Thesis (DPhil (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rapid growth of tourism, particularly heritage tourism, in South Africa is leading to a detrimental impact on heritage resources. Part of the problem lies in the lack of knowledge visitors have of the significance and vulnerability of the resources they are engaging with. Another part of the problem is the inherent conflict between the heritage tourism sector and the heritage management sector. Whilst sharing the same resource base, each sector has very different aims. Tourism seeks to exploit heritage resources, whilst heritage management seeks to conserve them. These problems are not necessarily restricted to South Africa and the study of its nature and extent is here limited to the Little Karoo. The Little Karoo is defined in this dissertation as the area in the Western Cape bounded by the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains in the south, and the Swartberg in the north. It includes the towns of Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Amalienstein, Zoar, Calitzdorp, Van Wyksdorp, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, De Rust and Herold. Of importance to this research is the fact that the Little Karoo can be accessed by a variety of passes, poorts and kloofs. This study has been undertaken in order to explore a non-empirical solution to the problem of the human impact on heritage resources through their thematic interpretation and presentation. This research also aims to improve the relationship between the tourism and heritage industries by introducing a shared terminology in the form of a model or framework. This framework is a way of organising and presenting the heritage story in such a way that both heritage tourism and heritage managers (and other stakeholders) can understand. The aim of the study is to devise a mechanism with which to identify, organise, interpret and present heritage resources in a thematic manner. The resulting thematic framework will hopefully enrich the heritage experience of visitors to heritage sites while providing guidance as to the vulnerability of heritage resources. A secondary objective is to develop common terminology for the heritage tourism and heritage management communities. The intent is to improve the relationship between these two sectors and thereby mitigate further damage to heritage resources. Data for this study was collected from several empirical sources. Extant and primary data was accessed. Extant data came from the pertinent published sources, while primary data was collected via a combination of personal and group face-to-face semi-structured interviews and personal observation of heritage sites in the Little Karoo during 2003 and 2004. The main outcome of this research was the development of a South African Heritage Tourism Thematic Framework (SAHTTF). The SAHTTF is, in part, based on and inspired by frameworks from the United States, Australia, Canada and South Africa. There are three tiers within the framework: theme groups, themes and sub-themes. The framework is intended to be flexible and the three tiers can be mixed and matched in whatever way best serves the story of the heritage resource in question. The five theme groups are: Development of the environment; Peopling our land; Way of life; Governing South Africa and Developing South Africa. The whole story of South Africa can be organised and presented using this framework. However, in order to keep this study within reasonable limits, the focus of the story was limited to the heritage story of the Little Karoo. The case studies of the Cango Caves, Cogmans Kloof, Swartberg Pass and Seweweeks Poort tested the effectiveness of the SAHTTF. It is recommended that the SAHTTF be presented to the heritage tourism and heritage management sectors for further evaluation and testing. This research has proved that the SAHTTF can be an effective tool in the identification, organization, interpretation and presentation of heritage resources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die snelle groei van toerisme, veral erfnistoerisme, in Suid-Afrika het tot gevolg dat erfnisbronne onder groot druk geplaas word. Die probleem is deels dat besoekers geen of weinig kennis dra van die kwesbaarheid en belangrikheid van die bronne waarmee hulle handel. Verder is die probleem die belangebotsing tussen erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur sektore. Toerisme verbruik erfnisbronne, terwyl erfnisbestuur poog om dit te bewaar. Hierdie probleem is egter nie noodwendig eie aan Suid-Afrika nie en vir die doeleindes van dié studie word die omvang en aard daarvan slegs in die Klein Karoo ondersoek. Die Klein Karoo word beskou as die gebied in die Westelike Provinsie wat in die suide deur die Langeberge en Outenikwaberge en in die noorde deur die Swartberge begrens word. Dit omsluit die dorpe Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Amalienstein, Zoar, Calitzdorp, Vanwyksdorp, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, De Rust en Herold. Die Klein Karoo kan deur talle passe, poorte en klowe bereik word – die belangrike feit wat in hierdie studie ontgin word. Die navorsing is onderneem ten einde 'n nie-empiriese oplossing vir die impak van die mens op erfnisbronne deur tematiese interpretasie en voorstelling te vind. Dit beoog om die verhouding tussen die bedryf van erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur te bestendig deur gedeelde terminologie in die vorm van 'n model of raamwerk. Hierdie raamwerk bied 'n metode om die verhale van erfnis so aan te bied dat beide die bedrywers van erfnistoerisme en -bestuur begrip daarvoor kan ontwikkel. Die doel van die navorsing is om 'n meganisme te vind waardeur die erfnisbronne op 'n tematiese wyse geïdentifiseer, georganiseer, vertolk en aangebied kan word. Hierdie tematiese raamwerk sal hopelik besoekers se ervaring van erfnisbronne verryk en leiding gee rakende die kwesbaarheid van terreine. Data vir die navorsing is uit verskeie empiriese bronne versamel. Bestaande en primêre data is gebruik. Bestaande data was afkomstig van toepaslike publikasies en primêre data is versamel en ingewin via 'n kombinasie van individuele en groepsonderhoude deur middel van semigestruktureerde onderhoude, asook persoonlike waarneming van verskillende erfnisterrreine in die Klein Karoo tussen 2003 en 2004. Die belangrikste opbrengs uit die navorsing is die ontwikkeling van 'n Suid-Afrikanse Erfnistoerisme Tematiese Raamwerk (South Afican Heritage Tourism Thematic Framework – SAHTTF). Die SAHTTF is deels gebaseer op, en geïnspireer deur, soortgelyke raamwerke in die VSA, Australië, Kanada en Suid-Afrika. Daar is drie vlakke in die raamwerk: tematiese groepe, temas en sub-temas. Die raamwerk is aanpasbaar en die drie vlakke kan in enige kombinasie gebruik word om die verhaal of geskiedenis van die betrokke bron ten beste voor te stel. Die vyf tematiese groepe is: Onwikkeling van die omgewing; Bevolking van ons land; Lewenswyses; Regering van Suid-Afrika; en Ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika. Die hele erfnisverhaal van Suid-Afrika kan georganiseer en voorgestel word deur dié raamwerk. Ten einde hierdie navorsing hanteerbaar te hou, is op die erfnisverhaal van die Klein Karoo gekonsentreer. As gevallestudies het die Kangogrotte, Kogmanskloof, Swartbergpas en Seweweekspoort as toets vir die doeltreffendheid van die raamwerk gedien. Die navorsing beveel aan dat die SAHTTF aan die beheerstrukture van erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur voorgelê word vir verdere evaluering en toetsing. Die navorsing het bevind dat die SAHTTF 'n doeltreffende instrument kan wees in die identifisering, organisering, vertolking en voorstelling van ons erfnis bronne.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Floods have been identified as one of the major natural hazards occurring in South Africa. A disaster risk assessment forms the first phase in planning for effective disaster risk management through identifying and assessing all hazards that occur within a geographical area, as required by the Disaster Management Act (Act No. 57 of 2002). The National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) requires that flood lines be determined for areas where high risk dams exist and where new town developments occur. However, very few flood hazard maps exist in South Africa for rural areas. The data required for flood modelling analysis is very limited, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated whether flood hazard maps can be created using the existing data sources. A literature review of flood modelling methodologies, data requirements and flood hazard mapping was carried out and an assessment of all available flood-related data sources in South Africa was made. The most appropriate data sources were identified and used to assess an evaluation site. Through combining GIS and hydraulic modelling, results were obtained that indicate the likely extent, frequency and depth of predicted flood events. The results indicate that hydraulic modelling can be performed using the existing data sources but that not enough data is available for calibrating and validating the model. The limitations of the available data are discussed and recommendations for the collection of better data are provided. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vloede is van die vernaamste natuurlike gevare wat in Suid-Afrika voorkom. 'n Ramprisiko-analise is die eerste stap in die proses van suksesvolle ramprisiko-beplanning deur middel van die identifisering en analise van alle gevare wat voorkom in 'n geografiese gebied, soos vereis deur die Rampbestuurwet (Wet 57 van 2002). Die Nasionale Waterwet (Wet 36 van 1998) bepaal dat vloedlyne slegs vir gebiede waar hoë-risiko damme voorkom en vir nuwe uitbreidingsplanne in dorpe vasgestel moet word. Egter is die data wat vir vloedmodelleringsanalises benodig word baie skaars in Suid-Afrikaanse landelike gebiede. Hierdie studie het ondersoek of vloedgevaar-kartering met die beskikbare data moontlik is. 'n Literatuurstudie oor vloedmodelleringsmetodologieë, data-vereistes en vloedgevaarkartering is voltooi en alle beskikbare vloed-verwante data in Suid-Afrika is geëvalueer. Geskikte data-bronne is gekies en gebruik om 'n toetsgebied te assesseer. Deur GIS en hidrouliese modellering te kombineer, is die omvang, waarskynlikheid en diepte van die voorspelde vloedgebeurtenisse gemodelleer. Die studie het bevind dat, alhoewel vloedgevaarkartering met die beskikbare data moontlik is, daar nie genoeg data beskikbaar is om die model te kalibreer en te valideer nie. Tekortkominge van die bestaande data word bespreek en aanbevelings oor die verbetering van die bestaande data vir toepassings in vloedgevaarkartering word gemaak.

