Browsing by Author "Fuggle, Richard"

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    A systematic methodology toward creating spatial quality in urban settings
    (1989) Thomas, Derek Charles; Fuggle, Richard
    Urban settings, conceived and implemented in the climate of modern-day urbanisation and technology, show undesirable trends. In the typical situation, due to the absence of the urban dweller's participation in the planning and design process, prescriptive decision-making directs and shapes the urban environment on the basis of the objectives of the trained professional or a developer. The disciplines of architecture, urban design, and urban planning, well endowed with research in terms of their philosophical, cultural, and historical dimensions, traditionally overlook systematic and impartial methods in realisation of design objectives. In addition, architects generally focus within the confines of the immediate site, ignoring the wider context. Urban planners and designers tend to follow their perceptions of the urban setting and pragmatic objectives, and to overlook the elements which constitute spatial quality for others. Planning and design tasks performed in this way are prescriptive and perfunctory, and do not meet the urban dweller's perceptions of spatial quality. Although the planning and design disciplines can avail themselves of considerable intellectual resources, systematic methods to synthesise both the subjective opinion of the urban dweller and expert opinion of specialists are lacking. With current global scenarios, the need to develop methods for participation becomes even more relevant and urgent. The likelihood of high-density settings is ominous without changes in planning and design approaches. The overall objective of this thesis is to develop a methodology which meets the demands of the situations described. The data for this study are derived from a theoretical examination of the attributes which contribute to the perceptions of spatial quality in the urban setting. A thematic analysis, carried out against the background of factors, such as spatial patterning, links social well-being with characteristics of the urban environment. Consistent and invariant spatial quality indicators are derived which are then associated with spatial performance. A spatial frame is then identified to structure the methodology into recognisable and manageable urban spatial components. Expectations of spatial performance are translated systematically into primary planning and design generators to complete the elements of the methodology. The problem of how to involve urban dwellers and specialist designers and planners for a consensus useful in the planning process is examined. The comprehensive methodology developed by Sondheim for assessing environmental impacts incorporates the necessary features for adaptation to new urban settings and resolves the problem of polling divergent priorities without requiring discussion or consensus amongst participants. The matrix procedures of the chosen methodology involve both subjective and informed qualitative evaluation without the use of environmental indices, which are found wanting as measures of quality. Post-multiplication of the matrices produces ranking of planning and design generators in order of importance, which, effectively, represents the choice of the urban dweller. The methodology is operationalised to test the matrix and post-multiplication procedures, and the rationality of the result. For the case model presented, a rational result was obtained, which supports the adaptation of the methodology for creative purposes. The ranking is referred to a source book, which allows the systematic transformation of the primary planning and design generators into recognisable and conventional planning directives. As a contribution to the planning and design fields, the methodology is a useful creative tool, effectively addressing the problem of the interface between planner and user in the attainment of spatial quality in the development of new urban settings. Furthermore, the procedures can be operationalised to meet an infinite range of variables, or spatial scenarios within the urban setting.
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    Environmental factors and the water regime of De Hoop Vlei
    (1983) Butcher, Shirley Elizabeth; Fuggle, Richard
    The De Hoop Vlei is an internationally registered wetland of great ecological richness which is situated partly within the first and largest nature reserve established by the Cape Department of Nature and Environmental Conservation. This vlei has flooded twice and been dry on four occasions this century. There has been speculation that land management practices in the catchment are the cause of such extremes. This claim is investigated with reference to established techniques for modelling runoff from rainfall data. As background to the study the characteristics of the De Hoop catchment have been documented. This information was not previously available and provides an essential basis for further study of conditions in De Hoop Vlei. It is found that whilst large differences in runoff may occur in localised areas due to changing land management practices, because of the composite hydraulic characteristics of the entire catchment it is not possible at the present time to provide a final answer to the question of whether stream to De Hoop has changed significantly due to human impact. Nevertheless, some important environmental changes affecting basin capacity and biological factors at De Hoop have been elucidated by this study.
