Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Soil consumption by urbanisation'

The energy consumption of 2 alternative tillage systems for continuous cotton production in Arizona were compared to a conventional system. The tests were conducted at the University of Arizona Marana Agricultural Center. Results of the study in a Pima I clay loam soil showed the sundance treatment to have the lowest energy requirement of 39 Hp-hr /ac (73 kW-h/ha); the USM system had the second highest of 58 Hp-hr /ac (107 kW-h/ha). The conventional system required 67 Hp-hr /ac (124 kW- h/ha). Average yields for all 3 systems were not significantly different. A continuation of this study will be conducted to determine long-term effects on energy consumption, yields, and soil compaction.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of southern Africa is one of the world’s most unique biodiversity hotspots. However, this biodiversity continues to be threatened by habitat loss due to rapid urbanisation, agriculture and alien vegetation encroachment, and now, by future groundwater extraction and climate change. Previous work had shown that soil moisture is important in structuring wetland plant communities at fine-scale. What is not fully known, however, is how the spatial distribution of species at a local scale is related to soil hydrology and what the response in the future of species distributions will be to perturbations arising from changes in climate or subsurface moisture in the future. The current research investigated the water regime of the Restionaceae which is a key family in the Fynbos biome and the implications of possible changes in soil hydrology caused by climate change in communities within this region. The Restionaceae were particularly appropriate because they are shallow rooted perennials with the ability to tolerate a wide range of water regimes which allows them to successfully co-habit within mixed plant communities as segregated clusters along fine-scale hydrologic gradients. Vegetation survey counts for the presence of these species along with measurements of soil water table depth and moisture content data generated from eight small-scale plots (50 x 50 m) were used to investigate the possible hydrological niches and to envision the potential impacts of a substantial reduction in rainfall and an increase in temperature as projected by Global Climate Models (GCMs) on the structure of Restionaceae communities in seasonal wetlands by 2100. A comparative analysis of the effects of two extreme Representative Concentration emission Pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) on significant hydrological variables to plant water regimes was carried out. The IPCC AR5 report describes the RCP8.5 emissions scenario as the likely ‘business as usual’ scenario where emissions continue to rise through the 21st century while the RCP2.6 scenario assumes that emissions peak between 2010 and 2020 and substantially subside thereafter.

Urbanisation often involves the conversion of various land use and land cover (LULC) classes including agricultural land to urban uses and leads to loss of soil diversity. Unfortunately, there is limited literature on soils lost in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities due to lack of detailed soil information yet this region is the fastest growing globally. This study attempts to bridge this gap by using remote sensing data and digital soil mapping (DSM) techniques to assess the rate of agricultural land conversion, determine the appropriate pre-urban soil prediction model and estimate the extent of loss of soils diversity and urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) using urban centres in Uganda as case studies. Multi-temporal LULC classification of Landsat ETM+ and TM images showed that built-up area in Kampala expanded 8 times between 1989 and 2015 and 5 times in Mbarara between 2002 and 2016 as a result of the conversion of savannah, wetlands and systematic targeting of agricultural land. DSM techniques involving legacy soil data and soil observations were used to predict the pre-urban soil patterns by modelling the relationships between observed soil classes and environmental covariates using random forests (RF), Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR) and Boosted Regression Trees (BT) algorithms. The overall prediction accuracy was over 70% producing soil maps at 30m resolution. The soil diversity loss was determined by overlaying RF soil map with the multi-temporal LULC maps. The results show that 74% of the soils lost were in high and medium quality class for agricultural production. Moreover, the average size of farms under UPA decreased from about 1.9 acres in 2002 to about 0.5 acres in 2015. This study has revealed that DSM techniques and remote sensing can be useful in quantifying the loss of soil diversity to urbanisation and provides quantitative evidence that rapid urbanisation could lead to loss of good soils and increase food insecurity in SSA cities.

An IoT device measuring soil moisture to help a municipality improve the work surrounding irrigation is deployed for testing and used by the concerned municipal workers. The IoT device is an initial prototype using Pycom’s LoPy4 with expansion board 3.1 and 3xAAA batteries as power supply. The prototype is not suitable for larger-scale testing due to the size, cost, and power consumption. This thesis focuses on decreasing the cost and size while increasing the battery life for the IoT device.The IoT device is communicating using the LoRaWAN protocol. For the device to be as energy-efficient as possible, the LoRa and LoRaWAN protocol are explored to use all possibilities to save energy. Active time and power consumption between different spreading factors are examined and discussed for power consumption and range concerns. The prototype produced by the work performed in this thesis is used to measure soil moisture. The microcontrollers selected and tested will not restrict to that purpose. The microcontrollers can integrate with many kinds of sensors. Integration with other types of sensors is under future work in this thesis. The integration possibilities making the thesis relevant for anyone with an intermediate knowledge inprogramming wanting to get introduced into the IoT development cycle, develop aLoRa node, and learning how to use the LoRaWAN stack with MicroPython.

Thesis: Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 91-92).
Atmospheric hydrogen (H²) is a secondary greenhouse gas that attenuates the removal of methane (CH⁴) from the atmosphere. The largest and least understood term in the H² biogeochemical cycle, microbe-mediated soil uptake, is responsible for about 80% of Earth's tropospheric H² sink. A recent discovery of the first H²-oxidizing soil microorganism (Streptomyces sp. PCB7) containing a low-threshold, high-affinity NiFe-hydrogenase functional at ambient H² levels (approx. 530 ppb) made it possible to identify a model organism to characterize microbial H²-uptake behavior. In the present research, several strains of Streptomyces containing the high-affinity NiFe-hydrogenase were isolated from the Harvard Forest LTER and used to characterize H² uptake alongside analysis of their life cycles. It was found that containing the gene encoding for the specific hydrogenase predicted H² uptake behavior in the wild Streptomyces strains and also in more distantly related organisms that contained the gene. The H² uptake rates were correlated with the microorganisms' life cycles, reaching a maximal uptake corresponding with spore formation. Understanding how environmental conditions, organismal life cycle, and H² uptake are connected can help reduce the uncertainty in atmospheric models. With the rise of H²-based energy sources and a potential change in the tropospheric concentration of H² , understanding the sources and sinks of this trace gas is important for the future.
by Deepa Rao.
S.B.

