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Lee, Hiu-yan Jessica, and 李曉恩. "Plastics at sea (microplastics) : a potential risk for Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/194557.
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Plastics are cheap and convenient materials that are widely adopted in our daily applications. High production and consumption of plastics, however, are resulting in the issue of marine plastic pollution. Plastic debris is often divided into two categories: macroplastics and microplastics. Macroplastic is a well-known international problem to the world’s oceans, while microplastics often receive less attention. Many coastal areas and remote islands are suffering from plastic pollution. Marine plastic debris is responsible for negative impacts on organisms and the environment, including entanglement, ingestion, absorption of toxic chemicals, and transportation of invasive species. Human society and the economy may also be threatened. It is noticed that impacts caused by microplastics are comparatively more critical than those caused by macroplastics. Microscopic size and large surface area to volume ratio increase the potential for microplastics being ingested or used as vectors to absorb chemicals. Micro particles may enter the circulatory system, cause damage to cells and tissues, and release contaminated chemicals to the body, and hence result in health and safety issues. Ingested plastics may undergo bioaccumulation and pass up the food web, which may influence the entire ecosystem as well as human populations.
Guangdong province is the largest plastic production centre in Mainland China. Any discharge from Guangdong province will enter the Pearl River and move downstream to the mouth of the estuary where Hong Kong is located. Hong Kong, especially it’s western waters, is directly susceptible to discharge from Mainland China. Data of plastics collected from beaches illustrated that higher quantities of plastic pellets have been collected from the western part of Hong Kong. This implies Hong Kong is suffering from plastic pollution generated from the Pearl River. Hong Kong may also receive overseas plastics carried by ocean currents and monsoon winds, which may have a stronger effect on the southern and eastern waters. There are many valuable marine biota and environments in Hong Kong. The presence of microplastics may pose a significant threat to the entire marine ecosystem and food chain. It is necessary to take action on the prevention and mitigation of the impacts of microplastics. Efforts should be made at national and international levels, and all sectors are responsible to take appropriate actions.published_or_final_version
Environmental Management
Master
Master of Science in Environmental Management
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May, John R. (John Robert) 1978. "Sustainability of electricity generation using Australian fossil fuels." Monash University, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2003. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/9537.
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Bennetts, Helen. "Environmental issues and house design in Australia : images from theory and practice /." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phb472.pdf.
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Xu, Jun 1969. "A framework for site analysis with emphasis on feng shui and contemporary environmental design principles." Ann Arbor, Mich. : UMI Dissertation Services, 2004. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10172003-101905.
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UMI No. 3110307. "Authorized facsimile, made from the microfilm master copy of the original dissertation." Includes bibliographical references. Summary: This research proposes a new site analysis methodology in the form of an integrated framework. The framework separates the site analysis process into different models, incorporates each model, and considers the interaction between them. The most important models are the environmental models (climate, geology, hydrology, topography, and vegetation models), social-cultural models, economic models, and infrastructure models. Each model also contains several important factors.The study identifies and organizes environmental factors within the framework that influence site analysis and design. Based on the applicability of feng shui principles and their interpretations into measurable factors, this research compares and incorporates feng shui and contemporary environmental design theories, and summarizes essential environmental factors. The emphasis on environmental factors from these models may lead to a better understanding of the relationships between humankind and the natural environment.
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Graham, Tennille. "Economics of protecting road infrastructure from dryland salinity in Western Australia." University of Western Australia. School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2009. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0207.
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[Truncated abstract] The salinisation of agricultural land, urban infrastructure and natural habitat is a serious and increasing problem in southern Australia. Government funding has been allocated to the problem to attempt to reduce substantial costs associated with degradation of agricultural and non-agricultural assets. Nevertheless, Government funding has been small relative to the size of the problem and therefore expenditure needs to be carefully targeted to interventions that will achieve the greatest net benefits. For intervention to be justified, the level of salinity resulting from private landholder decisions must exceed the level that is optimal from the point of view of society as a whole, and the costs of government intervention must be less than the benefits gained by society. This study aims to identify situations when government intervention is justified to manage dryland salinity that threatens to affect road infrastructure (a public asset). A key gap in the environmental economics literature is research that considers dryland salinity as a pollution that has off-site impacts on public assets. This research developed two hydrological/economic models to achieve this objective. The first was a simple economic model representing external costs from dryland salinity. This model was used to identify those variables that have the biggest impact on the net-benefits possible from government intervention. The second model was a combined hydro/economic model that represents the external costs from dryland salinity on road infrastructure. The hydrological component of the model applied the method of metamodelling to simplify a complex, simulation model to equations that could be easily included in the economic model. The key variables that have the biggest impact on net-benefits of dryland salinity mitigation were the value of the off-site asset and the time lag before the onset of dryland salinity in the absence of intervention. ... In the case study of dryland salinity management in the Date Creek subcatchment of Western Australia, the economics of vegetation-based and engineering strategies were investigated for road infrastructure. In general, the engineering strategies were more economically beneficial than vegetation-based strategies. In the case-study catchment, the cost of dryland salinity affecting roads was low relative to the cost to agricultural land. Nevertheless, some additional change in land management to reduce impacts on roads (beyond the changes justified by agricultural land alone) was found to be optimal in some cases. Reinforcing the results from the simple model, a key factor influencing the economics of dryland salinity management was the urgency of the problem. If costs from dryland salinity were not expected to occur until 30 years or more, the optimal response in the short-term was to do nothing. Overall, the study highlights the need for governments to undertake comprehensive and case-specific analysis before committing resources to the management of dryland salinity affecting roads. There were many scenarios in the modelling analysis where the benefits of interventions would not be sufficient to justify action.
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Lazenby, Victoria S. "Personal exposure of children to formaldehyde in Perth, Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2010. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1742.
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Formaldehyde is a common air pollutant that tends to be found in elevated concentrations in indoor air. Exposure to formaldehyde has the potential to impact on respiratory health, particularly amongst sensitive individuals and populations, including children. Children spend most of their time indoors at home, however, there are very little data on the contribution of formaldehyde concentrations in homes to personal exposure in children. The principal aim of this cross sectional study was to investigate whether the domestic environment is the most significant source of personal exposure of formaldehyde in children. Forty-one primary school children (aged between 8 and 12) were recruited from two areas of Perth, Western Australia. Each child wore a personal passive formaldehyde sampler over a 24 hour period on two separate occasions, winter and summer. Samplers were also located indoors at home, outdoors at centralised locations and indoors at school for the corresponding period. A questionnaire about lifestyle and behaviour and a daily activity diary were completed for each participant. Passive samplers used filter papers impregnated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhadrazine (DNPH), with formaldehyde detected using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). In winter there was a wide range of personal exposure concentrations, with geometric mean concentrations of 9.7ppb at Duncraig and 11.5ppb at Calista. Indoor geometric mean concentrations at Duncraig were l0.lppb, with outdoor and classroom concentrations below the analytical limit of detection (4ppb). At Calista, mean indoor concentrations were 14.2ppb. The outdoor concentrations were below the limit of detection and school concentrations were 8.0ppb. Summer monitoring occurred during mild meteorological conditions and were very similar to winter results. Geometric mean personal exposure concentrations were 9.2ppb at Duncraig and 8.0ppb at Calista. Indoor geometric mean concentrations at Duncraig were 9.0ppb, with outdoor and classroom concentrations below the limit of detection (4ppb). At Calista, mean indoor concentrations were 9.9ppb, outdoor was below detection limit and school concentrations were l5.2ppb. There were strong correlations between personal exposure and domestic concentrations at both Duncraig and Calista in winter (r2 = 0.73 and 0.88, respectively) and in summer (r2 = 0.67 and 0.84, respectively). The correlation for both seasons combined was significant, with a coefficient of r2 = 0. 78. A time weighted model estimated personal exposure concentrations for each participant using stationary measures in combination with time activity data. These estimates of exposure correlated significantly with measured personal exposure concentrations, with a coefficient of r2 = 0.80 for all data combined. The indoor domestic environment was found to be the most important source of formaldehyde exposure for children. Time weighting was found to provide a stronger estimate of personal exposure than indoor air monitoring alone, although the time weighted model was not a significant improvement over the indoor measure alone.
