesis will explore the influencing factors the price in telecommunication industry.

It has become widely recognized that the development of postwar suburbia in North America has had a detrimental effect on community identity, environmental sustainability, and social conscience. Suburban development is often prominent in mid-sized cities made up of a low density or “flat” urban landscape. The Regional Municipality of Waterloo’s urban core consists of three such cities (Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo). As one of Canada’s most economically stable and fastest growing municipalities, it provides a rich opportunity for regional growth through intensification. In the Region of Waterloo’s latest planning policy plan, “A Vision for a Sustainable and Livable Waterloo Region” is outlined. In addition to this comprehensive policy, a two-part “Visualizing Densities” study provided a comprehensive analysis of the existing communities throughout Waterloo Region and how they can be improved. Both of these documents helped to promote sustainable growth in the downtown and inner city areas, however, they have not effectively addressed how to deal with existing suburban areas. The Visualizing Densities Part II study proposed a redesign of a three selected existing suburban study areas throughout the region. Although these proposals had good intentions, they all but ignored the existing network of streets and built fabric. Therefore, it only really addressed how to design and build a new green field development. By building upon current suburban redevelopment concepts and strategies, this thesis will develop an adaptable process for existing suburban community revitalization. This process will be applied to a suburban study area set within the city of Waterloo (one of the regions mid-sized cities). A critical aspect of this process will be the renewed role that architects must play as analysts, visionaries and educators. The overall intention of this thesis will be to develop a means of engaging and revitalizing existing suburban areas into more efficient, self-sustaining, and responsive community networks.

It has become widely recognized that the development of postwar suburbia in North America has had a detrimental effect on community identity, environmental sustainability, and social conscience. Suburban development is often prominent in mid-sized cities made up of a low density or “flat” urban landscape. The Regional Municipality of Waterloo’s urban core consists of three such cities (Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo). As one of Canada’s most economically stable and fastest growing municipalities, it provides a rich opportunity for regional growth through intensification. In the Region of Waterloo’s latest planning policy plan, “A Vision for a Sustainable and Livable Waterloo Region” is outlined. In addition to this comprehensive policy, a two-part “Visualizing Densities” study provided a comprehensive analysis of the existing communities throughout Waterloo Region and how they can be improved. Both of these documents helped to promote sustainable growth in the downtown and inner city areas, however, they have not effectively addressed how to deal with existing suburban areas. The Visualizing Densities Part II study proposed a redesign of a three selected existing suburban study areas throughout the region. Although these proposals had good intentions, they all but ignored the existing network of streets and built fabric. Therefore, it only really addressed how to design and build a new green field development. By building upon current suburban redevelopment concepts and strategies, this thesis will develop an adaptable process for existing suburban community revitalization. This process will be applied to a suburban study area set within the city of Waterloo (one of the regions mid-sized cities). A critical aspect of this process will be the renewed role that architects must play as analysts, visionaries and educators. The overall intention of this thesis will be to develop a means of engaging and revitalizing existing suburban areas into more efficient, self-sustaining, and responsive community networks.

This dissertation examines relationships between cities, and more specifically the largest Texas cities, and the global economy. Data on headquarters location and corporation sales over a 20-year period (1984-2004) supported the hypothesis that globalization is not homogeneous, regular or unidirectional, but actually showed contrasted phases. Texas cities have been raising in global rankings, due to corporate relocations and, to lesser extent, the growth of local activities. By year 2004, Dallas and Houston ranked among the top-20 headquarters cities measured by corporation sales The Texas Urban Triangle had one of the major global concentrations of oil- and computer-related corporation headquarters; conversely, key sectors like banking, insurance and automotive were not significant. Standardized employment data in major U.S. metropolitan areas was examined through principal components analyses. Overall, larger places showed higher degrees of diversity, and no trend toward economic convergence. The TUT also presented a degree of intra-regional diversity comparable to other urban regions. Findings confirmed the relevance of oil- and information-related activities, along with construction, and weakness of activities linked to finance and corporate management. Traffic and air linkages in Texas cities were contrasted to other American gateways. Dallas and Houston have been major nodes in global air transportation, with very important roles as transit hubs for domestic (the former) and short international (the latter) flights. For long-haul international traffic both cities were second-level American gateways, with Houston mobilizing better connected to Western Europe and Mesoamerica, and Dallas to South America and East Asia. Dallas central location strengthened its role in the domestic market, as the center of one of the five major subsystems in the country and a top gateway in enplanements, number of linkages and connectivity measures. The Texas air travel network hierarchical organization was relatively unbalanced, with two strong nodes at the top, three little-relevant middle nodes, and several very poorly interconnected gateways at the bottom. Finally, the high supply of regional flights between primary destinations, namely Dallas and Houston, resulted in significant effects of time-space convergence. Such effects were only found between highly-connected major gateways, and completely bypassed other places, independently of their size and relative location.

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of social entrepreneurs or core visionaries in generating conceptual, financial, and community support and acceptance for a Healthy City/Community initiative in the Bryan/College Station area. This initiative affords all community members the opportunity to participate in long-term regional goals. Crucial questions were: what criteria were seen as beneficial to the community that would garner support to proceed with a Healthy City initiative, what would be desirable and more feasible - to enter into an agreement with an existing entity, an existing medical health provider, related entity or subsidiary, or to set up a new, independent entity to oversee the initiative, where would funding come from, what was the time commitment, and who would evaluate the initiative's success? Another purpose of this study is to explore how a Healthy City's process was adapted and developed for use in the Brazos Valley and how the initial community leaders or initiative "champions" went about initiating and organizing the movement, including identifying manpower needs, whether through the use of volunteers or the hiring of professionals, consultants, or full time staff to coordinate the various activities. Also of interest were the criteria that the initiative's leaders would use to divide their Healthy City's agenda or potential goals into topical components to be studied and analyzed by community representatives for inclusion (or not) into the final, formal Vision Statement for the community for succeeding by 2020. This was a qualitative study; interviews and observations of meetings were the information gathering methods used. According to the results, most participants found their involvement meaningful and enjoyable, but they also feared that no actions would come from the goals set by the community. Areas for further research or investigation might include: subsequent phases enacted by the Brazos 2020 Vision, changes made in dealing with future options after the Final Report was completed or distributed, resulting funding opportunities and movement of key leaders after the Brazos Valley initiative had entered subsequent phases. Another focus might be to continue to research or investigate the timeline for Brazos 2020 Vision up to the year 2020.