@phdthesis{Paesler2015,
  author    = {Paesler, Ferdinand},
  title     = {Regionalentwicklung und Mensch-Umwelt-Interaktion - Zwei Fallbeispiele aus Kenia und der Demokratischen Republik Kongo},
  publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  address   = {W{\"u}rzburg},
  isbn      = {978-3-95826-026-9 (print)},
  issn      = {0510-9833},
  doi       = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-027-6},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-120395},
  school      = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  pages     = {344},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Der vielschichtige Begriff Entwicklung stellt die Basis f{\"u}r die multidisziplin{\"a}re Entwicklungsforschung, aber auch die Entwicklungspolitik und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit dar und wird demzufolge auf verschiedenste Art und Weise verwendet. Insbesondere zu den Auswirkungen regionaler Entwicklungsprozesse auf lokaler Ebene existieren innerhalb der entwicklungstheoretischen Ideengeschichte eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Zug{\"a}nge, {\"u}ber die die vorliegende Arbeit einen kurzen {\"U}berblick gibt. Unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung anthropogeographischer Ans{\"a}tze zur Erforschung des Verh{\"a}ltnisses von Entwicklung und Raum werden im ersten (theoretischen) Teil die Konzepte der lokalen Partizipation sowie der Politischen {\"O}kologie als geeignete Analyseinstrumente f{\"u}r das Verst{\"a}ndnis konkreter lokaler Entwicklungsprozesse erarbeitet; Entwicklung wird hierbei akteurs- und kontextorientiert als Ergebnis von Mensch-Umwelt-Interaktionen angesehen. Im Rahmen eines case study research wird im zweiten Teil der Arbeit die Praxistauglichkeit dieser Analyseinstrumente {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft. Hierf{\"u}r werden in zwei Untersuchungsregionen regionale Entwicklungsdynamiken beschrieben und analysiert, um deren r{\"a}umliche und soziale Auswirkungen zu verstehen. In beiden Gebieten (Mampu/Mbankana in der Demokratischen Republik Kongo sowie Wasini Island in Kenia) hat in den vergangenen Jahren eine durch unterschiedliche Prozesse verursachte rasante Regionalentwicklung stattgefunden, die die Gebiete jeweils deutlich von ihrem Umland abhebt. Im Fallbeispiel Wasini Island wurde die Entwicklung durch den (internationalen) Tourismus bedingt, in Mampu/Mbankana durch ein Entwicklungsprojekt der Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (HSS). F{\"u}r beide Gebiete wird zuerst der naturr{\"a}umliche, politische und historische Kontext aufgezeigt, welcher die Rahmenbedingungen f{\"u}r die Analyse der einzelnen Akteure und Akteursgruppen darstellt. Sowohl f{\"u}r Wasini Island als auch f{\"u}r Mampu/Mbankana k{\"o}nnen w{\"a}hrend des Untersuchungszeitraums Ereignisse identifiziert werden, die von der einheimischen Bev{\"o}lkerung (bzw. Teilen dieser) als stark situationsver{\"a}ndernd und zudem nicht endogen verursacht wahrgenommen werden (externe Krisen): in Wasini der drastische Einbruch der Touristenzahlen nach den Unruhen im Nachgang der Pr{\"a}sidentschaftswahlen (2007/08 Kenyan Crisis), im kongolesischen Untersuchungsgebiet der schrittweise R{\"u}ckzug der HSS aus dem operativen Projekt ab 2009 und die damit einhergehende {\"U}bertragung von Verantwortung auf lokale Gremien und Organisationen. Durch die Zusammenf{\"u}hrung der Ergebnisse aus beiden Fallbeispielen wird konstatiert, dass Entwicklung auf regionaler Ebene als ein kontext- und akteursabh{\"a}ngiger dynamischer Prozess anzusehen ist, der aus den kumulierten, in beide Richtungen wirksamen Mensch-Umwelt-Interaktionen in der betrachteten Region resultiert, und damit in der Tradition geopossibilistischer Perspektiven steht, in denen die nat{\"u}rliche bzw. geographische ebenso wie die gesellschaftliche Umwelt die Rahmenbedingungen f{\"u}r menschliches Handeln und damit Entwicklung vorgibt, jedoch nicht determiniert.},
  subject      = {Regionalentwicklung},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Ibrahim2015,
  author    = {Ibrahim, Sani},
  title     = {{\´E}volution des paysages dunaires fix{\´e}s par la v{\´e}g{\´e}tation au Niger},
  issn      = {2199-4315},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-12652},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-126528},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  pages     = {171},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Les s{\´e}cheresses des ann{\´e}es 1970 et 1980 ont occasionn{\´e} des changements remarquables dans les paysages et {\´e}cosyst{\`e}mes sah{\´e}liens. Au Niger, les milieux dunaires sont les plus affect{\´e}s par la d{\´e}gradation des paysages aux cons{\´e}quences parfois irr{\´e}versibles. Cette {\´e}tude tente de montrer que, malgr{\´e} les modifications climatiques et les pressions anthropiques, une r{\´e}g{\´e}n{\´e}ration des sols dunaires serait possible, dans cette dynamique complexe. Cela a {\´e}t{\´e} d{\´e}montr{\´e} {\`a} travers l'analyse micromorphologique des mat{\´e}riaux des parties superficielles des sols (0-20 cm). L'{\´e}tude des caract{\´e}ristiques particuli{\`e}res des cro{\^u}tes (organisations pelliculaires de surface des sols) offre des pistes de recherches pouvant proposer des moyens et m{\´e}thodes de fixation des dunes d{\´e}grad{\´e}es. Elle propose {\´e}galement des alternatives de lutte contre l'{\´e}rosion {\´e}olienne et hydrique dans les {\´e}cosyst{\`e}mes sah{\´e}liens. Ceci cadre parfaitement avec la situation au Niger, o{\`u} les ph{\´e}nom{\`e}nes de d{\´e}sertification et d'ensablement des cuvettes interdunaires constituent une pr{\´e}occupation majeure en mati{\`e}re de protection de l'environnement.},
