Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environmental interpretation'

Details of research into the automated generation of a digital database of hydrographic charts is presented. Low level processing of digital images of hydrographic charts provides image line feature segments which serve as input to a semi-automated feature extraction system, (SAFE). This system is able to perform a great deal of the building of chart features from the image segments simply on the basis of proximity of the segments. The system solicits user interaction when ambiguities arise. IThe creation of an intelligent knowledge based system (IKBS) implemented in the form of a backward chained production rule based system, which cooperates with the SAFE system, is described. The 1KBS attempts to resolve ambiguities using domain knowledge coded in the form of production rules. The two systems communicate by the passing of goals from SAFE to the IKBS and the return of a certainty factor by the IKBS for each goal submitted. The SAFE system can make additional feature building decisions on the basis of collected sets of certainty factors, thus reducing the need for user interaction. This thesis establishes that the cooperating IKBS approach to image interpretation offers an effective route to automated image understanding.

This research focuses on the methodological standardization of bioaccumulation techniques by lichens. The leitmotif of this work is a biomonitor of airborne trace elements and other contaminants, the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf, that was here repeatedly selected as test species. Firstly, the background element concentration values (BECs) for such species were assessed, since these are a prerequisite for the assessment of trace element pollution, by a large sampling effort over the Italian territory. In a first contribution, the occurrence of BEC differences of the two varieties of P. furfuracea (var. furfuracea and var. ceratea) was assessed using samples from remote areas. After having proved the absence of significant element content differences ascribable to taxonomic traits, in a second study, it was demonstrated that environmental descriptors were predictive of BECs, and these were provided for environmentally homogeneous Italian macro-regions. In this phase, the analytical outcomes of two acid mixtures for sample mineralization (i.e., a total digestion with hydrofluoric acid and a partial, aqua regia-based one) were also compared. The total digestion showed a better performance for the majority of elements. Two sets of digestion-specific BECs were provided, to be used as references in biomonitoring applications, depending on the selected mineralization procedure. Other approaches can be used to interpret bioaccumulation data. Case in point are the so-called “interpretative scales”. New scales for native lichens and transplants were respectively built up by analyzing the distribution of ratios between element concentration data and species-specific background concentration references (B ratio), contextually provided for two foliose lichens (Flavoparmelia caperata and Xanthoria parietina) and that of ratios between element concentration in exposed and unexposed samples (EU ratio) of two fruticose lichens (Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea). The new scales overcome critical points affecting previous ones. The second part of this research focuses on aspects related to the functioning of the lichen symbiosis, still using P. furfuracea as test species. Firstly, the effects of ozone (O3) on the physiology of previously field-stressed P. furfuracea samples were assessed. Samples were exposed for 6 weeks at sites with different levels of particulate and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions. Afterwards, samples were transferred to fumigation chambers, where they were O3-treated for 2 weeks. Physiological markers, elemental and PAH concentrations were measured in matched replicate sets at each experimental step. The O3-tolerance of the test species was proved, and interestingly, the content of some PAHs in samples with the highest enrichment levels significantly lowered after the ozonation, suggesting a role of O3 in degrading accumulated PAHs, with potential interpretative repercussions in transplant-based surveys aimed at evaluating PAH depositions in case of high O3 ground levels. A second contribution addresses a frequently investigated aspect for mosses, but not for lichens. Indeed, devitalization procedures are standardly carried out on moss samples, since these enhance the elemental capture by passive uptake processes. In this study, the accumulation performance of living and dead P. furfuracea samples is assessed through a high sample-sized transplant. Paired living-dead samples were exposed for 8 weeks at 40 sites in a study area of NE Italy. The two sample sets, consistently described low deposition levels over the study area, however, higher accumulation signals were revealed in dead lichens. When sites were classified according to the new bioaccumulation scale, some interpretational discrepancies arose, therefore the possibility of sample devitalization should be seriously considered, also to contribute to the methodological harmonization of biomonitoring techniques.

In recent decades the canon of environmental aesthetics has expanded beyond its primary concern of understanding what is beautiful in the fine arts to the appreciation of natural and cultural landscapes. Corresponding with society's growing interest in conservation, environmental aesthetics has emerged as relevant to many conservation discussions. The preservation and interpretation of cultural landscapes is complicated by resources that are in a constant state of change. Traditional cultural landscape preservation practices have had mixed results. A focus on interpretation rather than preservation is generally considered a strategy for improving cultural landscape practices. Applying theories developed in the field of environmental aesthetics to cultural landscapes may lead to principles helpful to their preservation and interpretation. In this study, an environmental aesthetic framework is developed and applied to the Canoa Ranch, a historic property south of Tucson, Arizona, to evaluate the potential of using environmental aesthetics in appreciation of cultural landscapes.

Thesis (Sc.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1999.<br>Includes bibliographical references (v. 2, leaves 411-427).<br>This thesis presents theoretical predictions and experimental validation of a newly designed tapered piezoprobe penetrometer that is currently being used in offshore site investigation. The new device measures pore pressures at the tip of a 1/4" diameter extension piece that connects through a tapered section to conventional drill rods. By accelerating the dissipation of penetration-induced excess pore pressures, the design aims to provide reliable measurements of in situ pore pressures in low permeability marine clays in a much shorter timeframe than is possible with conventional piezocone devices. Predictions of probe performance are obtained using a non-linear coupled consolidation analysis, in which the effective stress-strain properties of the soil are characterized by the MIT-E3 model, and the initial penetration process is simulated using the Strain Path Method. The predictions show that the dissipation response can be divided into three stages: I) initial dissipation that is controlled by the radius of the extension piece; II) a transition stage, characterized by marked retardation of dissipation response, due to migration of pore water generated around the shaft of the drill rods; and III) long term response that converges to the behavior of a conventional piezocone and is not affected by the presence of the tip extension piece. Parametric studies show that the pore pressure dissipation is affected by the stress history of the clay and it's anisotropic flow properties, as well as details of the probe geometry. Although the design can be improved by increasing the length of the extension piece, the most useful modification of the design is to add a second pore pressure sensor located above the taper section on the driB shaft. Data from this designed dual sensor piezoprobe can then be interpreted using two new methods proposed in this thesis: I) Two-point intersection method that correlates the dissipated pore pressures at the two sensor locations in order to estimate the in situ pore pressures, u0, from an incomplete dissipation record. 2) Concurrent matching of dissipation data at the two monitoring points can be used to define the in-sim hydraulic conductivity. The theoretical predictions are evaluated through detailed comparisons with field dissipation measurements for piezoprobe and piezocone devices at MIT test site in Saugus, Massachusetts. In general, there is excellent agreement between the predicted and measured pore pressure dissipation for test performer at depths 65-1 15 ft. The backfigured hydraulic conductivities are consistently lower than laboratory measurements by approximately a factor of two. However, the in-situ pore pressure, u0 , can be estimated with 5% accuracy within I hr from the start of the dissipation test. Pore pressure dissipation is directly related to time dependent increases in the capacity of driven piles. Predictions of this set-up behavior are obtained by simulating the effective stress changes that occur in the soil close to the pile shaft during installation, coupled consolidation and undrained axial pile loading. Parametric studies establish the effects of stress history, pile geometry (radius and wall thickness) on predictions of the time dependent pile set-up. There is a significant difference in behavior predicted for sensitive, low plasticity clays and insensitive plastic clays. Site specific predictions are evaluated through comparisons with field data from instrumented model piles at four well-documented test sites. A generic design methodology is proposed for interpreting dissipation data from the tapered piezoprobe and predicting pile set-up at deepwater sites in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed design charts are based on synthesized soil properties for an Average Gulf Clay. Preliminary calculations for pile load tests performed at the West Delta site confirm the importance of reliable measurements of in situ pore water pressures and soil pre-consolidation pressures.<br>by Twarath Sutabutr.<br>Sc.D.

