Background: Dementia is a public health priority due to the growth in the ageing population, resulting in an increase of people living with dementia both nationally and internationally. Whilst dementia has been framed as an economic and societal burden, this is not the whole story. People living with dementia have rights and an asset-based approach outlines the contribution that they bring to relationships in the everyday places and spaces where life is lived. To continue to enable people living with dementia to stay in their own home and community and to offer opportunities for social participation and contribution, the neighbourhood is one focus of ageing and dementia policy supporting enabling environments. Although the literature illustrates the significant impact, from multiple dimensions, of the neighbourhood on people living with dementia and their carers, there is a scarcity of evidence about how they define, construct, and interact with their neighbourhood. Aims: This longitudinal study employed narrative inquiry as a methodological frame and used a participatory approach, together with multiple data collection methods, to uncover the meaning, construction and place of neighbourhood in the lives of people with mild dementia and their carers to gain in-depth knowledge of the dynamic relationships between people and environment and of their daily lived experience of dementia. Findings: A total of five couples, where one partner had mild dementia, located in an East Midlands county of England, participated in the study and the age range for people living with dementia was from 66 to 86 years. Participation was longitudinal with the researcher conducting a total of 65 home visits and collecting over 57 hours of interview data alongside other data sources, such as participatory neighbourhood maps. Each case was outlined using the same headings allowing for cross-case analysis and emphasis was placed on the creation and pictorial representation of the neighbourhood maps with data collection led by the persons living with dementia and/or their carers. A cross-case analysis was then applied to the data set where a meta-theme of biographical connectivity to the neighbourhood emerged, supported by two themes of connecting to people and connecting to places. The meta-theme highlighted the significance of personal biographies in influencing neighbourhood connectivity, which further shaped personal biographies. Within this cumulative process, resources and relationships had an effect on biographical connections to the neighbourhood, particularly affecting how the persons living with dementia negotiated environmental opportunities and challenges. The resulting model illustrated the fluid, dynamic relationships between participants and their neighbourhood through the lens of personal biographies. Conclusions: The meta-theme of biographical connectivity to the neighbourhood presented the significance of personal and relational biographies in influencing the subjective view of the experiences of interactions with the neighbourhood. This is the first study where people living with dementia and their carers co-produced neighbourhood maps with the researcher to bring their understanding of spaces, places, and people to life. The study is also an early attempt to support a bottom-up approach to neighbourhood constructions and meanings where the intersection of the life of the person to their self-identified neighbourhood becomes the focal point for supportive interventions. The thesis concludes with a re-contextualisation of biographical connectivity to the neighbourhood and its supporting properties to the literature and outlines its implications for policy, practice, education, and research.

In low-income, rural, and indigenous communities, metal mining is associated with numerous negative social, political, economic, human, and environmental health impacts. A number of studies from around the world have looked at specific aspects of human and environmental health related to various contaminants from mining and the landscape alterations associated with the processes, along with the growing community resistance and opposition to mining operations. The individual impacts of each of these components are understood, but a deeper understanding of the syndemic effects of a mine operating in a community, particularly in an indigenous community, was needed, especially as the industry is expected to grow around the world. Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, we utilized a combination of participatory mapping, interviews, and community mapping workshops to examine the underlying patterns and perceptions of environmental risk and healthy and unhealthy spaces in the Ch'orti' communities of Olopa, Guatemala that have been impacted by the Cantera Los Manantiales antimony mine. Results suggest that, since mining operations began, residents have experienced an increase in violence and community divisions surrounding the mine, a higher incidence of a variety of diseases, and an extensive loss of crops and domesticated animals. Furthermore, participants were concerned about both water and air contamination, all of which they attributed to the mine. The results of the study will be useful for local activist leaders and allied NGOs to effectively assess and improve health in indigenous communities impacted by the Cantera Los Manantiales mine in Olopa. The approach, particularly the use of participatory mapping methods, could be implemented in future studies attempting to understand syndemics and other environmental health risks and outcomes. / Master of Science / In low-income, rural, and indigenous populations, metal mining is associated with numerous negative social, political, economic, human, and environmental health impacts. A number of studies from around the world have looked at the specific ways that human and environmental health are impacted by mining processes, along with how and why communities protest mining operations. Each effect is well understood, but a deeper understanding of how those effects of a mine operating in a community interact was needed, especially as the mining industry is predicted to grow. Involving the community throughout the study, we used interviews and maps made by members of the Ch'orti' communities of Olopa, Guatemala that are impacted by the Cantera Los Manantiales antimony mine to understand patterns and perceptions of environmental risk and healthy and unhealthy places. Results suggest that, since mining operations began, residents have experienced an increase in violence and community divisions surrounding the mine, an increase in disease and illness, and an extensive loss of crops and domesticated animals. Furthermore, participants were concerned about both water and air contamination, all of which they attributed to the mine. The results of the study will be useful for local activist leaders and allied organizations to understand and improve health in the communities impacted by the Cantera Los Manantiales mine in Olopa, and the mapping methods that were employed will be useful for future studies that are mapping interacting health threats and outcomes.