  subject      = {Degradation},
  language  = {fr}
}
@phdthesis{Sani2015,
  author    = {Sani, Ibrahim},
  title     = {{\´E}volution des paysages dunaires fix{\´e}s par la v{\´e}g{\´e}tation au Niger : Modifications morphologiques actuelles dans les couches superficielles des dunes et possibilit{\´e}s de « r{\´e}g{\´e}n{\´e}ration » et de « p{\´e}dog{\´e}n{\`e}se »},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128014},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Les s{\´e}cheresses des ann{\´e}es 1970 et 1980 ont occasionn{\´e} des changements remarquables dans les paysages et {\´e}cosyst{\`e}mes sah{\´e}liens. Au Niger, les milieux dunaires sont les plus affect{\´e}s par la d{\´e}gradation des paysages aux cons{\´e}quences parfois irr{\´e}versibles. Cette {\´e}tude tente de montrer que, malgr{\´e} les modifications climatiques et les pressions anthropiques, une r{\´e}g{\´e}n{\´e}ration des sols dunaires serait possible, dans cette dynamique complexe. Cela a {\´e}t{\´e} d{\´e}montr{\´e} {\`a} travers l'analyse micromorphologique des mat{\´e}riaux des parties superficielles des sols (0-20 cm). L'{\´e}tude des caract{\´e}ristiques particuli{\`e}res des cro{\^u}tes (organisations pelliculaires de surface des sols) offre des pistes de recherches pouvant proposer des moyens et m{\´e}thodes de fixation des dunes d{\´e}grad{\´e}es. Elle propose {\´e}galement des alternatives de lutte contre l'{\´e}rosion {\´e}olienne et hydrique dans les {\´e}cosyst{\`e}mes sah{\´e}liens. Ceci cadre parfaitement avec la situation au Niger, o{\`u} les ph{\´e}nom{\`e}nes de d{\´e}sertification et d'ensablement des cuvettes interdunaires constituent une pr{\´e}occupation majeure en mati{\`e}re de protection de l'environnement.},
  subject      = {Degradation},
  language  = {fr}
}
@phdthesis{Mann2017,
  author    = {Mann, Daniel},
  title     = {"The smell of Ujamaa is still there" - Tanzania's Path of Development between Grassroots Socialism and Central State Control in Ruvuma},
  edition   = {1. Auflage},
  publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  address   = {W{\"u}rzburg},
  isbn      = {978-3-95826-066-5 (print)},
  issn      = {0510-9833},
  doi       = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-067-2},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-154079},
  school      = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  pages     = {332},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {In the 1960s, when most African nations gained their independence after the age of colonialism, several theories and strategies emerged with the goal of "developing" these apparently "underdeveloped" territories. One of the most influential approaches for this task was represented in Julius K. Nyerere´s idea of Ujamaa, the Tanzanian version of African socialism. Even before the Arusha Declaration established Ujamaa as a national development strategy in 1967, several groups of politicized young farmers took to the empty countryside of Tanzania to implement their own version of cooperative development. From one of these attempts emerged the Ruvuma Development Association (RDA), which organized up to 18 villages in southwestern Tanzania. The RDA became the inspiration for Nyerere´s concretization of Ujamaa and its implementation on national level. Yet, the central state could not replicate the success of the peasants, which was based on voluntariness and intrinsic motivation. In 2015, this exploratory study has revisited the Region of Ruvuma. Through a case study approach, relying mostly on qualitative methods, new insights into the local history of Ujamaa and its perception have been gathered. In particular, narrative interviews with contemporary witnesses and group interviews with the present-day farmers' groups have been conducted. Furthermore, NGOs active within the region, as well as regional and local government institutions were among the key stakeholders identified to concretize the local narrative of Ujamaa development. All interviews were analyzed according to the principles of qualitative content analysis. Additionally, individual villager questionnaires were used to achieve a more holistic picture of the local perception of development, challenges and the Ujamaa era. None of the original Ujamaa groups of the times of the RDA was still operational at the time of research and no case of village-wide organization of collective agriculture could be observed. Nevertheless, in all of the three case study villages, several farmers' groups (vikundi) were active in organizing development activities for their members. Furthermore, the perception of the Ujamaa era was generally positive throughout all of the case study sites. Yet, there have been significant differences in this perception, based on the village, age, gender and field size of the recipients. Overall, the period of Ujamaa was seen as an inspiration for present-day group activities, and the idea of such activities as a remedy for the developmental challenges of these villages was common among all stakeholders. This thesis concludes that the positive perception of group activities as a vehicle for village development and the perception of Ujamaa history as a positive asset for the inception and organization of farmers' groups would be highly beneficial to further attempts to support such development activities. However, the limitations in market access and capital availability for these highly-motivated group members have to be addressed by public and private development institutions. Otherwise, "the smell of Ujamaa" will be of little use for the progress of these villages.},