In this work our driving motivation is to develop mathematically robust and computationally efficient algorithms that will help chemists towards their goal of pattern matching. Environmental chemistry today broadly faces difficult computational and interpretational challenges for vast and ever-increasing data repositories. A driving factor behind these challenges are little known intricate relationships between constituent analytes that constitute complex mixtures spanning a range of target and non-target compounds. While the end of goal of different environment applications are diverse, computationally speaking, many data interpretation bottlenecks arise from lack of efficient algorithms and robust mathematical frameworks to identify, cluster and interpret compound peaks. There is a compelling need for compound-cognizant quantitative interpretation that accounts for the full informational range of gas chromatographic (and mass spectrometric) datasets. Traditional target-oriented analysis focus only on the dominant compounds of the chemical mixture, and thus are agnostic of the contribution of unknown non-target analytes. On the other extreme, statistical methods prevalent in chemometric interpretation ignore compound identity altogether and consider only the multivariate data statistics, and thus are agnostic of intrinsic relationships between the well-known target and unknown target analytes. Thus, both schools of thought (target-based or statistical) in current-day chemical data analysis and interpretation fall short of quantifying the complex interaction between major and minor compound peaks in molecular mixtures commonly encountered in environmental toxin studies. Such interesting insights would not be revealed via these standard techniques unless a deeper analysis of these patterns be taken into account in a quantitative mathematical framework that is at once compound-cognizant and comprehensive in its coverage of all peaks, major and minor. This thesis aims to meet this grand challenge using a combination of signal processing, pattern recognition and data engineering techniques. We focus on petroleum biomarker analysis and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener studies in human breastmilk as our target applications. We propose a novel approach to chemical data analytics and interpretation that bridges the gap between target-cognizant traditional analysis from environmental chemistry with compound-agnostic computational methods in chemometric data engineering. Specically, we propose computational methods for target-cognizant data analytics that also account for local unknown analytes allied to the established target peaks. The key intuition behind our methods are based on the underlying topography of the gas chromatigraphic landscape, and we extend recent peak mapping methods as well as propose novel peak clustering and peak neighborhood allocation methods to achieve our data analytic aims. Data-driven results based on a multitude of environmental applications are presented.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2009<br>Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Master of Science in Natural Resources (Environmental Education and Interpretation), College of Natural Resources. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-150).

A new real-time in-field interpretation and visualization scheme and software, using neural networks for the detection and localization of buried waste, and the boundaries of waste sites, has been developed. The capabilities and limitations of the high-frequency (1 kHz to 1 MHz and 31 kHz to 32 MHz) electromagnetic ellipticity systems are analyzed by numerically studying the sensitivity of the acquired 3D-ellipticity to model parameters describing the geometry of the systems and the electrical parameters of layered-earth models. Changes in ellipticity due to coil misalignment in standard operating mode are typically just 1% to 2%. Changes due to variations in layered-earth model parameters (resistivity, relative dielectric constant, and thickness) are typically at least one order of magnitude higher. Hence, it will be possible to resolve these parameters. For conductive models (resistivity < 50 Ωm) it will be hard to determine the relative dielectric constant and for models with high relative dielectric constants it will be hard to determine the resistivity, especially if it is greater than 1000 Ωm. The results of the sensitivity analysis contribute considerably to the training of several neural networks to determine the electrical properties of the subsurface. The two classes of artificial neural network paradigms utilized in this study are the radial basis function and the modular neural network algorithms. One-dimensional layered-earth inversions are performed by neural networks using ellipticity data. The three-dimensional localization of metallic objects (e.g. drums) is done by visualizing the results of one particular halfspace neural network technique. Several small conductive objects have been detected by applying this technique to data collected in controlled physical modeling field experiments. Classification neural networks are trained on field data to categorize ellipticity soundings into either a target or a background class. Two environmental geophysics field case studies were analyzed using the developed interpretation system and the visualization software. The first case study involves mapping subsidence areas caused by an underground coal mine fire in Wyoming. The neural network interpretations from the mine survey match comparable inversion results. The second study documents the successful characterization of a simulated hazardous waste pit at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.

Interpretation has the potential to play an important role in involving the general public in the dialogue about sustainability, and what this may mean for the future of humans on the earth. Yet interpreters often fail to address this issue. In fact, it can be argued that much interpretation fails to truly engage its audiences or provoke serious thought about our relationship with the rest of nature or our future lifestyles. How can interpretation be made more engaging and provocative, and contribute to the dialogue about sustainability? How can it reach this potential? Some educators and interpreters advocate the use of drama to help people connect with natural and cultural heritage. Powerful dramatic experiences can become embedded in the emotions and leave enduring impressions. Drama is used as an educational tool around the world. Can it be used by interpreters to expand visitors’ conceptions of the human-nature culture milieu? This study addresses the paucity of empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of dramatized interpretation. Ten practitioners of dramatized interpretation were interviewed to explore the current use of drama in interpretation in Queensland, Australia, and in particular, the practitioners’ perceptions of these practices and their effectiveness. Current practice was evaluated according to the drama, interpretation and education literature, particularly recent theoretical developments. Practitioners displayed a strong understanding of the importance of engagement in interpretation, using a variety of drama forms and strategies to create resonant experiences and strengthen visitors’ connections with natural, historic and cultural heritage. In addition, they designed their programs to provoke thought and foster deep understanding of environmental and conservation issues, and obtained evidence of provocation and conceptual enhancement. Notwithstanding this, it is concluded that dramatized interpretation could have a greater impact on conceptual enhancement if practitioners designed their programs according to constructivist, group learning and sociocultural perspectives. Practitioners could also make a greater contribution to general environmental education if they explicitly addressed the issue of sustainability, using drama to tell stories that encapsulate the concept of sustainability and provide a vision of sustainable living. A checklist is provided to assist practitioners in the design and evaluation of dramatized programs. Recommendations are also given for interpreters wishing to explore the application of drama to their interpretive setting.