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    An evaluation of environmental impact assessment procedure in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project : Phase 1
    (1997) Nkopane, Setenane; Fuggle, Richard
    Environmental Impact Assessment is a procedure that ensures that the environmental consequences of development proposals are understood and adequately considered in the planning process. This important project planning requirement is often inadequately addressed in many developing countries - especially with regard to dam projects. Lesotho is a small developing country in Southern Africa which is currently engaged in a multi-phased dam project - the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) - in order to utilize its most abundant natural resource - water. Planning for the LHWP incurred some irregularities, particularly with regard to environmental implications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental impact assessment procedures of the LHWP, Phase lA. This includes review of the environmental studies that were carried out and the findings of these studies; assessment of the familiarity of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) staff with EIA procedures; and examination of the extent to which the communities in the project area were consulted regarding this project. The study is based on two surveys: firstly, within the Environment Division of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority to assess the familiarity of staff members with proper EIA procedures. In this survey 28 self-administered questionnaires were issued, and 23 were collected. Secondly, structured interviews and unstructured group discussions were carried out in 14 villages to examine the extent to which the communities affected by the LHWP had been involved in the environmental impact assessments of Phase lA; and whether the impacts they experienced and the subsequent. Mitigation efforts had been considered comprehensively by the project proponents. Eighty interviews were conducted in six of the 14 villages selected in the study, in the remaining villages data was collected through group discussions. The groups consisted of 10 - 12 members (usually prominent persons) from the community. The study revealed that EIA for Phase 1 A of the LHWP was not carried out according to recognized standards. Environmental studies that were undertaken were done too late in the EIA process, and did riot facilitate the project planning. The study also found that the majority of LHDA staff members are not familiar with the details of the EIA process, and did not participate in Phase lA project planning. The communities affected by the LHWP were not given the opportunity to raise their concerns about the project. This is manifested by the magnitude and type of impacts which they have incurred because of the LHWP. Members of these communities therefore regard their livelihoods as being worse than before the project. It is thus recommended that LHDA should revise and significantly improve its project planning approaches - especially for the subsequent phases of the project. It is imperative· to incorporate public participation in the EIAs of these phases. Formulation of guideline sand legislation - in Lesotho as a whole - will ensure enforcement and compliance with sound environmental assessment procedures, and improve on LHDA's manpower capabilities with regard to EIA and environmental management. This in turn will enhance an environmentally sustainable development.
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    Exploring the Earth Summit : findings of the Rio United Nations Conference on Environment and Development : implications for South Africa
    (1993) Wynberg, Rachel; Fuggle, Richard
    In a collective bid to safeguard the Earth, almost 50 000 people gathered in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 for what has been described as the inception of the "Environmental Revolution. " Among them were 103 heads of state, 9 000 journalists, a range of governmental delegations and non-governmental organisations, indigenous peoples, women's groups, youth and children, trade unions, business and industry, academics, religious groups and concerned individuals.
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    Financial considerations of South African environmental problems
    (1984) Miltz, David; Fuggle, Richard
    No panacea exists for the resolution of environmental problems. In South Africa environmental control is affected almost exclusively by way of direct prohibition an~ regulation. These policies have serious limitations predominantly as a result of legal and administrative inadequacies. The remedy of these inadequacies is not feasible and alternative, complementary or replacement control policies are needed. This report reviews a number of alternative policies, most of which rely on market related mechanisms, in the context of pollution, resource destruction and land use problems. In addition, current financial legislation is replete with provisions contributing towards the exacerbation of environmental ills. These anomalous provisions must be re-evaluated in terms of material objectives, which must include the need for sound environmental resource management. A number of provisions do, however, offer some potential for conservation activities. These provisions, together with some innovative schemes, are introduced in the report and deserve further research.
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    Perceptions of a guided wilderness trail
    (1985) Raimondo, John P; Fuggle, Richard
    Personal recorded Interviews with past and present guides of the Wilderness Leadership School were used to identify four Important factors in a successful guided wilderness trail. Using postal questionnaires, guides and members of the Wilderness Leadership School were asked to rank nine trail scenarios. The technique of conjoint analysis yielded the relative importance, as perceived by the guides and trialists, of each of the four factors. It was shown that the most important attribute for both groups of respondents was how the trails interacted with one another. Next in importance was an increase in awareness, by the trialists of the if interdependence environment. This was followed by the personality of the guide and finally signs of modern man's impact in the wilderness area. There was an important difference in percept f on between the guides and the trails; the trails firsts placed more emphasis on the group interact ion and wilderness on an increase in awareness. There were also differences in perception between the different category of guides and trail fists. of' activities and related experiences relative to a successful trail are included in the report.
