Masters Degrees (Environmental Science)
Recent Submissions
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Multitemporal analysis of tropical cyclone impacts on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park sea turtle nesting beach using geospatial technologies.
(2022)Increase in the intensity and frequency of tropical cyclones due to changing climatic conditions, poses a threat to sea turtle nesting beaches. In general, tropical cyclones increase the rate of coastal erosion along sandy ... -
The utility of very-high resolution unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) imagery in monitoring the spatial and temporal variations in leaf moisture content of smallholder maize farming systems.
(2021)Maize moisture stress, resulting from rainfall variability, is a primary challenge in the production of rain-fed maize farming, especially in water-scarce regions such as southern Africa. Quantifying maize moisture ... -
A study investigating impacts of sea level rise on coastal ecosystem services along the eThekwini Municipality coastline as a consequence of climate change and recommendations to build/enhance resilience.
(2022)Climate change during the 21st century is caused by the rapid increase in global warming because of human activity. The consequences of climate change include melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and extreme weather. The ... -
An investigation into implementing net zero carbon new buildings: a case of the eThekwini Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2021)Better design practices, energy efficiency, and green building materials will enable the building sector to unlock emissions savings into the future, because what is constructed today will be the future of our buildings ... -
Remote sensing drought variability across different selected biomes of South Africa.
(2022)Abstract available in PDF. -
Study on sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and particulate matter 10 (PM₁₀) variations in the City of Tshwane, Gauteng.
(2021)Air pollution is a global concern caused by road and air traffic, the rapid growth of the industrial sector, and urban development. About 3.7 million people annually die prematurely, globally caused by air pollution. Air ... -
A systematic review and meta-analysis of solar technology impacts on rural households: experiences from the Global South.
(2021)Renewable energy technologies are widely prescribed to address multiple developmental needs, especially in developing contexts. As reflected in the growing body of literature, these devices and energy sources can generate ... -
Efficacy of morphological approach in the classification of urban land covers.
(2020)Understanding the often-heterogeneous land use land cover (LULC) in urban areas is critical for among others environmental monitoring, spatial planning and enforcement. Recently, several earth observation satellites have ... -
Implications of land use practices and socio-hydrological vulnerability within a rapidly developing city: a case study of the Umhlatuzana River, Ethekwini, South Africa.
(2020)Anthropogenic actions affect land uses and land use change concomitantly influencing water quality in a catchment. In a catchment varying levels of income and access to infrastructure and resources result in a lack of ... -
An assessment of visitor profiles, consumption patterns and perceptions as well as the state of coastal and marine tourism (specifically beach) sites in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
(2021)Coastal and Marine Tourism (CMT) is the main sub-sector of tourism and has substantial socio-economic and environmental importance. Specifically, CMT is a key economic contributor as well as creating opportunities for ... -
Regional representativeness hotspots for world's tetrapod vertebrate genera.
(2021)As anthropogenic stress and resulting habitat degradation put pressure on biodiversity, there is a need for urgent and innovative conservation strategies. The integration of the biogeographical concept of bioregionalisation ... -
A multi-criteria approach to decision making concerning environmental planning issues within decentralised government institutions.
(2000)Abstract available in PDF. -
Modeling and explaining the distribution of Lantana camara in South African savanna ecosystems.
(2019)Globally, the Invasive Alien Plant (IAPs) species pose a great threat to global biodiversity, agro-ecological systems and socio-economic development. In particular, Lantana camara (L. camara) is amongst the most notorious ... -
Multi-date remote sensing assessment of invasive Lantana camara species distribution in semi-arid savanna rangelands of South Africa.
(2019)Invasive alien species pose a massive threat to biodiversity globally. A comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution of invasive species, like Lantana camara, is essential for providing appropriate management ... -
The integration of biodiversity in local land-use planning: Gert Sibande District Municipality, South Africa.
(2020)Twenty-five years after the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), much emphasis has been placed on the integration of biodiversity priorities and concerns into the development sectors. South Africa has made substantial ... -
The use of machine learning algorithms to assess the impacts of droughts on commercial forests in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2020)Droughts are a non-selective natural disaster in that their occurrence can be in both high and low precipitation areas. However, this study acknowledged that droughts are more recurrent and a regular feature in arid and ... -
The utility of Sentinel-2 MSI to assess wetland vegetation chlorophyll content and leaf area index in wetland areas in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2020)Wetland ecosystems are being modified and threatened due to anthropogenic activities and climate change, hence the urgent need for wetland restoration. Wetland rehabilitation is important in the reversal of these dire ... -
People's perceptions of flood hazards and their attitudes towards resettlement: a case study of the community of Azalea in the Greater Edendale Complex, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(1997)The thesis addresses flooding as a natural disaster which has, on occasions, occurred in many parts of South Africa, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and Orange Free State. The prevailing impression is that the flood ...