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Hewitt, Mark S. "Alternative rehabilitation techniques and sustainable outcomes from mining using appropriate environmental management and mine closure planning in an arid region of Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/250.
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The subject of this thesis is the development of alternative approaches to environmental management and mine closure plans using case examples of the Big Bell/Cue Mining District and as a working example, an area of unconfined washout of historical gold-mine process tailings located in this arid inland region of Western Australia. This is considered appropriate in the light of the social and political thrust for industry to develop simultaneously positive economic, social and environmental outcomes from their activities. The Big Bell mining operation ceased mining in June 2003 and the Mine Closure Plan reflected a classical approach of minimization of public liability and strict compliance with legislative requirements. During the life of the modern mine the approach to rehabilitation was similarly classical in its approach It is intended for this document to inform the mining industry using the case example of the now closed Big Bell Mine as to how greater long-term outcomes may have been achieved for the State and the region for the future. This thesis specifically investigates alternative ways to approach rehabilitation in arid areas of Western Australia using the washout area as an example and trial area. This thesis has approached the issue by addressing the quantification of what has occurred through the gathering of baseline data of the case study area and then by the implementation of a series of relevant trials to identify appropriate eco-functional process-sensitive methods for rehabilitation as an alternative to current industry practice. Trials investigating the use of "retention banks" and "clay/seed balls" and the use of ex-mine milling waste carbon were conducted to investigate relevant possible techniques suitable for arid mine-site waste dump rehabilitation. Data analysis indicated that the main reason for the high level of degradation within the case study area is due to the smothering effect of the fine clayey tails cover and due to acidity of the tailings. A detailed examination of 92 soil samples found water infiltration of tails-washed areas as half that of control areas. Acidity of alluvium has declined from pH 5.2 to 3.8. The acidity has penetrated at depth to hardpan. Trials were commenced to rehabilitate the area using a combination of earthworks (retention banks and· scarification), pH- adjustment (using ex-mill carbon and crushed lime), and the use of native seed pelletised into clay-balls. The introduction of ex-mill carbon was shown to be effective in ameliorating pH in the tails wash area and improving its capacity to regenerate. Considering it is a widely available waste product with the gold mining industry it should be seriously considered in its application for rehabilitation purposes, and specifically in areas affected by severe acidification and desertification particularly by mismanaged tailings with pyrite content. The use of clay balls should also be subjected to further investigation. It is at least equal to the traditional use of raw seed and fertilizer with immediate and abundant rainfall. As this almost never occurs, it should prove to be superior, in delivering higher rates of viability for seed used. The thesis then attempts to integrate this study within the context of the wider issues of environmental management, specifically the best practice of mine closure plans and the adoption of sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes from mining as an integral part of responsible operational environmental management plans. The thesis argues that the environmental management planning and specifically the Mine Closure Plan should not waste the myriad of opportunities that are the by-product of mining for the long-term sustainable benefit of the wider region. It is argued that if mining companies are serious about sustainability, then they cannot continue with short-term cycles of mining and closure. However to be realistic it will take concerted willingness from all stakeholders to pursue these outcomes. While a given mining operation can offer extensive resources and assets to support this approach the commercial and legislative pressures of core mining activities necessarily mean that mines are in fact encouraged to simply return the environment back to as natural state after operations are complete. Invariably this means hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure are levelled and scrapped to avoid all future liability, whilst the potential for sustainable outcomes is essentially ignored. The same Government that enforces the Mining Act and has a State Sustainability Strategy imposes the conditions which create unimaginative classical mine closure plans. Government, industry and the residents of regions must work together to seriously develop sustainable outcomes to mining.
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Larwood, Andrew John. "Cleaner production : promoting and achieving it in the South Australian foundry industry." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envl336.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 123-130. The literature search and the findings from the investigation have been used to provide recommendations for a sector specific cooperative approach using regulation, self-regulation, voluntary agreements, economic incentatives and educational/information strategies to promote and acheive cleaner production in the South Australian foundry industry.
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Burroughs, Gary Leslie. "The response to environmental economic drivers by civil engineering contractors in South Australia." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envb972.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 91-93. Examines the response of two civil engineering construction contractors in South Australia to environmental economic conditions and market requirements using primarily an action research methodology whilst the researcher was engaged as the environmental manager at both corporations.
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Peel, Samantha. "Indicators for sustainability : Local Agenda 21 in Adelaide." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envp374.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 99-105. Examines the ways in which local governments in the Adelaide region have used the Local Agenda 21 program, with particular focus on public participation and the development of indicators. Argues that sustainability requires the support and involvement of the widest possible community, a necessity that will not be realised until public participation, particularly involving those groups with a reduced 'social voice' (such as women, youth and minority cultural/ethnic groups), becomes an integral part of the local government's modernisation agenda. Concludes with a summary of the main issues and a set of recommendations for future research and action.
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Bhullar, Malinder K. "Development of a new measure of environmental congruence to complement a revised Prison Preference Inventory." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2005. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/650.
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Despite a 60-year history of investigation, little is understood of how physical and/or social aspects of the prison environment work directly to influence adjustment behaviour of prisoners. A major study in 1972 by Huns Toch and colleagues led to the development of the Prison Preference Inventory (PPI). This was designed to elicit a prisoner respondent's hierarchy of psychological needs while imprisoned. Based on Murray's needs-press model, Toch argued that each prisoner had a unique configuration of eight major needs (termed environmental concerns) namely Safety, Support, Activity, Social Stimulation, Emotional Feedback, Privacy, Freedom and Structure.
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Heshmatti, Gholam Ali. "Plant and soil indicators for detecting zones around water points in arid perennial chenopod shrublands of South Australia /." Title page, contents and summary only, 1997. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phh584.pdf.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Botany, 1997.Errata page is behind title page (p. i). Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-156).
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May, Murray, University of Western Sydney, of Arts Education and Social Sciences College, and School of Social Ecology and Lifelong Learning. "Unpacking aviation futures : an ecological perspective on consumption, sustainability and air transport." THESIS_CAESS_SELL_May_M.xml, 2004. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/645.
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This inquiry examines aviation futures, within the broad context of sustainable consumption and ecological sustainability. Increasing mobility and rapid growth of road and air transport have been identified as key consumption issues, especially in relation to calls for deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Economics and globalisation concerns have dominated recent academic studies of air transport. There is a growing critique, however, of growth-based aviation futures on a range of ecological, resource, security and health grounds. This inquiry adds to that critique. Its primary research aim is to identify and articulate visions and policies for aviation futures within an ecological framework. Analysis of relevant literatures, including those on sustainable consumption, transport and tourism, is complemented by an analysis of aviation and tourism growth trends worldwide, with specific reference to Asia-Pacific and Australian data. A case study of the privatisation and expansion of Canberra International Airport in the Australian Capital Territory is used to provide a global-local link and to address the airport aspects of aviation. The range of visions and policy measures are finally considered within broad consciousness and frameworks strategies for the transition to sustainability. An important conclusion is the strong need for independent institutions such as policy bodies and think tanks - working in conjunction with community groups- to develop and promote policy discourses and futures visions that challenge the prevailing hegemony of the business-political nexus.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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Hall, Sandra. "The contribution of heavy industry and commercial activity at Canning Vale to the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus released in the Bannister Creek catchment area." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/307.
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Stormwater is recognised as a transport mechanism for pollutants. Pollutants enter stormwater drains via surface washoff, subsurface flow or direct discharge. Landuse is reported to affect the quantity of pollutants released into stormwater drains. In Australia, the contribution of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and surfactants from industrial areas to surface drainage is poorly understood. Previous research has mainly focused on the quality of water leaving residential and agricultural areas. In Western Australia, there is growing concern over the health of the Swan-Canning River system, which is seeing signs of eutrophication. Runoff and discharge from residential, commercial, and industrial areas influence the quality of water in the Swan-Canning River system.
A study of nutrient release was undertaken for the eastern sector of the Canning Vale Industrial Area, to determine the contribution of industry to nutrient loads received by the Canning River system, between August 2001 and 2002. Data was collected three times a week using a point sampling regime. Diurnal and storm event variability were also tested. Data collected from the eastern sector of the industrial area was compared to that released from the entire Bannister Creek Catchment area.
Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations downstream of industrial areas have been reported at 45mg L-1 and 15mg L-1 respectively (Thomas et al, 1997; John, 2000). In this study, the median concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus downstream of industry in Bannister Creek, at the Tom Bateman Reserve Detention Basin, were 1.32mg L-1 and 0.11mg L-1 respectively. Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were not indicative of point source discharge. Nutrient concentrations reported in Bannister Creek in this study, have been consistent with data collected and reported in other studies i.e. Donohue et al, 1992 and Jakowyna, 2002.
Nitrogen and phosphorus loads released from the entire Bannister Creek Catchment area, exceeded loads previously reported in other studies i.e. Donohue et al ( 1994); Donohue et al, 1992 and Jakowyna, 2002. An estimated 32890kg of nitrogen and 2085kg of phosphorus was released from Bannister Creek Catchment during the study. Rainfall during the study period was reflective of the drying climate Perth has been experiencing over the last ten years. Nitrogen and phosphorus released from Bannister Creek during the study period are likely to be underestimated, as they do not include the data collected for a significant storm event recorded at Hybanthus Road on the 16.4.02. During this 1- 2/1-5 ARI storm event 1586kg of nitrogen and 185kg of phosphorus were exported from Bannister Creek, producing loads ten times greater than that estimated during the point sampling regime. The later values were used in the calculation of annual loads to maintain consistency between the study sites. Despite the significant load of nutrients released from the catchment on 16.4.02, rainfall was not the main transport mechanism for nitrogen and phosphorus, indicated by the weak correlation e.g. R2 > 0.1. Base flow was determined to be the most significant pathway of nutrient export.
The concentrations and loads of nitrogen and phosphorus released from the industrial area were low, but the contribution to catchment loading was important. The rate of nutrient release per unit of area was higher from the eastern sector of the Canning Vale Industrial Area than the entire Bannister Creek Catchment Area. Nitrogen was released at a rate of 4163kg km2 yr from the industrial area and 134 2. 86kg km2 yr for the entire catchment. Phosphorus was the same. From the industrial area it was released at a rate of 397kg km2 yr compared to a rate of 94.2kg km2 yr from the entire Bannister Creek Catchment Area.
The study revealed the need to retain nutrients within the catchment. Studies on stormwater management suggest that this can be achieved through Water Sensitive Urban Design and Best Management Practices. Both strategies work on the principle of retaining and recycling nutrients within the catchment area. Work is currently been undertaken to meet the objectives of these two management strategies in Bannister Creek. Work has included the removal of the southwestern bank of the Tom Bateman reserve detention basin to create a meandering wetland, and the downgrading of the banks along Bywood Way, Lynwood to create a Living Stream. Further studies should focus on the effectiveness of these strategies.
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Banham, Brenton James. "The role of MFP Australia in mangrove conservation." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1992. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envb216.pdf.
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Jordan, Matthew. "Procuring industrial pollution control : the South Australian case, 1836-1975." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2001. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phj816.pdf.
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Speldewinde, Peter Christiaan. "Ecosystem health : the relationship between dryland salinity and human health." University of Western Australia. School of Population Health, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2008.0127.
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Australia is experiencing widespread ecosystem degradation, including dryland salinity, erosion and vegetation loss. Approximately 1 million hectares (5.5%) of the south-west agricultural zone of Western Australia is affected by dryland salinity and is predicted to rise to 5.4 million hectares by 2050. Such degradation is associated with many environmental outcomes that may impact on human health, including a decrease in primary productivity, an increase in the number of invasive species, a decrease in the number of large trees, overall decrease in biodiversity, and an increase in dust production. The resulting degradation affects not only farm production but also farm values. This study examines the effects of such severe and widespread environmental degradation on the physical and mental health of residents. Western Australia has an extensive medical record database which links individual health records for all hospital admissions, cancer cases, births and deaths. For the 15 diseases examined in this project, the study area of the south west of Western Australia (excluding the capital city of Perth) contained 1,570,985 morbidity records and 27,627 mortality records for the 15 diseases examined in a population of approximately 460,000. Environmental data were obtained from the Western Australian Department of Agriculture?s soil and landscape mapping database. A spatial Bayesian framework was used to examine associations between these disease and environmental variables. The Bayesian model detected the confounding variables of socio-economic status and proportion of the population identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. With the inclusion of these confounders in the model, associations were found between environmental degradation (including dryland salinity) and several diseases with known environmentally-mediated triggers, including asthma, ischaemic heart disease, suicide and depression. However, once records of individuals who had been diagnosed with coexistent depression were removed from the analysis, the effect of dryland salinity was no longer statistically detectable for asthma, ischaemic heart disease or suicide, although the effects of socio-economic status and size of the Aboriginal population remained. The spatial component of this study showed an association between land degradation and human health. These results indicated that such processes are driving the degree of psychological ill-health in these populations, although it remains uncertain whether this 4 is secondary to overall coexisting rural poverty or some other environmental mechanism. To further investigate this complex issue an instrument designed to measure mental health problems in rural communities was developed. Components of the survey included possible triggers for mental health, including environmental factors. The interview was administered in a pilot study through a telephone survey of a small number of farmers in South-Western Australia. Using logistic regression a significant association between the mental health of male farmers and dryland salinity was detected. However, the sample size of the survey was too small to detect any statistically significant associations between dryland salinity and the mental health of women. The results of this study indicate that dryland salinity, as with other examples of ecosystem degradation, is associated with an increased burden of human disease.
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Siddique, Sharif Rayhan. "Development of policies to ameliorate the environmental impact of cars in Perth City, using the results of a stated preference survey and air pollution modelling." University of Western Australia. Faculty of Business, 2007. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2007.0165.
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[Truncated abstract] Air pollution is increasingly perceived to be a serious intangible threat to humanity, with air quality continuing to deteriorate in most urban areas. The main sources of inner city pollution are motor vehicles, which generate emissions from the tail pipe as well as by evaporation. These contain toxic gaseous components which have adverse health effects. The major components are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric oxide (NO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulates (PM10), and volatile organic compounds (VOC). CO and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are major emissions from cars. This study focuses on pollutant concentration in Perth city and has sought to develop measures to improve air quality. To estimate concentrations, the study develops air pollution models for CO and NOx; on the basis of the model estimates, effective policy is devised to improve the air quality by managing travel to the city. Two peaks, due to traffic, are observed in hourly CO and NOx concentrations. Unlike traffic, however, the morning peak does not reach the level of the afternoon peak. The reasons for this divergence are assessed and quantified. Separate causal models of hourly concentrations of CO and NOx explain their fluctuations accurately. They take account of the complex effects of the urban street canyon and winds in the city. The angle of incidence of the wind has significant impact on pollution level; a wind flow from the south-west increases pollution and wind from the north-east decreases it. The models have been shown to be equivalent to engineering and scientific models in estimating emission rate in the context of street canyons. However the study models are much more precise in the Perth context. ... The models are used to calculate the marginal effects for all attributes and elasticity for fuel price. In almost all attributes the non-work group is more responsive than the work group. Finally, the SP model results are integrated into an econometric model for the purpose of prediction. The travel behaviour prediction is used to estimate the policy impact on air quality. The benefit from the air quality improvement is reported in terms of life saved. The estimated relationships between probability of death and air pollution determines the number of lives that could be saved under various policy scenarios. A ratio of benefits to the financial and perceived sacrifices by drivers is calculated to compare the effectiveness of the suggested policies. A car size charge policy was found to be the most cost effective measure to ameliorate the environmental impact of cars in Perth, with a morning peak entry time charge being almost as cost effective. The study demonstrates the need for appropriate modelling of air pollution and travel behaviour. It brings together analytical methods at three levels of causality, vehicle to air pollution, charge to travel response, and air pollution to health.
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Sheppard, Barbara Dorothea. "Assessing the environmental performance of building developments : the Green Building Tool." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envs549.pdf.
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Bibliography: p. 119-122. Aims to show how the GB Tool (Green BuildingTool) can be used to access the environmental performance of residential building developments, with a focus on South Australia. Describes the history of, and rationale for, the GB Tool; and its practical implementation. Identifies some theoretical short comings of the GB Tool, as well as some practical difficulties with using it.