  subject      = {Ujamaa-Sozialismus},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Buedel2020,
  author    = {B{\"u}del, Christian},
  title     = {Quaternary alluvial fan morphodynamics and basin sedimentation in North Iran},
  edition   = {1. Auflage},
  publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  address   = {W{\"u}rzburg},
  isbn      = {978-3-95826-114-3},
  issn      = {0510-9833},
  doi       = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-115-0},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-184508},
  school      = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  pages     = {XI, 124},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Several hundred meter thick alluvial fans are dominating the landscape of semiarid plains of north-eastern Iranian mountain-talus. These fans developed since Miocene times and are still prograding today. They are storing and transporting major amount of weathered debris from the mountain ranges and sediments are directed to the depressions of the endorheic basins. In this course, the debris gets increasingly weathered and abraded to sand silt and clay fractions, which finally constitute the fine loamy layers of the typical central playa lakes and playas. The study focused on the detailed investigation of a characteristic section of this prominent sediment cascades. The sediments were planned be comprehensively documented by using a fully analytical geomorphological mapping approach, also suitable for the classification of the sediment's geomorphological system contexts. Therefore, a geodatabase structure was developed, which is capable of managing and analyzing geomorphological data. The corresponding data was acquired using remote sensing imagery, digital elevation models and field mapping campaigns. Additionally, mapped sediments were selected and analyzed to reveal representative stratigraphic and sedimentologic characteristics. The fieldwork was conducted in Damghan Basin on sections in geomorphologically subdivided alluvial apron sediments. The corresponding, more regularly layered and partly laminated sediments from the central playa, were also investigated and comparably described. Attending to the preparation of profile sections and the percussion core probing, samples from both origins were taken. Detailed lithostratigraphical and geochemical analyses were carried out in the laboratory, in order to develop sound comparable sediment and sediment alteration indices. In addition, OSL sampling was done on distinct alluvial fan surfaces, and the samples were measured and dated in the laboratory in order to develop a functional chronostratigraphy. The results of the geomorphological and stratigraphical investigations reveal five classes of surface ages on the alluvial apron. Parallel to that observation, the ramming core samples exhibit four main phases of sediment development in the playa, each with internal differentiation. This brings up opportunities for a valid correlation of continuously deposited playa sediments, with widespread alluvial surfaces. By considering the OSL ages of selected terrestrial and lacustrine layers, the stratigraphy and relative chronological order of the studied sediments, are aligned to Pleistocene and mid to late Holocene periods. This is also confirmed by proxy ages from the chronological framework of the landscape development, within the basin. Geophysical and geochemical data reveals roughly cyclic sedimentation and sediment alteration that can also be observed in genetically differing geoarchives from alluvial fan surfaces to the playa sediments. These parallel developments are confirmed by the sequence-stratigraphic order of the archives which is derived from geomorphological mapping. We postulate a time span covered by the playa sediments from today to late Pleistocene times. Drying and Lake level retreat at the end of Pleistocene is documented in parallel geoarchives of terrestrial and lacustrine origin. Thus, geomorphologic landform-succession and alluvial fan morphogenesis, as well as geochemical and geophysical fingerprinting data of playa sediments characterize this development. Therefore, it is present in the two youngest generations of alluvial fans, which deposited at the toe of the alluvial apron and which incorporate reworked still water deposits of a former lake level terrace. The geochemical parameters, like pH-value and Ca/S-ratio, in both, sediments of a former lake level and those from the recent playa extent exhibit a similar development. In addition, Ti/Al-ratio shows the potential for quantifying lake level retreat, as it seems to be tightly depending on lake level and increasing transportation distances along the sediment cascade. Major Findings - Analytical geomorphological mapping is a key tool for understanding the sedimentation history of the Iranian Quaternary and for describing Quaternary stratigraphic units of North Iran. - The younger playa deposits in Damghan Basin cover a time span from today to late Pleistocene. They are 10 meters thick and reveal very low organic matter contents throughout the core. - Drying and Lake level retreat is documented in parallel geoarchives (1) in geomorphologic landform-succession and alluvial fan morphogenesis and (2) in geochemical and geophysical fingerprinting data of playa sediments - Sequences of torrential sedimentation are detectable signals and can be correlated in both: playa sediments and landform morphology},
