Open Access

Across the globe, urban areas experience the phenomena of rising road-congestion, air pollution and car accidents. These are just a few popular quantified effects that arise due to rapid, uncoordinated urbanization on a car-centric city layout. There is an urgent need to consider new concepts of urban mobility development to combat these negative effects. Car-free mobility is one notion adopted in diverse formats by numerous cities to create a more inclusive, just, healthy and sustainable urban life. The focus of this thesis is to ex- amine whether a car-free mobility concept is applicable to the Maun Science Park, Bot- swana. Therefore, the idea of car-free mobility, its positive aspects as well as its con- straints, are described first. This illustrates the complexity of urban transport planning as it is intertwined with urban land-use, political vision and people’s perceptions and behav- iors. Secondly, examples and strategies on how to change existing structures are pre- sented. Following this, the smart developments in the field of sustainable urban mobility are considered to provide an insight into their assets and drawbacks. Then the local mo- bility conditions are examined before the car-free concept is exemplarily applied to the Maun Science Park via scenario construction. These scenarios give a first vision of how a car-free concept can be applied to the MSP and additionally provide a starting point for future strategic planning as well as inspiration for other cities to follow along.

Cities around the world are facing an increasing number of global and local challenges, such as climate change and scarcity of raw materials. At the same time trends like digitalization, globalization and networking gain in importance. For this reason, cities have started imple-menting smart solutions within the urban structure in order to evolve towards a Smart City. In Botswana, the Maun Science Park is intended to provide a best practice approach for a Bot-swanan Smart City. Since Smart City concepts have to be specifically tailored to local condi-tions, the first main goal of this thesis is to develop a synthesis concept for the Maun Science Park. A key problem in cities is the utilization of space, which is further intensified by increasing urbanization and population growth. Therefore, the second main goal is to develop approaches of (digitally) re-programmable space to use available areas intelligently and optimized. Within the thesis, human-centered design has been applied as structure-giving methodology. By clarifying relevant Smart City contents, considering reference examples as well as identify-ing local challenges and requirements, an appropriate concept has been developed with hu-man-focus. Furthermore, the methodologies of literature research and expert interviews have been used as input in the individual human-centered design phases. In combination with an innovation funnel, the methodology human-centered design forms the structure of the thesis. In total, ten main solution areas and 37 sub-segments have been identified for the synthesis concept of Maun Science Park. Additionally, a concept for Smart Buildings has been devel-oped as a part of the synthesis concept and as an essential infrastructure component of the Maun Science Park (three main segments, 16 sub-segments). Based on expert input, a priori-tization has been determined by evaluating the impact and economic affordability of the indi-vidual sub-areas. Moreover, individual key areas have been highlighted by identifying direct interactions between sub-segments and on the basis of expert input – these are particularly related to the segments Smart Data and Smart People. Besides the synthesis concept, ap-proaches of (digitally) re-programmable space have been created. Thereby, ten approaches refer to the conversion, reuse or expansion abilities of space within daily, weekly or life cycle. In addition, the conventional (digitally) re-programmable space idea has been extended by two new considerations – “multi-purpose use of built-up space” and “concept programming in the planning phase”. Finally, within an overall consideration – synthesis concept combined with approaches of (digitally) re-programmable space – the added value of the developed contents has been outlined, positive and negative aspects have been identified within a SWOT analysis and the business model of the Maun Science Park approach has been verified in a Business Model Canvas. Through explicit elaboration, classification and prioritization of solution areas, the developed concept can serve as a basis for further project steps. Based on the defined requirements of the sub-segments, solutions can be developed with regard to the entire Smart City context.

Throughout this thesis, the implementation of tools for knowledge management as a key factor for sustainable corporate development, is presented. In industries with a high fluc-tuation rate, such as construction, efficient knowledge management is of particular im-portance. Companies feel the effects of negligent handling of this resource especially dur-ing the Corona pandemic. Restructuring leads to experienced employees leaving the com-pany – and with them the know-how and experience gained. With a systematic knowledge transfer, the most important insights in such situations remain within the or-ganization. Thus, the company becomes crisis-proof and receives all the tools it needs to grow healthily again after the recession. Practical data from competitors indicates that knowledge management promises savings potential of several million euros per year for BAM. Further potentials in the areas of sustainability, customer- and employee satisfac-tion as well as occupational safety, which do not lead to savings, are also worth mention-ing. This thesis determines the current maturity level of knowledge management at BAM, before introducing processes and systems that successively drive the improvement. The developed methods simultaneously help to prevent and solve problems and systematical-ly promote the continuous improvement of all work processes in the company. Detailed steps are presented to carry out change management towards the successful introduction and further development of knowledge management at BAM. A major focus is on interpersonal factors. The related topic of knowledge culture was recently ranked by german think-tank Zukunftsinstitut as one of the top 5 megatrends for companies in the 2020s. The methods developed, contribute to the creation of such a culture and to the transformation of BAM towards a learning organization. Knowledge management identi-fies with the BAM values. In the course of this thesis it will be shown how the system by its very nature, helps to implement these values in the work of every employee. The results of this elaboration were recently awarded the Digital Construction Award 2020 for Business Excellence at BAM Deutschland AG.

Production and marketing of cereal grains are some of the main activities in developing countries to ensure food security. However, the food gap is complicated further by high postharvest loss of grains during storage. This study aimed to compare low‐cost modified‐atmosphere hermetic storage structures with traditional practice to minimize quantitative and qualitative losses of grains during storage. The study was conducted in two phases: in the first phase, seven hermetic storage structures with or without smoke infusion were compared, and one selected structure was further validated at scaled‐up capacity in the second phase.