Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:33:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sandra C Kleinschmitt.pdf: 1716732 bytes, checksum: e8f8b01c3b62129ddcc186836f7688b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The central objective of this research was to analyze the spatial distribution of homicides in the state of Paraná, over the years 2001 and 2005 and the relationship between this phenomenon and socioeconomic, demographic and urban infrastructure variables as well. The method of Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) was used to measure the degree of spatial autocorrelation among the studied variables, based on the characteristics of the 399 municipalities in the State of Paraná, presently. Initially, the ESDA was used to check the existence of spatial autocorrelation among the state municipalities considering the homicide rates. The results demonstrated the existence of spatial autocorrelation of homicide rates in the municipalities of Paraná State. When considering the mapping of clusters, there was the indicative of four clusters of High High type- (HH) and four large clusters of low-low type (LL). The highest homicide rates were found in clusters of municipalities located in the Metropolitan Mesoregion of Curitiba, in the North Central Mesoregion, West Mesoregion, and in a number of municipalities from Center South, Center West, West and Southwest Mesoregions. The clusters of type LL were in the Northwest and in the Central North Mesoregion, and Pioneiro North and Southwest Mesoregion. The common manifestations of variables in the four clusters of HH type were: the high average of residents per home (ARH), the high number of head of family without income, low number of kindergartens, low number of cultural facilities, low number of people over 60 years and the low incidence of infant mortality. The other tested variables autocorrelated in the cities with the rates of murder, but according to their particular regions. The exception was the variables: water supply and sewerage, per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and head of family over 15 years literate, not significant, at a 5% significance. / O objetivo central desta pesquisa é analisar a distribuição espacial dos homicídios no Estado do Paraná, entre os anos 2001 e 2005, e a relação entre este fenômeno e as variáveis socioeconômicas, demográficas e de infraestrutura urbana. O método de Análise Exploratória de Dados Espaciais (AEDE) foi utilizado para medir o grau de autocorrelação espacial entre as variáveis estudadas, a partir das características dos 399 municípios existentes no Estado do Paraná, na atualidade. Num primeiro momento utilizou-se a AEDE para verificar a presença de autocorrelação espacial entre os municípios do Estado, considerando as taxas de homicídio. Os resultados demonstraram a existência da autocorrelação espacial das taxas de homicídio entre os municípios paranaenses. Ao considerar os mapas de clusters, verificou-se a presença de quatro grandes clusters do tipo Alto-Alto (AA) e quatro grandes clusters do tipo Baixo-Baixo (BB). As maiores taxas de homicídio foram encontradas nos clusters constituídos por municípios situados na Mesorregião Metropolitana de Curitiba, na Mesorregião Norte Central, na Mesorregião Oeste e num conjunto de municípios das Mesorregiões Centro-Sul, Centro-Ocidental, Oeste e Sudoeste. Os clusters do tipo BB constituíram-se nas Mesorregiões Noroeste e Norte Central, na Mesorregião Norte Pioneiro e na Mesorregião Sudoeste. As manifestações comuns das variáveis nos quatro clusters do tipo AA, foram: a alta média de moradores por domicílio (MMD), a alta presença de chefes de família sem renda, a baixa presença de creches, a baixa presença de equipamentos culturais, a baixa presença de população com mais de 60 anos e a baixa incidência de mortalidade infantil. As outras variáveis testadas se autocorrelacionaram nos municípios com as taxas de homicídio, mas de acordo com suas particularidades regionais.

This thesis explores the ongoing regeneration of Raploch council housing estate, in Stirling, focusing on the lived experiences of the established residents who reside in the pre-regeneration council housing estate, or had family or historical links with the area, as well as new residents, who have moved into the new owner occupied houses that were built in the regeneration. Key informants who have worked in a professional capacity in the area were also consulted to broaden the perspective. The regeneration was a response to a long history of deprivation, segregation and stigmatisation, which led to the demolition of council housing on one side of a main road within the area. The demolition site was redeveloped by a partnership of private developers and a social housing provider. As a consequence of the regeneration there were various physical and social changes in the area, caused by the construction of new homes, as well as other changes to the built environment, and the influx of owner occupiers into the new housing. A visual research method, 'auto-driven photo elicitation', was utilised, which allowed an insight into these changes from a unique perspective. Participants made photos of the area, of places they wanted to discuss, which became the starting point of a subsequent interview process; allowing participants to focus on issues relevant to them. The findings showed that the participants attached a great importance to the history of this specific place, but also that there was segregation between the new residents and the established community. Further fragmentations, religious and historic territorial divisions, within the communities were visually reinforced by the regeneration process. The participants also attached great significance to the linguistic and semiotic landscape, which they interpreted in the context of this place.

