Lawns have become ubiquitous and have dominated cities and residential land for decades. Turf covers approximately 1.9% of the continental US, centered mostly around suburban and residential areas that are maintained through large amounts of water consumption, chemical applications, and mowing (Larson and Brumand, 2014). As drought in the Southwest has only become more severe and consistent, there has been a lot of research completed on what policy makers and conservationists can do about Americans’ landscape behaviors in order to increase plant biodiversity and lower outdoor water usage. Many variables such as income, environmental awareness, gender, and historical legacies have been found to have major effects on the kinds of landscapes Americans prefer, but the largest effect on landscape preference seems to be the broad and neighborhood social norms of the area. Local policy makers have been working to change the social norms of neat, mowed lawns as a symbol of wealth and social status by incentivizing homeowners to transition away from turf to native, drought-tolerant landscaping, but more education and financing options will be necessary in order to get better adoption rates and long-term benefits from these programs. In this thesis, I propose to examine spatial landscape patterns over time in Claremont using Geographical Information Systems and Google Earth technologies to better understand neighborhood norms and how important events such as awareness about the severity of the California drought or policy changes play a part in the city’s landscape behaviors.

Abstract Plant registration and selection work aimed at identifying the best genotypes for northern landscaping has been carried out in Finland since the 1980’s. In the University of Oulu Botanical Gardens, micropropagation methods have been developed for several woody plant taxa registered during the POHKAS (Northern Hardy Plants) project. Micropropagation is an effective method to conserve valuable genetic characteristics and to produce plantlets from woody species with limited mother stock material and in a limited time period. In this study the long-term field phenology and success of 19 micropropagated shrub and tree taxa was followed in plant selection experiments. Experiments were conducted at four northern field sites presenting different climatic conditions. Of the phenological monitoring parameters, the onset of foliation and flowering in the field revealed a strong relation to spring time temperature, being obviously latest to occur in northernmost site. The gradient between southern and northern sites for autumn phenology was not so obvious. However, between the different genotypes, the greatest differences were observed in the timing of autumn colouration and defoliation. Winter hardiness also showed clear differences between genotypes. Of the success parameters, it was most decisive as winter hardy genotypes had a higher occurrence of flowers and ornamental appearance, for example in Rosa majalis ‘Tornedal’. Some of these hardy genotypes with known characteristics were introduced to northern tourism areas to create examples of sustainable landscaping. Further, a list of potential plants for different northern sites was compiled. Special forms with both scientific and ornamental value are occasionally found in wild species. One example of this is the red-leaved form of a pubescent birch, Betula pubescens f. rubra, which was studied in the plant selection experiments, and was used as a model tree to evaluate the role of anthocyanins in northern plants in a case study of northern birches. In the case study, the red-leaved pubescent birch showed some differences in flavonoid responses and growth rate in comparison to Betula pubescens and Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii. Phenology of the B. p. f. rubra was corresponding to that of the B. pubescens. For cultivated woody plants the most important selection criteria for the northern areas are the suitability to local climate i.e. timing of phenological events and winter hardiness. Foliar anthocyanins seem to increase adaptation to northern growing conditions with high light intensity and low temperature.

