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Subject: search.filters.subject.410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring

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    Impact of indoor environmental quality on cognitive function : an analysis of thermal comfort and carbon dioxide levels in New Zealand primary schools : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Construction at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Tookey, Lara
    This study investigates the relationship between indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters—specifically thermal comfort and carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels—and the cognitive functioning of primary school students in New Zealand. The research employs a multi-faceted approach, combining field measurements, surveys, and cognitive assessments across multiple geographical regions and seasons. Utilising the SKOMOBO Indoor Environmental Monitoring (IEM) platform and magnetic sensors, the study provides detailed analyses of classroom conditions before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing significant seasonal variations in temperature and ventilation effectiveness. The research explores factors influencing window-opening behaviours and their impact on IEQ and thermal comfort through questionnaires, observational studies, and sensor data. Additionally, it examines the effects of different environmental conditions on students’ concentration, reasoning, and memory, using controlled experiments and the Creyos online cognitive testing platform. Key findings indicate that optimal thermal comfort and good ventilation significantly enhance cognitive abilities, while elevated CO₂ levels and temperature fluctuations negatively impact performance. The study emphasises the critical role of proper heating, cooling, and ventilation strategies in maintaining a healthy and conducive learning environment. Based on these insights, the research proposes evidence-based recommendations for improving IEQ in primary schools, including optimising natural ventilation, enhancing insulation and heating systems, and implementing continuous monitoring of classroom conditions. The study highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement in driving systemic changes to create healthier, more effective learning spaces that support students’ cognitive development and academic success.
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    Power dynamics in environmental decision-making for large-scale infrastructure projects : the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, New Zealand : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Ali, Syed Weqas
    Environmental assessment (EA) has been internationally recognised in the last three decades as an important tool for managing environmental damage from development projects and has been integrated into environmental planning and decision-making systems around the world. However, questions are increasingly raised as to whether EA is achieving its intended purpose. A major concern is the technocratic nature of EA that overlooks the socio-political influence of different actors within the process. This research explores power dynamics that enable or constrain stakeholders’ influence on the environmental assessment of infrastructure projects. Institutions shape large-scale infrastructure projects through highly complex combinations of factors that include the features of political regimes, regulatory frameworks, and the role and flow of resources. By using the theory of power, this research explores how these factors influence large-scale infrastructure projects. A theoretical framework is developed by extending the theory of power into political, technical and social power. Political power examines how institutional relationships, power and finance are influential in large-scale infrastructure projects. Technical power considers methods being used to analyse environmental problems and present solutions. Social power considers how environmental problems are perceived by the local communities affected by large-scale infrastructure projects. Taking New Zealand’s largest irrigation project, the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme (RWSS) as a case study, this research highlights how power dynamics enable and constrain stakeholders’ influence on the impact assessment and decision-making. Through in-depth analysis of relevant project documents and an online survey, the research examines the influence of political actors, technical experts and individuals. The applicant’s Assessment of Environmental Effects [the form of environmental impact assessment adopted in New Zealand in the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)], submissions made by interested groups and individuals, the hearing transcripts and the Board of Inquiry’s report and decisions were examined to determine how environmental assessment information provided by different stakeholders was incorporated and valued in the decision-making process. First, the research discovers an increasing influence of the Minister for the Environment after ‘streamlining and stratifying’ the consent process in 2009. Therefore, large-scale infrastructures are becoming politicised in order to advance the government’s agenda. The research finds that the RMA is gradually creeping away from the principle of sustainable management towards a form of centralised planning that the Act was introduced to replace. Second, the research finds significant deficiencies in water contaminant modelling, addressing risk and uncertainty, and practicability of proposed mitigation measures. However, these deficiencies have been undervalued under a greater technocratic influence in predicting the environmental impacts of the infrastructure project. Third, the research highlights that the opportunities for the general public to participate in the decision-making for large-scale infrastructure projects are constrained due to the technical nature of the information. Overall, the research concludes that the complexity of the political, technocratic and social dynamics of power hinders the effectiveness of environmental assessment in achieving its intended goal of safeguarding the environment through informed decision-making for permitting infrastructure projects.
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    Exploring shared impact measurement : developing a framework for future action for the Zero Waste Network Aotearoa : a thesis prepared in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Management at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2020) Wray, Dorte
    The Zero Waste Network (ZWN) represents community resource recovery enterprises (CREs) working to shift communities towards a circular economy via zero waste education, reuse and recycling activities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The CRE model produces a range of impacts, however there is currently no standardised approach to reporting these. This thesis aims to develop a framework of action towards the implementation of shared impact measurement within the ZWN. It was found that research participants understand and communicate CRE impact in a variety of ways. It is proposed that there are environmental, cultural, social and economic dimensions to CRE impact. These are explored and analytical and reporting tools are presented for each. Aiming to have practical application within the ZWN, this thesis uses an action research approach, involving ZWN members in its design and implementation. Interviews, a survey and focus groups were undertaken, allowing for a variety of qualitative and quantitative data to be collected. These were analysed using coding and basic statistical analysis methods.
