MSc (Microbiology) / Department of Microbiology / Background: The occurrence of microorganisms and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water poses a serious concern due to their effects on humans, animals and environment. In recent years, EDCs have been increasingly reported in rivers that receive large amounts of wastewater effluents. Of all the EDCs, natural and synthetic hormones are among those that are recognized for their potential to mimic or interfere with normal hormonal functions of humans and animals. The present study aimed at assessing the occurrence of these hormones in relation to the molecular diversity of Aeromonas and evaluating the resistance of Aeromonas to antibiotics as well as to assess anti-bacterial activity of two selected traditional medicinal plants. Methods: Wastewater, water and fish samples were collected from various sources (rivers, wastewater treatment plants, taps, and dams) for the detection of hormones and isolation of Aeromonas species. The analysis of hormones from various organs of the fish and from water samples was conducted, after extraction using enzymelinked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Different types of hormones including Estriol, Estradiol, Ethinylesradiol and Testosterone were detected, and their concentrations determined. Aeromonas spp were isolated rom the samples using microbiological methods and Conventional PCR was used for genotyping as well as for detection of the beta-lactamase genes. Kirby-bauer method was used to determine the susceptibility profiles of Aeromonas to different antibiotics. Microdilution assay was used to determine the Anti-bacterial activity of the plant (Annoniceae and Zornia milneana) extracts against Aeromonas species. Results: A total of 144 samples were collected from 23 different locations in two countries: South Africa and Zambia. These included wastewater and treated wastewater, River water, fish and tap water. 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) was detected in most of the samples (92.7%) with concentrations varying from 0.59 ng/ml to 65 ng/ml. The hormones were also detected from drinking water, with testosterone detected at high concentrations of up to 140 ng/ml in tap water. Most sewage treatment plants were not able to remove the EE2 from the wastewater as the concentration of this hormone in the final effluent was almost always higher than that in the influent. These homones were also detected in drinking water at high concentrations of up to 53.49 ng/ml in the tap water for EE2 and 1777 ng/ml for E2. The overall detection of Aeromonas species in the samples was 84.5%. A. caviae was the most prevalent species accounting for 73.6%, followed by A. veronii with 64.6%. The bacteria were completely resistant to cefuroxime accounting for 100% resistance. Aeromonas isolates also showed high resistance to trimethroprim (88.7% for A. hydrophila), cefazolin (highest 97.8% for A. cavie), and ceftazidime (83.9% for A. sobria). TEM was the most prevalent beta-lactamase gene with detection rate of 87%. All isolates lacked the presence of the CTX-M3 gene. Also, wastewater had the highest prevalence of A. veronni and A. caviae accounting for 87.5% and 82.5% respectively. Multiple antibiotic resistance was also observed with the Aeromonas isolates being resistant to up to 11 antibiotics. High prevalence of 77.1% of Aeromonas hydrophila was observed in the presence of ethinylestradiol (EE2). Aeromonas veronii and Aeromonas caviae were the most predominant species in the presence of total estriol, A. veronii had a prevalence of 57.1% and A. caviae had a prevalence of 52.8%. Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae had the lower prevalence in the presence of hormones with the percentages of 26.1% and 27.8% respectively. The methanol extracts of both Zornia milneana and Annona species showed good activity against the Aeromonas spp with the lowest MIC of 0.078 mg/ml. Ethyl acetate extracts were the least effective. Conclusion: This study has shown high occurrence of steroid hormones in all types of environmental samples tested. These included tap water, river water, wastewater and fish both in Zambia and South Africa. Therefore, steroid hormones constitute and important health problem in the Southern African Sub-Region. The incapacity of the wastewater treatment plants to remove EE2 is an important problem that needs to be tackled immediately. The prevalence of Aeromonas species is very high in our environmental water as well as in drinking water, with the highest prevalence observed in fish and wastewater. It was also revealed that there is relationship between steroid hormones and Aeromonas species, with the hormones supporting the growth of Aeromonas species. The presence of beta-lactamase genes which causes Aeromonas to be resistant to antibiotics was also noted. Methanol extracts of Zornia milneana and Annona spp were the most effective against Aeromonas spp and could serve as primary sources for the isolation of lead compounds. / NRF

The problem facing the Tlokwe Local Municipality is that it is Constitutional and legislatively obliged to avoid and/or mitigate the impact of potential disasters within its boundaries, through the effective management of potential disaster risks and disasters. The lack of effective risk management tools is especially concerning in the context of the water catchment management of the Mooi River, which is the main water supply of the Tlokwe local Municipality. The Mooi River is exposed to many potential catchment related hazards that could affect the municipality of which the origins are both anthropogenic and natural. Although, many of the impacts on the catchment arise beyond the boundaries and the control of the municipality, this does not relieve the municipality from the responsibility to develop tools to manage the risks. The aim of the study is to assist in addressing the above stated problem through establishing the requirements for a conceptual model for an effective spatial information system that will assist the municipality in effectively managing the potential disaster risks and disasters that may arise in the Mooi River Catchment area that could impact on the Tlokwe Local Municiaplity. The aim gives rise to three-research questions that are formulated as research objectives that are used to identify the conceptual model requirements. The first is to identify and conceptualise the constitutional and legislative obligations in respect of disaster risk management in general and specifically