A produção das culturas e, particularmente neste estudo, a de citros, associada às condições climáticas e edáficas, é função da presença de água e nutrientes no solo em época e quantidades apropriadas. Sua falta ou excesso é fator limitante à produção, determinando em muitos casos a sua diminuição. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi a avaliação do consumo de água de pomares de citros em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo Distrófico argissólico, pela determinação do balanço hídrico no solo, na busca de explicar cientificamente o comportamento hídrico dessa cultura neste solo ao longo do ano agrícola e a influência do consumo de água sobre a produtividade da cultura. O balanço hídrico foi conduzido em duas transeções com 20 plantas e 100 m de comprimento (7 x 4 m), localizadas no campo experimental de citros, Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Esalq/USP, município de Piracicaba (SP). A condutividade hidráulica para a profundidade controle (1,10 m) foi determinada pelo método do perfil instantâneo conduzido em área adjacente. O armazenamento foi determinado com o uso de sonda de nêutrons. A drenagem interna e/ou ascensão capilar foi medida pela leitura diária de três tensiômetros instalados na projeção da copa (2 m do tronco) das 40 plantas em três profundidades: 1,00 m, 1,10 m e 1,20 m. A precipitação pluvial foi medida por pluviôgrafo instalado na área e foi considerada normal para o período do ano monitorado (agosto-agosto). A extração de água por uma planta do pomar também foi medida pela instalação de tensiômetros nas profundidades 0.2 m, 0.4 m, 0.6 m, 0.8 m e 1.0 m e a 0.4 m, 0.8 m, 1.2 m, 1,6 m e 2.0 m do tronco em direção à linha e em direção à entrelinha. A evapotranspiração da cultura (ETc) média desta comunidade de plantas foi de 1271 mm, sendo a variação da ETc diária entre 0,4 e 8,3 mm dia -1 e a razão ETc/ECA variando entre 0,3 e 1,5 para os meses de menor e maior necessidade hídrica. A camada de 0,40 à 0,60 m de profundidade mostrou ser que a cultura de citros apresenta maior volume de raízes. Em futuros projetos de irrigação por gotejadores (irrigação localizada) para a cultura de citros, a distância de 0,40 m do tronco deve ser a adotada para a obtenção da melhor eficiência.
The agricultural yield and, particularly in this study, the citrus yield, associated to weather and soil conditions, is dependent on the presence of water and nutrients in the soil in appropriate amounts along the time. Its lack or excess is a limiting factor to the production, determining in many cases its decrease. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the water consumption by citrus orchards in a Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo(Oxisol), by the means of the soil water balance determination aiming at the scientific explanation of the hydric behavior of this crops in this soil, along the agricultural year, and the influence of the water consumption on the crop productivity. The soil water balance was determined in two transects, 100 m length (7 x 4 m) and 20 plants each, located at the experimental fields of the Vegetable Crop Department, Esalq/USP, Piracicaba (SP - Brazil). The hydraulic conductivity for the control depth (1,10 m) was determined by the instantaneous profile method carried out in an adjacent area. The water storage was measured by a neutron probe. The internal drainage and/or capillary rise was measured by the daily reading of three tensiometers installed under each one of the 40 trees (2 m from stem) at three depths: 1.00 m, 1.10 m and 1.20 m. The rainfall was measured by means of a pluviographer installed in the area and it was considered normal for the period of the monitored year (August-August). Water extraction of one plant of the orchard was also assessed installing tensiometers at the depths 0.2 m, 0.4 m, 0.6 m, 0.8 and 1.0 and 0.4 m, 0.8 m, 1.2 m, 1.6 m and 2,0 from the stem along and perpendicular to the plants line. The annual evapotranspiration of the crop (Etc) was 1271 mm and the daily one varied from 0.4 to 8.3 mm dia -1 . The ETc/ECA ratio varied from 0.3 to 1.5 for the months with lowest and highest water need. The soil layer in which the citrus presented the highest volume of roots was 0,40 – 0,60 m. In future drip irrigation projects (trickle irrigation) for the citrus, the distance of 0.40 m from stem should be adopted to obtain the highest irrigation efficiency.

En France, l’expansion des aires urbaines suit une évolution quasi-linéaire depuis les années 1990, en progressant d’environ 57 000 ha par an. Cette situation est contradictoire car l’urbanisation induit la destruction d’une ressource naturelle indispensable au maintien du bien-être de l’Homme : le sol. La connaissance du sol est perçue comme une contrainte en urbanisme puisque celle-ci contribue à remettre en question l’aspect destructeur des projets urbains. Cependant, compte tenu de la dichotomie entre pédologie et urbanisme, nous pouvons supposer que les élus locaux n’ont simplement pas connaissance des enjeux environnementaux et socio-économiques liés à la préservation des sols. Un travail d’enquêtes a donc été mené auprès d’élus locaux pour comprendre les liens d’influence entre représentations et pratiques. Les résultats montrent que le sol est conservé à partir du moment où les services écosystémiques qu’il supporte bénéficient d’une reconnaissance d’intérêt partagée localement. La connaissance de cette valeur sociale peut être considérée comme une étape préalable à la conception d’outils d’aide à la décision, destinés à intégrer la question du sol au sein des processus de planification urbaine
In France, the expansion of urban areas has followed an almost linear evolution since the 1990s, increasing by about 57,000 ha per year. This situation is unsustainable because urbanization induces the destruction of a nonrenewable natural resource essential for the maintenance of human welfare : the soil. Soil knowledge is perceived as a constraint in urban planning in so far as it contributes to questioning the destructive aspect of urban projects. However, given the dichotomy between pedology and urbanism, we can hypothesis that local politicians do not have knowledge of environmental and socio-economic issues related to soil conservation. A survey work was therefore conducted with local politicians to understand the relationship between representations and practices. Results show that the soil is preserved as soon as the ecosystem services it supports are broadly reconised. Knowledge of this social value can be seen as a prerequisite for designing decision support tools to integrate sustainable soil management into urban planning processes

The establishment of forest stands on degraded sandy soils environments presents challenges related to low fertility and drought. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of young plants of Pinus elliottii Engelm. in sandy soil with the use of chemicals and organic fertilizer under different levels of water availability. The cultivation of plants lasted 13 months in a greenhouse in pots of 7 liters were kept at 20, 40, 60 and 80% of maximum water holding capacity of the container. The treatments consisted of combinations of soil preparation (NPK and / or partially decomposed pine needles and control) with the level of water availability, resulting in 16 treatments in factorial quali-quantitative distribution completely random distribution with four replications. The height and diameter of te stem base at the end of the experiment, analysis of monthly growth, dry matter yield, water use efficiency and water use in the assimilation of dry mass were observed. The results showed that the use of chemical fertilizer negatively influenced the survival of the plants, especially at lower water availability in the soil. The final height and its growth were influenced by soil water availability, the diameter of the stem base and its increment was influenced by the availability of water and its interaction with soil preparation. The growth in height over time was attributed to soil prepare, also the diameter growth period of the diameter was extended by the low water saturation in the soil. The water consumption rose as increased water availability, however, the efficiency of water use increases with the lower water quantity in soil, and in the presence of chemical fertilizer.
A implantação de povoamentos florestais em ambientes com solos arenosos degradados apresenta desafios ligados a baixa fertilidade e ao déficit hídrico. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento de plantas jovens de Pinus elliottii em solo arenoso com o uso de compostos químicos e orgânicos para sua fertilização, sob diferentes níveis de disponibilidade hídrica. O cultivo das plantas teve a duração de 13 meses sob estufa em vasos de 7 litros, os quais foram mantidos a 20, 40, 60 e 80% da capacidade máxima de retenção de água do vaso. Os tratamentos resultaram da combinação do preparo do solo (NPK e/ou acícula parcialmente decomposta e controle) com o nível de disponibilidade hídrica, resultando em 16 tratamentos em delineamento bifatorial quali-quantitativo com distribuição inteiramente casualizada com quatro repetições. Foram avaliadas a altura e diâmetro do colo ao final do experimento, analise do incremento mensal, produção de matéria seca, consumo hídrico e eficiência do uso de água na assimilação de massa seca. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o uso de fertilizante químico influenciou negativamente a sobrevivência das plantas, principalmente em baixas disponibilidades de água no solo. A altura final e seu incremento foram influenciados pela disponibilidade hídrica no solo, já o diâmetro do colo e seu incremento, pela disponibilidade de água e sua interação com o preparo de solo. O crescimento em altura ao longo do período foi atribuído ao preparo de solo, já o período de crescimento em diâmetro do colo foi prolongado pela baixa saturação de água no solo. O consumo hídrico se elevou à medida que aumentou a disponibilidade hídrica, entretanto a eficiência de uso da água aumenta com diminuição da mesma, e na presença de fertilizante químico.