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    Optimising the stream habitat assessment for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Bittner, Adele
    Multiple stream habitat attributes are evaluated using qualitative and quantitative assessment methods during the current Bay of Plenty Natural Environmental Monitoring Network (BOP NERMN) stream habitat survey. These assessments are carried out by a team of different students each summer. Because qualitative assessments typically require less time (shorter in-field assessment duration) than quantitative measurements, using only qualitative assessment methods are likely to be more economical. However, the results of qualitative assessments are thought to be more subjective. Therefore, the year-to-year change of the surveying team (inter-annual observer variability) could influence the BOP NERMN stream habitat monitoring results. In this thesis, I aimed to determine whether omitting quantitative metrics and using only qualitative metrics could be an appropriate option for creating a more economical BOP NERMN stream habitat survey, considering the metrics’ in-field assessment duration and inter-annual observer variability. First, I investigated whether qualitative and quantitative metrics captured stream habitat attributes similarly by assessing the relationship between the two approaches through Spearman rank correlation tests. The Spearman rank correlation analyses revealed that all qualitative metrics, apart from the ‘RHA riparian shade’, were significantly correlated to at least one quantitative metric. Furthermore, I timed the in-field assessment duration of qualitative and quantitative metrics, with the result that, on average per site, all qualitative metrics were evaluated within 9 minutes, and all quantitative metrics were measured in 17 minutes. I investigated inter-annual observer variability by comparing each metric’s percent coefficient of variation (CV) through Bayesian hierarchical linear models and found that data from most metrics (69%) had high levels of inter-annual observer variability (CV estimate > 30%), regardless of whether metrics were quantitative or qualitative. Lastly, I applied value models to evaluate the performance trade-offs between infield-assessment duration and inter-annual observer variability of qualitative and quantitative metrics. More than half (56%) of all metrics performed relatively equally in relation to their in-field assessment duration and inter-annual observer variability, regardless of whether metrics were qualitative or quantitative. These results suggest there is currently no clear reason to favour qualitative metrics in the BOP NERMN stream habitat survey. Overall, this research suggests the existing BOP NERMN stream habitat assessment protocol requires further refinement to reduce inter-annual observer variability.
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    Tracking ecological restoration : temporal and spatial patterns of bird communities on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Pye, Hayden Robert
    Humans have dramatically transformed New Zealand’s ecological communities, leading to declining populations or extinction of native fauna. Hunting, habitat loss, and introduced terrestrial mammals are key drivers of these losses. Forest and Bird began the Pest-Free Hibiscus Coast project in 2011 with the aim of eradicating rats, stoats and possums from the Whangaparāoa Peninsula. To evaluate the effectiveness of pest-management and monitor changes in the bird community, volunteers conducted annual November five-minute stationary bird counts across 32 locations between 2013 and 2020. I used fixed effects models to examine changes in the abundances of the 21 most common species recorded over 2,115 surveys. Using station as a random effect and controlling for the time of day, day of the month, weather, wind levels, survey methodology used and volunteer birding experience, I found 17 bird species remained stable or had significant increases in abundance between 2017 and 2020. The same can be said for 18 species between 2013 and 2020. Overall, abundance trends of common bird species throughout the survey period were comparable with community responses seen in other research from known healthy or predator-free environments. Using GIS (geospatial information systems), I also analysed species richness and the mean relative abundances of endemic, native, and introduced birds across 17 locations. The richness of endemic birds was more than double that of other comparable areas across Auckland. Principal component analysis revealed greater abundances of the four most common endemic species at locations with more natural features and less manmade features, and vice versa for the four most common introduced species. The four most common native species showed intermediate patterns. These patterns highlight the critical importance of natural habitats to support endemic and some native bird species, and reveal that sufficient natural habitat must be available to maximise the efficacy of pest-management. This thesis archives the first eight years of bird survey data collected for Hibiscus Coast Forest and Bird. My findings contribute to the growing body of scientific research focused on improving the conservation of native birds in urban environments and provides important insight into New Zealand’s predator-free 2050 goal.