De-industrialisation and rising unemployment amongst the world's developed countries' manual labourers as well as continued economic stagnation in developing countries has resulted in many localities experiencing mounting economic hardships and uncertain futures. As a direct result, the time has come that localities are being called upon to take charge of their own futures using local resources for local solutions. Local development has appeared in various guises in different countries. Many agents in the developed North favour pro-business interventions that emphasise enterprise development, responsible local government, and investment in skills training. Stakeholders in developing nations however tend to favour bottom-up approaches focusing on participation in self-reliant activities, providing basic needs, and facilitating micro-enterprises. In addition to the actual nature of applied interventions, qualities such as commitment, innovation, co-operation, social capital and entrepreneurship are equally essential for over-all success. South Africa has recently devolved more autonomy to its localities to enable them to conduct local development as a way of coping with local socio-economic difficulties and is applying both pro-growth and pro-poor approaches. The Noordhoek Valley in the City of Cape Town is a locality where a community driven project seeks to promote both economic growth and poverty alleviation. The establishment of a skills training institution has equipped local residents with the skills to find jobs and become entrepreneurs. To date, over 1000 residents have received training and have earned over R5 million for the community. Although locality-based development is relatively new in South Africa, the activities and results achieved in the Noordhoek Valley indicate that with the appropriate approach and mentality local development and skills development are indeed possible.

The provision of housing is a developmental practice and development cannot prevail without public participation. This is echoed in the Manila Declaration on People‟s Participation and Sustainable Development, 1989 as follows, “Public participation is an essential part of human growth that is the development of self-confidence, pride, initiative, responsibility, cooperation. Without such development within the people themselves, all efforts to alleviate their poverty will be immensely more difficult, if not impossible” (Burkey, 1993:56). Housing provision plays a vital role in meeting basic needs; dwellings provide the security required for basic functioning and are thus essential for both human development and the alleviation of poverty. South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. It includes the municipal legislative framework that provides for community participation in decision-making at municipal level. However, in practice, citizens have had little experience of this, which is particularly relevant in contexts of severe poverty and failure by the state to provide basic services. This case study demonstrates the challenges faced by the Centre for Public Participation (CPP), a national NGO, when working to influence central government policy on citizen participation. It also explores the role and influence of international donors in promoting this agenda. From the literature review, it was evident that service delivery is essential in the communities, and, as such, government departments and municipalities have a critical role to play. In order to achieve this goal, an interview was conducted with various interviewees. The participants ranged from the youth to the elderly citizens in the community as well as government officials. The main patterns that emerged from the collected data related to the dissatisfaction of the community about the lack of consultation. It would be advisable for government, especially municipalities, to take cognizance of the results and concerns, in an effort to improve and ensure the effective service delivery, as stipulated in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) document.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI / Charter schools are a major movement in American education and increasingly used as a city strategy for neighborhood rehabilitation. Indianapolis is one of a growing number of urban areas to promote charter schools as catalysts for neighborhood revitalization. Previous studies find mixed results about the causes of neighborhood change or how residents make mobility decisions. The present study seeks to create an empirical model that discovers the impact of charter schools as a neighborhood amenity. This is based on two measures of well-being: change in percentage poverty and change in percentage school-aged residents. Data indicate a negative relationship between charter schools in a census tract and the school-aged resident population. However, statistical analysis did not support a significant relationship between either measure and charter schools in the ten year time frame.

This study investigates the use of telecentres for educational purposes in telecommunications under-serviced regions of South Africa. The problem addressed by this research has both equity and efficiency aspects. In particular, the thesis examines the impact of telecentres on the formal and non-formal education outcomes of recipient communities - four telecentres, two in townships and two in rural areas. The urban telecentres are Siyabonga in Orange Farm near Johannesburg and Mamelodi Communication and Information Services (MACIS), in Mamelodi township, near Pretoria in Gauteng Province. The rural telecentres are Tombo near Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape Province and Hoxani near Bushbuckridge on the Mpumalanga-Limpopo Province border. The main aim of the research is to conduct a quantitative survey of the telecentre users’ use of telecentres in the above mentioned locations. On the basis of this, the thesis seeks to come to some conclusions about the use and effectiveness of the South African telecentre program. The quantitative analysis of users is supported by a qualitative report and analysis of data gathered through personal interviews of telecentre operators and employees. The thesis reports on the outputs of the centres, limitations in their function, inhibitors to their economic performance, and recommendations for improving their operations. Some of the findings are that telecentres established through public-private partnership (PPP) funding are more effective and successful, computer literacy is a major resource offered, Hoxani telecentre offers outcomes-based education management skills training for local teachers, while Tombo, MACIS and Siyabonga telecentres offer additional business and electronic courses. The thesis also reviews the South African telecentre program against the background of similar programs in selected Asian and Latin American countries, Australia, Canada, and Europe and against the background of an analysis of South African post-apartheid telecommunications sector reforms (1996 to 2007). Insights into the unique nature of challenges facing geographically located telecentres as well as a new model for understanding telecentre operations in South Africa are offered. / Communication Science / D.Litt. et Phil.(Communication Science)