Interpretation has the potential to play an important role in involving the general public in the dialogue about sustainability, and what this may mean for the future of humans on the earth. Yet interpreters often fail to address this issue. In fact, it can be argued that much interpretation fails to truly engage its audiences or provoke serious thought about our relationship with the rest of nature or our future lifestyles. How can interpretation be made more engaging and provocative, and contribute to the dialogue about sustainability? How can it reach this potential? Some educators and interpreters advocate the use of drama to help people connect with natural and cultural heritage. Powerful dramatic experiences can become embedded in the emotions and leave enduring impressions. Drama is used as an educational tool around the world. Can it be used by interpreters to expand visitors’ conceptions of the human-nature culture milieu? This study addresses the paucity of empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of dramatized interpretation. Ten practitioners of dramatized interpretation were interviewed to explore the current use of drama in interpretation in Queensland, Australia, and in particular, the practitioners’ perceptions of these practices and their effectiveness. Current practice was evaluated according to the drama, interpretation and education literature, particularly recent theoretical developments. Practitioners displayed a strong understanding of the importance of engagement in interpretation, using a variety of drama forms and strategies to create resonant experiences and strengthen visitors’ connections with natural, historic and cultural heritage. In addition, they designed their programs to provoke thought and foster deep understanding of environmental and conservation issues, and obtained evidence of provocation and conceptual enhancement. Notwithstanding this, it is concluded that dramatized interpretation could have a greater impact on conceptual enhancement if practitioners designed their programs according to constructivist, group learning and sociocultural perspectives. Practitioners could also make a greater contribution to general environmental education if they explicitly addressed the issue of sustainability, using drama to tell stories that encapsulate the concept of sustainability and provide a vision of sustainable living. A checklist is provided to assist practitioners in the design and evaluation of dramatized programs. Recommendations are also given for interpreters wishing to explore the application of drama to their interpretive setting.

This thesis documents the history of the ongoing process for developing and refining field recording, archiving and analysis techniques pertaining to rock art and cultural heritage in Australia.<br>Thesis (PhD Doctorate)<br>Doctor of Philosophy by Publication (PhD)<br>Australian School of Environmental Studies<br>Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology<br>Full Text

This study evaluated the ability of individual subjects and small groups to correctly identify Arizona plant communities from color airvideo footage, explored the relationship of five background variables to subjects' success, and determined which community types were easiest and most difficult for subjects to identify. Forty-six volunteers from the University of Arizona School of Renewable Natural Resources participated in a multiple-choice pretest-posttest experiment using 30 different plant communities depicted in one-minute segments of videotape. Three hours of training increased mean individual score from 7 correct (pretest) to 21 correct (posttest), and mean group score from 11 to 24. All respondents significantly improved their performance, regardless of background. Posttest results showed no significant difference in ability among individuals or between individuals and groups. The most difficult community to identify was creosote-tarbush desertscrub; the easiest was paloverde-saguaro desertscrub. Findings support the feasibility of video interpretation by minimally-trained personnel.

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2015.<br>Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.<br>Includes bibliographical references (pages 319-328).<br>Construction of large diameter tunnels is frequently accomplished by closed face tunnel boring machines (TBM) using a combination of face pressure and grouting around the precast lining in order to limit ground movements and potential damage to overlying structures. This thesis analyzes monitoring data from the Crossrail project involving twin tunnels construction using Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machines in London Clay. The research focuses on the 'greenfield' response during tunnel excavation beneath Hyde Park. Far-field measurements of surface and subsurface ground movements were interpreted using 2D finite element analyses using a range of constitutive models with parameters calibrated to non-linear stress-strain properties measured in high quality laboratory tests on London Clay. The analyses optimize three input parameters corresponding to boundary deformations around the tunnel cavity, using a least squares fit to the measured ground movements. The results for the first tunnel (WB) show that even simple soil models are able to achieve good agreement with far field ground deformations, while more complex models (MIT-Si) can represent accurately movements occurring much closer to the tunnel lining and hence, provide a more reliable guide to deformation sources at the tunnel cavity. The study also shows how ground movements induced by the second (EB) tunnel were influenced by proximity to the completed WB tunnel. The results provide a comprehensive view of the ground movement pattern and a useful framework for understanding how ground response is linked to EPB control parameters that can be investigated using 3D finite element models. Comparisons with data from prior open-face shield construction of the Jubilee Line Extension (in similar ground conditions) show that there are pervasive differences in the magnitudes and cavity deformations modes associated with different methods of tunnel construction. The current analyses of soil-structure interaction consider the measured deformations of a concrete-framed structure, Avenfield House, caused by the twin Crossrail tunnels. The thesis proposes a simple elastic shear beam model of the structure and assumes that the cavity deformation parameters are uncoupled from the presence of the structure. The results demonstrate that deformations of the structure can be predicted using information from the greenfield ground response.<br>by Evangelia S. Ieronymaki.<br>Ph. D.

The regime of islands, as captured in Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) grants a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf to all islands apart from "rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own." The provision was undoubtedly drafted in an intentionally ambiguous manner in order to strike a compromise between the contrasting views of States surrounding the regime of islands. Consequently, Article 121 is riddled with textual ambiguities. For example, the text does not further define the word "rock"; nor does the provision explain what it means to "sustain human habitation or economic life". As a result of these ambiguities, many States are of the opinion that Article 121 allocates a 200 nautical mile zone to every piece of land that protrudes above water. This provision is problematic as it potentially allocates vast amounts of ocean space to nations claiming sovereignty over tiny uninhabited islands speckled throughout the oceans, severely limiting the space that remains for the "common heritage of mankind". In addition, the ambiguous wording of Article 121 has resulted in various territorial disputes between nations in relation to both the interpretation and application of the Article. This dissertation seeks primarily to investigate whether the international community is moving towards certainty on the interpretation of Article 121 of the LOSC, with particular reference to the distinction between islands and rocks. In doing so, this dissertation will explore the body of jurisprudence of international courts and tribunals insofar as it relates to Article 121 of the LOSC. This is a fruitful exercise as any clarification in this regard will undoubtedly unify State practice surrounding the application of Article 121. This may have the effect of reducing conflict between States and ensuring that ocean spaces around insular formations are apportioned in an equitable and standardised manner.

