This thesis is a study of Community Economic Development (CED), specifically the CED used by the Development Isle Madame Association Inc. (DIMA) in Isle Madame to improve the economic and social conditions of their community after a major economic crisis. In this thesis, CED is defined as a diverse and varying program of activities that are planned and executed by a specific geographic locality of people or a specific group of people sharing similar interests to improve living and working conditions in their locality. Typically, CED is economic, but it can also be social, cultural, or environmental. Also important are the community development organizations (CDOs), like DIMA, who do CED. In short, no matter what kinds of CED are being practised, the CED process must include local communication, participation, determination, ownership, and control. The study results show that the DIMA CED projects with a greater inclusion of these community factors fared out much better than those projects that did not. The thesis reviews the literature that supports these results, such as the Antigonish Movement during the 1920s and the 1930s in Atlantic Canada, and its legacy of community empowerment, adult education, activism and cooperation, which are still relevant today. Also, the thesis reviews the liberal and the progressive traditions of CED, and explores how CEO can be an important alternative to the present capitalist-based political economy. Other topics include the role of the government in CED, as well as recommendations for DIMA’s future CED work and for further studies in CED practice and theory.

Along with the rapid urbanization and the change to market-economy development, many old-city neighbourhoods in China are facing pressing problems of redevelopment: sub-standard and deteriorated housing, inadequate infrastructure, declining community vitality, environmental degradation, etc. Building on Qingdao City planning reports and on-site research, this MDP project presents a concept plan for redevelopment of the Sifang Neighbourhood in Qingdao. The document reviews the concept of Sustainable Community Design SCD) since its earliest statement in the mid-1980s: variations in meanings and approaches； the social and urban design principles and technologies applied in practice； and the attention lately given to ecological objectives. From research into Europe and North America theory and built projects, ten principles are derived； these are fitted to the Qingdao cultural-administrative and physical context. The Sifang Neighbourhood consists of 17.7 hectares within the Zhongshan Road Re-development Area. Considerations of cultural-historical continuity are most important in the application of the SCD principles “Li” housing, etc.). Many planning-design topics—e.g., climate conditions, spatial organization, housing and residential density, housing markets, streets and cars, open space “greenspace”) and pedestrian movements, stormwater management and ecological landscape, and business enterprise and employment opportunities—are discussed and illustrated. Recommendations regarding implementation are outlined. The local planning officials and planners are identified to be leading panics for promoting sustainability. Five categories of consideration are: housing and community form, streets and transportation, ecological landscape and open space, resource efficiency, public participation. Key words. urban design/China, sustainable development/China, sustainable community design, ecological design, neighbourhood redevelopment, Sifang, Li housing, Qingdao.

In an effort to provide sustainable urban development, the new City of Ottawa Official Plan proposes to intensify residential neighbourhoods. Considering movements including Smart Growth, the Compact City, and other Canadian examples of residential intensification, the Ottawa plan raises questions regarding residents feelings towards intensification and how they believe intensification affects property values. A case study of the Glebe neighbourhood helps to test whether it is possible to increase density without negatively impacting residents property values. The study compares one property with a converted attic apartment to one that is unchanged. Residents opinions regarding intensification are divided, with those residing further away from intensified areas objecting the most. An assessment of property values analysis demonstrates that converted units offer potential for short-term financial gain while single unit dwellings are a safer long-term investment. However, perhaps the health of the environment should take precedence over the financial value of property.

The Province of Ontario has introduced the Clean Water Act as a means to protect sources of drinking water and implement the last of the Walkterton Inquiry recommendations. The Clean Water Act is to be watershed-based with plan development facilitated by conservation authorities across the province. This thesis is a case study of the Maitland Valley watershed and investigates the potential for collaborative management as a framework for source water protection. Stakeholder analysis methodology is used to examine the social network of the Maitland Valley watershed for source water protection, and analyze the nature of the social network with regard to relationships and communication. Social network maps were generated to conceptualize the presence of relationships, both supportive and conflictive, among the stakeholders groups. Patterns of interest, communication and learning, collaboration and partnership are detailed. A conceptual framework that proposes guiding principles for collaboration was derived from the literature. Based on the findings this thesis then reflects on the usefulness of these principles as a tool for the development of collaborative management. Suggestions for using a collaborative management framework for source water protection are then put forward.