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Turner, Peter J. "The impacts of the environmental weed Asparagus Asparagoides and the ecological barriers to restoring invaded sites following biological control." University of Western Australia. School of Animal Biology, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0136.
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[Truncated abstract] Weeds which invade native communities can have major impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem processes. However, these impacts are rarely quantified, and the mechanisms behind these impacts are rarely investigated. Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce (Asparagaceae; common name: bridal creeper), a plant native to southern Africa, is a significant environmental weed in southern Australia. Bridal creeper can invade both disturbed and undisturbed native ecosystems and then dominate native communities. As is the case for many environmental weeds, there has been little work conducted on the impacts of this plant. This lack of knowledge has hampered restoration efforts of invaded areas because very little is known about the potential for invaded communities to recover prior to undertaking weed management. There is a need to improve our understanding of how to manage ecosystem recovery during and after weed control. This can be achieved by (i) determining the impacts caused by the weed; (ii) assessing the condition of invaded communities; and (iii) predicting the impacts that weed management itself will have on the native communities. These three prerequisites to environmental weed control have been determined across sites invaded by bridal creeper in southern Australia. The impacts of this invasive geophyte have been determined through multi-site comparisons, weed removal experiments and controlled glasshouse and laboratory experiments. ... Without additional restoration, we will see those species that readily germinate and those that respond positively to increased soil fertility, replacing bridal creeper after control. This will be dominated by other weeds as the invaded sites have large exotic seed banks that will readily germinate. The tuberous mats of older bridal creeper plants will also leave a legacy as they will remain many years after control and still impact on vegetation, even if control has killed the plant. These impacts will be highest at sites where bridal creeper has dominated over the longer term. Environmental weeds, such as bridal creeper, that are capable of altering ecosystem functions can lead to substantial declines in biodiversity. Therefore, it was fortunate that bridal creeper became a target for biocontrol in Australia even though the impacts of the weed were not quantified when this decision was made. There are areas in southern Australia that are still free of bridal creeper or have sparse populations, and it is highly likely that this biological control programme has lead to the protection of these areas. This protection would not have been possible if other control measures were chosen over biological control, given that biocontrol agents can self-disperse and are able to give continuous control. This means that biological control of weeds in conservation areas can be very effective and is the only economically viable option for the control of widespread environmental weeds such as bridal creeper.
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Risely, Melissa. "The politics of precaution : an eco-political investigation of agricultural gene technology policy in Australia, 1992-2000." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2003. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phr5953.pdf.
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Eyres, John A. "A comparison of seagrass communities at varying proximity to a low-density mussel-line aquaculture in King George Sound, Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2005. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/675.
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Increasingly mussel-line aquaculture is recognised as a potential threat to seagrass. Sites suitable for mussel-line aquaculture are often in sheltered waters containing seagrass. Despite this; few studies have examined the risk of mussel-line aquaculture to seagrass ecosystems. The objective of this study is to determine how low-density, mussel-line aquaculture might influence the underlying seagrass ecosystem.
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O'Brien, R. Christopher. "Forensic animal necrophagy in the South-West of Western Australia : species, feeding patterns and taphonomic effects." University of Western Australia. School of Anatomy and Human Biology, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2008.0195.
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[Truncated abstract] One of the standard ways of assessing time since death is from the stages of decomposition of the body. It is well known that the rate of decomposition is affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Another factor that can affect decompositional rates is the presence of breaches in the protective barrier of the skin, whether arising from antemortem injury or postmortem damage, including that occurring from animal necrophagy. Scavengers have the potential to affect decomposition by breaching the skin allowing access to associated insect material, feeding on the maggot masses, or by consumption of the carcass itself. Each locality will have its own set of features determining the rate of decomposition of the body, and variation may occur within localities based on the seasons. Such variation implies the need for local calibration of time since death against degree of decomposition and to establish the magnitude of interseasonal variation. When the localities are outdoors, the influence of potential scavengers, and the factors affecting their activity need also to be taken into account. This study investigates the interaction of environmental factors and animal scavenging on the rate of decomposition of pig (Sus scrofa) carcasses at four south-west Western Australia sites; Jandakot, Shenton Park, Perup Forest, and Watheroo National Park. Jandakot and Shenton Park are both close to the Perth metropolitan area and the western coast while Perup Forest is southern and inland and Watheroo is northern and inland. ... The most common insectivore feeding in relation to the carcasses was the Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) which was associated with the carcasses in all seasons and all locations except for Perup Forest. The breeding cycle appeared to have a marked influence on the intensity of scavenging by several species. The effect of season on decompositional rates was greatly reduced in carcasses that were exposed to scavenging. It took no additional time for carcasses to achieve skeletonization in winter than in the other seasons in the presence of scavenging. Scavenging had no significant impact on the rate of breakdown of carcasses in summer, when decompositional rates were greatest and scavenging at a minimum. v In Western Australia, it is not uncommon for bodies to remain undiscovered in bush environments for lengthy periods of time due to the low human population density. This study shows conclusively that it is not sufficient simply to consider the accumulated degree day (ADD) when estimating time since death by the degree of decomposition of the body. Attention must also be given to local wildlife assemblages and variations in their activities with the seasons. The implications of this research are in the determination of time of death. If the effects of scavengers accelerate decomposition this must be taken into account when any calculation since time of death is determined. The marked variations between sites in the rates of decomposition of carcasses exposed to natural animal scavenging in this study highlights the need for local calibration of time since death to decompositional stages for all locales. The techniques devised in this study are straight forward and easily conducted yet are informative and essential in determining time since death for bodies which have been exposed to animal scavenging.
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Copertino, Margareth. "Production ecology and ecophysiology of turf algal communities on a temperate reef (West Island, South Australia)." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2002. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phc782.pdf.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 235-258). Estimates the primary production and investigates the photosynthetic performance of temperate turfs at West Island, off the coast of South Australia. These communities play a fundamental role in reef ecology, being the main source of food for grazers, both fishes and invertebrates. Turfs also have an important function in benthic algal community dynamics, being the first colonizers on disturbed and bare substratum.
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Webb, Garry Anthony. "The effects of logging on populations of small ground-dwelling vertebrates in montane eucalypt forest in South-Eastern New South Wales." Thesis, Canberra, ACT : The Australian National University, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/140692.
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Walsh, Peter J. "Aspects of environmental degradation and fracture in polymer films and fibers." 2007. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI3289223.
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This thesis is focused in three areas: An investigation of a thermodynamic criterion for failure by environmental stress cracking using observations of the wetting behavior of stress-cracking liquids on glassy polymer substrates; Determination of the dominant chemical and physical degradation mechanisms associated with exposure of poly-p-phenylenebisbenzoxazole fiber to moisture moisture and UV-Vis spectrum light; And finally, the effect of constraint on fracture at a bi-material interface is investigated using a model epoxy-metallic adherend specimen. The wetting behavior of an ESC liquid on polycarbonate substrates has been evaluated as a function of substrate stress using a variation of Contact Adhesion Testing, a novel method of measuring small contact angles by refraction and conventional goniometry. The inelastic and elastic strain condition and time to the onset of crazing were also observed. A normalization of the time to onset of crazing using stress state, solubility difference and diffusion coefficients was shown to collapse the kinetic observations. A comprehensive study of the degradation mechanisms of PBO AS fiber exposed in a controlled manner to challenging chemical environments, moisture and UV-Visible spectrum light was undertaken. Fibers were characterized using a broad range of mechanical and physical tests including tensile testing, Elemental Analysis, scanning electron microscopy, small angle X-ray diffraction, wide angle X-ray diffraction and attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy. Degradation by moisture is found to be primarily due to a loosening of the fiber's fibrillar structure. Degradation by UV-Visible spectrum light is found to be chemical in nature involving hydrolytic disruption of the oxazole ring and possible subsequent conversion to an amide bond. Approaches to alleviation of PBO AS fiber degradation were studied including super-critical carbon dioxide extraction of residual acid, the use of UV-Vis blocking coatings, compaction of the fiber microstructure and PBO AS/Siloxane composites prepared in super-critical carbon dioxide. Finally, the effect of constraint on fracture at the interface between a polymer and adherend having orders of magnitude larger stiffness was studied using a model epoxy/metallic adherend system. Fracture energy was measured using an Elastic Wedge Opened Double Cantilevered Beam test and the process zone imaged using photoelastic methods.
