Masters Degrees (School for Geospatial Studies and Information Systems)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (School for Geospatial Studies and Information Systems) by Subject "Geographic information systems"

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    Analysing the changes in bathymetry of Saldanha Bay between the years 1977 and 2021
    (2022-04) Du Toit, Louis; Henrico, Ivan; Mtshawu, Babalwa; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Sciences. School for Geospatial Studies and Information Systems.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Possessing one of the finest natural harbours on the South African coast, along with its ideal location on a major international trading route, the Saldanha Bay Municipality has been identified as a key development zone in the blue economy, earmarked to lead major developments in the region. Saldanha Bay is strategically positioned to serve the envisaged oil-and-gas sector on the west coast of the African continent and is a critical area for development for South Africa’s ‘blue economy’. Studies like Henrico & Bezuidenhout (2020) have proven that the changes made during the construction of the Port of Saldanha (PoS) have altered the shape and slope profile of Saldanha Bay (herein called the Bay, which refers to both Inner and Outer Bay, described in section 1.2) significantly, thus changing the hydrodynamics of the Bay. The aim of this study is to compare and analyse the changes in bathymetry of Saldanha Bay between 1977 and 2021. The general tendency of gradual increase in depth from the coastline towards the mouth of the Bay, with sharp increases in depth off Elandspunt and Salamanderpunt, is the same for both 1977 and 2021. The Ordinary Kriging (OK) interpolation method, employed by means of a Geographic Information System (GIS), was selected for creating surface models of the bathymetry of Saldanha Bay, and for conducting the comparison between the two datasets. Said comparison will determine the change in bathymetry over the 44-year period. A slope analysis was also performed to determine the stability of the ocean floor of the Bay. The results of this study indicate a general increase in depth since 1977, with most of the pixels in the graphical representation of the Bay (68.2%) indicating a depth increase between 0.395 - 3.203 m, and an average increase in depth within Big Bay of 1.799 m between 1977 - 2021. There were also two areas identified which experienced changes beyond the standard deviation and showed significant increases or decreases in depth. The general slope trend of Big Bay in 2021 remained fairly like that of 1977, with most of the Bay having a relatively low slope, between 0 - 1.3 degrees. However, in 2021 it can be seen that there is a slight increase in overall slope of Big Bay since 1977, with and average slope of 0.51 recorded in 2021, 0.2 degrees more than in 1977. Furthermore, in 2021 the majority of Big Bay had a slope of 1.3 degrees or less, 0.4 degrees more than in1977. Finally, in 2021 Big Bay also showed an increase in the maximum slope recorded in the Bay, with a maximum slope of 14.8 degrees, more than twice the maximum slope recorded in 1977. The findings of this study support the statements made by Flemming (1977) and Henrico & Bezuidenhout (2020) that the construction of the PoS changed the sedimentation processes within Saldanha Bay to some extent. However, the findings of this study are only relevant for a portion of Saldanha Bay, the inclusion zone in Big Bay as indicated in section 4.3. In this area however, there has been a total loss of 49 364 560.0 m3 in volume. The exact nature and driving forces behind this loss in volume still requires further investigation to be fully understood.
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    Encroachment by informal settlements on military bases: army support base Potchefstroom
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Matjane, Motsweleng Lebogang Anthony; Mtshawu, Babalwa; Henrico, Ivan; Richmond, Amy; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Sciences. School for Geospatial Studies and Information Systems.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Encroachment of informal settlements on military lands is a growing concern that poses significant challenges to both military operations and civilian safety. This study investigated the extent and implications of informal settlement encroachment in the Potchefstroom region, focusing on the Army Support Base (ASB) Potchefstroom and the General De la Rey training area. Utilising geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, this research conducted a comprehensive analysis of informal settlement growth around ASB Potchefstroom from 2011 to 2020. GIS-based change detection methodology was employed to assess changes in the accessibility of military lands over the specified period to reveal the progression of encroachment. In parallel, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed to explore the experiences and perspectives of knowledgeable senior military personnel and former military candidates. Through semi-structured interviews, this qualitative approach captured valuable insights into how encroachment impacts the military community in Potchefstroom. The study findings indicate that previously isolated military lands have been informally occupied by two distinct communities (Marikana and the Eleazer Up & Coming Farmers) with varying characteristics. The escalating scale of encroachment has led to compromised security, vandalism of military infrastructure, and increased safety risks in the military area. Given the seriousness of this issue, the study emphasises the need for immediate attention and proactive measures. Policymakers and relevant stakeholders at local, municipal, provincial, and national levels are urged to take action to prevent further encroachment and to protect the integrity and functionality of military lands. This research contributes to the field of urban geography, security studies, and governance by shedding light on the impact of informal settlements on military lands and raising awareness of the challenges faced by the military community in Potchefstroom. The study’s comprehensive approach of combining GIS analysis and IPA offers valuable insights for future research and policy interventions to address encroachment in similar settings.
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    Understanding crime in the context of COVID-19: the case of the Western Cape Province of South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12 ) Mayoyo, Nkosana Prince; Henrico, Ivan; Mtshawu, Babalwa; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Sciences. School for Geospatial Studies and Information Systems.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Crime mapping and geographic information system (GIS) analysis have become essential tools for law enforcement agencies and researchers in understanding, tracking, and combating crime. This master's thesis presents a comprehensive study conducted over three years (2019 to 2022) in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The study aims to map and analyse crime incidents across all categories as reported by the South African Police Service (SAPS). This research employs two widely used spatial analysis techniques within GIS, namely the Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and the Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis tool, both available in ArcGIS. The primary focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of these tools in identifying and visualising criminal hotspots within the Western Cape Province. The duration of the study spans from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2022, encompassing the period during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It's important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated regulations did not have universally accepted starting and ending dates, and various countries implemented and lifted restrictions at different times. To provide clarity, footnotes are included to specify a) the global temporal parameters of the pandemic1, b) any adjusted parameters within South Africa2, c) the precise temporal parameters of this study, and the rationale for selecting these particular dates3. This study examines crime patterns during the period of extraordinary security regulations and beyond, acknowledging the dynamic nature of the pandemic's timeline. Analogously, like WWI and WWII, wars may begin before formal declarations and persist beyond cease-fires, yet universally accepted calendar starting and ending dates are used for reference. Key findings reveal that while the pandemic led to an overall decrease in crime rates due to restrictions on movement and other factors, certain areas, notably the City of Cape Town Metropolitan, remained persistent hotspots for criminal activity throughout the period under investigation. The analysis further highlights the dominance of specific crime categories, particularly crimes against persons (CAP) and other serious crimes (OSC), which contribute significantly to the province's overall crime landscape. The results of this study hold valuable implications for law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and local authorities. By visualising and understanding spatial crime patterns, stakeholders can make informed decisions on resource allocation and crime prevention strategies, which ultimately reduce criminal activities and enhance public safety. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the field of crime mapping and GIS analysis, particularly in the context of a global pandemic. It also underscores the importance of integrating spatial analysis techniques into crime prevention and law enforcement efforts. This study offers a valuable framework for future research and crime management policy development.