those governing the disaster disk management in the water catchment area for the Mooi River. The study of this objective not only highlight the constitutional and legal obligations that the local municipality is subject to, but provides legislatives remedies that the local municipality can utilise to assist with disaster risks reduction. The second is to identify and conceptualise the generic hazards that are related to water catchment areas (including the related groundwater compartments) and those specific in the Mooi River catchment area. In this section, potential anthropogenic and natural hazards are listed, a methodology for risk and vulnerability analyses is provided, and a concise study of quaternary catchment C23D is provided. The third is to identify and conceptualize the requirements for an effective conceptual model of GIS for Disaster Risk Management in the Tlokwe Local Municipality. An overview of a GIS is provided. The essential components of a generic information system namely, people, software, hardware, procedures and processes, data and telecommunications or networks are discussed. The information and system requirements cumulating from the analyses of the three research questions, serve as the drivers of the goal, outcomes and transformation process of the system as well as the requirements for the conceptual model. In this section: a comparison of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Framework for Applied Systems Thinking (FAST), problem solving and the phases addressed in this study; the identification of the conceptual model requirements; and a concise systems conceptualisation of an effective GIS is provided. As the, mini-dissertation focuses on the needs for a conceptual model, the additional activities required before the system can be implemented are identified and formulated as recommendation that provide the opportunity for future research. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The problem facing the Tlokwe Local Municipality is that it is Constitutional and legislatively obliged to avoid and/or mitigate the impact of potential disasters within its boundaries, through the effective management of potential disaster risks and disasters. The lack of effective risk management tools is especially concerning in the context of the water catchment management of the Mooi River, which is the main water supply of the Tlokwe local Municipality. The Mooi River is exposed to many potential catchment related hazards that could affect the municipality of which the origins are both anthropogenic and natural. Although, many of the impacts on the catchment arise beyond the boundaries and the control of the municipality, this does not relieve the municipality from the responsibility to develop tools to manage the risks. The aim of the study is to assist in addressing the above stated problem through establishing the requirements for a conceptual model for an effective spatial information system that will assist the municipality in effectively managing the potential disaster risks and disasters that may arise in the Mooi River Catchment area that could impact on the Tlokwe Local Municiaplity. The aim gives rise to three-research questions that are formulated as research objectives that are used to identify the conceptual model requirements. The first is to identify and conceptualise the constitutional and legislative obligations in respect of disaster risk management in general and specifically those governing the disaster disk management in the water catchment area for the Mooi River. The study of this objective not only highlight the constitutional and legal obligations that the local municipality is subject to, but provides legislatives remedies that the local municipality can utilise to assist with disaster risks reduction. The second is to identify and conceptualise the generic hazards that are related to water catchment areas (including the related groundwater compartments) and those specific in the Mooi River catchment area. In this section, potential anthropogenic and natural hazards are listed, a methodology for risk and vulnerability analyses is provided, and a concise study of quaternary catchment C23D is provided. The third is to identify and conceptualize the requirements for an effective conceptual model of GIS for Disaster Risk Management in the Tlokwe Local Municipality. An overview of a GIS is provided. The essential components of a generic information system namely, people, software, hardware, procedures and processes, data and telecommunications or networks are discussed. The information and system requirements cumulating from the analyses of the three research questions, serve as the drivers of the goal, outcomes and transformation process of the system as well as the requirements for the conceptual model. In this section: a comparison of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Framework for Applied Systems Thinking (FAST), problem solving and the phases addressed in this study; the identification of the conceptual model requirements; and a concise systems conceptualisation of an effective GIS is provided. As the, mini-dissertation focuses on the needs for a conceptual model, the additional activities required before the system can be implemented are identified and formulated as recommendation that provide the opportunity for future research. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of bacteria from lignocellulosic biomass obtained from the sediments of the Tyume River in Alice, Eastern Cape and to determine those bacterial isolates with good potential for modification and decomposition of lignocellulosic biomass for industrial application. Several bacterial isolates were recovered and screened for ability to degrade various lignocellulosic materials. Nine of the isolates were positive for lignocellulolytic activity. Four isolates were cellulase positive and six were xylanase positive. Moreover, one isolate (SB1) was positive for both xylanase and cellulase activities and showed the best hydrolysis zone on solid media. This isolate was then chosen as the best and identified molecularly. The 16S rDNA sequence analysis indicated that SB1 was a Bacillus cereus species. Factors affecting the cellulose and xylanase enzyme production by the organisms were studied. The organisms produced the enzymes maximally at earlier hours of incubation (12-30 hr) and optimally at acidic pH (3-5) and at moderate temperatures (35-45ºC). SB1 appears to hold promise in the decomposition of lignocellulosic wastes.