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Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq
As flores de corte, de maneira geral, são bastante suscetíveis às variações ambientais, sobretudo deficiência hídrica, temperaturas extremas, problemas do meio de cultivo, que podem resultar no desenvolvimento deficiente da produção final. O cultivo de flores de corte em substrato disposto em canais, com recirculação da solução nutritiva drenada, pode ser uma alternativa para a obtenção de elevado rendimento produtivo de hastes florais de qualidade, além de promover a otimização de recursos, materiais e uso racional da água. Neste sentido, torna-se interessante o estudo do efeito de substratos à base de casca de arroz, material abundante no sul do Brasil, sobre o crescimento, a qualidade e as respostas produtivas das plantas de gipsofila (Gypsophila paniculata) e lisiantos (Eustoma grandiflorum). Paralelamente, é importante a utilização de adequado manejo fitotécnico para que as plantas respondam positivamente ao sistema proposto. Desta forma, dois experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação na Universidade Federal de Pelotas, no município de Capão do Leão – RS no ano de 2015/2016. O experimento 1 teve como objetivo avaliar diferentes substratos à base de casca de arroz [casca de arroz carbonizada (CAC) e casca de arroz in natura (CAIN), empregadas isoladamente, e as misturas de CAC + substrato comercial orgânico S10 (Beifort ) (15%) e CAIN + S10 (15%)] e a época de poda (precoce e tardia) para a produção de gipsofila. Avaliaram-se o crescimento, a produção, a qualidade, a soma térmica, o consumo hídrico e a fenologia da cultura. Os resultados obtidos no experimento 1 indicaram que, para todas as variáveis analisadas, não houve interação significativa entre substrato e época de poda. Pode-se indicar os substratos de CAC 100% ou a mistura CAIN + S10 (15%) para o cultivo de gipsofila em canais. O substrato CAIN 100% resultou em menor crescimento da parte aérea, menor produção e inferior qualidade das hastes. Os substratos não afetaram a partição de massa seca entre flores e órgãos vegetativos e o equilíbrio entre o crescimento da parte aérea e das raízes. A poda tardia antecipou o ciclo da cultura, aumentou o crescimento das hastes e a produtividade de gipsofila, melhorando a qualidade. O período de maior soma térmica acumulada (STa) para a poda precoce é na fase fenológica de elongação e iniciação floral (III) e para a tardia na fase vegetativa (I). O maior consumo de água pelas plantas ocorreu na fase III, tanto para o acumulado, quanto para o consumo diário. O consumo médio total acumulado durante o ciclo foi de 7,05 litros planta-1 e o consumo médio diário foi de 0,309 litros planta dia-1 . Os substratos CAC+S10 e CAIN+S10 foram superiores na eficiência no uso da água (EUA) para a produção de massa fresca (MF) em relação aos materiais puros, e não afetaram a produção de massa seca (MS). Foi verificado que as plantas de gipsofila produziram em média 9,36 g de MS para cada litro de água consumido. No segundo experimento, o objetivo foi avaliar o crescimento e a qualidade das plantas de lisiantos, também, em diferentes substratos à base de casca de arroz [casca de arroz carbonizada (CAC); casca de arroz in natura (CAIN); CAC (70%) + substrato comercial orgânico S10 (Beifort ) (30%) e CAIN (70%) + S10 (Beifort ) (30%)]. Os substratos CAIN + S10 e CAC podem ser utilizados para a produção de lisiantos para flor de corte em sistema de cultivo em canais com recirculação da solução nutritiva, uma vez que ambos proporcionaram hastes com elevado padrão de qualidade, com destaque para o primeiro, que promoveu um maior crescimento das plantas. O uso de CAIN como material isolado para substrato prejudicou o crescimento das plantas e impediu o florescimento, modificando as relações de partição de massa seca entre os órgãos das plantas. Os resultados são decorrentes da melhor qualidade das características físicas e químicas do substrato CAIN+S10, em virtude da presença do composto orgânico, que aumentou a capacidade de retenção de água, e da alta porosidade da CAIN. Assim, constata-se que a gipsofila e o lisiantos adaptaram-se de forma adequada ao sistema de cultivo em canais preenchidos com substratos à base de casca de arroz, com recirculação do lixiviado.
Cut flowers, in general, are very susceptible to environmental variations, especially water stress, excessive temperatures, composition of the culture medium, among others, resulting in the deficient and discrepant development of the final production. The cultivation of cut flowers in growing troughs filled with substrates and the recirculation of the nutrient solution can be an alternative to obtain high flower stems productive yield and quality, besides the optimization of resources and rational use of water. In this sense, to study the effect of substrates based on rice husk, a high availability material in southern Brazil, on the gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata) and lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) plant growth, quality and yield is necessary. In parallel, it's important to use phytotechnical management careful so that plants respond adequately to the proposed system. Thus, two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Capão do Leão city - RS, between 2015/2016. The experiment 1 had the objective of evaluating different substrates based on carbonized rice husk (CAC) and raw rice husk (CAIN), used in isolation, and the mixtures of CAC + commercial organic substrate S10 (Beifort®) (15%), CAIN + S10 (15%) and the pinch season (early and late) for the gipsofila production. Growth, production, quality, water consumption and crop phenology were evaluated. The results obtained in experiment 1 indicated that, for all variables analyzed, there was no significant interaction between substrate and pinch season. The substrates of 100% CAC or the CAIN + S10 mixture (15%) may be indicated for Gypsophila cultivation in troughs. The 100% CAIN substrate predisposed to lower shoot growth, lower shoot production and lower quality. However, the substrates did not affect the dry matter partitioning between flowers and vegetative organs and the balance between shoot and root growth. Late pinch anticipated the crop cycle, increased gypsophila growth and productivity, benefiting the quality of the stems in length. The greatest thermal sum (TSa) period for early pinch was in the flower elongation and initiation phenological phase (III) and for late pinch in vegetative phase (I). The highest water consumption by plants occurred in phase III, both for accumulated and daily consumption. The total average consumption accumulated during the cycle was 7.05 liters plant-1 and the daily average consumption was 0.309 liters plant-1. In relation to the water use efficiency (WUE) for the production of fresh mass (FM) of stems, the substrates CAC + S10 and CAIN + S10 were superior than pure materials, but did not differ from each other. Regarding the WUE for the dry mass (DM) production of stems and the total of the plants there was no effect of the substrates. Thus, it was verified that the gypsophila plant produced on average 9.36g of DM for each 1 liter of water consumed. In the second experiment, the objective was to evaluate the growth and quality of Lisianthus plants, also, on different substrates based on rice husk (CAC); rice husk in natura(CAIN); CAC (70%) + organic commercial substrate S10 (Beifort®) (30%) and CAIN (70%) + S10 (Beifort®) (30%). The use of CAIN as an isolated substrate material impaired plant growth and prevented flowering by modifying the DM partitioning relationships among plant organs. The CAIN + S10 and CAC substrates can be used for the cut flower lisianthus production in a troughs system, with nutrient solution recirculation, since both provided stems with a high quality standard, especially the first one, which promoted greater plant growth. The results are due to the improvement of the physical and chemical qualities of the CAIN + S10 substrate. The organic compound increased the water retention capacity and CAIN ensured a high porosity to the mixture throughout the crop. Thus, it was verified that gypsophila and lisianthus were adequately adapted to the growing troughs system in with substrates based on rice husk, with leach recirculation.