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Tucker, Edwin Sallu. "Agro-ecological studies on diquat-paraquat resistant weed species / Edwin Sallu Tucker." 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/19112.
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Tucker, Edwin Sallu. "Agro-ecological studies on diquat-paraquat resistant weed species / Edwin Sallu Tucker." Thesis, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/19112.
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Dougherty, Warwick John. "The mobilisation of soil phosphorus in surface runoff from intensively managed pastures in South-East Australia." 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/37852.
Full textAbstract:
The application of substantial quantities of phosphorus (P) has been required to increase productivity on many Australian soils. Unfortunately, these applications have often resulted in increased concentrations of P in surface runoff that contributes to excessive algal growth in surface waters and consequently a decline in their quality. The concentrations of P in runoff from intensively managed pastures are often high (1-5 mg/L) and typically at least an order of magnitude higher than water quality targets. Although a substantial amount of research has been devoted to the problem of P accumulation and mobilisation in arable systems ( in which P is typically mobilised by the action of raindrop impact and subsequently transported in particulate form ), there has been substantially less research in intensively managed pasture systems. Consequently, there is a paucity of knowledge concerning the fundamental processes and factors responsible for P in runoff from these systems and a dearth of truly effective remedial strategies. In this thesis, the accumulation of P in soil under intensively managed pastures used for dairying and the processes responsible for its mobilisation in surface runoff were investigated. This research was undertaken at two research sites in South - east Australia, i.e. Camden in New South Wales and Flaxley in South Australia. A number of factors relating to scale and hydrology may influence the processes of P mobilisation and its concentration in runoff. A comparison was made of the forms and concentrations of P in runoff between a typical rainfall simulation methodology and large runoff plots. The effect of rainfall intensity on the forms and concentrations of P was also investigated. The concentrations of P in runoff from small - scale, high - intensity rainfall simulations were on average 33 % lower than those from large plots ( approximating hillslopes ) although the processes of mobilisation ( as evidenced by runoff P forms ) were similar. Increasing rainfall intensity resulted in decreasing P concentrations, but similar forms of P. It was hypothesised that changes in hydrological characteristics ( residence time and depth of runoff ) were responsible for the differences in the P concentrations. A model of P mobilisation ( incorporating hydrological and P - release characteristics ) was developed and shown to successfully predict runoff P concentrations under a range of rainfall intensities. These findings and the subsequent model were used in the successful modelling of landscape scale nutrient exports based on rainfall simulation data as part of a separate, but complementary project. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that Australian soils are relatively ' leaky ' in terms of P in runoff compared to soils overseas. Consequently, comparisons of the labile soil P characteristics and soil P - runoff P relationships were made between Australian soils and soils of similar fertility from the USA, UK and New Zealand ( using both experimental data and data sourced from the literature ). It was concluded that Australian soils leak more P than soils of similar fertility in the USA, UK and New Zealand, although it was beyond the scope of the thesis to make more detailed comparisons between Australian and overseas soils. The accumulation and mobilisation of P in two soils used for intensive pasture production in Australia were investigated. In intensive pasture systems P accumulated in the shallowest zones of the soil and principally as inorganic P. The concentrations of labile P were 3 - 5 times higher in the top 0.01 m than in the top 0.1 m. Using a simple model, it was estimated that only the top several mm of soil influence runoff P concentrations. The dominant form of P in runoff was shown to be orthophosphate although in low to moderate fertility soils, dissolved organic P can constitute a substantial proportion of the P in runoff. These results confirm the need to reduce the pool of P available for mobilisation in the immediate topsoil in order to reduce runoff P concentrations. Because P is stratified, it was hypothesised that one method to reduce the pool of P available for mobilisation is to de - stratify the soil ( i.e. mix the topsoil ). The effect of this technique on runoff P concentrations was investigated in laboratory and rainfall simulation experiments. These experiments revealed that reductions in runoff P concentrations between 45 and 70 % can be achieved by de - stratification of soils under permanent pastures. It was hypothesised that the benefits of de - stratification could be maximised using a combination of information relating to catchment hydrology and the spatial distribution of soil P and that this would result in large reductions in P exports with a relatively small degree of inconvenience to land managers. Given the limited opportunities identified in previous research to reduce P exports in runoff, the strategic utilisation of de - stratification is a potentially important option in water quality management for the dairy industry and warrants further investigation.Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2006.
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Dougherty, Warwick John. "The mobilisation of soil phosphorus in surface runoff from intensively managed pastures in South-East Australia." Thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/37852.
Full textAbstract:
The application of substantial quantities of phosphorus (P) has been required to increase productivity on many Australian soils. Unfortunately, these applications have often resulted in increased concentrations of P in surface runoff that contributes to excessive algal growth in surface waters and consequently a decline in their quality. The concentrations of P in runoff from intensively managed pastures are often high (1-5 mg/L) and typically at least an order of magnitude higher than water quality targets. Although a substantial amount of research has been devoted to the problem of P accumulation and mobilisation in arable systems ( in which P is typically mobilised by the action of raindrop impact and subsequently transported in particulate form ), there has been substantially less research in intensively managed pasture systems. Consequently, there is a paucity of knowledge concerning the fundamental processes and factors responsible for P in runoff from these systems and a dearth of truly effective remedial strategies.
In this thesis, the accumulation of P in soil under intensively managed pastures used for dairying and the processes responsible for its mobilisation in surface runoff were investigated. This research was undertaken at two research sites in South - east Australia, i.e. Camden in New South Wales and Flaxley in South Australia.
A number of factors relating to scale and hydrology may influence the processes of P
mobilisation and its concentration in runoff. A comparison was made of the forms and concentrations of P in runoff between a typical rainfall simulation methodology and large runoff plots. The effect of rainfall intensity on the forms and concentrations of P was also investigated. The concentrations of P in runoff from small - scale, high - intensity rainfall simulations were on average 33 % lower than those from large plots ( approximating hillslopes ) although the processes of mobilisation ( as evidenced by runoff P forms ) were similar. Increasing rainfall intensity resulted in decreasing P concentrations, but similar forms of P. It was hypothesised that changes in hydrological characteristics ( residence time and depth of runoff ) were responsible for the differences in the P concentrations. A model of P mobilisation ( incorporating hydrological and P - release characteristics ) was developed and shown to successfully predict runoff P concentrations under a range of rainfall intensities. These findings and the subsequent model were used in the successful modelling of landscape scale nutrient exports based on rainfall simulation data as part of a separate, but complementary project.
There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that Australian soils are relatively ' leaky ' in terms of P in runoff compared to soils overseas. Consequently, comparisons of the labile soil P characteristics and soil P - runoff P relationships were made between Australian soils and soils of similar fertility from the USA, UK and New Zealand ( using both experimental data and data sourced from the literature ). It was concluded that Australian soils leak more P than soils of similar fertility in the USA, UK and New Zealand, although it was beyond the scope of the thesis to make more detailed comparisons between Australian and overseas soils.
The accumulation and mobilisation of P in two soils used for intensive pasture production in Australia were investigated. In intensive pasture systems P accumulated in the shallowest zones of the soil and principally as inorganic P. The concentrations of labile P were 3 - 5 times higher in the top 0.01 m than in the top 0.1 m. Using a simple model, it was estimated that only the top several mm of soil influence runoff P concentrations. The dominant form of P in runoff was shown to be orthophosphate although in low to moderate fertility soils, dissolved organic P can constitute a substantial proportion of the P in runoff. These results confirm the need to reduce the pool of P available for mobilisation in the immediate topsoil in order to reduce runoff P concentrations.