Environmental justice communities, those disproportionately affected by pollutants, are simultaneously exposed to multiple environmental stressors and also experience social and cultural factors that may heighten their health risks in comparison to other communities. In addition to being more susceptible to toxic exposures and being exposed to more toxins, such communities may have weakened abilities to combat or rebound from such exposures. Many communities that are overburdened by environmental exposures reject traditional risk assessment approaches that solely consider the effects of single chemicals or mixtures of like chemicals and instead have advocated for the use of place-based approaches and collaborative problem solving models that consider cumulative exposures and impacts. Cumulative risks are the combined risks from aggregate exposures to multiple agents or stressors, including chemical, biological or physical agents and psychosocial stressors. This dissertation adapts three research approaches that each use either publicly available data (“expert” data) or community-generated data about environmental and social factors in Northwest Atlanta’s Proctor Creek Watershed. Through this work, we were able to define cumulative environmental and social impacts experienced by watershed residents and to prioritize geographic areas and environmental challenges for investments in environmental monitoring and further research, community capacity-building, and policy change. A principal finding of the study is that local community knowledge is helpful to fill critical gaps about local conditions and pollution sources than a reliance on expert data alone.

Many health geography studies, including the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study (ONS), have faced significant challenges uncovering local variation in patterns of community health in rural areas. This is due to the fact that sparsely populated rural areas make it difficult to define neighbourhoods that are representative of the social and resource utilization patterns of the individuals therein. Moreover, rural areas yield small samples from population-based regional health surveys and this leads to insufficient sample sizes for reliable estimation of health determinants and outcomes. In response to this issue this thesis combines geographical and statistical techniques which allow for the simulation of health variables within small areas and populations within rural Ottawa. This methodological approach combines the techniques of dasymetric mapping and statistical micro-simulation in an innovative way, which will allow health geography researchers to explore health determinants and health outcomes at small spatial scales in rural areas. Dasymetric mapping is used to generate a statistical population surface over Ottawa and then estimate socio-economic (SES) variables within small neighbourhood units within rural Ottawa. The estimated SES variables are then used as correlate variables to simulate health determinant and health outcome variables form the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) using statistical micro-simulation. Through this methodology, simulations of specific health determinants and outcome can be investigated at small spatial scales within rural areas. Dasymetric mapping provided neighbourhood-level population estimates that were used to re-weight as set of SES variables that were correlates with those in the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). These neighbourhood-level correlates allowed microsimulation and consequent spatial exploration of prevalence for smoking, binge drinking, obesity, self-rated mental health, and the presence of two or more chronic conditions. The methodology outlined in this paper, provides and innovative way of exploring health determinants and health outcomes in neighbourhoods for which population and health statistics are not traditionally collected at levels that would allow traditional statistical analyses of prevalence.

Many health geography studies, including the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study (ONS), have faced significant challenges uncovering local variation in patterns of community health in rural areas. This is due to the fact that sparsely populated rural areas make it difficult to define neighbourhoods that are representative of the social and resource utilization patterns of the individuals therein. Moreover, rural areas yield small samples from population-based regional health surveys and this leads to insufficient sample sizes for reliable estimation of health determinants and outcomes. In response to this issue this thesis combines geographical and statistical techniques which allow for the simulation of health variables within small areas and populations within rural Ottawa. This methodological approach combines the techniques of dasymetric mapping and statistical micro-simulation in an innovative way, which will allow health geography researchers to explore health determinants and health outcomes at small spatial scales in rural areas. Dasymetric mapping is used to generate a statistical population surface over Ottawa and then estimate socio-economic (SES) variables within small neighbourhood units within rural Ottawa. The estimated SES variables are then used as correlate variables to simulate health determinant and health outcome variables form the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) using statistical micro-simulation. Through this methodology, simulations of specific health determinants and outcome can be investigated at small spatial scales within rural areas. Dasymetric mapping provided neighbourhood-level population estimates that were used to re-weight as set of SES variables that were correlates with those in the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). These neighbourhood-level correlates allowed microsimulation and consequent spatial exploration of prevalence for smoking, binge drinking, obesity, self-rated mental health, and the presence of two or more chronic conditions. The methodology outlined in this paper, provides and innovative way of exploring health determinants and health outcomes in neighbourhoods for which population and health statistics are not traditionally collected at levels that would allow traditional statistical analyses of prevalence.