The study focused on the role of the local community in the management of wetland. The study was triggered by the lack of participation of the local community in the management of the wetland. It is important to note that wetlands perform a number of ecosystem services, some of which are well recognised, others less so, and are internationally recognised as being one of the most important ecosystems for the conservation of biodiversity. South Africa is a signatory to the international obligations, which makes it a legal responsibility to make sure that wetlands are managed appropriately. It is therefore important for these natural resources to be managed appropriately. Information for generating data was obtained through the assessment of the wetland health and from the investigation of the management of the local community. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative method was used to gather the necessary data. The findings indicate that the current state of the wetland is severely modified, which means large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystem functions has occurred. The results also indicate that the community is ill-equipped to manage the resource appropriately. The findings therefore imply that immediate management interventions must be developed to improve the health of the wetland. In improving the state of the wetland, the study recommends, amongst others, that mitigation measures aimed at improving the wetland health and participation of wetland users be promoted. An establishment of a community-driven and multi-stakeholder intervention mechanism to help the community manage and utilise the wetland properly is also recommended. The study concludes by indicating that the community must comply with the environmental legislation and takes a lead in the management of the wetland, for the aim of restoring the functionality and integrity of the wetland. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

This study investigates the use of telecentres for educational purposes in telecommunications under-serviced regions of South Africa. The problem addressed by this research has both equity and efficiency aspects. In particular, the thesis examines the impact of telecentres on the formal and non-formal education outcomes of recipient communities - four telecentres, two in townships and two in rural areas. The urban telecentres are Siyabonga in Orange Farm near Johannesburg and Mamelodi Communication and Information Services (MACIS), in Mamelodi township, near Pretoria in Gauteng Province. The rural telecentres are Tombo near Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape Province and Hoxani near Bushbuckridge on the Mpumalanga-Limpopo Province border. The main aim of the research is to conduct a quantitative survey of the telecentre users’ use of telecentres in the above mentioned locations. On the basis of this, the thesis seeks to come to some conclusions about the use and effectiveness of the South African telecentre program. The quantitative analysis of users is supported by a qualitative report and analysis of data gathered through personal interviews of telecentre operators and employees. The thesis reports on the outputs of the centres, limitations in their function, inhibitors to their economic performance, and recommendations for improving their operations. Some of the findings are that telecentres established through public-private partnership (PPP) funding are more effective and successful, computer literacy is a major resource offered, Hoxani telecentre offers outcomes-based education management skills training for local teachers, while Tombo, MACIS and Siyabonga telecentres offer additional business and electronic courses. The thesis also reviews the South African telecentre program against the background of similar programs in selected Asian and Latin American countries, Australia, Canada, and Europe and against the background of an analysis of South African post-apartheid telecommunications sector reforms (1996 to 2007). Insights into the unique nature of challenges facing geographically located telecentres as well as a new model for understanding telecentre operations in South Africa are offered. / Communication Science / D.Litt. et Phil.(Communication Science)

The study focused on the role of the local community in the management of wetland. The study was triggered by the lack of participation of the local community in the management of the wetland. It is important to note that wetlands perform a number of ecosystem services, some of which are well recognised, others less so, and are internationally recognised as being one of the most important ecosystems for the conservation of biodiversity. South Africa is a signatory to the international obligations, which makes it a legal responsibility to make sure that wetlands are managed appropriately. It is therefore important for these natural resources to be managed appropriately. Information for generating data was obtained through the assessment of the wetland health and from the investigation of the management of the local community. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative method was used to gather the necessary data. The findings indicate that the current state of the wetland is severely modified, which means large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystem functions has occurred. The results also indicate that the community is ill-equipped to manage the resource appropriately. The findings therefore imply that immediate management interventions must be developed to improve the health of the wetland. In improving the state of the wetland, the study recommends, amongst others, that mitigation measures aimed at improving the wetland health and participation of wetland users be promoted. An establishment of a community-driven and multi-stakeholder intervention mechanism to help the community manage and utilise the wetland properly is also recommended. The study concludes by indicating that the community must comply with the environmental legislation and takes a lead in the management of the wetland, for the aim of restoring the functionality and integrity of the wetland. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Grundlage des Buches sind die Beiträge des 1. Dresdner Flächennutzungssymposiums. Dieses ist der Auftakt für eine zukünftig jährlich stattfindende Fachtagung, die Wissenschaft und Praxis zu Fragen der Erhebung, Entwicklung und Prognose der Flächennutzungsentwicklung zusammenführt. Das 1. Buch der beginnenden Reihe „Flächennutzungsmonitoring“ informiert über die amtliche Flächenstatistik einschließlich deren Datengrundlage und alternativer Datengrundlagen für die Flächenerhebung. In diesem Zusammenhang werden auch Indikatoren zur Beschreibung der Flächeninanspruchnahme und der Freiraumentwicklung vorgestellt. Da es hier auch immer wieder um Fragen der Visualisierung geht, werden Verfahren zur kleinräumigen Darstellung von Zustand und Entwicklung von Indikatoren auf verschiedenen räumlichen Ebenen bis hin zu Rasterkarten erläutert. Im abschließenden Beitrag geht es um die Konzeption eines Monitors der Siedlungs- und Freiraumentwicklung auf Grundlage von geotopographischen Basisdaten.