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Agricultural production has become vital to the Sandveld, of which Verlorenvlei is a part, in terms of both economic growth and food security. It is well documented as an area under threat of severe natural resource depletion if it is not well managed with sustainability in mind. Agricultural production, other human-driven development and the survival of the local ecosystems compete for the limited water resources. This study uses the SWAT hydrological model to simulate the transport of water through the catchment area. ArcSWAT, a third-party software extension to ArcGIS, is used as an interface between ArcGIS and the SWAT model. Spatial data (DEM, soil and landuse) is used in the preprocessing phase and fed into the SWAT model through the interface. Daily climate data were sourced and prepared according to the SWAT model’s input requirements. Considerable effort was required to fill temporal and spatial gaps in available climate data, and to infer certain unmeasured climate variables from other measurements (e.g. infer solar radiation from daylight hours, time of the year and latitude). The SWAT hydrological model was then run. The model results compared favourably to measured flow data. The study recommends building on from this first step using the SWAT hydrological model to simulate future land use scenarios for the catchment area.

Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Botswana, a developing country in southern Africa, has not been spared the proliferating scourge of traffic accidents that is sweeping across the world. After HIV/AIDS, traffic accidents are the second largest cause of unnatural deaths in Botswana. The country is losing two per cent of its GDP every year to traffic accident costs. Furthermore, road safety is one of the major challenges the country will have to overcome in order to achieve its Vision 2016. This study investigates traffic accidents in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, for the years 2000 and 2005. The study analyses the characteristics of traffic accidents, examines their causes, maps the spatial distribution of traffic accidents for 2000 and 2005, and outlines the countermeasures government is instituting to curb accidents. The main data on traffic accidents used was extracted from the microcomputer accidents analysis package V5.0 (MAAP 5) obtained from the Traffic Police Division. Semi-structured interviews with transport and safety officers, traffic police and other stakeholders were conducted. The interviews were mainly about what government is doing to reduce the carnage caused by traffic accidents. Existing reports were also used as data sources. Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS 9.1 packages were used to do the analyses. The road casualties of drivers/riders are concentrated in the economically active age category of 15-64 years (95% for all casualties). In particular, the casualties are very high in the 20-39 age cohort with one third and three quarters of all casualties for 2000 and 2005 respectively. In addition, driver casualties by gender for the 20-39 age cohort show a high representation of males, namely 57% and 64% for 2000 and 2005 respectively.

Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The morphological form of South African cities is deemed inefficient and fragmented. Much of the current structure has been shaped by i) the political history of the country, with major influences from the colonial and apartheid eras; and ii) suburban sprawl influenced by the use of private vehicles. This presents obstacles to the sustainable and equitable development of our cities. Since the 1990s, efforts have been made to change the development of the country in order to accommodate previously disenfranchised communities through processes of reconstruction and development. Among these efforts are policies and frameworks aimed at guiding the development and growth of cities. Among the many approaches that have been identified are land use strategies, with the central focus of promoting densification and intensification of urban development. Emphasis on densification in certain public transport corridors and decentralised nodes are in general regarded as urban restructuring elements necessary to transform South African cities into efficient and sustainable areas. However, analytical tools that can explore the possibilities and limits of public transport-orientated development are scarce at present. The University of Utrecht in the Netherlands has developed an analytical model referred to as the node-place model, which can be used to profile nodes and to determine their (re)development potential. This study makes a contribution towards efforts to support the densification concept in general and nodal intensification in particular by applying the node-place model to a selection of railway stations in the Cape Town metropolitan area in order to identify appropriate land use developments to enhance their potential. The model was found to be a useful mechanism for comparing nodes within a transport system for purposes of informing decisions regarding how the nodes should be developed. However, the model requires more accurate and disaggregated data than is generally available for the Cape Town area.