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    A methodology to assess river habitat quality : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of a Masters in Science in Ecology at Massey University, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2020) Kay, Thomas James
    Declines in the ecological health of rivers and streams worldwide have led to a range of policy responses from environmental protection organisations and government departments. However, while policy has often provided specific direction on issues such as nutrient and sediment pollution, over-abstraction of water, flow regulation, and (increasingly) the impacts of climate change, direction to protect the condition of physical habitat in rivers and streams has been vague at best—despite its wide recognition as a core component of ecosystem health. In Aotearoa New Zealand, protection of the 'natural character' of rivers and the 'habitats of indigenous freshwater species' is required under the Resource Management Act (1991) and National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2020), however, very few regional authorities effectively manage physical habitat, and regulations have so far not stopped ongoing declines in habitat condition. While a range of methods have been developed to assess and monitor the condition of physical habitat in rivers and streams, many are complex or conflate variables and there is little to suggest any have been effectively applied in resource management to reverse ongoing habitat degradation. This thesis explores this issue, considering what makes a robust and effective ecological assessment of physical habitat, reviewing a range of existing assessment techniques against those criteria, exploring the opportunity to improve habitat quality assessment through the integration of readily available drone technology, and testing the efficacy of drone integration in the field. I find that Death et al.'s 'Habitat Quality Index' (HQI) has considerable value as an assessment of change in habitat quality, evaluate the efficacy of visually assessing fine sediment cover and substrate composition using a drone, present a comprehensive hybrid HQI assessment of native fish habitat in a reach of river subject to in-stream engineering works, and discuss the implications of using drones for physical habitat assessment.
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    Evaluation of New Zealand's absolute environmental sustainability performance : development and application of a method to assess the climate change performance of New Zealand's economic sectors : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Science in Environmental Life Cycle Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Chandrakumar, Chanjief
    Existing environmental sustainability assessment methods such as Life Cycle Assessment and environmental footprints quantify the environmental impacts of a system and compare it to a system that is similar to the nature or the function of the examined system. Hence, they are referred to as relative environmental sustainability assessment (RESA) methods. Although they provide useful information to improve the eco-efficiency of the system at a particular economic level, they generally fail to inform the environmental sustainability performance of a system against the so-called absolute environmental boundaries. Therefore, the significance of the contribution of an examined system to the overall environmental impacts of human activities is mostly overlooked. To address the limitations associated with RESA methods, researchers have suggested the development of absolute environmental sustainability assessment (AESA) methods, which guide how human societies can operate and develop within absolute environmental boundaries. In this context, this research investigated the development of an innovative AESA framework called ‘Absolute Sustainability-based Life Cycle Assessment’ (ASLCA) based on the environmental indicators and absolute environmental boundaries proposed in three popular frameworks: Planetary Boundaries, Sustainable Development Goals and Life Cycle Assessment. The proposed framework was applied to assess the production-based climate change performance of New Zealand agrifood sector, particularly in terms of the two-degree Celsius (2°C) climate target. The results showed that the production-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of New Zealand agri-food sector and its products exceeded the assigned shares of the 2°C global carbon budget. Similar results were observed when the consumptionbased climate change performance of a typical New Zealand detached house was evaluated against the 2°C climate target. The framework was then applied to address the consumption-based climate change performance of an economic system using environmentally-extended multi-regional inputoutput analysis. This framework was used to evaluate the consumption-based climate change performance of New Zealand’s total economy (covering 16 sectors) in 2011 against the 2°C climate target, and the outcomes were compared with the production-based climate change performance in the given year. The consumption-based analysis showed that New Zealand exceeded the assigned share of the 2°C global carbon budget; the consumptionbased GHG emissions were 26% more than the assigned carbon budget share. However, the sector-level analysis indicated that three of the 16 sectors (financial and trade services, other services and miscellaneous) were within their assigned carbon budget shares. When the consumption-based GHG emissions were compared with the production-based GHG emissions, New Zealand was a net exporter of GHG emissions in 2011, and the dominating sectors were quite different. The results clearly imply that a significant reduction in GHG emissions associated with New Zealand’s consumption and production activities are necessary to stay within the assigned shares of the 2°C global carbon budget. Given that AESA methods (including ASLCA) are built upon multiple value and modelling choices, the outcomes of these studies may vary depending upon these choices. Therefore, the influence of different value and modelling choices on the outcomes of the ASLCA was investigated, particularly regarding the choice of GHG accounting method, the choice of climate threshold, the choice of approach to calculate the global carbon budget, and the choice of sharing principle to assign a share of the global carbon budget. The analysis showed that, for each GHG accounting method the largest uncertainty was associated with the choice of climate threshold, followed by the choice of sharing principle, and then the choice of calculation method for the global carbon budget. Overall, the proposed ASLCA framework aims to address the question, “Are the environmental impacts of a system within the assigned share of the Earth’s carrying capacity, and if not, what is the required reduction?” The outcomes of this research are useful to support policymakers in understanding the climate impacts of different economic sectors, goods and services, relative to global climate targets. The approach provides a basis for developing a range of environmental impact reduction targets that can potentially catalyse innovation and investment in the environmentally-transformative activities and technologies that are needed to enable human societies to operate and develop within the Earth’s “safe operating space”.