/library/oar/handle/123456789/4347 2025-11-11T14:33:29Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/139248 Title: Urban transformations in a Mediterranean island state : the case of Malta Abstract: Land is a limited natural resource. One of the main land uses is related to settlement development, which plays a central role in a myriad of human activities. The expansion of these settlements is referred to as urban growth and generally happens at the expense of natural and agricultural land cover. Measuring and understanding these growth patterns is of vital importance for land management and planning. This need is more accentuated in a small-island states given the scarcity of this resource. This study aims to investigate urban growth in Malta and develop future trajectories for growth using data retrieved from local development planning applications submitted to Malta’s Planning Authority, the authority responsible for development control and planning in the islands. A web scraping technique was used to extract data from the public online database and a text mining approach was used to identify keywords implying urban growth from the granted development planning applications’ descriptors. The study investigates the different forms of urban growth happening over the last thirty years: infilling, edge-expansion and outlying development. These were used to test the applicability of the Theory of Diffusion and Coalescence to the case of Malta. Moreover, the study looked at various predictors of urban growth presented in the literature and determined, which of these are those that are applicable to Malta’s case. These predictors were subsequently used to model urban growth in Malta using logistic regression. The model developed predicted simulations showing the areas likely to experience urban growth in future years. In conclusion, the patterns determined in the study were analysed and discussed. The outcomes of this work will lead to better measurement of urban growth in Malta and concurrently provide new methods that can be used in the study of planning and land management. Description: Ph.D.(Melit.) 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/138405 Title: Exploring the geographical significance of street names in Malta Abstract: This dissertation explores the geographical significance of different street naming themes in Malta. Focusing on the importance of location in the naming of streets, the study employs mixed-methods approach, including interviews, surveys and site visits. Interviews with experts provided deeper insights into street naming in Malta, including the naming process, expert opinions and suggestions. In contrast, questionnaires distributed to the general public gathered their perspectives on street name knowledge and their feelings about street names. Site visits further contributed to understanding the selected street naming themes and localities, while mapping these names allowed for an analysis of their concentration and spatial distribution. The results suggest a need for more initiatives to inform and raise public awareness about this topic. Additionally, patterns in the concentration of these street names were identified, showing that certain themes tend to cluster in specific localities, reflecting historical, cultural and functional influences. Description: B.A. (Hons)(Melit.) 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/138345 Title: Too far gone? : measuring the tourism attractiveness of Malta's most rural localities Abstract: As with many popular European tourist destinations, Malta has increasingly been impacted by the negative consequences associated with mass tourism. Given the country's small size and high pressure on land-use, it has been particularly vulnerable to these effects. In response, the country is seeking to shift towards alternative forms of tourism that support more manageable growth and a sustainable tourism market. One such form is rural tourism, yet the potential for Malta to be an attractive rural tourism destination remains under-explored. This research selects the two most rural localities on the country’s main island and evaluates their attractiveness as rural tourism destinations. Localities are selected by constructing a continuous rurality index for the island. The two most rural localities are identified as L-Imġarr and Ħad-Dingli. A hierarchical Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model is developed to assess rural tourism attractiveness through expert evaluation. Experts rank the importance of the model variables and score them for each locality. The variables are weighted according to the rankings, and the scores are then combined to produce an overall attractiveness score for each locality. L-Imġarr outperforms Ħad-Dingli, receiving consistently high scores across all categories. Ħad-Dingli, while scoring lower overall, excels in categories related to its natural resources. Based on these findings, recommendations are provided for tourism planners and policymakers. Description: B.A. (Hons)(Melit.) 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/135669 Title: Coastal boulder deposits in the Mediterranean : a comprehensive review of research and findings Authors: Causon Deguara, Joanna; Gauci, Ritienne; Inkpen, Robert Abstract: Coastal boulder deposits (CBD) found on rocky coasts are considered as the result of erosional and depositional processes by waves. These features are often attributed to extreme wave events such as major storms or tsunamis. Interest in their origin has increased considerably in the past 2 decades, especially after the 2004 and 2011 tsunamigenic events. This study attempts to review the literature available on this topic so far within the context of the Mediterranean region. This study shows how the main aims of research evolved from early descriptive works that tried to identify the causative source or event of boulder transport: storm or tsunami, to more specific evaluation of storm-induced transportation events and testing numerical models. Different methodologies used, as well as technological advances that facilitated data collection and observations, are also discussed. Finally, the study proposes future research directions to address gaps in knowledge relative to coastal erosion and identification of coastal hazards from flooding and inundation. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z