  subject      = {Quart{\"a}rgeomorphologie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Karama2021,
  author    = {Karama, Alphonse},
  title     = {East African Seasonal Rainfall prediction using multiple linear regression and regression with ARIMA errors models},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-25183},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-251831},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The detrimental impacts of climate variability on water, agriculture, and food resources in East Africa underscore the importance of reliable seasonal climate prediction. To overcome this difficulty RARIMAE method were evolved. Applications RARIMAE in the literature shows that amalgamating different methods can be an efficient and effective way to improve the forecasts of time series under consideration. With these motivations, attempt have been made to develop a multiple linear regression model (MLR) and a RARIMAE models for forecasting seasonal rainfall in east Africa under the following objectives: 1. To develop MLR model for seasonal rainfall prediction in East Africa. 2. To develop a RARIMAE model for seasonal rainfall prediction in East Africa. 3. Comparison of model's efficiency under consideration In order to achieve the above objectives, the monthly precipitation data covering the period from 1949 to 2000 was obtained from Climate Research Unit (CRU). Next to that, the first differenced climate indices were used as predictors. In the first part of this study, the analyses of the rainfall fluctuation in whole Central- East Africa region which span over a longitude of 15 degrees East to 55 degrees East and a latitude of 15 degrees South to 15 degrees North was done by the help of maps. For models' comparison, the R-squared values for the MLR model are subtracted from the R-squared values of RARIMAE model. The results show positive values which indicates that R-squared is improved by RARIMAE model. On the other side, the root mean square errors (RMSE) values of the RARIMAE model are subtracted from the RMSE values of the MLR model and the results show negative value which indicates that RMSE is reduced by RARIMAE model for training and testing datasets. For the second part of this study, the area which is considered covers a longitude of 31.5 degrees East to 41 degrees East and a latitude of 3.5 degrees South to 0.5 degrees South. This region covers Central-East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), north of Burundi, south of Uganda, Rwanda, north of Tanzania and south of Kenya. Considering a model constructed based on the average rainfall time series in this region, the long rainfall season counts the nine months lead of the first principal component of Indian sea level pressure (SLP_PC19) and the nine months lead of Dipole Mode Index (DMI_LR9) as selected predictors for both statistical and predictive model. On the other side, the short rainfall season counts the three months lead of the first principal component of Indian sea surface temperature (SST_PC13) and the three months lead of Southern Oscillation Index (SOI_SR3) as predictors for predictive model. For short rainfall season statistical model SAOD current time series (SAOD_SR0) was added on the two predictors in predictive model. By applying a MLR model it is shown that the forecast can explain 27.4\% of the total variation and has a RMSE of 74.2mm/season for long rainfall season while for the RARIMAE the forecast explains 53.6\% of the total variation and has a RMSE of 59.4mm/season. By applying a MLR model it is shown that the forecast can explain 22.8\% of the total variation and has a RMSE of 106.1 mm/season for short rainfall season predictive model while for the RARIMAE the forecast explains 55.1\% of the total variation and has a RMSE of 81.1 mm/season. From such comparison, a significant rise in R-squared, a decrease of RMSE values were observed in RARIMAE models for both short rainfall and long rainfall season averaged time series. In terms of reliability, RARIMAE outperformed its MLR counterparts with better efficiency and accuracy. Therefore, whenever the data suffer from autocorrelation, we can go for MLR with ARIMA error, the ARIMA error part is more to correct the autocorrelation thereby improving the variance and productiveness of the model.},
  subject      = {Regression},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Krech2018,
  author    = {Krech, Martin},
