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Low-income urban settlements in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) present an extreme case where catastrophic hazards (natural events) and chronic hazards (developed through lack of basic services) overlap. These low-income urban populations often occupy informal settlements that are particularly exposed to natural hazards such as flooding, and their vulnerability also reflects multiple deficiencies arising from their lack of basic services; they accordingly face the greatest challenges to adapt. The research reported in this thesis aims (i) to understand the adaptation processes of the urban poor to flooding; (ii) to develop new knowledge about bottom-up ways in which adaptation to flooding emerges and can be enhanced within households and communities in low-income urban settlements; and (iii) to identify how relevant organizations can contribute effectively to the adaptation process, from a more top-down perspective. The particular case study for the research is located in Dhaka East, where there is both high vulnerability to flooding, and also a significant proportion of the low-income population. The research has adopted a mixed methods approach involving different data collection methods primarily governed by the different scales and actors being investigated, i.e. households, communities and organizations (including government and NGOs). Hence, a questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews and transect walks have all been undertaken. The diverse forms of data deriving from these methods have been integrated using a qualitative form of systems analysis, to understand the relationships amongst the key variables in the vulnerability and adaptation system under investigation. The research has also developed a form of grounded theory on the processes whereby adaptive behaviour is learned and diffused in amongst the population at risk, and how more organizational-level procedures can positively influence these processes, and be improved where necessary. The research contributes to the advancement of knowledge about (a) the vulnerability of urban poor to flooding; (b) the adaptation process of the urban poor to flooding; (c) the role of organizations in affecting both vulnerability and adaptation amongst the urban poor; (d) a research methodology appropriate for exploring such inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research issues. The study further provides relevant recommendations, based on conclusions from the systems analyses, which are potentially applicable in similar contexts in the LDCs in helping low-income urban populations to adapt more successfully to flooding. Notably, although the research focuses on adaptation of the urban poor to flooding in Dhaka, its conceptual, methodological and research findings are likely to be applicable in other LDCs where the urban poor are subjected to environmental risks.

Hasankeyf, located in Upper Mesopotamia, southeastern Turkey with its environs at the floodplains of Tigris, welcomed many cultures in different periods. It has a very unique status with its difficult topography and distinctive outlook where spatial urbanization in almost every period must have been extraordinary, as well. The aim of this thesis is to study the water distribution system, specifically its relation to natural and man-made environment, at the Upper city of Hasankeyf, in order to identify the impact of utilization of water on the urban structure, with a new perspective. The thesis tries to explain the designation of urban patterns and understand possible late settlement strategies in the light of cistern-incentive and available canal data collected at the Upper city. The identification of 185 cisterns and their various characteristics helps to make different analyses to establish links between the water system and settlement areas at macro and micro levels, which go hand in hand with mapping studies. Notwithstanding the abovementioned objectives, this study endeavors to find some common denominators with Roman water practices, which are considered to be comparable to those of Hasankeyf, thus unveil some clues for Hasankeyf water features. It now appears that water and urban settlement are two sides of a coin where water can not be treated as the sole determinant on the development of settlement patterns in which case the urban settlement also has impact on the water distribution at the Upper city.

As populations in informal urban settlements continue to grow, an increasing number of people are exposed to unsafe living conditions. Children are particularly vulnerable to the environmental risks associated with this settlement type. While much is known about child morbidity and mortality in informal urban settlements, little is known about maternal perceptions of child health. This thesis explores the determinants of maternal perceptions of child health in the informal urban settlement of Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya. Data utilized in this thesis come from A Kenya Free of AIDS (KeFA), a research-based, National Institute of Health-funded project. Through Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS), 320 women in Kibera were recruited for interviews. Of these, 277 reported having children in their care and were accordingly selected for analysis. Questions selected for analysis were divided into four categories: child health, maternal background, social and economic support, child characteristics and maternal health. Data were analysed using Student’s t-tests, chi-squares, and multiple regression methodology. Two different response variables were used in the regressions: general child illness rating and infrequency of child illness. Analysis indicated that women in the sample were significantly more likely to report poor child health if they: had more children in their care, had younger children in their care, were involved in an intimate relationship, and had experienced a recent barrier to medical treatment for a child. Exploring maternal perceptions of child health is critical because these perceptions are the precursor to healthcare-seeking behaviour. / Graduate / 0573 / 0766 / jdrengson@gmail.com

Thesis (M. Arch. A.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1975. / Also issued by the Education/Research Program: Urban Settlement Design in Developing Countries, School of Architecture and Planning, M.I.T., Cambridge, Mass., 1975. / Bibliography: p. 85. / M.Arch.A.S.

Thesis (M. Arch. A.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1975. / Also issued by Education/Research Program: Urban Settlement Design in Developing Countries, School of Architecture and Planning, M.I.T., 1975. / Bibliography: p. 93. / M.Arch.A.S.