Every year, twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work. Last year, U.S. businesses paid more than $1.5 million in penalties for not protecting workers from noise. (OSHA, 2016). In the United States ten million people have some kind of noise related hearing loss (CDC, 2016) and noise damage to the ear may not be detected until it is great enough to cause hearing impairment. Grounds keeper’s functions consist of a variety of activities that require the use of powered tools such as mowers, riding mowers, leaf blowers, pressure washers, trimmers/edgers and chainsaws. OSHA has stated that “noise is a potential hazard for most jobs that involve abrasive or high-power machinery, impact of rapidly moving parts (product or machinery), or power tools”. (OSHA, 2016) in addition to this, their job is mostly outdoors exposing them to the added noise of traffic, construction and people. The purpose of this research study was to obtain occupational noise exposure data for groundskeepers who use powered equipment to do their job. The groundskeepers who participated in this research study were volunteers and worked in a University campus in the State of Florida. Personal noise dosimeters were used to collect the data in this study. Exposure information was collected over 6 days for 8-hour work shifts during the summer months of the year. Dosimetry was done on a maximum of five groundskeepers per monitoring day, ranging from 1 to 5 employees per day depending on availability. Results of this study indicate that the highest noise exposures occurred on groundskeepers in charge of mowing by means of a riding mower. Results of this study indicate that the highest 8-hr TWA noise exposure for the groundskeepers (GK) 1 and 2 occurred the first day of testing which was a Monday. Using the OSHA PEL measurement method GK1 exposure was 98.5 dBA, GK2 was 97.6 dBA. Using the same measurement method the highest exposure to GK3: 89.2 dBA, occurred on day five of the assessment. For GK4 the highest exposure occurred on the third day of testing with an exposure measurement of 86.1 dBA. GK5 was only assessed one day and his exposure measured at 84.5 dBA. GK6 AND GK7 were evaluated two days and their highest exposures measured at GK6: 89.3 dBA and GK7: 85.7 dBA. Using the OSHA Hearing Conversation Act measurement method, GK1 was exposed to excessive noise levels (>85 dBA as an 8-hr TWA) on five days of the six day assessment period. GK2 was exposed to hazardous noise levels on all four days he was assessed. GK3 and GK4 exceeded the OSHA HCA standard one of the two days they were monitored. GK 5 did not have noise exposure levels above 85 dBA on the day he volunteered for monitoring. GK6 had exposures over 85 dBA on both days he volunteered to be monitored. Finally, GK7 exceeded the 85 dBA limit on one of the two days they volunteered for this study.

Landscape and related environmental works are discussed as an integral and essential aspect of most land development projects, whether they are building or civil works, environmental protection, rehabilitation or landscape beautification. Problematic contractual issues that regularly arise in landscape contracting from the use of standard forms of construction contracts for pre-main contract, in-main contract and post-main contract landscape work are identified and discussed. These forms of contracts have essentially been written for traditional building and engineering works and are shown to be inadequately addressing the unique contractual aspects relating to landscaping works. The study focuses on the issues to be addressed in a contract between an employer and a landscape contractor for work to be undertaken before the main construction contractor has been appointed and on landscape subcontract work undertaken during the construction under the main contract. It addresses the problems surrounding the contractual practical termination of the landscape subcontract, the defects liability period and interim landscape maintenance as well as landscape maintenance work after the landscape installation has reached final completion. The study points towards an appropriate form of contract for use in conjunction with the JBCC contract system to provide for the particular requirements of landscape contracting. It indicates the necessary compatibility between landscape subcontractual requirements and the JBCC Nominated/Selected Subcontract Agreement. This required compatibility warrants a revision of or an addendum to the JBCC document. The requirements for a landscape maintenance contract, for use after termination of the landscape installation (sub)contract, are shown to be sufficiently different from the installation contract to warrant changes or addenda to the standard construction contract form. From a review of literature on the landscape contractual environment in South Africa and a study of contracts commonly used in South Africa, pertinent landscape contractual issues are identified for the three phases in which landscape and related environmental works are performed, i.e. before the main construction contract, during the main construction contract and during the landscape maintenance period after completion of the main contract. These issues are formalised and tested for validity and relevance by means of a survey conducted amongst developers and owners of building and engineering works, contractors and professional consultants. The research is summarised, findings and conclusions for each of the three landscape works phases are presented and recommendations made to address the confirmed contractual problematic issues. The survey confirms the JBCC suite of contracts as the most widely used for landscaping contracts in South Africa and the recommendations therefore focus thereon. The study concludes with a proposal for an addendum to the JBCC’s Nominated/Selected Subcontract Agreement entitled “General and specific conditions of subcontract for landscape and related works” and recommendations for further study of related issues identified in the survey but which fall outside the focus of this study. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Architecture / unrestricted

Public spaces should be public! Their purpose should be to serve the public, not to be convenient for planners, investors and developers. Often, our common ground and imagination of urban landscapes doesn’t go further than a bench, a lawn and, if lucky, a bin. This project explores how public spaces can be governed and organised by the people around it by empowering them to be in the centre of the planning and being able to make decisions and shape their habitat according to their needs, wishes and imagination. As part of this project a guide was created on how to claim and shape one’s local public space together with their community.