Energy demand projections are essential tools that enable policymakers, engineers, scientists, stakeholders and investors to assess the future energy needs of a country and understand the technical, economic, social and environmental costs associated with meeting this demand. Such tools become further indispensable in the case of developing countries, where past consumption trends alone cannot indicate the trajectory of their future energy demand. Transport is one of the largest consumers of energy among all the end-use sectors. In 2018, it accounted for almost 29% of the total final consumption (TFC) of energy and 65% of oil consumption in the world [1]. A key ingredient for economic growth, mobility is indispensable for access to employment, education, health care and other services and operating industrial and trade activities. This report describes an energy demand model of the transport sector for selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The countries modelled are Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. With the exception of South Africa, the transport sector in the focus countries is largely underdeveloped and outdated. Road transport dominates the energy demand for transport in the region today and this trend is projected to continue to 2040. The ownership of cars increases rapidly, especially in cities, but this growth starts from very low levels as the region is home to countries with the lowest ownership rates in the world. As in the case of emerging Asian economies, the fleet of two- and three-wheelers growsiiifaster than that of cars and a significant share of this growth comes from rural areas. Aviation is the largest non-road consumer of energy and this continues to 2040 as a consequence of rising GDP and rapid urbanisation. Rail and navigation lag behind current global levels but are projected to develop significantly to aid in achieving the industrialisation goals set out by the African Agenda 2063. In its current state, the sector faces major challenges like inadequate and poorly maintained infrastructure, dealing with increasing traffic congestion in cities, large-scale imports of second-hand vehicles with poor emission standards that affect air quality in cities, lack of safe and formally operated public transportation systems and insufficient consideration for the different mobility needs of women. Sound policymaking and investments in infrastructure have the potential to overcome or significantly reduce the severity of most of these challenges in the future.
Energibehovsprognoser är grundläggande verktyg som möjliggör för beslutsfattare, ingenjörer, forskare, intressenter och andelsägare att bedöma framtida energibehov för ett land och förstå de tekniska, ekonomiska och de miljömässiga kostnaderna förknippade med att möta detta behov. Dessa verktyg är än mer oumbärliga i fallet för utvecklingsländer, där tidigare förbrukningstrender enskilt inte kan indikera den framtida utvecklingen av energibehoven. Transport är en av de största förbrukarna av energi utav alla slutanvändningssektorer. Under 2018 stod den för nästan 29% av den totala slutförbrukningen (TFC) av energi och 65% av oljekonsumtionen i världen[1]. Som en nyckelingrediens för ekonomisk tillväxt är rörlighet oumbärligt för åtkomst till anställning, hälsovård och andra tjänster och drift av industri och handelsaktiviteter. Den här rapporten beskriver en energibehovsmodell av transportsektorn för utvalda länder i subsahariska Afrika. Länderna som har modellerats är Angola, Elfenbenskusten, Demokratiska Republiken Kongo, Etiopien, Ghana,Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sydafrika och Tanzania. Undantaget Sydafrika så är transportsektorn i de utvalda länderna i stora delar underutvecklad och föråldrad. Vägtransporter dominerar energibehoven för transport i regionen idag och den här trenden förväntas pågå fram till 2040. Ägandet av bilar ökar kraftigt, framförallt i städer, men den här tillväxten sker från väldigt låga nivåer då länderna i regionen tillhör den grupp länder med lägst ägande i världen. Som är fallet med växande ekonomier i Asien, så växer flottan av två- ochivtrehjulingar snabbare än den för bilar och en signifikant andel av den tillväxten sker i lantliga områden. Flyg är den största förbrukaren utanför vägarna vilket förväntas fortsätta fram till 2040 som en konsekvens av växande BNP och snabb urbanisering. Järnväg och sjöfart släpar efter aktuella globala nivåer men förväntas att utvecklas signifikant för att uppfylla industrialiseringsmålen som finns uppsatta av African Agenda 2063. I det aktuella stadiet, så möter sektorn stora utmaningar som otillräcklig och dåligt underhållen infrastruktur, ökade trafikstockningar i städer, storskalig import av andrahandsfordon med dåliga utsläppsstandarder som påverkar luftkvaliteten i städerna, avsaknad av säker och officiellt driven kollektivtrafik samt otillräcklig hänsynstagande för kvinnors transportbehov. Sunt beslutsfattande och investerande har potentialen att övervinna eller signifikant reducera allvaret av de flesta av dessa utmaningar inför framtiden.

