Spelling suggestions: "subject:"greater toronto are""
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Satellie Monitoring of Urban Growth and Indicator-based Assessment of Environmental ImpactFurberg, Dorothy January 2014 (has links)
One of the major consequences of urbanization is the transformation of land surfaces from rural/natural environments to built-up land that supports diverse forms of human activity. These transformations impact the local geology, climate, hydrology, flora and fauna and human-life supporting ecosystem services in the region. Mapping and analysis of land use/land cover change in urban regions and tracking their environmental impact is therefore of vital importance for evaluating policy options for future growth and promoting sustainable urban development. The overall objective of this research is to investigate the extent of urban growth and/or sprawl and its potential environmental impact in the regions surrounding a few selected major cities in North America, Europe and Asia using landscape metrics and other environmental indicators to assess the landscape changes. The urban regions examined are the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Canada, Stockholm region and County in Sweden and Shanghai in China. The analyses are based on classificatons of optical satellite imagery (Landsat TM/ETM+ or SPOT 1/5) between 1985 and 2010. Maximum likelihood classification (MLC) under urban/rural masks, objectbased image analysis (OBIA) with rule-based classification and support vector machines (SVM) classification methods were used with grey level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) texture features as input to help obtain higher accuracies. Based on the classification results, landscape metrics, selected environmental indicators and indices, and ecosystem service valuation were calculated and used to estimate environmental impact of urban growth. The results show that urban areas in the GTA grew by nearly 40% between 1985 and 2005. Results from the landscape metrics and urban compactness indicators show that low-density built-up areas increased significantly in the GTA between 1985 and 2005, mainly at the expense of agricultural areas. The majority of environmentally significant areas were increasingly surrounded by urban areas between 1985 and 2005, furthering their isolation from other natural areas. Urban areas in the Stockholm region increased by 10% between 1986 and 2006. The landscape metrics indicated that natural areas became more isolated or shrank whereas new small urban patches came into being. The most noticeable changes in terms of environmental impact and urban expansion were in the east and north of the study area. Large forested areas in the northeast dropped the most in terms of environmental impact ranking, while the most improved analysis units were close to the central Stockholm area. The study comparing Shanghai and Stockholm County revealed that urban areas increased ten times as much in Shanghai as they did in Stockholm, at 120% and 12% respectively. The landscape metrics results show that fragmentation in both study regions occurred mainly due to the growth of high density built-up areas in previously more natural environments, while the expansion of low density built-up areas was for the most part in conjunction with pre-existing patches. The growth in urban areas resulted in ecosystem service value losses of approximately 445 million USD in Shanghai, mostly due to the decrease in natural coastal wetlands, while in Stockholm the value of ecosystem services changed very little. This study demonstrates the utility of urban and environmental indicators derived from remote sensing data via GIS techniques in assessing both the spatio-temporal dynamics of urban growth and its environmental impact in different metropolitan regions. High accuracy classifications of optical medium resolution remote sensing data are achieved thanks in part to the incorporation of texture features for both object- and pixel-based classification methods, and to the use of urban/rural masks with the latter. The landscape metrics calculated based on the classifications are useful in quantifying urban growth trends and potential environmental impact as well as facilitating their comparison. The environmental indicator results highlight the challenges in terms of sustainable urban growth unique to each landscape, both spatially and temporally. The next phase of this PhD research will involve finding valid methods of comparing and contrasting urban growth patterns and estimated environmental impact in different regions of the world and further exploration of how to link urbanizing landscapes to changes in ecosystem services via environmental indicators. / <p>QC 20141212</p>
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CAS: Ally or Not? The Views of Young Adult Canadians with Indian Subcontinent HeritageJhajj, Paman January 2019 (has links)
The goal of this study was to assess how child welfare services are conceptualized and viewed by Canadian young adults with heritage from the Indian Subcontinent. Five second-generation young adults with heritage from the Indian Sub-continent were interviewed about their thoughts, attitudes, and opinions toward the Children’s Aid Societies when they were youths, and also currently. Findings showed that lack of awareness around the function of CAS, observations of negative CAS-community interactions, and overt/subvert whiteness in the system all contributed to participants not trusting CASs during their childhood and teenage years. Participants felt that the CAS systems are designed for the white population and not for children and youth of South Asian descent. Reflecting back on when they were youths, instead of viewing CASs as a source of support or help in times of family trouble, participants indicated that they and their parents would seek support from trusted friends, family, or community members. Now young adults themselves, and envisioning having their own families in the future, participants said that if needed they would access the same friend, family and community supports rather than approaching a CAS. That being said, participants expressed that they would be open to accessing CAS services but that this would be a last resort given their perception that the CAS is not designed for them or their community. Participants expressed a desire to be able to access CAS services, but not until CAS deal with their own whiteness. In addition to being less Eurocentric, participants also recommended a number of changes CAS make so that they better serve communities with Indian Sub Continent heritage, these include increased community engagement, information campaigns, increased presence of workers/foster families from South Asian communities). / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)