  title     = {Pedosediment{\"a}re Archive in pr{\"a}historischen Fundpl{\"a}tzen in Franken},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-163682},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Pedosediment{\"a}re Archive liefern einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Rekonstruktion der Landschaftsgeschichte. Die anthropogene Besiedlung und Nutzung der Landoberfl{\"a}che seit dem Beginn des Holoz{\"a}ns verursacht Boden-, Vegetations- und Reliefver{\"a}nderungen, welche sich durch die Verbreitung von B{\"o}den mit ihren Erosionsstadien und Kolluvien zeigen. Das Ausmaß und die Art der Bodenerosion und die damit verbundene Bildung der Kolluvien werden neben den nat{\"u}rlichen Faktoren wesentlich durch die Landnutzung bestimmt. B{\"o}den und Kolluvien enthalten wichtige Informationen {\"u}ber die urspr{\"u}ngliche Landschaft, ehemalige Landnutzungsphasen und Umweltver{\"a}nderungen. Die spezifischen Merkmale in Kombination mit den arch{\"a}ologischen Befunden erm{\"o}glichen R{\"u}ckschl{\"u}sse auf vergangene Natur- und Kulturr{\"a}ume. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, ein besseres Verst{\"a}ndnis {\"u}ber die Siedlungs- und Landschaftsentwicklung der untersuchten Gebiete in Franken zu erlangen. Hierf{\"u}r ist es angebracht, mehrere r{\"a}umlich verteilte Standorte zu untersuchen. Um den menschlichen Einfluss auf die pr{\"a}historische Landschaft besser verstehen zu k{\"o}nnen, kam ein interdisziplin{\"a}rer Ansatz mit arch{\"a}ologischen und physisch-geographischen Methoden zur Anwendung. Die Umgebungen der einzelnen Untersuchungsstandorte wurden nach geomorphologischen Kriterien charakterisiert und ausgew{\"a}hlten Befunde nach bodenkundlichen Fragestellungen aufgenommen. Die Bestimmung der bodenphysikalischen und -chemischen Eigenschaften von B{\"o}den und Sedimenten erfolgte anhand repr{\"a}sentativer Probenmengen. Bei ausgew{\"a}hlten Profilen kamen zus{\"a}tzlich die Analysen zur Bestimmung der Gesamt- und Tonmineralogie sowie die Methode der 14C-Datierung f{\"u}r Bodensedimente, Tierknochen und Holzkohlen hinzu. Die physisch-geographischen Ergebnisse konnten anschließend mit den arch{\"a}ologischen Informationen erg{\"a}nzt. Die drei ausgew{\"a}hlten Untersuchungsgebiete befinden sich im Fr{\"a}nkischen Schichtstufenland. Der Bullenheimer Berg wurde aufgrund seiner bedeutenden Besiedlungsgeschichte ausgew{\"a}hlt. Die ausgew{\"a}hlten Profile liegen in verschiedenen Nutzungsarealen auf dem Plateau. Die Standorte Marktbergel und Ergersheim liegen im Gebiet des Fr{\"a}nkischen Gipskarstes. Diese Untersuchungen sind ein Teil des DFG-gef{\"o}rderten Projektes „Pr{\"a}historische Mensch-Umwelt-Beziehungen im Gipskarst der Windsheimer Bucht, Nordbayern. Dolinen als Archive f{\"u}r Siedlungs- und Landschaftsentwicklung." Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der anthropogene Einfluss zu einer deutlichen Ver{\"a}nderung in der Landschaft f{\"u}hrte. F{\"u}r die Untersuchungsr{\"a}ume zeichnet sich eine lange Nutzungsgeschichte seit dem Beginn des Holoz{\"a}ns ab. Durch die Auswertung der Gel{\"a}ndebefunde und der labortechnisch erzeugten Kennwerte konnten die untersuchten Profile in mehrere Phasen gegliedert werden. Es zeigten sich Stabilit{\"a}tsphasen in denen Bodenbildung stattfinden konnte, aber auch geomorphodynamisch aktive Phasen der Erosion und Akkumulation von Bodensedimenten.},
  subject      = {Pedostratigraphie},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{NghengwaAche2019,
  author    = {Nghengwa Ache, Patience},
  title     = {Waste Management As a Correlate of Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Example of Imo State, Nigeria},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19224},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192240},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Summary Introduction. Rapid and uncontrolled industrialisation and urbanisation in most developing countries are resulting in land, air and water pollution at rates that the natural environment cannot fully renew. These contemporary environmental issues have attracted local, national and international attention. The problem of urban garbage management is associated with rapid population growth in developing countries. These are pertinent environmental crises of sustainability and sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa and other Third World countries. Despite efforts of the various tiers of government (the case of Nigeria with three tiers: Federal, State and Local governments) in managing solid waste in urban centres, it is still overflowing open dumpsites, litters streets and encroaches into water bodies. These affect the quality of urban living conditions and the natural environment. Sub-Saharan and other developing countries are experiencing an upsurge in the accumulation and the diversity of waste including E-waste, waste agricultural biomass and waste plastics. The need for effective, sustainable and efficient management of waste through the application of 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) is an essential element for promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production. This study examined waste management in Imo State, Nigeria as an aspect correlated to the sustainability of its environment. Materials and methods. To analyse waste management as a correlate of environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa, Imo State, in eastern Nigeria was chosen as a study area. Issues about waste handling and its impact on the environment in Imo have been reported since its creation in 1976; passing through the State with the cleanest State capital in 1980 to a 'dunghill' in 2013 and a 'garbage capital' on October 1, 2016. Within this State, three study sites were selected - Owerri metropolis (the State capital) Orlu and Okigwe towns. At these sites, households, commercial