Pine processionary moth (PPM, Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is an active range expanding pest species having significant economic impact in terms of tree growth and public health. A lot is known about its natural history although one important aspect of its life history, diapause, has been so far neglected in spite of its acknowledged importance in pest establishment and dynamics. A few questions related to diapause have been addressed in this PhD project. Although the existence of prolonged diapause (PD) was reported long ago, no study provided its maximum duration. We provide evidence of existence of at least 7 years of PD in one mountain population of PPM, and establish the importance of PD individuals in the sustenance of population density. This study underscores the importance of long-term surveillance of population for understanding the dynamics of PD. Although several studies have been conducted on the incidence of PD in PPM across it natural range, they were often published as forest service or forest health reports and not available to the large public. A collection of these reports, their validation and comparison with data from papers allowed to make a synthesis that included most of the pest range, including the sibling species Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni in the Near East. We suggest that winter conditions at the larval stage influence this decision. Data analysis suggests a strong U-shaped relationship between the incidence of PD and average winter temperature and a linear positive relationship between mortality and proportion of individuals in PD. The result contributes to the advancement of knowledge on the ecology, population dynamics and distribution of the PPM. Previous phenological models of PPM lack the description of dormant prepupal stage and its significance in synchronization of emergence. Besides, no study reported on the occurrence of diapause in PPM in a stage other than pupa. We show how with a weekly sampling during the two-month long procession period of pine processionary prepupae, it was possible to discover that prepupae differentially regulate their development time in such a way that moth emergence of short-lived adults resulted to be concentrated and synchronized in less than one month. Early descending individuals don’t pupate immediately, rather wait as diapausing prepupae for their late counterparts, whereas late-descending prepupae develop into pupae much faster. The finding of prepupal diapause and its significance in synchronization of emergence may improve the existing model of phenology and provide managers with a new tool to handle this pest. Diapause termination mechanism in both univoltine and prolonged diapausing individuals of PPM has been previously hypothesized based on the occurrence of a key period during the pupal stage. By using three proxies of metabolic activity, such as body temperature, O2 consumption, and weight loss, we confirm the hypothesis of existence of a key period (termination) in univoltine and prolonged diapausing individuals of PPM. This finding is a starting point for the study of diapause development in PPM from an ecological point of view. Compared to simple phenomenon of diapause, field of prolonged diapause in insects per se is not vast. A lot of questions regarding the regulation of prolonged diapause are still unresolved. When we consider PPM, the gap of knowledge in this regard is gigantic. Being an important pest of Mediterranean forests, PPM deploys diapause for its success. We know almost nothing about the regulation of diapause in this species. Despite that, this thesis attempted to start the effort of answering a few of thousands of questions on the regulation of diapause in PPM. This project has prepared the ground for several possible future works. Among them, some are: testing the findings in other populations, understanding genetic regulation of diapause and prolonged diapause, understanding the importance of climate change in regulating diapause, improving phenology models and using for predicting the effects of climate change under different scenarios.
La processionaria del pino (PPM, Thaumetopoea pityocampa) è una specie in fase di espansione dell’areale e che causa perdite importanti di crescita degli alberi nonché problemi sanitari all’uoma e altri animali. Nonostante molti studi siano stati condotti su questa specie, alcuni aspetti relativi alla diapausa sono stati finora trascurati anche se riconosciuti come importanti per l’affermazione della specie. Questa tesi si pone l’obiettivo di chiarirne alcuni. La presenza di diapausa prolungata (PD) in Th. pityocampa è nota da tempo ma mancano dati precisi sull’effettiva durata del fenomeno. Con questo studio si è potuto dimostrare che in una valle alpina al limite dell’areale la diapausa si estende fino a 7 anni, con ripercussioni significative sulla dinamica di popolazione. Ciò indica la necessità di una sorveglianza estesa delle popolazioni dell’insetto. Nell’areale della processionaria del pino sono stati svolti vari studi in cui la presenza di diapausa è stata accertata e quantificata, e alcuni di questi sono stati inclusi in rapporti interni di difficile reperibilità. L’accesso a questa informazione e la sua verifica puntuale hanno consentito di produrre una sintesi dei risultati, includendo anche la specie sorella Th. wilkinsoni diffusa in Asia Minore. I risultati mostrano che un fattore importante è rappresentato dalle temperature invernali cui sono esposte le larve. E’ stata infatti trovata una relazione a U tra temperatura invernale e frequenza della diapausa, associata a una maggiore mortalità per gli individui diapausanti. Tale risultato rappresenta un passo in avanti nella documentazione dell’effetto dei fattori ecologici sull’ecologia e sulla dinamica dell’insetto. I modelli di sviluppo disponibili per la processionaria del pino non hanno mai considerato lo stadio di prepupa e l’esistenza di una quiescenza/diapausa che porti a una migliore sincronizzazione degli sfarfallamenti. Grazie a un campionamento settimanale durante il periodo delle processioni di interramento è stato possibile accertare che il periodo di discesa è lungo circa il doppio rispetto allo sfarfallamento, e che le prepupe presentano una diapausa mirata a sincronizzare l’uscita degli adulti e quindi gli accoppiamenti. Il meccanismo si basa su un arresto dello sviluppo nei primi individui che scendono al suolo, che si riduce progressivamente durante il periodo. Queste nuove conoscenze sono di notevole importanza nella definizione di modelli di sviluppo e di previsione delle popolazioni dell’insetto. La conclusione della diapausa pupale in individui univoltini o in diapausa prolungata è stata associata alla presenza di un periodo chiave durante il quale l’individuo decide se proseguire nello sviluppo ad adulto o se rimanere in diapausa. Grazie a misure di alcune variabili non distruttive (temperatura superficiale, consumo di ossigeno, peso corporeo) è stato possibile mettere in evidenza per la prima volta l’esistenza di tale periodo in individui mantenuti a varie condizioni ambientali. Questo risultato rappresenta un enorme passo in avanti nelle conoscenza sulla regolazione della diapausa in questa specie. Nonostante la diapausa degli insetti sia in generale ben nota, le informazioni sulla diapausa prolungata sono scarse e molte domande giacciono irrisolte. Nel caso specifico della processionaria del pino questo ritardo è notevole e allo stesso tempo importante per la regolazione della dinamica di popolazione e quindi dei danni a piante e animali. Questo lavoro contribuisce a chiarire alcune aspetti importanti e apre la strada a studi mirati a conoscere la regolazione genetica della diapausa, gli effetti del cambiamento climatico, e lo sviluppo di modelli in grado di prevedere con affidabilità l’andamento demografico.