In Peru, research and practices that contribute to Andean natural resources’ sustainable management are needed. The Nor Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve is home to a wild vicugna population, which can be viewed as a key resource for conservation and sustainable development. However, some activities of Tanta Peasant Community impact negatively on vicugna’s habitat. The research aimed to determine spatial relations and impacts of Tanta’s activities on vicugna’s habitat and distribution over communal territory.A participatory mapping workshop was applied to determine vicugna’s actual distribution and local activities that could influence vicugna’s habitat. The species’ potential habitat was estimated with a species distribution model named Maxent. Spatial relations between vicugna’s actual distribution, its potential habitat and communal activities were analysed. Results indicate that potential habitat is determined by environmental conditions, while human presence and domestic livestock determine vicugna’s actual distribution. Based on the research process, recommendations relating vicugna’s sustainable management in the study area are given.The results are valuable to local community and conservation agents. Main contributions consist in generating a space for exchanging knowledge during the workshop, as well as the integration of analysis methods in physical and human geography. / En el Perú son necesarias investigación y prácticas que contribuyan al manejo sostenible de los recursos alto-andinos. La Reserva Paisajística Nor Yauyos Cochas alberga una población silvestre de vicuñas, que pueden ser clave para la conservación y desarrollo sostenible. Sin embargo, en la Comunidad Campesina de Tanta algunas actividades impactan negativamente en el hábitat de la vicuña. La investigación buscó determinar las relaciones espaciales e impactos de las actividades de la Comunidad Campesina de Tanta sobre el hábitat y la distribución de la vicuña en el territorio comunal. Mediante un taller de mapeo participativo se determinaron la distribución actual de las vicuñas y las actividades comunales que pueden influir sobre su hábitat. El hábitat potencial de la especie se estimó con el modelo de distribución de especies Maxent. Se analizaron las relaciones espaciales entre la distribución actual de la vicuña, su hábitat potencial y las actividades comunales. Los resultados indican que el hábitat potencial está determinado por condiciones ambientales, mientras que la distribución actual está determinada por la presencia humana y del ganado doméstico. En base al proceso de investigación se incluyen recomendaciones en relación al manejo sostenible de la vicuña en el área de estudio. Los resultados son de interés para la comunidad local y agentes de conservación. Aportes principales consisten en la generación de un espacio de intercambio de conocimientos en el taller, así como la integración de métodos de análisis en geografía física y humana.

Many health geography studies, including the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study (ONS), have faced significant challenges uncovering local variation in patterns of community health in rural areas. This is due to the fact that sparsely populated rural areas make it difficult to define neighbourhoods that are representative of the social and resource utilization patterns of the individuals therein. Moreover, rural areas yield small samples from population-based regional health surveys and this leads to insufficient sample sizes for reliable estimation of health determinants and outcomes. In response to this issue this thesis combines geographical and statistical techniques which allow for the simulation of health variables within small areas and populations within rural Ottawa. This methodological approach combines the techniques of dasymetric mapping and statistical micro-simulation in an innovative way, which will allow health geography researchers to explore health determinants and health outcomes at small spatial scales in rural areas. Dasymetric mapping is used to generate a statistical population surface over Ottawa and then estimate socio-economic (SES) variables within small neighbourhood units within rural Ottawa. The estimated SES variables are then used as correlate variables to simulate health determinant and health outcome variables form the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) using statistical micro-simulation. Through this methodology, simulations of specific health determinants and outcome can be investigated at small spatial scales within rural areas. Dasymetric mapping provided neighbourhood-level population estimates that were used to re-weight as set of SES variables that were correlates with those in the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). These neighbourhood-level correlates allowed microsimulation and consequent spatial exploration of prevalence for smoking, binge drinking, obesity, self-rated mental health, and the presence of two or more chronic conditions. The methodology outlined in this paper, provides and innovative way of exploring health determinants and health outcomes in neighbourhoods for which population and health statistics are not traditionally collected at levels that would allow traditional statistical analyses of prevalence.

Turbine - investigates Notion(s) of Home(s) from three perspectives; the individual, the collective and in relation to a neighbourhood. This is done through the eyes of a fictional collective called The Turbine, situated in Hjorthagen, Stockholm. The fictional collective is based on an NGO called Kombo, currently working for a collective house for all ages to be built within the Stockholm area.

