https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/4347 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:27:20 GMT 2026-06-11T12:27:20Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147235 Title: A fortified historic port : exploring the intersection between urban geomorphology, street morphology and touristic land use of Valletta, Senglea and Vittoriosa in the Grand Harbour of Malta Authors: Gauci, Ritienne; Bajada, Therese; Schembri, John A.; Bounan, Camille; Desponds, Charlotte; Behloul, Laurie Abstract: This chapter explores the link between urban geomorphology, street network and tourism-oriented land use in the Grand Harbour of Malta, focusing on the walled historic conurbations of Valletta, Vittoriosa and Senglea. The Grand Harbour, a natural deep port formed by a submerged ria valley, has a long history of port activities and is flanked by these three walled cities each situated on prominent peninsulas, and interconnected through military and maritime history. Over the years, land transport in this area and beyond changed in relation to the activities and needs in Malta. Demographic trends also fluctuated according to the economic activities that dominated the harbour area, leading to different population densities. In this study, a range of primary data – field data collection and secondary data (GIS data from government entities) – were modelled on ArcGIS Pro V.3.3, with initial results showing correlations between geomorphological features and infrastructure variables such as staircase streets and stepped pavements, accommodating street gradients which exceed 10%. Digital Terrain Models were used to further illustrate the connection between geomorphology and the human element. This work highlights the significance of physical geography in shaping the urban form of walled port towns through street infrastructure and land use. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147235 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142471 Title: Place attachment and coastal flood risk perceptions among Maltese business communities Authors: Spiteri, Daniel; Gauci, Ritienne Abstract: This study examines the influence of place attachment on the willingness of coastal business owners in the Maltese Islands to adapt to climate change. Climate change poses a significant threat to coastal communities through rising sea levels and storm surge inundation. The success of future climate adaptation strategies hinges on the cooperation of these communities. Using a mixed-methods approach, elevational data of coastal businesses across five selected localities was gathered to assess their physical vulnerability. This was followed by surveys with business owners and government representatives to understand behavioral factors. The findings reveal that business owners’ strong attachment to the coast is heavily influenced by key socioeconomic factors, including their location’s tourism value, high customer demand, and family inheritance. Despite their awareness of climate-related risks, coastal business owners showed a comparatively lower perception of the threat and no tangible intention to implement long-term protective measures. These results suggest that cultural and economic ties often outweigh rational risk assessments, reinforcing a resistance to relocation. Given the urgent need for a nationwide climate strategy, further research and collaboration among various coastal user groups are essential to better understand stakeholder behavior and develop effective, location-based solutions. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142471 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141257 Title: The experiences of Maltese elderly residents in accessing and using local urban green spaces Abstract: This dissertation seeks to better understand the relationship between elderly residents and the urban green spaces in their locality. This includes a study of participants’ perceptions of these spaces in their localities. It also studies the role of these spaces in the lives of the participants, including any benefits participants may perceive themselves to be receiving from such spaces. Finally, it seeks to understand the experiences of participants in accessing such spaces in their locality. The study is a qualitative study centred on three localities: Attard, Marsa and Qormi. The study collected data from observations of urban green spaces in these three localities and from semi-structured interviews with sixteen elderly residents living in the chosen localities. The results of the observations demonstrate that the urban green spaces in all three localities are on average of mediocre quality, particularly when compared to standards promoted by the international literature. In the interviews, participants identified several positive elements about the urban green spaces. However, they also identified and described several aspects which detract from the attractiveness and usefulness of such spaces. Half of the participants gave insightful information as to how these spaces benefited their mental and/or social wellbeing. However, many participants still described elements which detracted from these benefits. A smaller number of participants were able to describe benefits to their physical wellbeing obtained from the urban green spaces. Most participants felt that the urban green spaces are largely accessible, but almost all participants identified and described barriers which made access more difficult. This included a number of physical and social barriers. The findings provide useful information to policymakers and urban planners as to what can be improved about urban green spaces to render them more suitable and attractive to the needs and preferences of elderly residents. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141257 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/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.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/139248 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z