areas, accommodation and recreational establishments and schools, as well as dumpsites were investigated to ascertain the composition, quantity, distribution, handling patterns of waste in relation to the sustainability of the State's environment. This was done conveniently but randomly through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and non-participant observation; these were all heralded by a detailed deskwork. Data were entered using Microsoft Office Excel and were explored and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences - SPSS. Data were made essentially of categorical variables and were analysed using descriptive statistics. The association between categorical variables was measured using Cramer's V the Chi-Square that makes the power and the reliability of the test. Cramer's V is a measure of association tests directly integrated with cross-tabulation. The Chi-Square test of equal proportions was used to compare proportions for significant differences at 0.05 levels. The statistical package - the Epi Info 6.04d was also used since a contingency table had to be created from several sub-outputs and determine the extent of association between the row and column categories. The scale variable 'quantity of waste generated' was described using measures of central tendency. It was screened for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests for normality; in all context, the normality assumption was violated (P<0.05). Five null hypotheses were tested using Logistic Regression model. The explanatory power of individual conceptual component was calculated using the Cox \& Snell R2 and that of individual indicators was also appraised using the Likelihood Ratio test. In the context of this work, the significance of the variability explained by the model (baseline model) was appraised using the Omnibus Tests of Model Coefficients, the magnitude of this variability explained by the model using the Cox \& Snell R2 and the effects of individual predictors using the Likelihood Ratio test. Qualitatively, data from open-ended items, observations and interviews were analysed using the process of thematic analysis whereby concepts or ideas were grouped under umbrella terms or keywords. The results were presented using tables, charts, graphs, photos and maps. Findings and discussions. The total findings and analyses indicated that proper waste handling in Imo State, Nigeria has a positive impact on the environment. This was assessed by the community's awareness of waste management via sources like the radio and the TV, their education on waste management and schools' integration of environmental education in their program. Although most community members perceived the State's environment as compared to it about 10 years' back has worsened, where they were conscious of proper waste handling measures, the environment was described to be better. This influence of environmental awareness and education on environmental sustainability appraised using Logistic Regression Model, portrayed a significant variability (Omnibus Tests of Model Coefficients: χ2=42.742; P=0.014), inferring that environmental awareness and education significantly predict environmental sustainability. The findings also revealed that organic waste generation spearheaded amongst other waste types like paper, plastic, E-waste, metal, textile and glass. While waste pickers always sorted paper, plastics, aluminium and metal, some of them also sorted out textile and glass. Statistically (P<0.05), in situations where waste was least generated (i.e., 1-2kg per day), community members maintained that the environmental quality was better in comparison to 10 years' back. Waste items like broken glass and textile as well as the remains of E-waste after the extraction of copper and brass were not sorted for and these contributed more to environmental degradation. Similarly, the influence of wealth on environmental sustainability was appraised using Logistic Regression Model including development index related indicators like education, occupation, income and the ability to pay for waste disposal. Harmonising the outcome, farmers, who were mostly the least educated claimed to notice more environmental improvement. In addition, those who did not agree to pay for waste disposal who were mostly those with low income (less than 200,000 Naira, i.e. about 620 Euros monthly) perceived environmental improvement more than those with income above 200,000 Naira. This irony can be attributed to the fact that those with low educational backing lack the capacity to appreciate environmental sustainability pointers well as compared to those with a broader educational background with critical thinking. The employment and poverty reduction opportunities pertaining to waste management on environmental sustainability was appraised using qualitative thematic analysis. All community members involved in sorting, buying and selling of waste items had no second job. They attested that the money earned from their activities sustained their livelihood and families. Some expressed love for the job, especially as they were their own masters. Waste picking and trading in waste items are offering employment opportunities to many communities around the world. For instance, in the waste recycling, waste composting, waste-to-energy plants and die Stadtreiniger in W{\"u}rzburg city. The workers in these enterprises have jobs