A emergência de práticas engajadas a utilizar os mapas como instrumento de contestação, como é o caso da metodologia de mapeamento participativo, aliada a efervescência teórica em torno de fazer a crítica aos mapas, sobretudo a partir de Brian Harley, constitui a cartografia crítica. Os mapas participativos surgem como proposta para fortalecer a defesa de comunidades tradicionais em contexto de conflito territorial. Assim, uma infinidade de experiências e técnicas é desenvolvida com a proposta de contrapor representações cartográficas hegemônicas. Enquanto isso, no plano teórico, os mapas tem o caráter de documento científico neutro questionado e são situados em meio a relações de poder. Historicamente, os mapas foram e ainda são utilizados em estratégias de dominação e existem diversas situações que justificam tal afirmação. Além disso, os mapas também são instrumentos de contestação e aparecem como contraponto às distintas estratégias hegemônicas de poder. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo discutir o caráter político desta relação e fortalecer a produção de mapas que possam ser um contraponto ao status quo. Foi realizada revisão bibliográfica para fundamentar a crítica em torno dos mapas e referendar a organização e análise do momento empírico da pesquisa que consistiu em uma experiência formativa em cartografia crítica e mapeamento participativo, realizada junto a jovens estudantes de escola pública da periferia de São Paulo. Como resultado, 09 oficinas foram desenvolvidas, sistematizadas e avaliadas, sendo passíveis de replicação em outros espaços. Fomentar novos atores para a cena cartográfica é fazer oposição a discursos cartográficos dominantes e a escola é um espaço estratégico para tal promoção. / The emergence of practices engaged to use maps as instruments of contestation, such as the participatory mapping methodology, combined with theoretical effervescence on criticizing maps, especially from Brian Harley, is critical cartography. Participatory maps come up as a proposal to strengthen the defense of traditional communities, in the context of territorial conflict. Thus, a multitude of experiences and techniques is developed with the purpose of counter hegemonic cartographic representations. Meanwhile, in the theoretical scenario, maps have its character of neutral scientific document questioned and situated in the midst of power relations. Historically, maps were and still are used in strategies of domination and there are several situations that justify such a claim. In addition, the maps are also contesting instruments and appear as a counterpoint to the different hegemonic strategies of power. This research aimed to discuss the political nature of this relationship, and to strengthen the production of maps that can be a counterpoint to the status quo. The scientific literature was reviewed to support the criticism around maps and to endorse the empirical research organization and analysis which consisted of a formative experience in critical and participatory mapping, carried out with young public school students from the outskirts of São Paulo. As a result, nine workshops were developed, systematized and evaluated, being capable of replication in other areas. To promote new players into the mapping scene is to confront and make opposition to the dominant cartographic discourse and the school is a strategic space for such actions.

Os índios Kaiabí representam, dentre as etnias que habitam o interior do Parque Indígena do Xingu-MT (PIX), a mais populosa. Sua estratégia de utilização do ambiente constitui-se no uso múltiplo de recursos florestais e na complementariedade ecológica, obtendo uma diversificação da produtividade à um baixo impacto ambiental. Na busca de novas propostas de desenvolvimento, as alternativas deverão contemplar as necessidades econômicas, a permanência da estrutura social politica e cultural e as potencialidades ecológicas de sua área tradicional, considerando as suas próprias prioridades. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo realizar m mapeamento participativo de recursos florestais utilizados tradicionalmente pela população. Foram utilizados métodos de levantamento qualitativo e quantitativo, para a caracterização do ambiente natural por esta comunidade, em ecozonas, tipos florestais, usos das espécies vegetais (categorias êmicas), bem como as formas de manipulação e manejo do ambiente. Estes dados etnobotânicos serão relacionados com os métodos de classificação do ambiente utilizados nas pesquisas convencionais (categorias éticas), como imagens de satélite, mapas de vegetação, a identificação e quantificação de espécies potenciais para o manejo de recursos florestais. Os resultados deverão indicar capacidade produtiva deste ecossistema indicando as espécies com potencial para um manejo florestal apropriado em termos sócio-ambiental. / Among the living ethnic groups in the Xingu Indigenous Park (PIX), the Kayabi Indians are the most populous in this forest reserve. Their environmental use strategies are the forest resource multiple use and the ecological complementary. These strategies allow the productivity diversification and low environmental impact. However, new development proposals will have to consider alternatives that are able to enhance the economical necessities, the permanency of the social, political and cultural structures and the ecological potentialities of their traditional area, according to their priorities. The objective of this research was to carry out a participative mapping survey in relation to the forestry resources traditionally used by the population. The characterization of the natural environment by this community will be accomplished by qualitative and quantitative survey methods, in ecozones, forestry types, vegetal species uses (emic categories), as well as the manipulation ways and environmental management. These ethnobotanical data will be related to the environmental classification methods used by conventional researches (ethic categories), as satellite images, vegetation map, the identification and quantification of the potential species for the forestry resources management. The productive capacity of this ecosystem and the species with potential for suitable forestry management in relation to the social and environmental aspects will be indicated by the results.