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INTERSECTIONALITY AND THE ROLE OF SERVICE PROVIDERS: A STEP TOWARDS IMPROVING THE EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES OF IMMIGRANT WOMENHassan, Farha January 2020 (has links)
Examining service providers’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators for immigrant women seeking employment / There are multi-faceted barriers that shape the employment trajectories and
economic outcomes of immigrant women in the Canadian labour market. In response to
the barriers that immigrant women experience, the Federal government, Immigration,
Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), have initiated funding towards employment
programs for immigrant women. This critical ethnographic study examines the
perspectives of ten service providers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), in order to
identify the barriers and facilitators immigrant women experience within employment
services when trying to obtain secure well-paid employment. The data analysis revealed
three major themes: the role of funding for employment programs and settlement
services, the categorization of immigrant women by skills; and the application of
individualized services to meet the needs of immigrant women. Using an intersectional
lens, my research highlights that immigrant women experience various challenges to
finding, obtaining, and maintaining employment due to the intersection of their social
location (e.g. race, gender, immigration status, language, culture, and religion). Service
providers mitigate some of these barriers to secure well-paying employment by providing
individualized services to meet differential needs of immigrant women. While this
approach has led to success in matching some immigrant women to jobs that align with
their field of expertise and career goals, service providers are restricted in their ability to
meet the full needs of immigrant women due to underfunding and structural barriers. My
research reveals that employment services, immigration processes, and labour market
practices can (re)produce and maintain the marginalization of immigrant women in the
labour market. This paper concludes with some policy recommendations for immigrant-serving employment services and social work practice. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)
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Urban Greenspace, Civil Society and Science: The Creation and Management of the Rouge Park, Ontario, Canada.Macaraig, John Marvin Rodriguera 08 August 2013 (has links)
Earth is becoming more urban. As the human population continues the current trend of migrating towards urbanized regions, the pressures to develop urban greenspaces will inevitably increase. Greenspaces play a critical role in urban livability for both human and non-human beings. This research examines the creation and management of the Rouge Park (Ontario, Canada), which is a large greenspace approximately 46 km2 located in the eastern portion of the Greater Toronto Area. The output of this research consists of three parts. The first provides an identification of the relevant actors, and a detailed chronology of the social and political events that led to the establishment of the Rouge Park. The second section explores the competing narratives of science, conservation, and development that were fundamental in shaping the protected area that we see today. The final section examines the governance and administration of the Rouge Park, and investigates the activities and involvement of civil society actors working in its day-to-day management. Using qualitative methods, I demonstrate that science and scientific expertise can be powerful tools of legitimization for civil society actors. In particular, I examine the benefits and pitfalls of placing ecologically-based rationalizations at the forefront of conservation policy deliberations. Furthermore, I show that despite shortcomings in the governance structure of the park, the current arrangement has provided civil society actors with increased opportunities to shape their community. My results show that a locally grounded nature conservation movement can serve as a powerful motivating force for citizens to enact long-term environmental planning initiatives.
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Urban Greenspace, Civil Society and Science: The Creation and Management of the Rouge Park, Ontario, Canada.Macaraig, John Marvin Rodriguera 08 August 2013 (has links)
Earth is becoming more urban. As the human population continues the current trend of migrating towards urbanized regions, the pressures to develop urban greenspaces will inevitably increase. Greenspaces play a critical role in urban livability for both human and non-human beings. This research examines the creation and management of the Rouge Park (Ontario, Canada), which is a large greenspace approximately 46 km2 located in the eastern portion of the Greater Toronto Area. The output of this research consists of three parts. The first provides an identification of the relevant actors, and a detailed chronology of the social and political events that led to the establishment of the Rouge Park. The second section explores the competing narratives of science, conservation, and development that were fundamental in shaping the protected area that we see today. The final section examines the governance and administration of the Rouge Park, and investigates the activities and involvement of civil society actors working in its day-to-day management. Using qualitative methods, I demonstrate that science and scientific expertise can be powerful tools of legitimization for civil society actors. In particular, I examine the benefits and pitfalls of placing ecologically-based rationalizations at the forefront of conservation policy deliberations. Furthermore, I show that despite shortcomings in the governance structure of the park, the current arrangement has provided civil society actors with increased opportunities to shape their community. My results show that a locally grounded nature conservation movement can serve as a powerful motivating force for citizens to enact long-term environmental planning initiatives.