This thesis resumes both theoretical and practical knowledge with surface protection by wet painting which the student achieved during her studies and within her practice which she got in the painting shop of cabs for building, handling and agricultural machines. In her thesis the student has found out that one of current trends focuses on the method which is ecologically friendly and preserves paint lifetime. To achieve that, ED-coat painting is used first and then followed by the painting of waterborne paint. Within the scope of her thesis objective she has also optimised the process of surface protection respective technological pre-treatments and parameters which are carried out during ED-coat and e-coat painting, such as optimal thickness of coating, temperatures or technological time outs.

MSc (Microbiology) / Department of Microbiology / See the attached abstract below

There has been a recent surge in interest in waterborne public transportation (WPT). Publictransport providers (PTP) are seeing its potential in complementing the existing transportnetwork and alleviating urban traffic congestion and pollution. But the adoption of WPTtoday is challenging due to a series of technical and implementation challenges. Thesechallenges include ferry procurement practices, local legislation and policies andenvironmental factors like winter ice. Several of these challenges can be alleviated if efficientferries can be made accessible off-the-shelf with a low manufacturing time and cost. Thethesis focuses on developing such a ferry concept based on modular design whose overalldimensions are standardized and internal arrangement is customizable towards operationalrequirements, with a focus towards sustainable and safe operations in ice.Starting with the characterization of WPT, ferry routes are broadly classified into three types.These routes are described with an operational requirements framework considering allrelevant stakeholder expectations. Then, overall dimensions of vessels representative ofWPT are deduced. Using these dimensions to standardize the overall dimensions, a modularferry concept is developed as an assembly of modules and submodules. The modules arepresented as standardized units having fixed dimensions and interfaces whose internalarrangements can be tailored to meet operational requirements. Design standardizationlowers costs and manufacturing time while internal customization favours tailoring the ferryconcept. One challenge associated with this for the PTP is the difficulty in choosingappropriate modules among multiple alternatives. This is overcome through thedevelopment of a ranking and selection method which benchmarks competing designs andhelps in decision making.In terms of technical challenges for the developed ferry concept, cities like Stockholmexperience freezing of water bodies during winter months. For reliable year-roundoperations that are safe and sustainable in terms of economy and environment, there is aneed for the development of lightweight and robust ice going hulls. This thesis lays thefoundation for the development of such hulls by studying the prevalent ice data and proposesa probabilistic method for estimating the design ice pressures.One must rely on probabilistic methods since most experimental studies are based on seaice whose mechanical properties are different from freshwater ice, which is typical for WPT.Traditionally, classification society rules like the Finnish Swedish Ice Class Rules are usedfor first year light ice conditions which were developed for the Baltic Sea consideringicebreaker vessels. They work well in ensuring a safe design, but their performance forfreshwater ice, applied to commuter ferries have not been tested. Therefore, a probabilisticapproach is adopted where the unknown parameters are incorporated as random variables.The probabilistic method reduces the hull-ice interaction to a pressure and contact-arearelationship. With arctic datasets that closely match WPT conditions as the parent dataset,the probabilistic method is calibrated with exposure conditions for WPT to give the designpressure-area curve. The different uncertainties arising from