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study traces some of the causes and effects of land degradation in Mutale since it is an environmentally challenging issue associated with depletion of resources. The degradation conditions identified by the Provincial Department of Agriculture in the Northern Province support the aims of this study. Based on information obtained from the physical survey of the area and through questionnaires and interviews with the local people, it is evident that the environmental conditions of Mutale district have worsened due to the influence of land usage. From the survey made, the physical conditions are shown to be in a state of decline and to impact negatively on the soil and vegetation. The perceptions of the local community regarding physical change revealed that a variety of activities such as gathering fuel wood, fencing, stocking, and cultivating fields, influence each other and exacerbate the encroachment of degradation conditions. Stock worsens the conditions through uncontrolled grazing associated with lack of grazing camps, trampling, and overgrazing. Extension of fields, residential areas, and inescapable massive harvesting of bush for different purposes are seen as further causes of the worsening state of the environment. In the past attempts were made to curb the environmental decline, but such conservation measures were not fruitful enough as they changed from time to time and land users were alienated from land on which they depended. The present study recommends the implementation of LandCare, a programme that the Department of Agriculture has adopted in other parts of the country, as a possible solution to some of the environmental problems, and as a conservation measure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek sommige van die oorsake en gevolge van omgewingsdegradasie by Mutale, omdat dit 'n omgewings-uitdagende kwessie is wat met die uitputting van hulpbronne in verband staan. Die degradasietoestande wat deur die Provinsiale Landboudepartmente in die Noordelike Provinsie geïdentifiseer is, bied ondersteuning aan die doelstellings van hierdie studie. Vanuit die inligting wat deur middel van 'n empiriese ondersoek in die gebied en deur vraelyste en onderhoude met die plaaslike mense verkry is, is dit duidelik dat omgewingstoestande in die Mutale distrik vanweë die manier van grondgebruik verswak het. Vanuit die ondersoek wat gedoen is, word aangetoon dat fisiese toestande agteruitgaan en 'n negatiewe impak op die grond en plantegroei het. Waarneming deur die plaaslike gemeenskap met betrekking tot fisiese verandering dui aan dat 'n verskeidenheid aktiwiteite, soos die versameling van brandhout, bou van heinings, aanhou van vee en bewerking van landerye mekaar affekteer en die toename van die degradasietoestande veroorsaak. Vee vererger verder die toestande deur onbeheerde weiding wat verband hou met die gebrek aan weidingskampe. Die onafwendbare en grootskaalse afkap van die bos vir 'n verskeidenheid doeleindes word beskou as verdere oorsake van die toestand waarin die omweging verkeer. Pogings is in die verlede aangewend om die agteruitgang van die omgewing te keer, maar die bewaringsmaatreëls het nie genoeg vrug afgewerp nie, daar hulle van tyd tot tyd gewysig IS en die grondeienaars vervreemd geraak het van die grond waarvan hulle afhanklik was. Hierdie ondersoek beveel aan dat "LandCare", 'n program wat deur die Departement van Landbou vir ander dele van die land goedgekeur is, as ' n moontlike oplossing vir sommige van die omgewingsprobleme en as bewaringsmaatreël toegepas word.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Automated teller machines (ATMs) are a very important part of our daily lives. They are the key to accessing our bank accounts. Where they are located can determine how easy or difficult it is to access our bank accounts. ATMs are primarily designed to serve customers and should therefore be accessible and convenient to the customers. Hence, the question of where the ATMs should be located is a prime issue to both the customer and the bank. A geographical information system (GIS) is a tool that can be used to assist in answering questions about locations. It provides a means of determining optimal locations for any spatially referenced object. Against this backdrop, this study was undertaken to develop a method with which GIS can be used to find optimal locations for ATMs, taking Stellenbosch as a case study. Firstly, it was necessary to understand current factors affecting ATM locations, both locally and internationally. An extensive literature survey was conducted to gain an understanding of problems relating to locating ATMs. Interviews with bank officials were conducted to help understand more fully the problems and the current procedures used in locating ATMs. Obtaining the public's perception of ATMs was also paramount to this study. A household questionnaire survey was conducted in Stellenbosch to ascertain how customers feel about the current location of ATMs in Stellenbosch. Secondly, GIS was considered and evaluated as a tool to find optimal locations for ATMs. This involved discussing the capabilities of GIS and the various options that banks may have available. Thirdly, the ability of using GIS to find optimal sites was tested by applying GIS to Stellenbosch. Having done this, GIS was then used to find additional ATM sites. The results provide a basis for banks to locate ATMs in general. Keywords: GIS, ATMs, location, optimal locations, location-allocation, models, MINDISTANCE, MAKCOVER, MAXATTEND, MINDISTPOWER. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Outomatiese tellermasjiene (OTMs) speel 'n baie belangrike rol in ons lewens vandag aangesien ons die meeste van ons banktransaksies deur middel van 'n OTM doen en ons bankrekeninge sodoende kontroleer. Die OTMs se primere doel is om 'n diens aan bank kliente te lewer, dus is dit uiters belangrik om liggings te identifiseer wat gerieflik en toeganklik is vir die kliënte en die bank. 'n Geografiese inligtingstelsel (GIS) kan gebruik word om vrae in verband met bestaande en beplande liggings vir OTMs te beantwoord. Die stelsel kan optimale liggings identifiseer vir spesefieke doeleindes, byvoorbeeld OTMs, ens. Teen hierdie agtergrond is hierdie studie onderneem om 'n metode te ontwikkel waarmee GIS aangewend kan word om optimale liggings vir OTMs te vind, met Stelle bosch as 'n gevallestudie. Ten eerste was dit nodig om die huidige faktore met betrekking tot die liggingskeuse vir OTMs, beide in die buiteind en die binneland, te ondersoek. "n Uitgebreide literatuursoektog is geloods om die probleme wat gepaard gaan met die bepaling van die keuse van "n OTM ligging, te bestudeer. Onderhoude is gevoer met amptenare van verskillende banke om die probleme rondom die kies van OTM-plasings te verstaan. Kliënte is ook genader vir hulle idees, benogdighede en probleme oor OTM-liggings in Stellenbosch. Tweedens is GIS geëvalueer as 'n moontlike stelselom die beste liggings vir OTM'e te bepaal. Dit het 'n bespreking van die vermoëns en voordele van GIS behels, sowel as 'n oorsig van beskikbare opsies vir die bank. Die vermoë om met die gebruik van GIS addisionele liggings vir OTMs in Stellenbosch te identifiseer, is daarna getoets. Die resultaat bied aan banke "n keuse van alternatiewe liggings vir die plasing van OTMs. Sluitelwoorde: GIS, ATMs, ligging, optimale ligging, ligging-toesegging, modelle, MINDISTANCE, MAXCOVER, MAXA1TEND, MINDISTPOWER

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Issues relating to self-employment and the development of the so-called New Economy gained not only new founded momentum, but also more all round interest over the last two decades, especially from academic researchers. During this time, new emphasis was placed on the importance and significance of location. Consequently, urban areas were finally regarded as instrumental within providing the central backdrop for the competing nature of the global economy. Due to this fact, the emphasis again shifted from competition to the stimulation of investment. Local Economic Development (LED) was the South African method of doing so. Entrepreneurship became a major driving force of the South African market. Within the same past two decades substantial growth took place within Home-based Work, especially within Home-based Enterprise (HBE) activities. This can be attributed to the flexible organization of production that a home-based work (HBW) lifestyle can provide. Within the South-African context there does exists some empirical observations relating to HBW and TBE activities, but these studies have mostly focused on informal neighborhoods and other less affluent areas. This study however places the emphasis on the existence of HBW, selfemployment and HBE’s within all the income-group neighbourhoods in George. The existence of the traditional Spazashops and Shebeens is included, because these examples are extremely relevant within the South African context, but other specialized careers such as medical practitioners, childcare professionals, consultants, and producers of various products are also examined. The study wants to contribute to the discussion of urban sustainable development through the inclusion of HBW and HBE’s as potential strategies to reach sustainability within communities. Because of this, the primary aims and objectives of this study include the nature and extent of HBE activities throughout various neighbourhoods located on the periphery of the urban centre in George. A deeper understanding regarding the reasons behind the locational decision process (thus why participating home- businesses chose George as the location for their Small, Medium or Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) and the consequential location movement of these businesses was also examined. The spatial and structural relationships that exist between the growth and/or movement of formal businesses in the study area was further observed by the creation of a database stretching from 1995 to 2005 that lists and map these locational changes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kwessies wat verband hou met selfwerksaamheid en die ontwikkeling