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Impacts of Driving Patterns on Well-to-wheel Performance of Plug-in Hybrid Electric VehiclesRaykin, Leonid 27 November 2013 (has links)
The well-to-wheel (WTW) environmental performance of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is sensitive to driving patterns, which vary within and across regions. This thesis develops and applies a novel approach for estimating specific regional driving patterns. The approach employs a macroscopic traffic assignment model linked with a vehicle motion model to construct driving cycles, which is done for a wide range of driving patterns. For each driving cycle, the tank-to-wheel energy use of two PHEVs and comparable non-plug-in alternatives is estimated. These estimates are then employed within a WTW analysis to investigate implications of driving patterns on the energy use and greenhouse gas emission of PHEVs, and the WTW performance of PHEVs relative to non-plug-in alternatives for various electricity generation scenarios. The results of the WTW analysis demonstrate that driving patterns and the electricity generation supply interact to substantially impact the WTW performance of PHEVs.
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Impacts of Driving Patterns on Well-to-wheel Performance of Plug-in Hybrid Electric VehiclesRaykin, Leonid 27 November 2013 (has links)
The well-to-wheel (WTW) environmental performance of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is sensitive to driving patterns, which vary within and across regions. This thesis develops and applies a novel approach for estimating specific regional driving patterns. The approach employs a macroscopic traffic assignment model linked with a vehicle motion model to construct driving cycles, which is done for a wide range of driving patterns. For each driving cycle, the tank-to-wheel energy use of two PHEVs and comparable non-plug-in alternatives is estimated. These estimates are then employed within a WTW analysis to investigate implications of driving patterns on the energy use and greenhouse gas emission of PHEVs, and the WTW performance of PHEVs relative to non-plug-in alternatives for various electricity generation scenarios. The results of the WTW analysis demonstrate that driving patterns and the electricity generation supply interact to substantially impact the WTW performance of PHEVs.
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Residential Solar Energy Adoption in a Community Context: Perceptions and Characteristics of Potential Adopters in a West Toronto NeighbourhoodSherk, Theodore January 2012 (has links)
In the summer of 2007, a single neighbourhood in downtown Toronto contributed at
least 13 percent of all residential grid???tie solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sold in the
Canadian province of Ontario. On average, PV purchaser households produced 37
percent as much electricity as they consumed.
This research investigates solar energy adoption in a community case study. Specifically,
it investigates why some residents who sign up for a solar resource assessment through
a community solar energy initiative (CSEI) decide to purchase, and others decide not to
purchase in the short???term. Characteristics and perceptions of potential adopters are
analyzed to better understand their motivations and barriers to adoption.
Community energy projects became an official public policy goal in Ontario, with the
passing of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act in 2009. Approximately 80 percent
of Ontario???s anticipated generation capacity will need to be built, replaced or
refurbished within 15 years. In this context, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Ontario
Power Authority, and Deloitte (one of Canada???s leading professional services firms),
have partnered with a ???green benefit??? fund, the Community Power Fund, to help local
community groups access resources to develop and establish renewable energy
projects. Understanding solar energy adoption in a community context is therefore
important to improve the effectiveness of such policies, including the disbursement of
multi???million dollar grant funds.
Differences between purchasers and non???purchasers in respect of adoption behaviour
were found in this study to cluster around two general themes. The first theme
concerns differences in compatibility of both the concept of solar energy systems, and
their physical attributes, with characteristics of potential adopter households. Some
compatibility issues are straightforward, e.g. availability of roof space with a southern
orientation. Others are more complex, involving several interrelated perceptual and
socio???demographic factors. For instance, while both purchasers and non???purchasers
rated cost as a very important barrier, purchasers rated the motivation of solar energy
systems to reduce climate change higher relative to the barrier of high financial costs
than did non???purchasers. Purchasers were also more likely to possess a graduate
degree, while non???purchasers were more likely to hold a professional degree.
The second general theme relates to potential adopters??? trust and stake in the ability of
the community???based initiative to reduce barriers in the adoption process. Since two
types of solar energy systems are considered in the case study???PV and thermal (hot
water)???differences are explored between each of three respondent groups: solar PV
purchasers, solar hot water (SHW) purchasers, and non???purchasers.
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Surveys were used to gather data on adopter perceptions and characteristics. A
participatory research design helped identify the research topic. Two main bodies of
literature???community???based social marketing (CBSM) and diffusion of innovations
theory???were drawn upon to conceptualize the adoption process and interpret the
survey findings. These include five models of human behaviour that can be used to
guide the design of CBSM campaigns. Diffusion theory was used as a basis for discussing
???perceived innovation attributes???. The study takes an integrated approach by
considering both social and technical aspects of solar energy adoption, together with
the issues of fuel substitution and household electricity demand.
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