operations in ice are studied using a statistical tool and the leading source of uncertainty is attributed to ice-loadprediction methods. This establishes the need for more robust methods for prediction of iceloads so that a lightweight, yet robust hull may be designed which is efficient in terms of fueleconomy and emissions.WPT presents a tremendous opportunity in complementing the existing transport network.With careful design and development of the modular ferry concept and its technicalchallenges, it would be easier for PTPs to adopt WPT globally. / De senaste decenniet har intresset ökat för kollektivtrafik på vatten (WPT).Kollektivtrafikleverantörer ser potential att minska trängsel och utsläpp och tillförakapacitet genom att utnyttja de urbana vattenvägarna. Men realiseringen har utmaningar,så väl tekniska som relaterade till regelverk och systempraxis. Dessa omfattar inköp av färjoroch upphandling av vattenburen trafik, lokal lagstiftning och policyer, miljöfaktorer ochdessutom isen vintertid. Flera av dessa utmaningar kan hanteras om effektiva färjor kangöras lättillgängliga med kort tillverkningstid till ett pris i paritet med övrig kollektivtrafik.Avhandlingen fokuserar på att utveckla ett färjekoncept baserat på modulär design medövergripande, standardiserade, dimensioner och med möjlighet att anpassa inredningenefter operativa krav.Efter karaktäriseringen av WPT klassificeras färjerutter i tre kategorier. Dessa rutterbeskrivs i ett operativt ramverk som beaktar relevanta intressenters förväntningar. Därefterbestäms de övergripande dimensionerna för WPT fartyg. Baserat på dessa utvecklas ettmodulärt färjekoncept som en sammansättning av moduler och delmoduler. Modulerna harstandarddimensioner och gränssnitt så att arrangemang kan skräddarsys för att uppfyllaaktuella operativa krav. En utmaning med det modulära färjekonceptet är svårigheten attbedöma vilken kombination av moduler som är bäst när det finns många möjligakombinationer som uppfyller en kravprofil. För att hantera detta utvecklas en rankningsochurvalsmetod för att kunna jämföra konkurrerande lösningar och därmed ge stöd i valetav design.En teknisk utmaning i städer som Stockholm är isen vintertid. För tillförlitlig trafik, åretrunt, som är både säker och hållbar, ekonomiskt och miljömässigt, finns det ett behov avutveckling av lätta och starka skrov som tål att operera i is. Avhandlingen närmar sigutvecklingen av sådana skrov genom att föreslå lämpliga isdata och en sannolikhetsbaseradmetod för att uppskatta dimensionerande isbelastningar.Is för nordiska WPT förhållanden är vanligtvis sötvattensis, vars mekaniska egenskaperskiljer sig från havsis. De flesta studier som beskriver isegenskaper är experimentella ochbaserade på havsis där man måste förlita sig på probabilistiska metoder för att ta hänsyn tillosäkerheter. Traditionellt används regler från klassificeringssällskap, som de finsk-svenskaisklassreglerna FSICR för första års isförhållanden vilket utvecklats för Östersjön ochisbrytande fartyg. Reglerna fungerar för att säkerställa en säker konstruktion men hur välde är anpassade för att dimensionera effektiva pendelfärjor i sötvattenis har inte utretts. Iavhandlingen antas ett probabilistiskt tillvägagångssätt där de okända parametrarna antassom slumpmässiga variabler. Den probabilistiska metoden förenklar interaktionen mellanskrov och is till ett förhållande mellan tryck och kontaktyta. Med publicerad data, som näramatchar WPT-förhållanden, som bas, kalibreras den probabilistiska metoden tillexponeringsförhållanden för WPT för att formulera den dimensionerande tryck-kurvan. Deolika osäkerhetsfaktorerna vid operation i is studeras med statistisk analys som visar att denfrämsta källan till osäkerhet är just förutsägelsen av isbelastningen. Detta fastställer behovet av mer robusta metoder för förutsägelse av isbelastningar så att ett lätt, men ändå starktskrov kan utformas som är effektivt med avseende på bränsleekonomi och utsläpp.WPT ger stora möjligheter att komplettera ett befintligt kollektivtrafik nätverk. Mednoggrann design och tillämpning av det modulära färjekonceptet kan det bli enklare att tatillvara möjligheterna runt om i världen.