In der Wintersaison 2005-2006 wurde ein Split-Split Plot-Design Feldversuch mit drei Wiederholungen für jede Behandlung von Kartoffeln, als Indikatorpflanze, unter den ariden Bedingungen der Kharga Oasis in der Westlichen Wüste von Ägypten durchgeführt. Drei Bewässerungslevel (100 %, 80 %, und 60 % of ETc) mit Tröpfchenbewässerung, zwei Mulchvarianten (Zuckerrübenabfall ohne und mit 24 ton ha-1) und 4 Kompostraten (0, 12, 24, und 36 ton ha-1) wurden getestet. Generell und als Ergebnis einer Regressionsanalyse der Versuchsvarianten ohne Kompost war die beste Variante die Tröpfchenbewässerung bei 80% ETc unabhängig ob gemulcht oder nicht gemulcht wurde. Andererseits die Variante mit 36 t Kompost und mit 24 t Mulch ergab die besten Ergebnisse bei 60% of ETc sowohl beim Ertrag und den Ertragskomponenten, bei den hydrophysikalischen Eigenschaften, bei der Bodenwasserretention, beim Wasserverbrauch, bei den Pflanzenkoeffizienten, der Wassernutzungseffizienz, der Düngernutzungseffizienz sowie beim Nettogewinn. Wird die Rate der Kompostgabe aber auf 24 ton ha-1 reduziert, die höchsten Nettogewinne bei der lokalen Vermarktung als auch signifikant beim Kartoffelexport werden erreicht.
Under the arid condition of Kharga Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt, split-split plot design field experiment with three replications for each treatment using potato as an indicator plant was carried out during the winter season 2005-2006. Three irrigation levels of water regime (100 %, 80 %, and 60 % of ETc) using drip irrigation system, two treatments of soil covering (sugar cane wastes at the rate of 0 and 24 ton /ha) and compost rates (0, 12, 24, and 36 ton ha-1) were tested. In general and as a result of the triple interaction among the studied treatments, using drip irrigation either with soil mulching or not, 80 % of ETc as a water regime was the best. On the other hand, reducing drip irrigation water level at 60% of ETc in mulched soil that was treated with 36 ton ha-1 of compost recorded the highest values yield and yield components, soil hydrophysical properties, soil water retention, water consumption, crop coefficients, water economy water use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, net profit. But reducing the compost rate to 24 ton ha-1 attained the highest net profit for local potato consumption and achieved the best significant net profit for exportation.

Grundlage des Buches sind die Beiträge des 1. Dresdner Flächennutzungssymposiums. Dieses ist der Auftakt für eine zukünftig jährlich stattfindende Fachtagung, die Wissenschaft und Praxis zu Fragen der Erhebung, Entwicklung und Prognose der Flächennutzungsentwicklung zusammenführt. Das 1. Buch der beginnenden Reihe „Flächennutzungsmonitoring“ informiert über die amtliche Flächenstatistik einschließlich deren Datengrundlage und alternativer Datengrundlagen für die Flächenerhebung. In diesem Zusammenhang werden auch Indikatoren zur Beschreibung der Flächeninanspruchnahme und der Freiraumentwicklung vorgestellt. Da es hier auch immer wieder um Fragen der Visualisierung geht, werden Verfahren zur kleinräumigen Darstellung von Zustand und Entwicklung von Indikatoren auf verschiedenen räumlichen Ebenen bis hin zu Rasterkarten erläutert. Im abschließenden Beitrag geht es um die Konzeption eines Monitors der Siedlungs- und Freiraumentwicklung auf Grundlage von geotopographischen Basisdaten.

viene preso in considerazione il fenomeno per cui gli edifici nel territorio rurale, in particolare l’edilizia agricola di esercizio, una volta terminata la loro funzione a servizio delle attività agro-forestali, continuano a permanere sul territorio determinandone il consumo per più lunghi periodi e offrendo così la possibilità per cambiamenti di destinazione d’uso che minacciano l’ambiente. Si parte dalla considerazione dell’indispensabile esigenza che l’azienda agricola sia messa facilmente in grado di adeguare i propri edifici agricoli strumentali, alle richieste della produzione in continua variazione, come lo sono le tecniche produttive aggiornate ed economicamente efficienti che ne permettono la sopravvivenza in un mondo in cambiamento sempre più veloce. Si prendono in considerazione le normative sul dimensionamento strutturale di edifici agricoli di esercizio che permettono una riduzione delle sollecitazioni di origine naturale in relazione alla riduzione della vita tecnica dell’edificio, come nel caso delle serre di produzione secondo le UNI-EN 13031. In relazione a ciò si propongono strutture agricole produttive da inserire nell’ambiente rurale toscano, costruzioni agricole caratterizzate da vita limitata alla funzione, cioè CAVLF, che porterebbe ad un’occupazione non definitiva di territorio, limitata nel tempo alla stretta necessità aziendale, e con la possibilità di alleviare i problemi inerenti il rilascio dei permessi di costruire da parte degli enti territoriali competenti

This thesis looks at the food security of migrants from the perspective of food consumption. Rapid urbanisation particularly with massive inflows of migrants from rural areas into large cities has been a significant phenomenon in China and many other developing countries. This is concomitant with changes in lifestyles and food consumption patterns known as the “nutrition transition” that has significantly influenced not only food security through both the supply and demand sides but also public health. Existing studies on food security and urbanisation tend to focus primarily on the macro level, such as examining reduced agricultural production resulting from land loss. Health problems particularly obesity caused by changing food consumption patterns in the process of urbanisation have also received increasing attention. Different groups of population have different patterns of food consumption, which in turn influence their own as well as national food security. The food security of migrants in developing countries like China deserves serious attention not only for promoting human wellbeing but also to achieve food security for the whole population. With the long-standing focus on rural food security in studies linking food security, urbanisation and migration, little attention has been paid to the linkage between migration and urban food security. Although recent research has started to shift the focus from the influences of migration on rural food security to the changes in the patterns of food consumption of the migrants themselves, which have been found to differ by study area. This research attempts to fill this gap in the context of China, the world’s most populous country, and therefore plays a significant role in achieving the food security goal of the international community. This thesis enriches the understanding of the interaction between migration and food security by using a case study approach, which involves primary survey data collected from 395 rural migrants in Shanghai – the most urbanised city in China. It has the following findings: 1) The increased consumption of sugar and beverages found in some studies on the food consumption of African migrants has not been the case in China. This research found that migrants in Shanghai had more nutritious and diverse diets after migration, with increased consumption of poultry meat, fungus, milk products and aquatic products; 2) Staple foods, vegetables, animal meat, fish, fruit and poultry meat were regularly consumed food groups in migrants’ diets, and milk products, alcohol, soft drinks, snacks, other aquatic products, animal organs, processed food and fast food were irregularly consumed, with staple foods and animal meat the top two contributors to the daily dietary energy intake of surveyed migrants; 3) Consistent with findings from studies in other nations, the sending of remittances was an important determinant of the food consumption pattern of migrants, as those who did not send remittances back to their rural hometown tended to consume more foods particularly nutritious food groups; 4) Socio-demographic characteristics were important in shaping migrants’ food consumption patterns, with age, gender and occupational industry playing the dominant roles, with females and those in the business and services industries more likely to consume more nutritious food groups while aged migrants showed a generally lower consumption of food except alcohol; 5) The food preferences and awareness of food security of migrants particularly their attention to healthy diets led to substantial variations in their food consumption, especially for the less popular food groups, and 6) urbanisation did improve food security in terms of the improved food access of migrants in Shanghai including more food choices for migrants, which were also related to better income, better transportation and market distribution. The survey contributes to the knowledge of migrants’ food consumption patterns in China which has been found to differ from other developing countries. The determinants of their food consumption patterns offer useful information to policy makers on how to promote healthy diets and thus ensure the food security and wellbeing of all the population. At the same time, the food consumption patterns found among the migrants as whole, and within different socio –demographic groups, also reflect their general demands on the food market, which would in turn affect food supply in the urban food market, given the increasing rural to urban migration that is fuelling the process of urbanisation in China. This would also offer entitlements on the requirements on resources needed for food production to meet future food demand to ensure food security in the urban areas. Moreover, food consumption trends found among aged migrants would also have an important influence on future food demand in China, with the aging of the population.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2018