By revealing deeper meanings and connecting the visitor to the resource, interpretation strives to accomplish a number of goals. Interpretation can increase knowledge of a program\'s topic, change the visitor's attitude toward something, change future behaviors, and increase appreciation for a place and its resources. While literature exists professing best practices for interpretation, little empirical support is present in the research literature to validate these practices' individual links to desired outcomes. This study empirically identifies attributes of the interpreter that statistically linked to visitor outcomes. We tracked 31 interpreter attributes and 10 intended outcomes of interpreters in 376 live interpretive programs in 24 units of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) and conducted visitor surveys immediately following the programs. This research addresses the following question: Which interpreter attributes most consistently lead to desired outcomes? Our research shows that the interpreter attributes most consistently associated with positive visitor outcomes were the interpreter's apparent degree of confidence and expression authentic emotion. The results can be used to inform interpretive training throughout the National Park Service.<br>Master of Science

The use of biomarkers is considered a promising alternative, or complement, to traditional ecotoxicological assays. Toxic effects are often initially manifested at the molecular or biochemical level, biomarkers are therefore used as sensitive indicators of toxic exposure. Ideally, biomarkers would also indicate reduced fitness and possible later effects at the individual or population levels. However, implementing biomarkers in ecotoxicology is challenging and few biomarkers have an established connection to reduced individual fitness. The aim of this thesis was to increase the value and improve the interpretation of biomarker responses in ecotoxicological studies by examining the impact of confounding factors and the relationship between oxidative biomarkers and reproductive effects in crustaceans. The sensitivity of biomarkers was confirmed in paper I as toxic effects of pharmaceuticals with conserved drug target orthologs were observed at the molecular and biochemical levels both earlier and at lower concentrations than effects on mortality and reproduction. No toxic effects were observed for the pharmaceutical without identified drug target orthologs, thus stressing the importance of considering toxic mechanisms and being aware of the most likely target when evaluating toxic effects also in non-target species. Many xenobiotics and environmental stressors interfere with oxidative processes, making oxidative biomarkers interesting to study in ecotoxicology and stress ecology. Still, feeding rate was identified as a confounding factor for antioxidant capacity (assayed as oxygen radical absorbance capacity, ORAC) and lipid peroxidation in ecotoxicological studies (paper II). However, ORAC normalized to protein was independent of altered feeding rates, hence it can be applied as a suitable exposure biomarker without considering alterations and effects of feeding rate. The connection between reproduction and oxidative stress is dual, as reproduction both can be inhibited by oxidative stress and induce pro-oxidative processes. Further, a positive association was found between ORAC and the occurrence of embryo aberrations in the benthic amphipod Monoporeia affinis (paper III). An association between antioxidant defense and reproduction was also observed for Daphnia magna (paper IV). Threshold values for identification of exposed individuals and prediction of possible later reproductive effects were established for ORAC. This thesis has contributed to diminishing some of the knowledge gaps limiting the use of oxidative biomarkers in ecotoxicology, by contributing to increased understanding of how oxidative biomarkers relate to important life-traits. Moreover, ORAC has been identified as a suitable biomarker of not only exposure, but also reproductive effects. Future research should continue to establish connections between biomarker responses and effects at higher levels, and focus on providing defined threshold values to enable predictions about later effects.<br><p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

The main subject of the thesis is &ldquo<br>interpretation&rdquo<br>and &ldquo<br>presentation&rdquo<br>of cultural and natural heritage sites which is an important phenomenon providing sustainability and protection of the heritage sites. Interpretation and conservation are tightly associated to each other. Individuals will learn more about the heritage site by the help of interpretation and as a result of understanding<br>they will have an intention to protect the historic site more<br>and protection will ensure continuity of the site. Interpretation and presentation of heritage sites is put into the words in Turkish Legislation by the definition of &ldquo<br>Environmental Design Project&rdquo<br>in `Amendment Act No. 5226 Concerning to Revision of Legislation Called as Law Concerning to Conservation of Natural and Cultural Entities` in 2004. In the legislation, it is stated that Environmental Design Projects which propose strategies for effective presentation, control visitor use, provide promotion and advertisement, solve problems emerged as a result of current use and circulation and answer the needs of historic sites by contemporary tools and methods must be prepared for each heritage site in Turkey. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to define principles for effective interpretation and presentation on the selected case according to analysis and evaluations and then propose brand new comprehensive and complementary Environmental Design Project. The case selected in the thesis for the proposition of Environmental Design Project is G&ouml<br>reme Open Air Museum &ndash<br>GOAM in Cappadocia which is Turkey&rsquo<br>s third most visited open air museum after Ephesus in Izmir and Hierapolis in Denizli. The two main reasons for the selection of GOAM are absence of comprehensive and complementary Environmental Design Project in GOAM and insufficiency of current interpretive facilities and visitor services presented in the museum as indicated in the decisions of Nevsehir Regional Council for Conservation of Cultural Entities. Focusing on the aim, thesis is structured in three parts which are interconnected to each other as the theoretical background of the interpretation and presentation in the world and in Turkish legislations, analysis and evaluation of the selected case and finally preliminary decisions and project proposal. To conclude, &ldquo<br>Environmental Design Project&rdquo<br>is an important tool for understanding the significance of the museum and providing easygoing and enjoyable visit for the museum visitors according to the values, problems and potentials of GOAM. In that respect, proposing environmental design project is critical in order to satisfy visitor needs during their museum visit and provide safeguarding of GOAM.

It is generally accepted that interpretation plays a significant role in tourism. It can help to enrich visitors’ experience and their cultural and environmental knowledge so that empathy towards conservation, heritage and culture can develop. However, there is a concern that much of the interpretation practised by the tourism industry is of poor quality. Its significance in ecotourism, cultural tourism, wildlife tourism, heritage and adventure tourism, and the concern about its quality gives rise to the need to examine how effective guides are in its delivery, what makes guides effective or ineffective and what continuing education and training they require for effective interpretive delivery. It is against this background that this study was done in order to investigate the interpretive effectiveness of tour guides in South African national parks. The overall purpose of the study was to design a model for effective interpretation for tour guides operating in South African national parks. To accomplish this, an in-depth literature review was done, followed by an empirical investigation. From the literature, the concept of environmental and cultural interpretation was analysed and the constructs that form the theoretical framework for measuring interpretation identified. A conceptual model was formulated that indicates that the effectiveness of tour guides is related to park policies; knowledge and appropriate application of interpretive delivery techniques; management support, evaluation and tourists’ feedback. A mixed method research design was employed, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In-depth interviews were conducted with nominated officials in the parks to solicit their views on what they perceive as critical issues in the delivery of effective interpretation. Tour guides were surveyed to determine their perceptions of problems with interpretive delivery techniques and their continuing education and training needs in regard to interpretive delivery techniques. Tourists were surveyed to determine their perceptions about their general satisfaction as attributed to interpretation, and the extent to which tour guides applied the interpretive delivery techniques during interpretation. Purposive sampling and convenience sampling techniques were used in this study. Data analysis on the qualitative interviews was done by summarising the content and categorising the statements made by the officials from certain which conclusions could be drawn. These interviews generated certain constructs and variables which were included in the survey instrument. Critical factors for effective interpretation, according to officials, were identified. These included communication skills, continuing education and training, knowledge of the area and a passion for the task. Quantitative data was analysed by ranking those factors which proved to be most problematic in effective interpretive delivery, the most important of which is addressing tourists by their names, using the five senses to enhance the experience, gaining the attention of the tourists, encouraging participation of tourists and presenting the content in a simple manner. Tour guides generally did not rate delivery techniques as being “serious” problems. It was taken into account that tour guides may be reluctant to state the level of a perceived problem in applying effective delivery techniques and to overcome this limitation, questions relating to the need for training in the same delivery techniques were included in the questionnaire. The results indicated a higher level of the need for training than the level of the perceived problem. Tourists were generally satisfied with the tour guides’ interpretation although only a few were not satisfied with the interpretation of tour guides. However, to ensure sustainability, there is a need for continuing education and training in interpretive delivery techniques and interpretive content for tour guides. This study makes a valuable contribution in regard to tourism, in both the academic and the professional (interpretive guiding) spheres. It provides clear guidelines for national parks to improve the quality of the visitor’s experience and should contribute to the achievement of the goals of sustainability. It provides information that will assist officials in the national parks and those who provide professional development training for guides to better understand guides’ need for further training skills in interpretation in South Africa, an issue which has not been adequately researched in this country. The study produced a model that could enhance interpretive delivery techniques of tour guides in South African national parks.<br>Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011.<br>Tourism Management<br>unrestricted