Thesis. 1975. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / "The analysis and evaluations were carried out in the Urban Settlement Design Program, School of Architecture and Planning, M.I.T." / Bibliography: p.91. / by Mohammed A. Al-Hussayen & Ali M. Shuaibi. / M.Arch.A.S.

Thesis. 1975. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / Also issued by Urban Settlement Design Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. / Bibliography: p.108-109. / M.Arch.A.S.

A crescente ocupação urbana desordenada e inadequada vem acarretando sérios problemas ao meio ambiente nos últimos anos. Em algumas cidades, os assentamentos urbanos são localizados principalmente em regiões de encosta sem nenhum critério técnico ou projeto ambiental. Esse tipo de irresponsabilidade tanto da população como do próprio governo geram transgressões de leis ambientais e freqüentes acidentes nas épocas de chuvas torrenciais, resultando em grandes tragédias. Portanto, o estudo dos diversos tipos de uso do solo associado as suas características físicas é de extrema importância para o entendimento dos processos de preservação e conservação dos recursos naturais, e principalmente em relação à restrição ao uso das terras em áreas de risco de deslizamento, assegurando assim a qualidade de vida da população. Esta dissertação propõe a analise da legislação ambiental do município de São Sebastião no Estado de São Paulo através do uso do Sensoriamento Remoto e Geoprocessamento. A área de estudo tem uma extensão de 402,3 Km2 e está localizada no Litoral Norte de São Paulo. Este município apresenta uma pressão da expansão urbana que acarreta sérios problemas de deslizamentos nas épocas de chuva devido a assentamentos irregulares. A metodologia utilizada foi adaptada da proposta por CREPANI et al. (1996) e MORAES (1999). Neste trabalho foram utilizadas as imagens dos sensores TM, ETM+ e HRV dos satélites Landsat 5, 7 e Spot dos períodos de 1988 a 2002, assim como do Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) de 2000. A partir das imagens orbitais gerou-se um mapa temático de uso e cobertura do solo, e da imagem de radar as isolinhas e a carta de declividade da referida área de estudo. Estes produtos foram integrados e/ou cruzados juntamente com as variáveis ambientais de geologia, geomorfologia, geotecnia e solos resultando no Mapa de Aptidão Física ao Assentamento Urbano. Este último foi integrado com o Mapa de Legislação Ambiental que contém as Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP`s) para gerar finalmente o Mapa de Incompatibilidade ao Uso. Todos os cruzamentos foram executados através da Linguagem Espacial para Geoprocessamento Algébrico (LEGAL) do software SPRING. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que existem poucas áreas compatíveis ao Uso, devido a Legislação Ambiental e também as características físicas da região. Existe ainda um avanço antrópico permanente em áreas de risco de deslizamentos e nas proximidades do limite do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), comprovando o desrespeito às leis ambientais. A identificação das áreas compatíveis para o assentamento urbano pode impedir a expansão do crescimento antrópico em áreas de risco, e também sobre a degradação ambiental em regiões de preservação no município de São Sebastião. / In the last few years, increasing urban occupation considered inadequate and disordered is recognized to be a serious environmental problem. In some cities, the urban settlements are also located in areas of sliding land, which are occupied without any technical criterion or environmental project. Such irresponsible actions by the citizens and bye the government are roots of transgressions of environmental laws always leading to land sliding accidents and tragedies during torrential rainfalls. Therefore, investigating several types of land use associated to physical soil characteristics are extreme important for understanding the actual preservation and conservation processes associated to natural resources, especially, on issues relating to the restrictions of use and occupation in areas of land slide, in order to assure life quality of the population. This dissertation intends to analyze the environmental legislation of the municipality of São Sebastião in São Paulo State, applying Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System. The study area extension is about 402.3 km2 and is located in the North Coast of São Paulo State. Due to irregular settlement associated to areas of urban pressure and expansion, the municipal area is actually subjected to land-sliding problem during raining season. Method used has adapted proposed ideas of CREPANI et al. (1996) and MORAES (1999). Were used images of TM, ETM+, HRV sensors of satellites Landsat 5, 7 and Spot of period from 1988 to 2002, and also of the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) of 2000. Using the orbital images was generated a thematic map of land use and cover, while the radar image has treated the isolines and declivity. Both products were crossed and integrated analyzed with others environmental variables of geology, geomorphology, geotechnical and soils that have resulted into a general Map of Urban Settlement considering Physical Capacity. This was linked with the Environmental Legislation Area Map containing the Areas of Permanent Preservation (APP`s) for determination of Land Use Incompatibility Map. All the crossings procedures were made using The LEGAL language (Linguagem Espacial para Geoprocessamento Algébrico) of SPRING software was utilized for all crossed analyses. Final results have revealed that there are only few areas that are available relating compatible Use and to the Environmental Legislation combined with the physical characteristics of the area. However, anthropic occupation is expanding continuous in sliding risk areas and also by the boundaries of Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), where environmental laws where not obeyed. The awareness of compatible Use for the urban settlement may aid in order to assist the expansion or anthropic occupation in risk areas, and also to avoid environmental degradation where preservation is expected in the municipality of São Sebastião.

