/library/oar/handle/123456789/104559 2025-11-13T07:30:36Z 2025-11-13T07:30:36Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110857 2023-06-21T07:28:38Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Optimising public participation through the management of local projects on government-owned land Abstract: The clients have gone from a “doing the right project” attitude to “doing the project right”. There are several literatures in the project management field which has been researched, to follow the latter concept. This study shall shed light on the importance of public participation for a project manager to “do the project right”. Public participation is a fundamental principle of good democratic governance. It is turning out to be the new norm for governments, authorities, and local governments’ policy making structures. This strategy seeks to facilitate the involvement of not just the affected stakeholders, but all citizens who wish to be part of the decision-making process. By means of this cooperation with members of the civil society, governing bodies strengthen the general public’s trust in their processes and operations. Based on metrics, researchers have challenged the citizens’ perception of public participation. Research has also shown that healthy public participation positively impacts developments, particularly during the initiation and design phases. This project management tool enables developers to invest time (during the two mentioned project life cycle stages) to communicate with the local community to identify its communal needs, improve the environmental aspect of the area, and meet the investor’s economic projections. Although literature relative to this subject-matter is substantial (even in the local fora), the researcher identified a literature gap which links public participation to the urban demographic analysis and the public’s perception about consultation processes. The co-existence of these two relationships in a political context encourages public participation processes throughout the first two stages of the project life cycle. This is imperative to improve the projects’ success rate, especially in terms of satisfied stakeholders. This study links the abovementioned elements and explores the association between the community’s feedback and development of projects from the locality’s heritage perspective. These connections improve the way projects are designed, not only to sustain the investor’s business portfolio, but also to respect the local’s landscape and the community’s interests. A model shall be created to show how public participation mechanisms can improve project design, generate a satisfactory feeling amongst patrons and foster a sense of belonging towards such a project. Description: M.Sc. Proj. Mngt.(Melit.)

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110853 2023-06-21T07:27:12Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Camouflaged concrete : evaluating the state of conservation of the Maltese sound mirror ‘Il-Widna’ and its painted surface Abstract: The Maltese sound mirror, Il-Widna, has a surviving and unique painted surface that has never been studied. It is well-established that the British military built this monumental concrete structure from 1934- 1935 in Malta to detect and relay the sounds of incoming enemy aircraft. However, the significance, materiality, techniques, and condition of the painted camouflage surface and its relationship with its concrete support is unexplored. This study focuses primarily on the painted surface of the Maltese sound mirror while also acknowledging the concrete support and the intrinsic and external factors influencing the holistic condition of the structure. Specifically, it illuminates and elucidates the stratigraphy and original materials and techniques of Il-Widna and provides an overall condition assessment of the structure and its painted surface. Archival investigations and interviews with cultural heritage professionals and military historians were conducted to establish theoretical information of the site and its painted camouflage. Visual examinations and infrared thermography (IRT) on site were then conducted to establish the physical evidence of Il-Widna. Afterwards, stratigraphic samples were taken and observed under a Nikon SMZ800 stereomicroscope, prepared into cross-sections and analysed under a Nikon Eclipse CiPOL polarized light microscope. Selected samples were then subjected to a Zeiss Evo 15 scanning electron microscope (SEM), coupled with EDX analysis. The results show that a hydraulic binder, possibly Portland cement, and local limestone aggregates were used in the concrete. A white layer of calcium carbonate on top of the concrete is visible on both sides of the mirror. A grey sandy layer, found only on the north face, is composed of a hydraulic binder and probably sand containing aluminium and silicon-based aggregates. The five coloured paints are possibly cement paints, i.e., Portland cement-based with sand containing aluminium-silicon-based aggregates. Various pigments have been identified. In particular, the pigment of the green paint is a chromium oxide green. This is particularly relevant because chromium pigments were heavily restricted at the start of World War II and therefore helps to convey that the paint is part of the original technique. The red, yellow, light brown, and dark brown paints each include a different iron-oxide pigment. The sound mirror’s functionality and its need for camouflage affected the different material stratifications and techniques used on the north and south faces of the structure. Additionally, the deterioration phenomena of the paint are occurring in relation to their original materials and underlying concrete support, as well as their locations on the large and long concrete structure, which is influenced by different environmental and external factors. The major sources of these deterioration phenomena appear to be high temperatures, fluctuations in relative humidity, solar radiation, and biodeterioration. Hence, measures should be taken to safeguard Il-Widna’s current state of conservation. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110852 2023-06-21T07:24:40Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A technical study of the plaster decoration in the Villa of the Argotti Botanic Gardens, Floriana, Malta Abstract: This dissertation is focused on a plaster relief found in the Argotti Villa which is located in the Argotti Botanic Gardens in Floriana, Malta. This plaster relief has not been previously studied. The aims of this dissertation focus on studying the relief’s technology, original technique and its overall condition. The plaster relief in the Villa can be described as a relief built layer by layer in situ, on the stone primary support. There is more than one support system anchoring the relief to the wall. A total of three main plaster layers were observed to make up the relief. Examination on-site was complemented with analyses of samples taken from the relief. The samples were investigated through a stereomicroscope, Polarized Light Microscope (PLM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX). The plasters are composed of carbonated lime as the binder. Aggregates are of different nature: carbonatic aggregates are mainly present (possibly from local limestone, showing fossils), gypsum (in its mineral form) aggregates and to a much lower extent silicate-aluminate aggregates. The technology and some of the original materials of the relief showed similarities to the plasters of the mosaiced relief of a Nymphaeum, which is also located in the Argotti Botanic Gardens like the Villa. Physical evidence of other painted plasters in the room suggests the presence in the past of a larger decorative scheme: these include remaining of a painted plaster above the relief (which partially goes behind it) and a painted reddish plaster in the low register of the room. The condition survey and analysis of the plaster relief at the Argotti Villa showed the presence of salts, which are a major cause of deterioration. Mainly chlorides and sulphates were identified on the plastered relief, and on the surrounding plasters and stone in the room. Sodium chloride is widely present, and it was detected through SEM-EDX analysis. Environmental monitoring data recorded at the Argotti Villa were analysed to determine if soluble salts are active. The date when the plaster relief was made is still unknown and further research is needed to gather more information on this and on the decorative scheme. However, a terminus post quem (post-1715) and a terminus ante quem (c. 1800-1827) are given for the construction of the Argotti Villa. Conservation suggestions were provided to safeguard the plaster relief. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110840 2023-06-21T07:22:35Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Female cloistered monasteries in Malta : issues and challenges in safeguarding living religious heritage in the event of secularisation Abstract: This dissertation is born out of concern for the dwindling cloistered communities residing within Maltese monasteries of high heritage value and the implications this might have, among other concerns, on the spaces of significance they inhabit. Since it is understood that the significance of living religious heritage is intrinsic to the living element, the aim of this study is to anticipate the discourse of abandonment of sites and instead to focus on preemptive measures that envisage identifying and safeguarding the accumulated significance of a living heritage site at risk, by valorizing the central role of their core communities. The methodology adopted for the purpose of this study tested the combination of a ‘living heritage approach’ designed to prioritise the ‘living dimension’ with a ‘value-based assessment’ that constitutes common practice in matters relating to decision-making in heritage management. Anthropological-ethnographic methods, such as semi-structured interviews with a selection of cloistered nuns, together with observational, phenomenological and historical approaches were incorporated within the research. This study also proposed a methodology for numerically quantifying ‘current use of space’ in an attempt to tangibly portray the extent of risk that these living heritage monuments are facing due to diminishing use by their communities. This research reaffirmed the importance of the ‘theory of continuity’ as central to the definition of living religious heritage. It also introduced a method of applying this central concept and using it as a measure for quantifying risk, resulting in a numerical value for the current use of monasteries, thus enabling the classification of risk and outlining urgency. From the qualitative research applied, recommendations for best practice were established. Furthermore, an understanding of the shift in values once the community becomes dispersed was obtained. This study also tested the initial application of preemptive measures intended at highlighting elements of the intangible that will become obsolete to memory. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z