The purpose of this study is to aid interpreters in evaluation sources (research material) for use in interpretive presentations and programs in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This was done by illustrating the need for source evaluation and then developing the guidelines for selecting, evaluating, and most effectively using various sources in the development of interpretive programs in the National Parks Services (NPS).

This study, patterned on Benton’s (2009) model of the four conceptions of interpretation which includes connecting visitors to resources through use of interpretive techniques, conveying mission and influencing behaviour, encouraging environmental literacy, and promoting recreational outcomes (modified from Benton’s use of tourism outcomes), took a comprehensive approach to examine the recreational and environmental outcomes of participation in interpretive programs at Gatineau Park (N = 78). The findings included significant correlations between the interpretive techniques and environmental literacy (n = 73, r = .711, p = .000), pro-environmental behavioural intentions (n = 70, r = .267, p = .025), and recreation satisfaction (n = 67, r = .419, p = .000) outcomes. There was also a significant correlation between recreation satisfaction and environmental literacy (n = 66, r = .518, p = .000). Path analysis indicated the direction of these relationships with environmental literacy directly influencing recreation satisfaction and interpretive techniques indirectly influencing recreation satisfaction through environmental literacy, revealing that environmental literacy mediated the relationship between the interpretive techniques used and recreation satisfaction.

<p>Determination of the subsurface geology is very important for the rock quarry industry. This is primarily done by drilling and mapping of the surface geology. However in Sweden the bedrock is often completely covered by Quaternary sediments making the prediction of subsurface geology quite difficult. Incorrect prediction of the rock-mass quality can lead to economic problems for the quarry. By performing geophysical measurements a more complete understanding of the subsurface geology can be determined. This study shows that by doing 2D-parallel data sampling a 3D inversion of the dataset is possible, which greatly enhances the visualization of the subsurface. Furthermore the electrical resistivity technique together with the induced polarization method proved to be very efficient in detecting fracture frequency, identification of major fracture zones, and variations in rock-mass quality all of which can affect the aggregate quality. With this technique not only the rock-mass quality is determined but also the thickness of the overburden. Implementation of geophysics can be a valuable tool for the quarry industry, resulting in substantial economic benefits.  </p>

This thesis seeks to contribute to the conversations in the humanities about the treatment of the physical environment in the context of a global ecological fragility and increased scholarly interest in the poetry of Arthur Nortje, a South African poet who wrote in the 1960s. While previous studies on Nortje concentrate on the political, psychic and technical aspects of his poetry, this study particularly explores the representations of the environment in Nortj e’s poetic imagination. Writing in the dark period of apartheid in South Africa’s history, Nortje’s poetry articulates a strong interest in the physical environment against the backdrop of official racialization of space and his personal nomadic life and exile. The poetry abounds with constant intersections of nature and culture (industrialism, urbanity and the quotidian), a sense of place and a deep sense of dislocation. The poems, therefore, present a platform from which to reevaluate conventional ecocritical ideas about nature, place-attachment and environmental consciousness. Drawing mainly on Felix Guattari’s ideas of three ecologies and transversality along with other theories, I conduct the study through what I call a transversal postcolonial environmental criticism, which considers the ecological value of the kind of assemblages that Nortje’s works represent. The first chapter focuses on conceptualizing a postcolonial approach to the environment based on Guattari’s concept of transversality to lay the theoretical foundation for the whole work. The second chapter analyses Nortje’s poetic imagination of place and displacement through his treatment of the private-public tension and the motif of exile. While the third chapter examines Nortje’s depiction of nature as both an everyday and urban phenomenon, the fourth chapter turns to his direct treatment of environmental crises handled through his imagination of the Canadian urban spaces, exile memory of apartheid geography, war and ecocide and the human body as a subject of environmental degradation. The fifth chapter, which is the conclusion, takes a brief look at the implication of Nortje’s complex treatment of the environment on postcolonial environmentalism.

Wildlife ecotourism is becoming a well-established industry due to its ability to contribute to local economies and the growing tourist demand for opportunities to observe endangered or rare species. Wildlife ecotourism is also recognized for its ability to provide free choice-learning settings for visitors, through the use of environmental interpretation programs. The process of environmental interpretation is a communication phenomenon thought to hold the potential to contribute to conservation by educating and raising awareness amongst tourists about environmental issues. Using a qualitative phenomenological research design, this research examined the environmental interpretation programs of great white shark ecotourism operators in Gansbaai, South Africa, from the perspective of tourists. Findings indicated that while tourists did not primarily choose to embark on shark tourism excursions to learn more about the species, many participants became slightly more informed about great whites and the surrounding environment after their experience. It was also found that most participants did not experience nervousness or fear when in the water with great whites, but instead felt an emotional connection and appreciation for the animal, causing a shift towards pro-conservation attitudes.

Urban landscape, especially parks, mainly provide a wide range of disciplines, such as physical recreation, social interaction to urban residents. It has been associated with physical features of environments and nature. Today, urban parks are perceived as far more than just recreation or scenery. Urban park also constitutes social and cultural value at city level. This study seeks to investigate and challenge how to understand landscape perception and dialog between urban park and community through the interpretation of photographic social media (Instagram). The study also draws further discussion on reciprocity between urban landscape and photography as well as environmental psychology, focusing on cognitive map and environmental meaning. It also suggests possible strategies of future urban intervention and policy, in particular, promoting well being and pro-environmental behavior.