van die sogenaamde Nuwe Ekonomie het oor die afgelope twee dekades reeds heelwat aandag vanaf navorsers geniet. Hernieude klem is geplaas op die belangrikheid van ligging, en stede word deesdae beleef as instrumenteel om ’n sentrale en mededingende rol te speel binne die globale ekonomie. As gevolg van hierdie stedelike mededingendheid het die fokus verskuif na die bevordering van investering. Gevolglik het Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling (PEO) in Suid-Afrika toenemende verandering na markgedrewe entrepreneurskap veroorsaak. Daar het ook tydens die afgelope twee dekades ’n aansienlike groei in Tuisgebaseerde Werk (TGW), veral onder Tuisgebaseerde Besigheid (TGB) aktiwiteite plaasgevind. Hierdie fenomeen kan toegeskryf word aan faktore soos die buigbare organisasie van produksie wat met ʼn TGW lewenswyse kan voorsien. Daar bestaan wel ’n aantal empiriese waarnemings rakende TGW en TGB aktiwiteite in Suid-Afrika maar hierdie studies is meestal gemik op informelenedersettings en mindergegoede areas. Hierdie studie plaas dus groter klem op die bestaan van TGW, selfwerksaamheid en TGB’e binne al die inkomste woonbuurte in George. Die bestaan van TGB’e in die minder-gegoede areas vorm ook deel van hierdie studie (byvoorbeeld die tradisionele Spaza of Huiswinkel en Smokkelhuis/ "Shebeen“ aangesien dit onmisbaar is binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, maar ander gespesialiseerde beroepe wat ook in ’n woonbuurt kan voorkom (byvoorbeeld mediese praktisyns, kinderbewaarskole, konsultante en vervaardigers van allerlei) word ook ondersoek. Hierdie studie will graag bydra tot die bespreking van stedelike volhoubare ontwikkeling deur TGB’e te oorweeg as potensiële strategie om hierdie volhoubaarheid te bereik in gemeenskappe. Daarom is die primêre doelstellings van hierdie studie om die aard en omvang van TGB aktiwiteite tussen verskillende woonbuurte op die stedelikehinderland (in die omtrek van die stedelike kern) in George te ondersoek, ’n diepere begrip te bereik rakende die redes vir die besluite van hierdie deelnemende tuisondernemings (Klein-, Medium- en Mikro-ondernemings) om spesifiek George as vestiging te kies en laastens, die ruimtelike en strukturele verhoudinge wat duidelik is vanuit die formele groei (formele besighede se uitbreiding en/of verskuiwing) in George sedert 1995.

Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The automation of information extraction from earth observation imagery has become a field of active research. This is mainly due to the high volumes of remotely sensed data that remain unused and the possible benefits that the extracted information can provide to a wide range of interest groups. In this work an earth observation image processing system is presented and profiled that attempts to streamline the information extraction process, without degradation of the quality of the extracted information, for geographic object anomaly detection. The proposed system, implemented as a software application, combines recent research in automating image segment generation and automatically finding statistical classifier parameters and attribute subsets using evolutionary inspired search algorithms. Exploratory research was conducted on the use of an edge metric as a fitness function to an evolutionary search heuristic to automate the generation of image segments for a region merging segmentation algorithm having six control parameters. The edge metric for such an application is compared with an area based metric. The use of attribute subset selection in conjunction with a free parameter tuner for a one class support vector machine (SVM) classifier, operating on high dimensional object based data, was also investigated. For common earth observation anomaly detection problems using typical segment attributes, such a combined free parameter tuning and attribute subset selection system provided superior statistically significant results compared to a free parameter tuning only process. In some extreme cases, due to the stochastic nature of the search algorithm employed, the free parameter only strategy provided slightly better results. The developed system was used in a case study to map a single class of interest on a 22.5 x 22.5km subset of a SPOT 5 image and is compared with a multiclass classification strategy. The developed system generated slightly better classification accuracies than the multiclass classifier and only required samples from the class of interest. / AFIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die outomatisering van die verkryging van inligting vanaf aardwaarnemingsbeelde het in sy eie reg 'n navorsingsveld geword as gevolg van die groot volumes data wat nie benut word nie, asook na aanleiding van die moontlike bydrae wat inligting wat verkry word van hierdie beelde aan verskeie belangegroepe kan bied. In hierdie tesis word 'n aardwaarneming beeldverwerkingsstelsel bekend gestel en geëvalueer. Hierdie stelsel beoog om die verkryging van inligting van aardwaarnemingsbeelde te vergemaklik deur verbruikersinteraksie te minimaliseer, sonder om die kwaliteit van die resultate te beïnvloed. Die stelsel is ontwerp vir geografiese