as a result of waste. Waste disposal influence on environmental sustainability was appraised using the Binary Logistic Regression Model and the variability explained by the model was significant. The validity was also supported by the Wald statistics (P<0.05), which indicates the effect of the predictors is significant. Environmental sustainability was greatly reliant on indicators like the frequency at which community members emptied their waste containers; how/where waste is disposed of, availability of disposal site or public bin near the house, etc. Imolites who asserted to have public waste bins or disposal sites near their houses maintained that the quality of the State's environment had worsened as such containers/disposal sites were always stinking as well as had animals and smoke around them. Imolites around disposal sites complained of traits like diarrhoea, catarrh, insect bites, malaria, smoke and polluted air. Conclusions. The liaison between poor waste management strategies and the sustainability of the Imo State environment was considered likely as statistically significant ineffectiveness, lack of awareness, poverty, insufficient and unrealistic waste management measures were found in this study area. In these situations, the environment was said to have not improved. Such inadequacies in the handling of generated waste did not only expose the citizenry to health dangers but also gave rise to streets and roads characterized by filth and many unattended disposal sites unleashing horrible odour to the environment and attracting wild animals. This situation is not only prevalent in Imo State, Nigeria but in many Sub-Saharan cities. Future Perspectives. To improve the environment in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is imperative to practice an inclusive and integrated sustainable waste management system. The waste quantity in this region is fast growing, especially food/organic waste. The region should aim at waste management laws and waste reduction strategies, which will help save and produce more food that it really needs. Waste management should be dissociated from epidemic outbreaks like cholera, typhoid, Lassa fever and malaria, whose vectors thrive in filthy environments. Water channels and water bodies should not be waste disposal channels or waste disposal sites.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Fekete2018,
  author    = {Fekete, Alexander},
  title     = {Urban Disaster Resilience and Critical Infrastructure},
  isbn      = {978-3-946573-13-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-163251},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  pages     = {89},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Urban areas are population, culture and infrastructure concentration points. Electricity blackouts or interruptions of water supply severely affect people when happening unexpected and at large scale. Interruptions of such infrastructure supply services alone have the potential to trigger crises. But when happening in concert with or as a secondary effect of an earthquake, for example, the crisis situation is often aggravated. This is the case for any country, but it has been observed that even highly industrialised countries face severe risks when their degree of acquired dependency on services of what is termed Critical Infrastructure results in even bigger losses when occurring unexpectedly in a setting that usually has high reliability of services.},
  subject      = {Risikomanagement},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Reinermann2023,
  author    = {Reinermann, Sophie},
  title     = {Earth Observation Time Series for Grassland Management Analyses - Development and large-scale Application of a Framework to detect Grassland Mowing Events in Germany},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-32273},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322737},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Grasslands shape many landscapes of the earth as they cover about one-third of its surface. They are home and provide livelihood for billions of people and are mainly used as source of forage for animals. However, grasslands fulfill many additional ecosystem functions next to fodder production, such as storage of carbon, water filtration, provision of habitats and cultural values. They play a role in climate change (mitigation) and in preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions on a global scale. The degree to what these ecosystem functions are present within grassland ecosystems is largely determined by the management. Individual management practices and the use intensity influence the species composition as well as functions, like carbon storage, while higher use intensities (e.g. high mowing frequencies) usually show a negative impact. Especially in Central European countries, like in Germany, the determining influence of grassland management on its physiognomy and ecosystem functions leads to a large variability and small-scale alternations of grassland parcels. Large-scale information on the management and use intensity of grasslands is not available. Consequently, estimations of grassland ecosystem functions are challenging which, however, would be required for large-scale assessments of the status of grassland ecosystems and optimized management plans for the future. The topic of this thesis tackles this gap by investigating