Many immunization programs in developing countries arr now undergoing a period of rapid utilization. Innovative strategies, such as immunization holidays, are being tried. Political commitment and enthusiasm are high. There is a strong desire by health professionals to protect the lives of many children from the untimely death and/or disability resulting from infectious diseases preventable by vaccination. Evaluation of an immunization program can benefit other elements of the health system, particularly those that are not amenable to objective evaluation as immunization. In this case, immunization can serve as an indicator of the overall performance of the health system. The problems revealed by evaluation of the immunization program could therefore be taken as problems generic to the health services as a whole. In remedying the problems for immunization, approaches that would improve the health services as a whole should be sought. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to coverage and participation rates of the vaccination program in Arssi, Ethiopia. vaccination program participation is relatively easy to estimate, although its importance should not be overemphasized as the primary goal of immunization programs is the reduction in mortality, morbidity, and disability resulting from infectious diseases preventable by vaccination. The survey questionnaire, adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO), was one of the instruments used for this project. Results of the evaluation in 1988 showed that only 66.5% of the children surveyed were fully vaccinated, while 26.9% were partially vaccinated, and 16.6% were not vaccinated at all. Comparisons of the survey results between the years 1983, 1985, and 1988 was made to determine whether or not there was improvement in vaccination coverage between the years. Decisions about the differences of the survey results in population proportions between the years were based on whether or not the differences were scientifically significant, leading us to the rejection of the null hypothesis of no difference (zero), and whether or not the results were scientifically important (whether or not the results showed an increase in vaccination coverage). An increase in usage rate was noticed more in 1988 than the previous survey results of 1985 and 1983. Mothers or guardians were asked about the possible reasons of immunization failures when their children or themselves were found partially or not-vaccinated. The reasons included such facts as lack of information, lack of motivation, obstacles/barriers, and wrong/improper vaccination techniques. Based on the literature review and the survey results, recommendations were made to help correct the observed problems and achieve a higher level of vaccination coverage.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of environmental factors on business strategies for U.S. apparel manufacturing companies. Three research objectives were established to achieve this study purpose: (a) to explore the business environment of the U.S. apparel manufacturing industry from 1970 to 2005, (b) to investigate the business strategies for selected major U.S. apparel manufacturing companies in response to the environment from 1970 to 2005, and (c) to determine if patterns or themes are found in changes of the business strategies for the selected U.S. apparel manufacturing companies.<p> Two theories were used as a framework for this study: organizational interpretation process (e.g., Daft & Weick, 1984; Milliken, 1990) and organizational adaptation theory (e.g., Miles & Snow, 1978; Zeithaml & Zeithaml, 1984). Qualitative analysis was conducted for data analysis. Part 1 of data analysis was the in-depth exploration of the business environment for the apparel manufacturing industry in terms of globalization, technology, and consumer; and apparel firms' business strategies that have been implemented in response to these environments, from 1970 to 2005. Part 2 of data analysis was the case studies of two sample apparel companies (i.e., Nike, Inc., VF Corporation). The business strategies of the two companies in response to their business environments from 1970 to 2005 were investigated. <p> The in-depth exploration of general business strategies of the U.S. apparel industry and the case studies of two sample companies' specific business strategies revealed that U.S. apparel manufacturing companies have gone through the process that was proposed in the model of the study; they have been significantly affected by the environmental changes and have made changes to their business strategies in order to survive. These changes did vary between the two companies in the case study and were related to the original organization of the companies showing a variation in interpretation of the information.<br>Master of Science

