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Planning is an essential part of intelligent behavior and a ubiquitous task for both humans and rational agents. One framework for planning in the presence of uncertainty is probabilistic planning, in which actions are described by a probability distribution over their possible outcomes. Probabilistic planning has been applied to different real-world scenarios such as public health, sustainability and robotics; however, the usage of probabilistic planning in practice is limited due to the poor performance of existing planners. In this thesis, we introduce a novel approach to effectively solve probabilistic planning problems by relaxing them into short-sighted problems. A short-sighted problem is a relaxed problem in which the state space of the original problem is pruned and artificial goals are added to heuristically estimate the cost of reaching an original goal from the pruned states. Differently from previously proposed relaxations, short-sighted problems maintain the original structure of actions and no restrictions are imposed in the maximum number of actions that can be executed. Therefore, the solutions for short-sighted problems take into consideration all the probabilistic outcomes of actions and their probabilities. In this thesis, we also study different criteria to generate short-sighted problems, i.e., how to prune the state space, and the relation between the obtained short-sighted models and previously proposed relaxation approaches. We present different planning algorithms that use short-sighted problems in order to solve probabilistic planning problems. These algorithms iteratively generate and execute optimal policies for short-sighted problems until the goal of the original problem is reached. We also formally analyze the introduced algorithms, focusing on their optimality guarantees with respect to the original probabilistic problem. Finally, this thesis contributes a rich empirical comparison between our algorithms and state-of-the-art probabilistic planners.

Despite the increasing number of recommendations for urban sustainability, there remains a need for greater understanding of how communities become more sustainable given the predominant existing preference for sprawl and resistance towards urban alternatives. Focusing on the proposed development initiative for the Southwood Precinct in Winnipeg Manitoba, this research examined the reasons for opposition to, or concern with, existing recommendations for EcoCities, Healthy Cities, and Age-Friendly Cities. The study was conducted by interviewing local residents and stakeholders, using an image-based info-sheet as a communications tool to increase openness to alternative (more sustainable) urban development approaches. The study revealed that opposition and concern can stem from values that are more complex than mere preference for sprawl or resistance to change. Overall, participant reflections showed that the image-based info-sheet along with discussion (through semi-structured interviews) was conducive to expanding positive perceptions of sustainable development in local neighbourhoods.

Over the past decade, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has experienced rapid growth in its urban industrial areas. The municipal government has responded by creating a Geographic Information Systems (GIS Centre), but its usefulness in urban planning is unclear. This research will address this question by: 1) examining The different ways GIS can be; 2) assessing existing industrial land use conditions as well as critical issues that the city presently faces in planning; 3) analyzing current GIS applications being used by Riyadh Municipality and the GIS Centre; and 4) recommending improvements to urban land-use planning through enhanced GIS applications. This research concludes that a step-by-step approach that can be embedded into ArcMap Software that is currently being used by the Task Force Centre would be the optimal solution. Advantages and disadvantages of the approach are critically examined, including a discussion of future goals for this project.

The term developmental evaluation first entered in the literature in 1994 when Michael Quinn Patton used the phrase in an article exploring the relationship between evaluation and organizational development. Since then, he has developed the concept further and documented his evolution of thinking in a variety of articles, books and presentations. While Patton has been systematic in disseminating his emerging account of developmental evaluation, there is very little research on how other evaluators understand the concept nor an account of their experiences using the approach in real-life settings. This thesis documents the experience and reflections of eighteen evaluators who have employed developmental evaluation in their own work. The results suggest that practitioners understand the intent and key features of the approach though have a variety of questions about its conception and encountered a number of practical challenges in its implementation. The thesis also describes a number of recommendations for strengthening the theory and practice of developmental evaluation.

The rapid development of economy and society in Shanghai has dramatically spurred the demand of improving city infrastructure. Great concerns have been given to the problems existing in the financing and construction of infrastructure, such as lacking construction funds, low efficiency of construction funds usage, and high financing cost. / The urban infrastructure project financing way must keep unanimity with the attribute of the project. Public good theory (Samuelson, 1954), market ability theory (Kessides, 1993; World Bank, 1994) and project classification model (Xu, 2000) make contribution to classifying projects' attribute, and offer the theoretical foundation for choosing the suitable capital source for urban infrastructure. / The main objective of the dissertation is to build the theoretical basis of classifying infrastructure and identifying investment focus of governmental funds with the help of the classification theory of urban infrastructure, thus to attract more private investment into infrastructure construction in Shanghai which leads to the solution to problems mentioned above. / The evolution of the dissertation is to establish a classification model for urban infrastructure. It is the first time in China to classify infrastructure from the quantitive point of view and to use Monte Carlo simulation to quantitively analyse the risk in the urban infrastructure construction. / Based on the literature, cases, and data collected, the author makes a comprehensive research on the urban infrastructure construction in Shanghai through case analysis and risk simulation. Problems existing in the project investment and financing operation are recognized and the relationship between return and risk in different projects is summarized. Then the evaluation model of urban infrastructure projects classification is established to classify projects quantificationally. / Thesis (DBA(DBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2005.

This thesis explores urban governance and development planning in Indonesia, with particular reference to the city of Yogyakarta. It traces the history of planning in Yogyakarta, particularly in the post-Independence period. An important focus of the thesis is on the 'New Order' period (1966 - 1998). During this period governance arrangements in Indonesia were hierarchical and 'top down'. There was very little local autonomy and the impacts of spatial arrangements on people's lives were scarcely considered. Such spatial development plans as existed were often ignored and locational decisions generally reflected the sectoral priorities of central government agencies or the influence of the ruling elites. The thesis makes an original contribution to our understanding of this period through case studies and interviews which provide new insights into development processes in Yogyakarta during this period. / Since 1998 Indonesia has entered a new 'Reformation Era' and is undergoing major political and social changes as it seeks to introduce new democratic and decentralized processes. Open elections were held for the first time in 1999. New laws passed in the same year and effectively implemented in 2001 provided for the devolution of powers and responsibilities to the local levels of government. The later parts of the thesis describe and comment upon these laws and on the experience to date with their implementation. While it is too early to pass judgment on the effects of the reform agenda, the author raises some questions about the role of the provinces in the new decentralized system and puts forward recommendations for placing spatial planning in a more important position as part of an integrated and participatory system of governance which recognizes the appropriate roles of both provinces and the lower level authorities, the kota (city) and kabupaten (regency). These recommendations draw partially on interviews and are illustrated once again with reference to the city of Yogyakarta. Principles for an effective development planning system for Yogyakarta underpinned by principles of good governance which could serve as a model for other Indonesian cities are proposed. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2003

Thesis (MReg & UrbPlan)--University of South Australia, 1999

Proefschrift Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. / Lit. opg.: p. [363]-390. - Met een samenvatting in het Nederlands. Ook beschikbaar als Online Resource.