Because P is stratified, it was hypothesised that one method to reduce the pool of P available for mobilisation is to de - stratify the soil ( i.e. mix the topsoil ). The effect of this technique on runoff P concentrations was investigated in laboratory and rainfall simulation experiments. These experiments revealed that reductions in runoff P concentrations between 45 and 70 % can be achieved by de - stratification of soils under permanent pastures. It was hypothesised that the benefits of de - stratification could be maximised using a combination of information relating to catchment hydrology and the spatial distribution of soil P and that this would result in large reductions in P exports with a relatively small degree of inconvenience to land managers. Given the limited opportunities identified in previous research to reduce P exports in runoff, the strategic utilisation of de - stratification is a potentially important option in water quality management for the dairy industry and warrants further investigation.Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2006.
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Johnson, D. H., University of Western Sydney, of Arts Education and Social Sciences College, and School of Social Ecology and Lifelong Learning. "Masculinities in rural Australia : gender, culture, and environment." 2001. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/21148.
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This research examines first the consequences of a learned, individualistic construction of masculinity as it exists within an aging population of farm men, and second the influence of this form of masculinity on possibilities for change in human relationships and industry practices. It is suggested that in a context of diminishing economic power and political influence, the prevailing model of masculinity has disabled the capacity of many farm men to manage change proactively. It is argued that evidence of a necessary change from instrumental, to-values and feelings-based engagement with human and natural systems has been slow to appear. A range of beliefs and attitudes are identified from the research data.Alternatives to traditional models of masculinity are examined. The research has been conducted using a Social Ecology approach, in which the personal autonomy arising from a coherent integration of values and beliefs informs our approach to all human and natural systems. Some possible consequences of such a change in personal orientation are explored, in relation to agricultural practices, community viability, and the fostering of social capital, and reference is made to alternative forms of community organisation.Master of Science (Hons)
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Massy, Charles John. "Transforming the Earth : a study in the change of agricultural mindscapes." Phd thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/115203.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis links three interconnected stories relevant to humanity's future: 1. Exposition of a different form of agriculture; 2. An exploration of the nature of transformational change; and 3. Revelation of a new way of regenerating Earth via the melding of new and old knowledge. A confluence of multiple and interconnected crises threatens the self-regulating capacity of the planet and thus the future of humanity. Food security is one of these crises, placing agriculture front and centre in addressing this challenge. Agriculture is problematic because practices integral to industrial agriculture are known to inhibit the continuing provision of essential ecosystem services (including adequate healthy food and water). This thesis explores both the reasons why traditional agricultural practices fail, and the rise of a change-oriented new-organic agriculture that is taking their place. The study population comprised seventy-nine innovative Australian farmers who have successfully developed ruminant-based, agro-ecological practices that cover broad areas of land. The challenge was to find how and why this group of agriculturalists undertook transformational changes in their practices. Preliminary investigation suggested farmers' belief-systems were central to the answer. Multi-method research based on critical, open trans-disciplinary inquiry was used to analyse interviews, documents, and historical material. The study focused on the interconnection of language and metaphor, the role of discourses, and the power-knowledge nexus in the formation of personal psychological constructs. A study of Western thought since 1500 revealed that an earlier organic view of the cosmos was replaced by science- and technology-based mercantile capitalism which led to an embedding of the mechanical metaphor in Western thinking. This metaphor regards nature as dead and passive, and something to be reconstructed, dominated, and controlled: as opposed to the ancient organic metaphor which saw the cosmos as a living female earth, to be nurtured and sustained. Analysis of this metaphor shift revealed that major personal psychological constructs appear to drive society and land-use practices. Socially-embedded constructs have regularly been found resistant to change. Mechanical constructs, deeply entrenched and unrecognised by most farmers, are behind harmful land-use practices in Australia. By contrast, analysis of the evolving regenerative agricultural discourse revealed startling differences in language and metaphor. Transformative agriculturalists have overthrown the mechanical metaphor and thinking for what is termed the new-organic. This comprises a bio-philic, earth regenerating and transformative frame of 'mind' with associated practices that combines new agro-ecological knowledge and rediscovered ancient knowledge (the pre-mechanical organic). This fundamental transformation involved farmers changing their personal construct systems. Transformative agriculturalists had reflected on their situation and undertaken social learning within communities of practice. Here they exhibited different ways of learning, thinking and feeling, exemplified in their use of the trans-disciplinary imagination: the bringing together of multiple knowledge in a synergy of new ideas. Given the urgency of the sustainability challenge and the promise offered by a shift to sustainable-regenerative land-use, these findings have major implications for agricultural practice and extension services. While transformative change cannot be forced, nevertheless the ground can be prepared for change.
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Bennetts, Helen. "Environmental issues and house design in Australia : images from theory and practice / Helen Bennetts." Thesis, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/19676.
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Bibliography: leaves 172-182.viii, 183 leaves, [96] p. : ill. ; 30 cm.
Proposes that there are fundamental and inadequately recognised differences between architectural practice and the basis of much design advice about environmental issues in house design. Concludes by discussing the implications of these differences for understanding how environmental issues are currently addressed in house design in Australia.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Architecture, 2000
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Hawkins, Kathryn Morton. "Attitudes towards eucalypt clearcutting among Australian foresters : a social ecological analysis." Phd thesis, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/143457.
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Root, Robert. "Geological evaluation of the Eocene Latrobe Group in the offshore Gippsland Basin for CO₂ geosequestration." 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/57413.
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Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library.This study area for this research is characterised by a regional anticline plunging to the east-south-east with large-scale internal architecture comprising transgressive, retrogradationally stacked stratigraphy that dips gently landward and is unconformably truncated by overlying sealing units. The primary reservoir/aquifer targets for CO₂ injection are palaeo-shoreline parallel nearshore sandstone bodies characterised by high porosity and permeability and good interconnectivity. The key regional sealing unit is the Lakes Entrance Formation, which consists of mudstone and marl capable of sealing large columns of CO₂. The proposed stategy for CO₂ geosequestration is to inject CO₂ outside four-way structural closure to allow up-dip fluid migration to the north then west governed by the structure of regional sealing units. Probabilistic estimates of CO₂ capacity utilising the proposed strategy indicate that 1395-2575 Mtonnes could be sequestered.
http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1281480
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Australian School of Petroleum, 2007
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Jordan, Matthew. "Procuring industrial pollution control : the South Australian case, 1836-1975 / Matthew Jordan." Thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/21773.
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McCarthy, Megan Emma. "Environmental impact assessment and organisational change in Transport SA & ETSA Corporation / Megan Emma McCarthy." 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/19898.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 379-409)2 v. : ill. ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Develops a framework for evaluating environmental impact assessment (EIA) and organisational change, and examines the influence of the EIA system on two government organisations within South Australia, Transport SA and ETSA . Finally analyses patterns of organisational change process in South Australia in comparision with experience in the United States.
Thesis (Ph.D.(Arts))--Adelaide University, Dept. of Geographical and Environmental Studies, 2001
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McCarthy, Megan Emma. "Environmental impact assessment and organisational change in Transport SA & ETSA Corporation / Megan Emma McCarthy." Thesis, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/19898.
Full textAbstract:
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 379-409)2 v. : ill. ; 30 cm.
Develops a framework for evaluating environmental impact assessment (EIA) and organisational change, and examines the influence of the EIA system on two government organisations within South Australia, Transport SA and ETSA . Finally analyses patterns of organisational change process in South Australia in comparision with experience in the United States.
Thesis (Ph.D.(Arts))--Adelaide University, Dept. of Geographical and Environmental Studies, 2001
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Sarker, Tapan Kumar. "An empirical examination of factors influencing managers' environmental investment decisions in the Australian offshore petroleum industry." Phd thesis, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150445.
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Watson, Ian. "Class analysis and environmental politics : timber workers and conservationists in Northern New South Wales 1960-1986." Phd thesis, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/131957.
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In this thesis I explore the conflicts which have arise between middle class' conservationists and working class timber communities. I examine the New South Wales rainforest controversy as a case study and seek to place the animosity and hostility which arose there within the context of class analysis. At the same time, I integrate other important dimensions of social life, particularly rural ideologies and ideologies of masculinity, into an overall analysis of class power. I show that important cultural divisions underlaid the political conflict, particularly differing conceptions of nature and history, and that these had their roots in different labour processes.