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: I begin this assignment with an examination of verses such as Gen. 1:28 from the period of primeval history in the Old Testament (0. T.) of the Christian Bible which have been seen by some commentators, particularly Lynn White, as being responsible for a despotic attitude towards the natural environment and consequently for much of the damage that has been done to the environment. These texts are critically examined to determine whether one may interpret them in that manner but also taking into account the form and context of writing. The 'despotic' interpretation of these texts is contrasted with the views of others, such as Robin Attfield who see in them a call to stewardship, not a licence to ruthlessly subjugate. Attfield particularly does not believe that these ancient texts can be held responsible for the present ecological crisis. Thereafter an examination is made ofO.T. texts which refer to the concept of rest for the earth which, for our present-day context is interpreted in this assignment as a rest from the rigours of environmental degradation and from the over-exploitation of the earth's resources. New Testament (N.T.) texts are also critically examined in section 4, examining in the gospels Jesus' attitude towards the natural environment, and also other N.T. texts, particularly from the epistles ofSt Paul. The conclusion in this section is that the N.T. writers portray a benevolent attitude towards non-human nature and portray God as caring for even those inhabitants of the natural realm which humans may deem insignificant, eg, the sparrows referred to in Luke 12: 6. In section 5, there is once again an examination ofN.T. texts, but this time for the purposes of re-interpreting the concept of salvation so that it embraces the whole of creation and not only humankind. The point of departure here is that humans cannot be separated from their non-human environment on this earth. Salvation and reconciliation is for the whole of the created order, as St Paul seems to indicate. Therefore in this section of the assignment an holistic view of salvation is adopted: we are saved in our world and with our world, not apart from it and out of it. Section 6 endeavours to draw together the criteria that would inform an environmental ethic that Christians can subscribe to, given the approach that has been taken in the previous sections of the assignment; 6.2 lists the features necessary for such an ethic. An examination is also made of various ethical theories such as Natural Law (Teleology), Utilitarianism, and Deontology and what impact they would have if applied in an environmental framework. This section ends in 6.5 with an overview of the main tenets of the Deep Ecology movement, not viewing it so much as an ethical system, but more as a set of values which accord with a deep respect for all of nature and which may guide humankind to transform destructive attitudes towards the environment. Because this assignment deals with Christian morality in respect of the environment, it is necessary to critically examine the concept of stewardship which is the thrust of section 7, titled 'Stewardship Revisited'. The views of Robin Attfield, John Passmore and William Dyrness with regard to stewardship in the Bible and Christian tradition are contrasted. Thereafter Elizabeth Dodson Gray's views are referred to and supported as the way towards a much-needed transformation of humans' attitude to the natural environment. Gray rejects the notion of stewardship as an acceptable environmental ethic because it retains the overtones of domination and paternalism. It is concluded that stewardship, even if it is biblically justified and is supported by Christian tradition, has failed to arrest the degradation and destruction of the natural environment caused by human activities. This then leads on to the next section where this assignment supports Gray's 'Ethic of Attunement'. 'Becoming Attuned', the heading of the section describes in two words the basis of Elizabeth Gray's environmental ethic. It is noted here that she calls upon humankind to become attuned to our ecosystems and the life-support systems in the biosphere and to plan and structure our industries and activities to 'fit in'. Gray's ethic of attunement is also supported because it is practical, down-to-earth and takes into account the needs of human beings as part of nature. Section 9 gives a brief overview of some practical implications and applications of an ethic of attunement. The fields of education, industry, farming, energy and nature-conservation are touched on. The last subsection under 9, 9.6, gives a recent example of a clash between human and non-human nature in the Cape Peninsula, namely, the so-called invasion of residential areas by baboons. How this problem may be dealt with under an ethic of attunement is discussed. This assignment concludes in section 10 with the exhortation to move beyond an ethic of stewardship of the natural environment to one ofattunement. Moreover, the urgency of doing so is emphasised. If we do not change our ways to fit in with nature, planet Earth is doomed to eco logical destruction.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die begin van hierdie taak word verskei Bybelse verse uit die oergeskiedenis in die Ou Testament (O.T.) ondersoek om te bepaal ofhulle verantwoordelik gehou kan word vir die mens se despotiese gesindheid teenoor die natuurlike omgewing en die gevolglike skade wat so 'n gesindheid veroorsaak. Verklaarders soos veral Lynn White is van mening dat verse soos Genesis 1: 28 wel aanleiding gegee het tot so 'n despotiese gesindheid teenoor die omgewing. Hierdie mening word in teenstelling geplaas met die sienswyse van skrywers soos Robin Attfield wie meen dat die verse onder bespreking te doen het met rentmeesterskap eerder as despotisme. Bowendien glo Attfield dat hierdie oeroue tekste nie verantwoordelik gehou kan word vir ons hedendaagse ekologiese krisis nie. Daarna word ondersoek ingestel in die O.T. tekste wat te doen het met die konsep van rus vir die aarde. Die konsep word in hierdie deel van die taak vertolk in ons hedendaagse konteks as 'n_rus vir die aarde van omgewingsdegradasie en die onmatige ontginning van die aarde se hulpbronne. Tekste uit die Nuwe Testament (N.T.) word ook ondersoek. In afdeling 4 word gekyk na Jesus se woorde en gesindheid met betrekking tot die natuurlike omgewing asook ander verse uit die sendbriewe van Paulus. Hier is die gevolgtrekking dat die N.T. skrywers welwillendheid betoon teenoor die nie-menslike natuur en dat hulle vir God afbeeld as besorgd oor die geringste van wesens in die natuurlike wêreld, dit wat die mens as nietig mag beskou, soos die mossies waarna verwys word in Lukas 12: 6. In afdeling 5 word daar weereens N. T. tekste ondersoek, maar hierdie keer met die doelom die tradisionele dogma van verlossing om te skep sodat dit die hele skepping omhels en nie net die mensdom nie. Hier is die uitgangspunt dat ons nie die mens kan afsonder van die res van die skepping nie. Verlossing en versoening is vir die hele skepping, soos dit blyk in party dele van Paulus se briewe. 'n Alomvattende benadering tot verlossing word in hierdie deel van die taak bevorder: ons word verlos in en met die res van die skepping, en nie apart daarvan nie. Afdeling 6 poog om die maatstawwe te identifiseer wat behoort deel te wees van 'n omgewingsetiek vir Christene, gegewe die rigting wat ingeslaan is in die vorige afdelings van die taak. In 6.2 is daar 'n lys opgestel van die maatstawwe wat nodig geag is. Verskeie etiese teorieë soos Utilitarisme en Teleologie word nagegaan om hulle uitwerking op omgewingsetiek te bepaal. Hierdie afdeling eindig met 6.5 waar die grondbeginsels van die 'Deep Ecology' beweging voorgehou word as die soort waardes wat die mensdom kan lei om 'n_innige respek vir die hele natuur te koester. Daar word saamgestem met die mening dat 'Deep Ecology' nie 'n praktiese, stelselmatige omgewingsetiek is nie, maar, as ons die ideale en grondbeginsels daarvan aanneem, mag dit die nodige transformasie veroorsaak in mense se verkeerde gesindheid teenoor die natuur. Omdat hierdie taak met Christelike omgewingsetiek te doen het, is dit nodig om die konsep van rentmeesterskap as omgewingetiek te ondersoek, want dit is deesdae die oorheersende nadering in die Christelike kerk. Die menings van Robin Attfield, John Passmore en William Dyrness met betrekking tot rentmeesterskap word in teenstelling getrek. Daarna word gekyk na Elizabeth Dodson Gray se sienswyse aangaande die etiek van rentmeesterskap teenoor die omgewing. Haar sienswyse word ondersteun - dat rentmeesterskap hoofsaaklik 'n etiek van heerskappy of baasspeel is. Die gevolgtrekking hier is dat rentmeesterskap nie meer voorgehou kan word as 'n paslike omgewingetiek nie. Dit het nie tot dusver geslaag om die degradasie en vernietiging van die natuur deur die mens stop te sit nie. Gray sê dat die mens in ooreenstemming moet kom met die natuur ('become attuned'). Dit is die inhoud van afdeling 8 - 'n uitleg van haar 'Ethic of Attunement'. Haar uitgangspunt is dat die mens homlhaarself moet sien as deel van die natuur en nie as oorheerser nie. Al die mens se aktiwiteite, en veral die nywerheid, moet inpas by die natuur se siklusse. Gray se etiek word ondersteun omdat dit prakties is en omdat dit die belangstellings en benodighede van die mensdom in ag neem, maar as deel van die natuur. Afdeling 9 word gebruik om kortliks te skets wat sommige van die implikasies en praktiese toepassings van hierdie etiek in die samelewing mag wees. Hier word gekyk na die uitwerking op opvoeding, nywerheid, boedery, energie en natuurbewaring. In die laaste onder-afdeling in hierdie afdeling, 9.6, is daar 'n beskrywing van 'n spesifieke probleem wat te doen het met die botsing tussen die mens en nie-menslike natuur. Die onlangse botsings tussen mense en bobbejane in die Kaapse Skiereiland word gebruik om te sien hoe Gray se omgewingsetiek van 'attunement' in so 'n situasie gebruik kan word om 'n oplossing te kry. Die taak eindig met afdeling 10 waar mense aangespoor word om die omgewingsetiek van 'attunement' aan te neem en die etiek van rentmeesterskap af te skaf Bowendien word daar gepleit dat dit dringend moet gebeur want as ons nie ons algemene gesindheid van oorheersing verander nie, is die aarde verdoem tot vernietiging van die natuur.

The central objective of this thesis is to analyse the relationship between the state and indigenous movements in the Peruvian Andes. In particular, I focus on a territorial conflict over the reed beds of Lake Titicaca, between the authorities of a state-managed aquatic Reserve and a variety of indigenous groups. These include the Uros, who live in the lake on floating islands they construct out of reeds, and a number of Aymara and Quechua lakeshore communities, who make extensive use of reeds as cattle fodder. Claiming ancestral territorial rights, the Uros have attempted to exclude their territory from the Reserve by applying for its conversion into a different format of protected area designed for direct management by indigenous groups. In response to the Uros' offensive, the Reserve has established alliances with the lakeshore communities, mapping their aquatic territories in order to establish competing territorial claims in which the Uros' area is significantly reduced.