In light of the emerging consequences of climate change, there is a need for a sustainable transition of the marine sector, including waterborne transport systems, towards implementation of fossil free fuels and technologies. The thesis limits its scope to solely include passenger ferries that are suitable for calm waters and often operates on shorter distances, which are often incorporated in a public transport system and/or archipelago traffic. As there is limited literature available on the subject, this thesis aims to contribute to a wider knowledge of what is required to enable a sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system. Moreover, due to high investment costs and risks associated with low- and zero emission vessels, waterborne transport is often not prioritized when transitioning a public transport system. Thus, the following research questions were answered: Which aspects are vital to enable a sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system? Which actors influence and play a crucial role in the sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system? To answer the research questions, a literature review and an interviewstudy was conducted. The results present seven major aspects, with related sub aspects, and fourteen actors were identified. The results uncover that there is a need for collaborations, clear division of roles along with responsibilities, renewed perception of waterborne transport’s possible adaptations and allocation of funding in order to enable a widespread sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system. Moreover, the thesis presents a matrix that can be used to uncover potential power and knowledge imbalances between the actors within the system. Lastly, the results of the thesis contributes to the field by allowing actors to gain insight of what is vital for a transition from a system perspective. / Med anledning av de rådande och växande konsekvenserna av klimatförändringar existerar det ett behov av en hållbar omställning av den marina sektorn, som inkluderar vattenburna transportsystem, mot implementering av fossilfria bränslen och teknologier. Examensarbetet avgränsar uppsatsens omfattning till att enbart inkludera passagerarfärjor som är lämpliga för lugna vatten och som ofta trafikerar kortare sträckor, samt där de ofta är en del av ett kollektivtrafiksystem och/eller skärgårdstrafik. Eftersom det finns begränsad litteratur tillgänglig kring ämnet, syftar denna masteruppsats till att bidra till en bredare kunskap om vad som krävs för att möjliggöra en hållbar omställning av ett vattenburet transportsystem. Dessutom, på grund av höga investeringskostnader och risker förknippade med låg- och nollutsläppsfartyg, är vattenburna transporter ofta inte prioriterade vid en hållbar omställning av ett kollektivtrafiksystem. Med avseende på detta ämnar uppsatsen att besvara följande frågor: Vilka aspekter är avgörande för att möjliggöra en hållbar omställning av ett vattenburet transportsystem? Vilka aktörer påverkar och besitter en avgörande roll för att nå en hållbar omställning av ett vattenburet transportsystem? För att besvara frågorna genomfördes en litteraturstudie och en intervjustudie. Resultatet presenterar sju aspekter, med tillhörande underkategorier, och fjorton aktörer som har identifierats genom arbetet. Resultatet antyder att det finns behov av samarbeten, tydlig roll- och ansvarsfördelning, förnyad uppfattning av den vattenburna trafikens möjliga anpassningar och tilldelning av bidrag och monetärt stöd för att möjliggöra en hållbar omställning av det vattenburna transportsystemet. Utöver resultatet presenteras även en matris som kan användas för att belysa potentiella obalanser mellan makt och kunskap hos aktörer som verkar inom systemet. Slutligen så bidrar avhandlingens resultat till området genom att låta aktörer få insikt om vad som är avgörande för en omställning ur ett systemperspektiv.

NilsonGroup presenterade uppdraget att undersöka vattenbaserade lim som alternativ till lösningsbaserade lim vid tillverkning av skor, vilket var grunden till det här arbetets ämne och avgränsningar har tagits fram. Vattenbaserade lim är ett alternativ till lösningsbaserade lim som inte är lika hälsofarligt, då lösningsmedelkan orsaka allvarliga hälsoeffekter. Enligt NilsonGroup ligger skobranschen steget efter vad det gäller hållbarhet och i nuläget saknas det en satsning på hållbarutveckling, medan andra branscher är bättre på att leta efter nya möjligheter. Det här arbetet vill lyfta fram på vilka sätt vattenbaserade lim är ett mindre riskfylltalternativ till lösningsbaserade lim och visa att skillnaderna i limfogens egenskaper inte blir så olika. Första delen av resultatet innefattar en definition av lim och limning. Fokus ligger på att reda ut vad som krävs och hur en limfog skapas med ett lim mellan två ytor, för att läsaren ska få en grundlig kunskap om det innan arbetet går in på lim i skor. Det presenteras även vilka egenskaper som är viktiga för en limfog och vilka faktorer det är som vanligtvis vägs in vid val av lim. Andra delen handlar om material, lim och limfogar i skoindustrin. Resultatet visar att det är den övre delen av skon och sulan som är den mest kritiska limfogen att skapa vid tillverkningen av en sko, samt att de mest förekommande lim som används vid skotillverkning är av polymererna polyuretan och polykloropren. De material till den övre delen av skon som främst används av NilsonGroup och generellt hela skoindustrin, är