The value of decision support systems in fostering better planning and management decisions has received mixed reviews. On the one hand, researchers claim that the use of a decision support system improves the decision-making process by increasing the overall effectiveness and efficiency. Decision support systems allow decision makers to more data, and expand information processing capabilities, which should utilize contribute to better decisions. On the other hand, a lack of empirical testing, reluctance to change management practices, and lack of confidence in decision support system output raises doubt about the value of this technology in providing better decisions. There have been relatively few studies that assess the actual implementation of decision support technology in the public sector. This research addresses this need by assessing the use of a decision support system in Ontarios nutrient management planning and livestock building permit application process. Over the last 30 years, there has been considerable effort to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering surface water as a result of agricultural activities. Several voluntary and financial programs were implemented to change agricultural land use practices associated with livestock operations. More recently, municipalities and the Ontario government are implementing regulatory controls on the livestock industry. Livestock operators now require a nutrient management plan prior to being issued a building permit, and eventually all facilities generating and receiving nutrients will require a nutrient management plan. A decision support system, entitled NMAN, was developed to assist agencies review the adequacy of the nutrient management plans, to ensure there is sufficient storage capacity and land area on which to apply manure prior to issuing a building permit. The value of the NMAN software is assessed through the use of two case studies and a sensitivity analysis. First, the Township of East Perth is the focus of a permit review comparing the efficiency and fairness of the decision-making process pre- and post-NMAN software. Second, two agricultural catchments near Kintore, Ontario, are used to simulate the total phosphorus concentration mg/1) in surface water. A simulation of the total phosphorus concentrations under traditional nutrient application rates to the NMAN recommended application rates is compared to determine the potential long-term impacts on surface water quality. The sensitivity analysis of the NMAN software identifies the changes in output factors due to modifications of the input factors. The research findings indicate that the decision-making process is more efficient for the review agencies since using the NMAN software and application process is fair. However, the ability to manipulate input factors and the lack of monitoring and enforcement raises concerns about the adequacy of nutrient management plans. The simulation of total phosphorus concentrations in surface water under traditional versus NMAN recommended application rates indicates a reduction. However, the total phosphorus concentrations in surface water during storm events are still above the Ontarios water quality standards. From an institutional perspective, the value of the decision support system appears to improve the efficiency of reviewing building permit applications, and applicants are treated fairly. However, the quality of the decisions and ability to meet long-term water quality objectives remains problematic. Keywords. Decision support system, land use planning, nutrient management.

Economic development has become one of the most important fields within planning as the transition into the new economy increases the necessity for competitive advantage. However, economic development policy in cities and regions is typically fragmented among many organizations. Organizations have realized the benefit of joining forces in order to maximize economic development efforts. It is important to understand how such collaboration works. Using the example of economic development organizations within the City of Buffalo this study documents multiple incidences of collaboration. The empirical work also shows the mechanisms through which collaboration happens. Some of these mechanisms are: direct organizational control, shared board of directors, combined or shared plans and strategies, and joint projects. Although empirical and practical, this study parallels ideas that go collectively under the “New Institutionalism,” the body of knowledge that uses a transaction cost perspective to justify collaboration. The empirical work with Buffalo organizations validates this by showing that organizations collaborate to lower transaction costs. The study finds that reduction in risk and increase in total organizational benefits are some of the advantages of collaboration. This thesis ends by recommending that educational programs and economic development practitioners become more aware of the opportunities for interorganizational collaboration.

Huizhou, only 70 km from Hong Kong, takes a quarter of the Pearl River Delta Specific Economical Region in Guangdong Province, China. With a very strong industrial background and rich in natural and cultural attractions, Huizhou is a fast developing regional hub connecting Guangdong to the world. However, the historical core of city, which once had ports along the main waterfront, has lagged behind the development of the city and it was left for small commercial and residential developments. New interest in this area rediscovered the public importance of the historic district. Revitalization of this waterfront will reinforce the citys civic status in the region and reconnect people to its past as a center for folk culture and commercial. The primary goal of this thesis is to re-interpret the historic core of Huizhou, by providing a year-round cultural and recreation urban focus for this district and its neighborhoods along the waterfront. The new cultural and entertainment center will include an information center, galleries/public educational spaces, conference/exhibition spaces, hotel, as well as other related recreation programs. This thesis demonstrates how to enhance the citys built environments in dense urban fabric and will spur the development of strong water network of the city.