With visitation to natural areas increasing, the appropriate management of these areas is important. There are a number of management tools available which endeavour to minimise environmental impacts of visitors. One such management tool is interpretation. Interpretation is widely used as a management tool because: it is perceived to be the most cost effective method; it is a light-handed approach and allows visitors the freedom of choice; and it enhances visitor experiences and satisfaction. However, the ability of interpretation to bring about a reduction in the impacts of visitors to natural areas, has rarely been quantified. This study was designed to determine the extent to which an interpretive program reduced the environmental impacts of visitors to national parks. Fieldwork was undertaken in Lamington National Park, where 41 guided walks were examined. To measure the actual behaviour or resulting impacts of visitors in a national park, three appropriate environmental indicators were chosen: shortcutting of corners, picking up litter already on the track, and noise levels. Five interpretive programs were created, each with a different combination of environmental interpretation, role modelling and verbal appeals. For the shortcutting results, the interpretive program with the combination of environmental interpretation, role modelling by the guide and verbal appeals from the guide, was always the most effective in reducing shortcutting. Visitors in this interpretive program were always, statistically, less likely to shortcut than visitors on all the other interpretive programs. The programs with only environmental interpretation or no environmental interpretation, were always least effective in reducing shortcutting. The interpretive programs with environment interpretation plus role modelling, or verbal appeals, were always in the middle of these extremes. They were more effective than having neither role modelling or verbal appeals, but less effective than having both. Results for the amount of litter picked up found that the inclusion of verbal appeals in an interpretive program was the only factor that influenced whether visitors picked up litter. In addition, there was no difference in the amount of litter picked up, by the interpretive program with environmental interpretation only, and the program with no environmental interpretation. Results for the noise levels of visitors, found that no interpretive program reduced the amount of shouting and talking loudly of visitors. Although not statistically significant, it did appear that there were lower proportions of shouting and talking loudly, following a verbal appeal and/or role modelling. Additionally, there was no influence of the interpretive program on the proportion of time visitors were talking, or quiet, during their walk. Overall, this research found that interpretation can be an effective management tool in reducing visitor impacts. Interpretation is most effective in reducing impacts when those impacts are specifically addressed through verbal appeals, combined with positive role modelling of appropriate behaviours. However, interpretation did not reduce all the impacts studied and therefore is not the solution to all problems. Implications of this study are that those using interpretation as a means of reducing visitor impacts, must ensure that they have a high standard of interpretation, which specifically addresses the impacts that need to be reduced. It also highlights the importance of the role of the guide, and that those employed should be well trained and competent in their position.

Interpretation is widely used as a management tool because: it is perceived to be the most cost effective method; it is a light-handed approach and allows visitors the freedom of choice; and it enhances visitor experiences and satisfaction. However, the ability of interpretation to bring about a reduction in the impacts of visitors to natural areas, has rarely been quantified. This study was designed to determine the extent to which an interpretive program reduced the environmental impacts of visitors to national parks. Fieldwork was undertaken in Lamington National Park, where 41 guided walks were examined. To measure the actual behaviour or resulting impacts of visitors in a national park, three appropriate environmental indicators were chosen: shortcutting of corners, picking up litter already on the track, and noise levels. Five interpretive programs were created, each with a different combination of environmental interpretation, role modelling and verbal appeals. For the shortcutting results, the interpretive program with the combination of environmental interpretation, role modelling by the guide and verbal appeals from the guide, was always the most effective in reducing shortcutting. Visitors in this interpretive program were always, statistically, less likely to shortcut than visitors on all the other interpretive programs. The programs with only environmental interpretation or no environmental interpretation, were always least effective in reducing shortcutting. The interpretive programs with environment interpretation plus role modelling, or verbal appeals, were always in the middle of these extremes. They were more effective than having neither role modelling or verbal appeals, but less effective than having both. Results for the amount of litter picked up found that the inclusion of verbal appeals in an interpretive program was the only factor that influenced whether visitors picked up litter. In addition, there was no difference in the amount of litter picked up, by the interpretive program with environmental interpretation only, and the program with no environmental interpretation. Results for the noise levels of visitors, found that no interpretive program reduced the amount of shouting and talking loudly of visitors. Although not statistically significant, it did appear that there were lower proportions of shouting and talking loudly, following a verbal appeal and/or role modelling. Additionally, there was no influence of the interpretive program on the proportion of time visitors were talking, or quiet, during their walk. Overall, this research found that interpretation can be an effective management tool in reducing visitor impacts. Interpretation is most effective in reducing impacts when those impacts are specifically addressed through verbal appeals, combined with positive role modelling of appropriate behaviours. However, interpretation did not reduce all the impacts studied and therefore is not the solution to all problems. Implications of this study are that those using interpretation as a means of reducing visitor impacts, must ensure that they have a high standard of interpretation, which specifically addresses the impacts that need to be reduced. It also highlights the importance of the role of the guide, and that those employed should be well trained and competent in their position.<br>Thesis (PhD Doctorate)<br>Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)<br>Australian School of Environmental Studies<br>Full Text

Environmental education in schools has a critical part to play in the reorientation of social attitudes and behaviours that address the perception of a looming environmental crisis. Many believe there is a need for a debate about the purpose of education. In the UK, government imposed educational change by introducing the Education Reform Act in 1988. There was a clear opportunity to address environmental education within this reform. In 1992 government made a commitment to Agenda 21 (UNCED) that included the proposal that, within 3 years, governments should prepare or update strategies to integrate environment and development into all areas of education. This thesis considers whether any of the rhetoric has been realised. It recognises the crucial role of teachers in implementing reform and it uses a Grounded Theory methodology to `give teachers a voice' in an attempt to understand the impact of teachers' beliefs on environmental education development in English secondary schools. The study was carried out in 3 schools that were participating in an environmental education pilot project in Cumbria and also in 3 schools in Merseyside. Interviews took place with 27 teachers, with one external consultant and with the co-ordinator for the Cumbria project. The key finding is that the limitations on environmental education provision at its most profound, socially reforming level are beyond the locus of control of teachers. The outcomes of the ERA (1988) with its imposition of a restorationist curriculum and the accompanying myths about the nature of knowledge are such that the role of teachers as experts-in-knowledge and a didactic mode of teaching have been reinforced. Neither of these promotes the collaborative endeavour of knowledge construction that would be prerequisite for reforming education to meet the needs of a complex, rapidly changing world. Within these constraints, environmental education is likely to remain in its infancy with provision being limited to the knowledge and skills defined in conventional subject areas.

This study looks firstly at the historical background to conservation, particularly in the South African National Parks Board, and relates this to developments in interpretation in the National Parks. These are evaluated against international norms as they appear in the current literature. The aim is to establish a platform upon which future developments in interpretation may be built, avoiding the mistakes of the past, while capitalising on the strong points. Current views of what interpretation is, and what it should be, are reviewed. Knowing who the audience is, in terms of cultural background, education, needs and interests, as well as sound planning, clear objectives and ongoing evaluation of interpretive programmes, emerge as essential prerequisites for effective interpretation. Through reviewing the development and current status of interpretation in the National Parks, the study finds that although the view has been expressed by management, both past and present, that interpretation in the national parks is of great importance, the past and current status of interpretation does not reflect that view. Generally, interpretation appears to be regarded as a non-essential service. This report argues that environmental interpretation should be given a higher status in the National Parks Board and that it should form an important part of the conservation strategy and management plan for the national parks. The researcher contends that a greater investment in interpretation could lead to a decrease in the need for further, increased investment in law enforcement in the parks. The researcher is also of the opinion that interpretation aimed at all levels of personnel of the National Parks Board is at least as important as interpretation aimed at visitors.