碩士
國立成功大學
建築學系碩博士班
90
This research is the basic investigation to aim directly at the usage of the electricity,greenery, and soil-water retention in the universities in Taiwan.Through the investigation we can realize all ecosystem of the campus and the expense of energy in school building. Then I present ameliorative suggestion to economize on energy and eternalize the green ecosystem campus. According to the information from the usage of the electricity in school building every month and every year, it analyzes that not only the relationship between the area and people using the floor, but also the influence of expensing energy from the building outside designing .In 126 cases of school building totally, the average density of electrical consumption in universities was 86.34 kWh/（㎡.year）,and the average density of electrical consumption in office-buildings of school was 98.04 kWh/（㎡.year）、the school library buildings was 184.03 kWh/（㎡.year）、the school library buildings was 32.63 kWh/（㎡.year）、the school gym buildings was 32.63kWh/（㎡.year）、the student activity center buildings was 67.98 kWh/（㎡.year）、the student dorm buildings was 76.94 kWh/（㎡.year）、the teaching department buildings was 97.8 kWh/（㎡.year）。 The average ration of greening in universities was 37%，The average reach ration of fix CO2 in universities was 37%，and it promote to 0.65 without consideration for playground and ball-ground。The average percentage of pervious area in universities was 40%。 This research was building the basic data of campus ecological environment and the daily expense of energy in school building，at the same time，bring up the suggestion and the promotion to reach the aim of saving energy and campus ecological environment 。

Micro-organisms living in the soils of the Canadian High Arctic produce and consume the greenhouse gases (GHGs) CO2, CH4, and N2O, contributing to global nutrient and GHG cycles; however, different vegetation and soil communities differ in their net productions of each gas and the total emissions from the ecosystem. The range of Arctic vegetation communities spans wetlands, tundras, and deserts differing in their soil water contents and other properties such as organic matter content. Previous estimates of total GHG emissions are often imprecise relative to the scale of microbial processes that result in these emissions. Deserts have extremely low levels of both water and organic matter, yet I found that deserts produce nearly as much GHGs as wetter, more fully vegetated tundras. To test the hypothesis that this unexpectedly strong source of GHGs in deserts was a consequence of recently-thawed, organic-rich permafrost, I measured GHG net production throughout the active layer of polar desert soils; both production and consumption of CH4 and N2O, as well as soil respiration were found throughout the profile, indicating no link to thawed permafrost and suggesting these high GHG activities are characteristic features of Arctic polar deserts rather than transient effects of recent warming. I studied the community of microorganisms of the Arctic deserts by examining DNA from soil samples collected from three deserts on Ellesmere Island using DNA microarrays targeted for the functional genes AmoA and pmo. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) I evaluated the hypotheses that the community of ammonia-oxidizers would be causally linked to the observed patterns of N2O net production, and that methane-oxidizers would be causally linked to CH4 net production. The SEM showed the expected link for CH4 production, but not N2O production. Available nitrogen in Arctic desert soils is primarily in the form of ammonia/ammonium, thus I find it surprising that no link could be found to the nitrifying community. Subsequent analysis of the occurence patterns of nitrous oxide reductase, a gene present in denitrifying bacteria and the only known biological sink for N2O, revealed only a weak association. Thus it remains unknown which organisms are responsible for the high levels of N2O emitted from Arctic polar desert soils. Furthermore, I observed several cases of unusual GHG processes, including a positive correlation between net CO2 and net N2O production in only some soils and some soil layers that consumed both CH4 and N2O.

The City of Winnipeg produces an average of approximately 655000 cubic meters of biosolids annually. Biosolids are solid residues that are produced by primary (physical/chemical) and secondary (biological) treatments of raw sewage. An alternative to disposal in the landfills is to recycle the biosolids, through the application to agricultural land. Biosolids contain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous that are required for plant growth. However, biosolids also contain trace metals such as cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni). The uptake of such trace metals by crops grown on biosolid-amended soil could pose a health hazard to humans consuming the crops or their by-products. This study assessed the potential increase in health risk to humans from the consumption of trace metals in crops grown on biosolids-amended soil. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

碩士
大葉大學
環境工程學系碩士在職專班
96
The research is designed to evaluate ‘Soil Water Content’ and ‘Energy Consumption’ of Beidou elementary school to promote green building specification through these two indicators. Two parts of working scopes were executed in this study. The first part is to investigate the achievement of green campus by a series of questionnaires. The questionnaires contain: the inherent feeling of the campus, the satisfaction about the environment of school building and campus, and the basic knowledge of green building. A statistical analysis by SPSS is applied to understand staff and students’ feeling of the current condition for green campus as well as green buildings, so as to evaluate the campus be better or not. And, suggestions to the future development of green school are proposed, too. The second part is the evaluation of green buildings through quantification sheets of green building criteria. The ‘Soil Water Content’ and ‘Energy Consumption’ indicators were checked for Beidou elementary school’s building and facilities to meet the basic requirement of green building. The major conclusions of this research are listed below: 1. The promotion of the knowledge in saving energy and reducing carbon dioxide is far deficient. School staff and students could understand the functions of energy-saving equipment but they don’t even know whether they have one in campus. Furthermore, analyses show that the consciousness and satisfaction are both in lower rank for students about the energy-saving facilities in classrooms. Thus, the promotion is significantly necessary. 2. Mostly staff and students satisfy with the allocation of school building and the landscape of schoolyard. Nevertheless, they show lower satisfaction with the size of parking area and the effect of sun blocking. The soil water content indicator of the whole campus could meet the criteria, but the low permeability of cement floor on school gate square and the parking lot is too wide in area. 3. The energy consumption indicator shows that the light system of the campus has good efficiency to save energy. However, the AWSG indicator is not good for lack of sun blocking facilities on opening windows of outer walls.

The discipline of Sociology has been quiet regarding the production of food by industrial agriculture. However, there are issues that potentially undermine the ability of industrial agriculture to continue to produce food at the same rate. These issues include: global climate change, aquifer depletion, soil erosion and exhaustion, the increase in global production of meat, the ever expanding global population and peak oil. This thesis considers how these issues will affect Manitoba’s agriculture, Manitoba’s ability to adapt to a period of change and its ability to continue to feed its population. Unstructured interviews with expert informants allowed for the collection of data that are not readily available. These data are combined with pre-existing data to assemble an agricultural profile. There are two competing theories within the current dialogue: limits-to-growth and ecological modernization. Ultimately, the food procurement practices will be assessed with reference to the limits-to-growth theory and recommendations will be made.