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    Sources of sediments accumulating in the lower Black and Vygekraal Rivers, Cape Town, South Africa
    (1991) Macdonald, Alexander James; Fuggle, Richard
    Soil erosion within the catchment areas of the Black, Vygekraal and Elsieskraal Rivers (Cape Town, South Africa) results in sediment transport by these rivers, their tributaries, and the stormwater drainage systems which flow into these rivers. This sedimentary material is subsequently deposited in the lower reaches of the Black and Vygekraal Rivers owing to a decrease in the competence of the watercourse in this area. The resultant accumulation of sediment necessitates costly annual dredging of this section of river (referred to in this study as the "dredged area") by the Cape Town City Council. The loss of soil cover within the three catchments is initiated mainly by wind in summer, and by rain in winter. Soil erosion is likely to be of greatest magnitude in the Vygekraal catchment, owing to the extensive exposure of the natural sand cover as a result of poorly vegetated areas. Steep slopes, and construction works linked to urban development, also render the upper parts of the Elsieskraal catchment vulnerable to soil erosion. A relatively insignificant amount of soil loss is believed to occ~_r within the catchment of the Black River. Measurements and estimations of the relative transporting powers of the Black, Vygekraal and · Elsieskraal Rivers showed that the Vygekraal River was likely to have the greatest capacity to transport sediment throughout the year, while the Black River would have the least capacity. Particle size analyses of the watercourse sediments in the study area showed that the sands of the Cape Flats, i.e., within the Vygekraal catchment area, were the most easily transported sediments in the study area, by both water and wind. Finer alluvial sediments in the Tygerberg "Hills region (in the upper Elsieskraal catchment), directly derived from the loam soils of the area, were also found to be easily transported by natural elements. The coarser sediments in the Black River catchment were ·probably transported at a significantly slower rate, than were the fine sediments of the Elsieskraal River, and the medium-grained sands in the Vygekraal catchment area X-ray diffraction analysis of the clay component of the sediments indicated that the sediments accumulating in the extreme lower sector of the dredged area probably had their source in the upper Elsleskraal catchment area. Microscopic studies of the modal sand fractions of the sediments showed that it was likely that the sediments deposited in the upper and middle parts of the dredged area were almost exclusively derived from the catchment of the Vygekraal River, while the sediments in the lower part of the dredged area were equally likely to have originated from either of the three catchments. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed on the data set comprising the variables generated by the particle size analyses. The results from these investigations showed that, for the dredged area as a whole, the largest contribution of sediment came from the Vygekraal River, with the least from the Black River. The proportionate contribution of the Elsieskraal River to the total sediment accumulation in the dredged area · is likely, therefore, to be intermediate to those from the Vygekraal and Black Rivers. Further, more detailed studies of sediment transport and soil loss would be necessary in order to accurately determine the percentage contribution of each of the Vygekraal, Elsieskraal and Black Rivers to the total quantity of sediment accumulating annually in the dredged area.
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    The consumption of energy for domestic use in three African villages
    (1979) Best, Marc George; Fuggle, Richard
    Very little information is available on domestic fuel consumption in African villages in Southern Africa. And yet, it is a problem that concerns a large number of people, and which is contributing to environmental deterioration. At three villages, 'in Lesotho, Transkei and KwaZulu, the collection and consumption of wood, dung and par2ffin were recorded. The larges~ quantities of energy are consumed . .in KwaZulu with the least in the Transkei (only slightly belong Lesotho). the total consumption of energy largely depends on the availability tv of wood. wood becorr.es scarce, is burnt for heat and cooking. Paraffin is used for light, and for cooking by some women. Wood and dung are burnt at efficiencies of below 3%. The most obvious short term solution, to shortages of energy, is to raise the effi8iency with which fuel is burnt, In the long term, alternative energy sources must be developed.