Hecken unterscheiden sich in der Wuchshöhe, Laubfärbung, Blüte und Frucht. Sie werden als Sichtschutz, zur Einfassung von Beeten oder zur Begrenzung angepflanzt. Die Broschüre stellt unterschiedliche Heckensorten und ihre Verwendung vor und gibt Hinweise zu Pflege und Schnitt.

Mit farbigen Abbildungen werden die besten Kleinstrauch- und Beetrosensorten aus den Pillnitzer Sichtungen vorgestellt. Sie unterscheiden sich in Farbe, Höhe und ihrer Widerstandsfähigkeit gegenüber Sternrußtau und Rosenmehltau.

Genom analys av det språkliga landskapet på ett bibliotek i kombination med intervjuer med tre bibliotekarier har ett biblioteks potential för språkinlärning, integration samt samarbete med SFI undersökts. Resultatet visar att det språkliga landskapet domineras av det svenska språket och de gånger andra språk än svenska eller nationella minoritetsspråk används handlar användningen om information om språkutvecklande aktiviteter för invandrare. Resultatet visar även att det finns en stor medvetenhet hos bibliotekarierna om möjliga förbättringar av det språkliga landskapet. Resultaten visar även att många aktiviteter görs för att främja integrationen på biblioteket, vilket tyder på ett potentiellt fördjupat samarbete mellan biblioteket och SFI som sträcker sig längre än utlån av kursböcker. Slutsatsen är att biblioteket har en stor potential till både språkutveckling och integration för en nyanländ vuxenperson. Bibliotekets relativt neutrala roll kan dessutom motverka utanförskap.

Auf Versuchsflächen des Friedhofes in Pirna (Sachsen) wurden unter alten und jungen Birken verschiedene Stauden und Gräser getestet. Untersucht wurde, wie sich die Konkurrenz um Wasser, Nährstoffe und der Einfluss von Schatten und Laubfall der Gehölze auf das Anwuchsverhalten, die Entwicklung, den Pflege- und Materialaufwand der getesteten Pflanzen auswirkt. Besonders geeignet als Unterpflanzen sind im Ergebnis der fünfjährigen Versuche die Gänsekresse (Arabis), das Stachelnüsschen (Acaena) und der Schlangenbart (Ophiopogon). Der Bericht enthält Informationen zum Anwuchsverhalten der Arten in den ersten zwei Jahren und ihrer weiteren Entwicklung. Empfehlenswert sind eine optimale Pflanzvorbereitung mit mindestens 10 cm Bodenaustausch, die Pflanzdichte von 18 Pfl./m² und vier Pflegedurchgänge im Jahr. Ein Ereigniskalender zeigt die Monate der Blüten- und Fruchtschmuckbildung und der Laubfärbung der Versuchspflanzen.

Professions such as landscape architecture have long laid claim to altruistic concepts of working for the betterment of society, as opposed to their own special interests. In recent time within the United States, such altruistic claims have come into question, as a skeptical public has challenged the true motivations of professionals. This dissertation examines commitments to social responsibility in the landscape architecture community, in an effort to understand the range of attitudes and ideas present in a profession that is highly diverse in terms of its work jurisdictions and context. Conclusions were drawn from an analysis of discourse in landscape architecture and related environmental design disciplines, a study of educational standards for accredited professional degree programs, and interviews with landscape architects practicing in the Los Angeles region. Findings suggest that many landscape architects believe in abstract notions such as stewardship, but that the interpretations of these notions vary widely. Respondents in the public sector often demonstrated different conceptions of their role in the planning and design process, and stronger connections to the land and its inhabitants, than was the case for most private sector respondents. Respondents in all work contexts also described conflicts that emerged in their practice as a result of obligations to clients, communities, employers, special interest groups that they may be affiliated with, personal values and well-being. These conflicts often presented challenges in terms of meeting abstract notions of social responsibility, and often appeared to shape their attitudes towards these responsibilities. This study confirms that professionals are presented with many conflicts of interest in daily practice, as a result of being firmly embedded in society. So challenges to cultural authority that question the motivations of professionals may be justified in many cases. The lack of explicit engagement of social responsibility issues in discourse and education makes it difficult to counter such challenges in the case of landscape architecture. The dissertation concludes with a discussion of implications for discourse, education and practice, including the need for a theoretical framework in landscape architecture and potential for discretionary action, drawing upon theories of communicative action.