In this diploma thesis, there are described different types of soil tillage and options of their use. The thesis focuses on comparision selected plow in comparable conditions. Plows were compared by efficiency, possibilities of the type of rotation on headlands, fuel consumption and durability of wearing parts. For measuring were chosen lands with a slope as small as possible and with furrow that should be as long as possible to minimize distortion of the results.

Evaluation of host geologic sediment interactions with carbon dioxide is very important in sequestration strategies. The objective of the study is to experimentally investigate the effects of different soil mineral types on carbon dioxide hydrate formation. At isothermal, isochoric, and isobaric conditions, batch experiments were conducted with different types of solids (bentonite, kaolinite, nontronite, pyrite, and soil) and electrolytes (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2) to measure carbon dioxide hydrate formation times. A 50 mL pressurized vessel was used for the experiment by bubbling gaseous CO2 into the solid suspension. We observed that the formation time of carbon dioxide hydrate was dependent on the reactor temperature (273.4 K and 277.1 K) and types of solid and electrolyte. A clear peak was observed in the temperature profile of each experimental run and determined as the hydrate formation time. This is due to the initiation of the hydrate crystallization and latent heat release at the hydrate formation time. The temperature profiles vary significantly with respect to the types of solids and electrolytes. As crystallization initiates, peaks were observed at higher temperatures in pyrite and soil suspensions. The results showed that hydrate formation times for clay minerals in water were approximately twice and 10 times faster than that for pyrite and soil, respectively. The rates of gas consumption were able to be determined by the pressure monitoring. The kaolinite appeared to have the fastest gas consumption rate among the clay mineral suspensions, which was 2.4 times and 7.4 times faster than nontronite and bentonite, respectively. Results from these experiments seem to provide an insight on the formation and growth of carbon dioxide hydrate, once sequestered into the sea bed sediments under the deep sea environment.

The monitoring of land cover is recognized as a fundamental activity, especially in the European Union, to provide spatial data for the comprehensive assessment and mapping of ecosystem services, thus offering a helpful tool to support decision-making activities. In this context, the general objective of this research was the development of a new procedure of land cover mapping and updating that uses free data and free applications for extracting information on a large area with high frequency and exploiting the potentiality of both Optical and SAR time-series images. The methodology developed for land cover mapping has a spatial resolution of 10 meters for the entire national territory, chosen as the study area with the possibility of annual updating and an accuracy in line with that of the main products of the Copernicus Program. The methodology was satisfactory, reaching an accuracy of 83% in terms of overall accuracy, but with values reaching over 90% in the case of some specific classes. Soil consumption was used to map landslide susceptibility in the northern Toscana area to understand how to improve the accuracy of the susceptibility map using a new variable as input data.

With an increasing rate of urbanisation in East Africa, and with the highest prevalence rate of undernourished population than any region in the developing world, the issue of food access insecurity in urban areas has received considerable attention. While there are noticeable differences between big, medium- and small-sized towns, the variation in the household’s response to food access insecurity across urban hierarchies remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the social, economic and demographic factors in coping with food access insecurity among households in urban slum areas of Ethiopia. The study used both secondary and primary data sources. The national surveys of household consumption and expenditure survey and welfare monitoring surveys of 2004/5, 2010/11, and 2015/16 was used to analyse the food security situation in Ethiopia across time and urban hierarchies. Primary data of 500 households and three focus group discussions were conducted from slum areas of Addis Ababa, Hawassa, and Sheki representing a big city, medium- and small-sized town, respectively. The household survey data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and a standard regression model to investigate the relationship between factors such as household structure and composition, economic resources, social protection programmes and projects, and urban-rural linkages with coping with food access insecurity across urban hierarchies. A global model and three site-specific regression models were constructed. Descriptive results from both the primary and the secondary data sources have revealed that the proportion of the households affected by food shortage varies across the urban hierarchy that food insecurity was highest in the small-sized town as compared with the medium-sized town and the big city. The quality of food consumed was consistently low among female-headed households regardless of their socio-economic characteristics when compared with male-headed households. The result of the regression analysis for the global model has shown that economic resources (asset and source of income) predict nearly half of the variability in coping with food access insecurity. Household structure and composition such as gender and education of the head of the household, family structure (nuclear/extended), and the ratio of young children in the household predict a quarter of the variability in coping. Social protection programs and services predict one-tenth; the remaining variability in coping is explained by the combined effect of all the factors involved. The significance of these factors in predicting coping with food access insecurity, however, varies across the urban hierarchies. The contribution of economic factors in predicting coping is the highest at the big city (Addis Ababa); household structure and composition took the leading role in predicting coping at the small-sized town (Sheki); the significant factors in predicting coping at the mediumsized town (Hawassa) was the combined effect of all the factors involved. Household characteristics such as female headship, a higher ratio of young children, low education of the household head, lack of access to the financial loan, asset and income poverty, and weak linkages with kin structure at rural areas increase vulnerability to food insecurity and put households under stress to cope with food access insecurity. The study results show that the traditional urban-rural dichotomy may not suffice to portray the degree of food insecurity, as well as the mechanisms how food insecure households strive to cope with food access insecurity, which varies across the continuum of urban hierarchies. Those who wish to support food insecurity challenges need to be sensitive to the variability of factors in coping with food access insecurity across urban hierarchies. During policy, design and program implementation policymakers and international partners need to consider that the needs and coping mechanisms of urban households vary across urban hierarchies besides the other social, economic and demographic variables.
Development Studies
Ph. D. (Development Studies)

Grundlage des Buches sind die Beiträge des 1. Dresdner Flächennutzungssymposiums. Dieses ist der Auftakt für eine zukünftig jährlich stattfindende Fachtagung, die Wissenschaft und Praxis zu Fragen der Erhebung, Entwicklung und Prognose der Flächennutzungsentwicklung zusammenführt. Das 1. Buch der beginnenden Reihe „Flächennutzungsmonitoring“ informiert über die amtliche Flächenstatistik einschließlich deren Datengrundlage und alternativer Datengrundlagen für die Flächenerhebung. In diesem Zusammenhang werden auch Indikatoren zur Beschreibung der Flächeninanspruchnahme und der Freiraumentwicklung vorgestellt. Da es hier auch immer wieder um Fragen der Visualisierung geht, werden Verfahren zur kleinräumigen Darstellung von Zustand und Entwicklung von Indikatoren auf verschiedenen räumlichen Ebenen bis hin zu Rasterkarten erläutert. Im abschließenden Beitrag geht es um die Konzeption eines Monitors der Siedlungs- und Freiraumentwicklung auf Grundlage von geotopographischen Basisdaten.