After introducing my theoretical framework, I provide an economic context for my cultural analysis by examining the restructuring of the north coast hardwood timber industry during the 1960s and 1970s. This is followed by two chapters which analyse the labour process in the timber industry. Here I explore both class struggles on the shop-floor and cultural productions which arise within the workplace and in rural communities. The subsequent chapters focus more closely on environmental politics. I analyse the New South Wales rainforest campaign by offering a critique of 'pluralist' political strategies and I then locate this campaign within a wider context by briefly overviewing the anti -uranium and green bans campaigns of the 1970s. One of my major conclusions is that environmental politics is flawed by the neglect by activists of the class effects of their political activities. Assessments of political campaigns solely in terms of ecological goals are seriously deficient because they fail to register how conservationists' actions facilitate capitalist strategies of industry restructuring and thereby further entrench capitalist class power.
Theoretically, my thesis is based on principles of 'realist' methodology and I use concepts drawn from labour process theory, class analysis, and the theory of ideology. The thesis is heavily weighted toward oral history material, gathered during field work interviews on the north coast of New South Wales. I analyse this material using 'popular memory' theory and other studies of working class culture. In so doing, the thesis provides timber workers with a voice in a debate which has largely been dominated by 'middle class' conservationists.
Politically, the thesis is an intervention into current debates about new social movements and their relationship to the left. I argue that an effective alliance between socialists and environmentalists entails a rejection of wilderness politics in favour of urban environmental issues.
I conclude that 'pluralist' political strategies of lobbying for state- conferred concessions should be rejected in favour of strategies which develop alternative economic programmes at local and regional levels.
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Dennis, Stuart R. "Sewage effluents and oestrogenic compounds : impacts on aquatic invertebrates." Phd thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150754.
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Risely, Melissa. "The politics of precaution : an eco-political investigation of agricultural gene technology policy in Australia, 1992-2000 / Melissa Risely." Thesis, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/21968.
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Gillespie, Robert. "Valuing the environmental, social and cultural impacts of coal mining projects in NSW, Australia." Phd thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150971.
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The abundant and cost effective nature of coal as an energy source is reflected in forecasts of strong growth in global demand for coal, particularly from the non-OECD countries of China and India. New South Wales (NSW), with its abundant coal resources, is well placed to provide coal resources to meet this growth in demand through expansion of existing coal mines and the development of new mines. However, this would have a range of potential environmental, social and cultural impacts and would require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979. Standard EIA encompasses a range of technical studies to assess the biophysical impacts of projects but provides no theoretical or practical framework for weighing up positive and negative impacts to determine if a project should proceed or not. The application of neoclassical welfare economics through benefit cost analysis (BCA) can remedy the deficiencies of standard EIA and aid in more efficient decision-making. This is particularly the case where nonmarket valuation methods are used to estimate the welfare effects of environmental, social and cultural impacts. Nevertheless, historically BCA and nonmarket valuation have rarely been undertaken as part of the NSW EIA process. This thesis addresses the significant gap that exists in converting the conceptually developed techniques of BCA and nonmarket valuation to practical application in the policy realm. It does this through the application of BCA, including nonmarket valuation, to a sequence of coal mining case studies over an 18 month time frame in a real policy setting. It finds choice modelling (CM) to be the preferred approach for the valuation of multiple impacts and mutually exclusive policy options. The thesis demonstrates that the community hold significant positive values for reducing the impacts of coal mining on streams, Aboriginal heritage, upland swamps, native vegetation and rural villages. The CM case studies also show that community welfare would be significantly reduced by any proposals that decrease the length of time that the mines provide employment. Social and cultural attributes are therefore relevant attributes for inclusion in CM studies of coal mining proposals. The thesis also provides evidence that the community holds positive economic values for the provision of biodiversity offsets, through planting and protection of vegetation in the landscape. Integration of the CM results into BCA demonstrates how nonmarket valuation can enhance the role of BCA as a tool for decision-making. While CM has a number of strengths over other nonmarket valuation methods, its application can also be associated with a number of methodological issues, particularly around the framing of the questionnaire. A number of attribute framing issues in the application of CM are examined. Split sample analysis in the CM applications is used to examine the impact of including additional policy relevant attributes in choice set design, providing cumulative impact information instead of project specific impact information and using different temporal payment vehicles. The nonlinearity of the attribute representing employment provided by the case study mines, is also investigated.
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Kwonpongsagoon, Suphaphat Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering UNSW. "Integration of substance flow analysis, transport and fate of materials in the environment, and environmental risk assessment for provision of information for regional environmental management: cadmium as a case study in Australia." 2006. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/40655.
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Extraction, production, utilization and disposal of material resources have been undertaken continuously for much of human histories. Unavoidably, all of these activities have disturbed our environment, and subsequently have been harmful to humans and ecosystems in this and future generations. Due to time lag associated with both environment impact and the effects of measures taken to reduce this impact, existing approaches (i.e. monitoring and reacting) do not give sufficiently rapid feedback for effective environmental management. With regard to the complexity and concern related to environment-health chain effects, there is currently no environmental tool or approach that can provide comprehensive information and indicators covering all major environment and health themes, to enable decision makers to make informed judgements about regional policies and plans, relating to the sustainable use and disposal of material resources. Consequently, there is a need for developing a new approach by taking account of a multidisciplinary concept used in this thesis. Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) has been mainly applied in order to provide input information for Health Risk Assessment (HRA). The SFA approach provides the quantity of the substance that is transported (flows) and stored in the system (stock), and of which sub-system, flow, and process is the greatest concern. The HRA approach provides estimates of human health risk associated with site, activity and facility. An environmental fate and transport model is another key knowledge area incorporated into the HRA process. An integrating method of SFA, environmental fate and transport, and HRA is developed and illustrated by a case study of cadmium in Australia. This thesis shows that this new integration of existing stand-alone methods can provide holistic information and useful indicators covering all significant economic activities, environment, flows, and health risk assessment for selected substances. This enables better decision making on the use and disposal of substances at a range of levels in the economy, from corporations to regions and nations.
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Butler, Ainslie Jane. "Salmonella, weather and climate change in Australia." Phd thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/156099.
Full textAbstract:
Global temperatures have increased over the previous century, due in large part to human actions. Changes in climate and increases in the variability and distribution of weather patterns are expected to have both direct and indirect consequences on human health. The incidence and distribution of infectious diseases in Australia is expected to shift as a result of increasing temperatures and shifts in precipitation and relative humidity patterns. Previous research has demonstrated a relationship between Salmonella infection and weather. This thesis investigates this relationship at a level of detail that has not previously been explored. This thesis uses local, daily data to explore the relationship between weather and Salmonella infection across Australia. Using notified cases of Salmonella infection from the national surveillance authority, and transformed weather station data from 1991 to 2004, a positive relationship between increasing temperatures and Salmonella infection, and a variable influence of changes in precipitation and humidity in Australia are determined at a level of detail previously unexplored. These relationships are demonstrated to vary across the climate regions of Australia with a 16% to 77% increase in the rate of Salmonella infection estimated for an increase in the average temperature from 15{u00B0}C to 20 {u00B0}C. The most positive influence of increasing temperatures on Salmonella infection is modelled in the tropical, warm humid regions of northern Australia. There is also variation in the relationship between infection and weather evident in the analysis of specific serovars (Salmonella Typhimurium in northern Australia and Salmonella Mississippi in Tasmania). These results suggest both regional variation and serovar specific variation in the transmission pathways of Salmonella susceptible to the influence of weather. These estimations present a baseline against which to estimate the success of future public health interventions, but they are susceptible to the ability and willingness of global populations to curtail future greenhouse gas emissions to levels estimated to produce only a 1 {u00B0}C to 2 {u00B0}C increase in global temperatures. The predictive ability of these regional and serovar-specific models of infection are validated using weather and notification data from 2005 2007 and then the modelled relationship between infection and weather is extrapolated to estimate the future incidence of Salmonella infection under a future (moderate) climate change scenario. Expected changes in temperature, relative humidity and population distribution in Australia are used to project a 1.5% increase in the incidence of Salmonella infection across all Australia by 2020, and a 2.8% increase in incidence by 2030. These projections correspond to an additional 9,400 cases of Salmonella infection in the community by 2020 and an additional 16,400 cases by 2030, with the largest proportional increase in disease estimated for the tropical humid northern regions of Australia.