The Massachusetts Smart Growth Zoning and Housing Production Statute, Chapter 40R, was signed into law in June 2004. The law allows a municipality to apply to the states Department of Housing and Community Development DHCD) for a zoning overlay district that must conform to density, affordability, and permitting requirements. In return for adopting a district the municipality is eligible to receive payments from the states Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund that are based on the increased number of housing units that can be built on the land, beyond the amount allowed through the underlying zoning. Although the statute gives smart growth as a rationale for high-density housing, it does not provide an option for preserving open space that is far from town centers—a major principle of smart growth planning. Design standards set by the city or town can be rejected by DHCD if they are considered unreasonable. In addition, it does not require municipalities to include a mix of uses, such as retail or commercial space. Interviews with city and town planners reveal intriguing information about the laws benefits and problems. The benefits of Chapter 40R, as described by the planners, include the affordability requirement, the ability to single out a particular parcel as a district spot zoning), limits on appeals from abutters of projects within a district, the ready-made package of zoning especially for small planning offices), and payments from the state for adopting a district. The problems with Chapter 40R include the lack of an open space preservation mechanism, the loss of the power to require a special permit subject to site plan review for projects within a district and therefore the loss of power to collect linkage fees from developers), the instability of the funding source for the Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund, the penalty of lower state payments to municipalities that have high-density underlying zoning, and the requirement that construction must begin within three years of the passage of a zoning overlay district. Overall, Chapter 40R does not follow through on its promise to encourage smart growth； it only encourages high-density residential development.

Peripheral security is becoming important as compared to the Entrance Security as the terrorist are changing there targets to open society. This work mainly concentrates on two aspects of peripheral security. First one is location of sensor on the graph based on paper Optimal Detector Location by Xiaofeng Nie. The Optimal Detector Location Problem turned out to be mammoth and difficult to solve and so, heuristic to find the most occurred node was utilized. Second aspect of work was dispatch decision where two rules FCFS and Priority based were taken into consideration. Along with the above two rules a variation of both the rules was also used, i.e., by sending a back up unit in each case. Then under effect of condition like accessibility (no of entrance), length of road in per square mile (urbanization), number of ERU’s in region, with and without sensor placement, visibility around the structure simulation was run to get the response time and the back up time in case of back-up units.

The dominant food system today is based on economies of scale, scientific and technological efficiency, mass production, intensive inputs, long distance transport, and the alienation of consumers from the people and places that feed them. Many individuals and communities have taken action to localize food systems to create more sustainable alternatives. Civic agriculture describes this localization movement. It emphasizes community engagement in the creation of place-based food system strategies that support ecological, social, and economic sustainability. This thesis explores civic agriculture in both theory and practice, placing it within the local food systems discourse and investigating its nature and current extent in the state of Vermont. My findings, based on a survey of several hundred Vermonters with professional experience in local food systems work and thirteen follow-up interviews, indicate that there is increasing community engagement in a variety of civic agriculture initiatives. These include farm-to-school initiatives, food councils and committees, regional farm and food links, farmers markets, community supported agriculture, producer and consumer cooperatives, community food security projects, and localvore or “eat local” challenges. Civic agriculture in Vermont involves a wide range of public, private, nonprofit, and community organizations. As public awareness grows about the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the corporate industrial food system, more and more Vermonters seek opportunities to strengthen local farm and food enterprises. Although Vermont has a comparatively strong and growing local food movement, it faces several obstacles. A lack of local processing and storage facilities hampers producers who want to expand local markets. The state currently has no coherent food systems planning mechanism； there is a need for regional food planning that holistically addresses agriculture, food, and community development. Finally, greater efforts must be devoted to education and public outreach to broaden awareness and engage more people in public discussions of food issues. Civic agriculture offers a conceptual umbrella that encompasses all of these issues and provides an avenue for all people to become more active participants in the food system. Keywords. civic agriculture, local food systems, food systems planning, food citizenship, community engagement.