the major grassland management practice in Germany, which is mowing, for multiple years, in high spatial resolution and on a national scale. Earth Observation (EO) has the advantage of providing information of the earth's surface on multi-temporal time steps. An extensive literature review on the use of EO for grassland management and production analyses, which was part of this thesis, showed that in particular research on grasslands consisting of small parcels with a large variety of management and use intensity, like common in Central Europe, is underrepresented. Especially the launch of the Sentinel satellites in the recent past now enables the analyses of such grasslands due to their high spatial and temporal resolution. The literature review specifically on the investigation of grassland mowing events revealed that most previous studies focused on small study areas, were exploratory, only used one sensor type and/or lacked a reference data set with a complete range of management options. Within this thesis a novel framework to detect grassland mowing events over large areas is presented which was applied and validated for the entire area of Germany for multiple years (2018-2021). The potential of both sensor types, optical (Sentinel-2) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) (Sentinel-1) was investigated regarding grassland mowing event detection. Eight EO parameters were investigated, namely the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), the backscatter intensity and the interferometric (InSAR) temporal coherence for both available polarization modes (VV and VH), and the polarimetric (PolSAR) decomposition parameters Entropy, K0 and K1. An extensive reference data set was generated based on daily images of webcams distributed in Germany which resulted in mowing information for grasslands with the entire possible range of mowing frequencies - from one to six in Germany - and in 1475 reference mowing events for the four years of interest. For the first time a observation-driven mowing detection approach including data from Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 and combining the two was developed, applied and validated on large scale. Based on a subset of the reference data (13 grassland parcels with 44 mowing events) from 2019 the EO parameters were investigated and the detection algorithm developed and parameterized. This analysis showed that a threshold-based change detection approach based on EVI captured grassland mowing events best, which only failed during periods of clouds. All SAR-based parameters showed a less consistent behavior to mowing events, with PolSAR Entropy and InSAR Coherence VH, however, revealing the highest potential among them. A second, combined approach based on EVI and a SARbased parameter was developed and tested for PolSAR Entropy and InSAR VH. To avoid additional false positive detections during periods in which mowing events are anyhow reliably detected using optical data, the SAR-based mowing detection was only initiated during long gaps within the optical time series (< 25 days). Application and validation of these approaches in a focus region revealed that only using EVI leads to the highest accuracies (F1-Score = 0.65) as combining this approach with SAR-based detection led to a strong increase in falsely detected mowing events resulting in a decrease of accuracies (EVI + PolSAR ENT F1-Score = 0.61; EVI + InSAR COH F1-Score = 0.61). The mowing detection algorithm based on EVI was applied for the entire area of Germany for the years 2018-2021. It was revealed that the largest share of grasslands with high mowing frequencies (at least four mowing events) can be found in southern/south-eastern Germany. Extensively used grassland (mown up to two times) is distributed within the entire country with larger shares in the center and north-eastern parts of Germany. These patterns stay constant in general, but small fluctuations between the years are visible. Early mown grasslands can be found in southern/south-eastern Germany - in line with high mowing frequency areas - but also in central-western parts. The years 2019 and 2020 revealed higher accuracies based on the 1475 mowing events of the multi-annual validation data set (F1-Scores of 0.64 and 0.63), 2018 and 2021 lower ones (F1-Score of 0.52 and 0.50). Based on this new, unprecedented data set, potential influencing factors on the mowing dynamics were investigated. Therefore, climate, topography, soil data and information on conservation schemes were related to mowing dynamics for the year 2020, which showed a high number of valid observations and detection accuracy. It was revealed that there are no strong linear relationships between the mowing frequency or the timing of the first mowing event and the investigated variables. However, it was found that for intensive grassland usage certain climatic and topographic conditions have to be fulfilled, while extensive grasslands appear on the entire spectrum of these variables. Further, higher mowing frequencies occur on soils with influence of ground water and lower mowing frequencies in protected areas. These results show the complex interplay between grassland mowing dynamics and external influences and highlight the challenges of policies aiming to protect grassland ecosystem functions and their need to be adapted to regional circumstances.},
  subject      = {Gr{\"u}nland},
  language  = {en}
}