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Mee, Aija C. "Origin, formation and environmental significance of sapropels in shallow Holocene coastal lakes of Southeastern Australia." 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/57295.
Full textAbstract:
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library.The aims of this investigation on the Holocene carbonate successions of three shallow, ephemeral lakes from the Cooring coastal plain were: to determine the timing of the sapropel ’events’ in the three lakes; to determine the origin of the sapropelic organic matter and evaluate changes; to establish whether sapropel deposition in these shallow, coastal lakes primarily reflects increased organic matter delivery to the sediments during periods of enhanced terrestrial input and/or aquatic productivity, and; to relate sapropel deposition in these three lakes to both regional and global palaeoenvironment reconstructions. --p. 23-24.
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Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007
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Muir, Cameron. "Broken country : science, agriculture, and the 'unfulfilled dreams' of inland Australia, 1880 to present." Phd thesis, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150281.
Full textAbstract:
Modern agriculture in Australia is often viewed as utilitarian and neutral on the one hand, or as a destroyer of 'pristine' environments on the other. It is either a story of steady progress in technique and technology, of 'science with its sleeves rolled up', or one of disastrous environmental consequences of industrialisation and capitalism. Scientific agriculture in Australia is taken for granted as being about food, fibre and income, but these have not been its main purposes. Agriculture's social and cultural purposes, and its environmental purposes, have been more important factors shaping its advocacy and development.
Broken Country explores how the explosion of knowledge in biology in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries - entangled with cultural ideas about civilisation, inheritance, race and population - shaped modern agriculture in Australia. It examines the wider history of knowledge for agriculture and place through the story of the Darling and Macquarie River country after European agriculture first came to the semi-arid plains of western New South Wales. As the pastoral industry began collapsing at the end of the nineteenth century, colonial governments pushed agriculture based on scientific principles as a solution to anxieties about the effects of space and distance on civilisation, as well as a means to address the exploitative environmental culture of settlers on the inland plains. In the 1940s large engineering projects and the integration of the management of people and environment was supposed to address the social and environmental problems of the 1930s agricultural crisis, after World War II, it became a means of defending Australia from a hungry Asia and for preventing the spread of communism.
How successful has scientific agriculture been in achieving these big fixes? How has it fared as the main vehicle for the changing environmental management philosophies of wise use, balance, integration, optimisation, sustainability, and recently, resilience? Is it a triumphant project that has made incredible increases in yield to feed a burgeoning global population, or has it left us precariously at risk of ecological collapse and left a billion people starving? What do scientific agriculture's cultural foundations say about our relationships with our environment each other, and what is Australia's role in this system?
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Carroll, Leonardo Zi{u00EA}n. "Australian water management and population change." Phd thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150596.
Full textAbstract:
Australia's population is growing rapidly, and is projected to grow by 65 percent to reach over 35 million people by the middle of the century. This population growth could exacerbate stresses on Australia's already stretched water resources and environmental assets, particularly if climate change projections prove correct. At the same time, there is a possibility that water shortages and declining water quality could lead to population decline in some parts of the country. Both of these scenarios will present water managers with significant challenges. With this in mind, this thesis addresses the question: How does Australia's water management framework deal with population change. This topic has not previously been considered in a coherent fashion. While there is an extensive literature on the relationship between population change and the environment more generally, and there has been some discussion of population change and water in Australia, there is a scarcity of literature on water policy and how it deals with population change. The thesis investigates the question from two angles. Firstly, it investigates the institutional arrangements, organisations and policies which influence how population change is considered in the context of water management. Secondly, it investigates what demographic data are available and relevant to water managers, and how these data are and can be used in the context of these institutional arrangements, organisations and policies. Reflecting its focus on policies, legislation, institutions and organisations, the thesis is primarily an exploration of public policy. To a more limited extent, the thesis also draws upon a second discipline, demography. More specifically, the thesis: 1. Develops a conceptual model to help explain the linkages between water management and population in Australia. This is an important contribution to research methodology in the area of population and water management. 2. Explores how and where demographic and population issues are relevant to Australian water managers. The issue of population change, and how water managers deal with it, needs to be considered very differently in different rural and urban areas. These areas, and the ways in which population matters in them, can be identified through analyses of water policy and socio-economic data. 3. Considers in detail the water reforms flowing from the National Water Initiative (NWI) and subsequent Water Act 2007 (Cth) and 2008 Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform, and how population change is dealt with in the context of these reforms. While the NWI provides a range of mechanisms for managing population change, in some cases the effectiveness of these mechanisms remains compromised while they are still being rolled out. Furthermore, the focus of the NWT is on reallocating water resources in rural areas; increases in urban water consumption, associated with urban population growth, will not necessarily be constrained by water allocation planning processes. 4. Considers how population change is dealt with in the context of broader approaches to water management, such as land use planning and urban water planning. In doing so, it draws upon an extensive study of the policy literature, and qualitative discussions with informants involved in water reform at national, State and regional levels in the Commonwealth, New South Wales, and Queensland. 5. Describes and catalogues the myriad of socio-economic data sources available to water managers. It finds that these sources are generally reliable and well-documented, and that there is an emerging body of work aimed at integrating sources of socio-economic data so that they can be more readily used by water managers. 6. Through case studies, assesses in detail how socio-economic data have been used by water allocation planners and urban water planners. To date, a pragmatic approach appears to have been taken, whereby socio-economic data are used only to the extent that is necessary. Other factors (such as land use planning) are equally important determinants of population change and how it should be managed. 7. Considers the relationship between Australian water policy and structural adjustment, and hence, how water policy may lead to population change. Overall, the thesis makes an important contribution to research in the area of water management and population change. It brings together two previously largely separate domains of intellectual inquiry. By identifying and describing many of the ways in which Australian water managers are dealing with population change, it helps build understanding of some of the strengths and shortcomings to how Australia manages its water resources, and areas for improvement. Through its methodology and findings, it also lays a foundation for future work in this area.
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Copertino, Margareth. "Production ecology and ecophysiology of turf algal communities on a temperate reef (West Island, South Australia) / Margareth Copertino." Thesis, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/21821.
Full textAbstract:
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 235-258).xxi, 274 leaves, [8] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.), map 30 cm.
Estimates the primary production and investigates the photosynthetic performance of temperate turfs at West Island, off the coast of South Australia. These communities play a fundamental role in reef ecology, being the main source of food for grazers, both fishes and invertebrates. Turfs also have an important function in benthic algal community dynamics, being the first colonizers on disturbed and bare substratum.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Biology, 2002
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Nolles, Karel Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications Faculty of Engineering UNSW. "Using markets to implement energy and environmental policy. Considerations of the regulatory challenges and lessons learned from the Australian experience and laboratory investigation using experimental economics." 2007. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/40778.
Full textAbstract:
Government is constantly attempting to balance the competing interests within society, and is itself active in a variety of different roles. The conflict between these roles becomes particularly clear when an attempt is made to implement a "regulatory market" - that is a market that exists only because of government action- such as an electricity or environmental market - to implement some policy objective, since it is the nature of markets to candidly reveal weaknesses that in a non-market management framework may have remained hidden for some time. This thesis examines the difficulty that government has in setting market rules that implement an efficient market design for such markets. After examining the history and development of the Australian Electricity Industry market reform process, we examine more closely some of the electricity related environmental markets developed specifically to drive a policy outcome in Australia -- in particular the Australian Mandatory Renewable Energy Target Market (MRET) and the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme. By comparing these environmental markets with established financial markets, and using the techniques of experimental economics, we show that these environmental markets have significant inefficiencies in their design. We argue that these come about because lessons from the financial markets have not be learned by those implementing environmental markets, that stakeholders are lobbying for market design characteristics that are not in fact in their own best interests, and that governments struggle to manage the divergent pressure upon them. For example, in MRET we show experimentally that one of the market design characteristics most fought for by generators (the ability to create renewable energy certificates from qualifying energy without declaring the certificates to the market until a later time of the creator's choosing) in fact leads to market volatility, and ultimately inefficiently low prices. We also examine the impact on the overall MRET market of simple rule changes upon market performance. Key conclusions of this thesis are that it is more difficult than has been appreciated to successfully use a market to implement public policy and that important lessons have not yet been learned from the existing financial markets.