A crescente ocupação urbana desordenada e inadequada vem acarretando sérios problemas ao meio ambiente nos últimos anos. Em algumas cidades, os assentamentos urbanos são localizados principalmente em regiões de encosta sem nenhum critério técnico ou projeto ambiental. Esse tipo de irresponsabilidade tanto da população como do próprio governo geram transgressões de leis ambientais e freqüentes acidentes nas épocas de chuvas torrenciais, resultando em grandes tragédias. Portanto, o estudo dos diversos tipos de uso do solo associado as suas características físicas é de extrema importância para o entendimento dos processos de preservação e conservação dos recursos naturais, e principalmente em relação à restrição ao uso das terras em áreas de risco de deslizamento, assegurando assim a qualidade de vida da população. Esta dissertação propõe a analise da legislação ambiental do município de São Sebastião no Estado de São Paulo através do uso do Sensoriamento Remoto e Geoprocessamento. A área de estudo tem uma extensão de 402,3 Km2 e está localizada no Litoral Norte de São Paulo. Este município apresenta uma pressão da expansão urbana que acarreta sérios problemas de deslizamentos nas épocas de chuva devido a assentamentos irregulares. A metodologia utilizada foi adaptada da proposta por CREPANI et al. (1996) e MORAES (1999). Neste trabalho foram utilizadas as imagens dos sensores TM, ETM+ e HRV dos satélites Landsat 5, 7 e Spot dos períodos de 1988 a 2002, assim como do Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) de 2000. A partir das imagens orbitais gerou-se um mapa temático de uso e cobertura do solo, e da imagem de radar as isolinhas e a carta de declividade da referida área de estudo. Estes produtos foram integrados e/ou cruzados juntamente com as variáveis ambientais de geologia, geomorfologia, geotecnia e solos resultando no Mapa de Aptidão Física ao Assentamento Urbano. Este último foi integrado com o Mapa de Legislação Ambiental que contém as Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP`s) para gerar finalmente o Mapa de Incompatibilidade ao Uso. Todos os cruzamentos foram executados através da Linguagem Espacial para Geoprocessamento Algébrico (LEGAL) do software SPRING. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que existem poucas áreas compatíveis ao Uso, devido a Legislação Ambiental e também as características físicas da região. Existe ainda um avanço antrópico permanente em áreas de risco de deslizamentos e nas proximidades do limite do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), comprovando o desrespeito às leis ambientais. A identificação das áreas compatíveis para o assentamento urbano pode impedir a expansão do crescimento antrópico em áreas de risco, e também sobre a degradação ambiental em regiões de preservação no município de São Sebastião. / In the last few years, increasing urban occupation considered inadequate and disordered is recognized to be a serious environmental problem. In some cities, the urban settlements are also located in areas of sliding land, which are occupied without any technical criterion or environmental project. Such irresponsible actions by the citizens and bye the government are roots of transgressions of environmental laws always leading to land sliding accidents and tragedies during torrential rainfalls. Therefore, investigating several types of land use associated to physical soil characteristics are extreme important for understanding the actual preservation and conservation processes associated to natural resources, especially, on issues relating to the restrictions of use and occupation in areas of land slide, in order to assure life quality of the population. This dissertation intends to analyze the environmental legislation of the municipality of São Sebastião in São Paulo State, applying Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System. The study area extension is about 402.3 km2 and is located in the North Coast of São Paulo State. Due to irregular settlement associated to areas of urban pressure and expansion, the municipal area is actually subjected to land-sliding problem during raining season. Method used has adapted proposed ideas of CREPANI et al. (1996) and MORAES (1999). Were used images of TM, ETM+, HRV sensors of satellites Landsat 5, 7 and Spot of period from 1988 to 2002, and also of the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) of 2000. Using the orbital images was generated a thematic map of land use and cover, while the radar image has treated the isolines and declivity. Both products were crossed and integrated analyzed with others environmental variables of geology, geomorphology, geotechnical and soils that have resulted into a general Map of Urban Settlement considering Physical Capacity. This was linked with the Environmental Legislation Area Map containing the Areas of Permanent Preservation (APP`s) for determination of Land Use Incompatibility Map. All the crossings procedures were made using The LEGAL language (Linguagem Espacial para Geoprocessamento Algébrico) of SPRING software was utilized for all crossed analyses. Final results have revealed that there are only few areas that are available relating compatible Use and to the Environmental Legislation combined with the physical characteristics of the area. However, anthropic occupation is expanding continuous in sliding risk areas and also by the boundaries of Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), where environmental laws where not obeyed. The awareness of compatible Use for the urban settlement may aid in order to assist the expansion or anthropic occupation in risk areas, and also to avoid environmental degradation where preservation is expected in the municipality of São Sebastião.