syntetiskt skinn, läder och bomull. Till en skos sula används gummi och polyuretan i störst utsträckning. Resultatet kommer fram till fem olika kombinationer av material och vattenbaserade lim som har bra potential att kunna bilda en hållbar limfog. Resultatet visar även att de egenskaper som vattenbaserade och lösningsbaserade polykloropren- och polyuretanlim ger en limfog är lika, så när det kommer till att välja mellan vattenbaserade lim och lösningsbaserade lim, så är det komponenterna i limmen och riskerna de medför som innefattar den stora skillnaden. I bilaga 1presenteras alla de mest förekommande komponenter som polyuretan- och polykloroprenlim består av, samt vilka hälsoeffekter de kan orsaka vid exponering för ämnet. / NilsonGroup presented the assignment to investigate water-borne adhesives as an alternative to solvent-borne adhesives in shoe production. This represent the purpose of this work and the limitations that have been developed. Water-borne adhesives do not pose as serious health risks as solvent-borne adhesives, mainly because of the solvent that may cause serious health risks. According to NilsonGroup, the shoe industry is a step behind in terms of sustainability and there is no investment in sustainable development. While other industries are stepping forward in terms of sustainability. The purpose of this work is to highlight waterborne adhesives as a less critical alternative to solvent-borne adhesives. And to prove that the characteristics between the two choices are not so different. The first part of this work explains adhesives and adhesive bonding. The part explains the requirements and how an adhesive joint is created from an adhesive between two different surfaces. This is necessary to get the reader to understand the basics about adhesive bonding before the work focus on adhesives in shoes. Important properties related to the adhesive joint and the common factors when choosing adhesives is also a part of this work. Second part of this work deals with material, adhesives and adhesive joints in the shoe industry. The upper part of the shoe and sole bonding process is the most critical joint in the shoe and the most common adhesives in the shoe industry is made of polyurethane and polychloroprene polymers. Some common materials used in the upper part of shoes made by NilsonGroup, and the shoe industry overall, are synthetic leather, leather and cotton. The sole is usually made of rubber or polyurethane. The result presents five different combinations of material and waterborne adhesives that may have the potential to produce a durable joint. The result shows that the properties related to waterborne and solvent-borne adhesives are equivalent. When choosing type of adhesive, the components in the adhesives and the health risk they cause, makes up the big difference. Appendix 1 presents common components in polyurethane and polychloroprene adhesives along with health risks that they may cause when exposed.

Due to urbanization and the population of cities producing up to 75% of emission, Smart City concepts, looking at sustainability and more efficiency within the city, with the help of IoT and ICT based technology, are seen as an opportunity to act future-oriented, today. Construction and transportation are seen as the main contributors on the way of change from energy consumption to energy production. Enhancing infrastructure to improve the quality of all sorts of public transportation is thus of utter importance to governance, interested in Smart City concepts. Looking at the literature, waterborne transportation has not received much scientific attention in the context of being implemented into Smart City initiatives. This systematic literature research draws logical conclusions from the researched literature. The research concludes with a research agenda for future research to deepen the knowledge in the explanatory field of waterborne transportation making use of Smart City technologies. The main findings of this thesis are: First, waterborne transportation poses a threat to the environment and impacts sustainability of water bodies, as well as the environment surrounding them. Second, Smart City technologies can successfully be implemented in waterborne transportation when carefully planned. Barriers for the implementation of Smart City concepts can be lack of knowledge, investment, data security and readiness of infrastructure. These can be overcome through the help of collaboration and knowledge sharing among the involved stakeholders. Third, the image of the industry can be shifted, as well as its direct impact and the indirect use of waterborne transportation can be made more sustainable and ecosystem friendly. This transition attracts further customers, who otherwise were not willing to use waterborne transportation. In order to make waterborne transportation more sustainable and part of the Smart City movement, knowledge needs to be deepened and awareness about the topic needs to be spread. Its use of Smart City technologies needs to be further investigated, looking at specific types and tailored solutions for them, as well as how beneficial such an investment can be for governments and companies regarding ecological costs and their image. This thesis mainly aims to help scholars, interested in further research to deepen the knowledge on waterborne transportation in a sustainability context, but also companies and governance, looking to make waterborne transportation more sustainable.