voorwerp anomalie opsporing en is as 'n sagteware program geïmplementeer. Die program kombineer onlangse navorsing in die gebruik van evolusionêre soek-algoritmes om outomaties goeie beeldsegmente te verkry en parameters te vind, sowel as om kenmerke vir 'n statistiese klassifikasie van beeld segmente te selekteer. Verkennende navorsing is gedoen op die benutting van 'n rand metriek as 'n passings funksie in 'n evolusionêre soek heuristiek om outomaties goeie parameters te vind vir 'n streeks kombinering beeld segmentasie algoritme met ses beheer parameters. Hierdie rand metriek word vergelyk met 'n area metriek vir so 'n toepassing. Die nut van atribuut substel seleksie in samewerking met 'n vrye parameter steller vir 'n een klas steun vektor masjien (SVM) klassifiseerder is ondersoek op hoë dimensionele objek georiënteerde data. Vir algemene aardwaarneming anomalie opsporings probleme met 'n tipiese segment kenmerk versameling, het so 'n stelsel beduidend beter resultate as 'n eksklusiewe vrye parameter stel stelsel gelewer in sommige uiterste gevalle. As gevolg van die stogastiese aard van die soek algoritme het die eksklusiewe vrye parameter stel strategie effens beter resultate gelewer. Die stelsel is getoets in 'n gevallestudie waar 'n enkele klas op 'n 22.5 x 22.5km substel van 'n SPOT 5 beeld geïdentifiseer word. Die voorgestelde stelsel, wat slegs monsters van die gekose klas gebruik het, het beter klassifikasie akkuraathede genereer as die multi klas klassifiseerder.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is rich in biodiversity among which are semi-domesticated vegetable species which are known as wild or indigenous vegetables. These wild indigenous vegetables have been reported to be good in nutritional qualities such as macro and micronutrients. However, there is still a high prevalence of malnutrition; especially micronutrient deficiencies among low or marginal income bracket of the population. The use of indigenous vegetables has been proposed as part of the solutions to the problems of micronutrient malnutrition among these populations. Indigenous vegetables are an important source of food in the maize based subsistence farming sector of rural South Africa. Their main role is as relish as they are used as an accompaniment for staple cereal based diets. They are also generally reported to be rich in micronutrients. Although they may be consumed in small quantities, they influence the intake of cereal staples, manage hunger and play a central role in household food security for the poorer rural groups. Mixing several indigenous vegetables species in one meal contributes to dietary diversity in terms of more vegetable types as well as in terms of choice of relish. For some very poor families indigenous vegetables are substitutes for some food crops. The seasonal occurrence of these vegetables leaves many families without a food source during the off-season. Indigenous vegetables increase agro-biodiversity at the household level. This agro-biodiversity helps in buffering against the accumulation and multiplication of pests and diseases and provides important cover for the soil. Further research on agronomic, social and economic dimensions is required to understand the roles of IV in subsistence farming systems in South Africa. The survey study revealed that indigenous vegetables were important in the diets of most rural people in the study area. They were consumed as relish although they were not being cultivated. Their method of acquisition was gathering from homesteads and the wild. These vegetables were also believed to be medicinal. The local naming of wild vegetables varied among villages in the same district such that a vegetable in one village was assigned to a different species of vegetable in another village. They were reportedly abundant during summer and there was a decrease in availability off-season leaving vulnerable people who rely on them with a food shortage. The utilisation of wild vegetables among South Africans is reported to be declining due to over reliance on introduced temperate species. Efforts to domesticate and cultivate wild vegetables could be hampered by several factors including seed dormancy and premature flowering. In this present study dormancy was observed in C. olitorius. The response of wild genotypes of C. olitorius with different seed sizes to various dry heat and hot water treatments was evaluated. Steeping seeds in boiling water (95oC) for ten seconds and soaking seeds in a hot water bath at 80oC for ten minutes resulted in the highest response to germination in this species. The study also recorded significant interactions between heat treatment and seed sizes. We concluded that C. olitorius seeds of different sizes require diverse durations of exposure to heat treatment methods to break dormancy caused by an impermeable seed coat. Cleome gynandra is another species that is consumed as a vegetable in various parts of the world including Africa. The plant is also used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various human diseases. Among the wild vegetables, C. gynandra has been reported to flower prematurely, a phenomenon known as bolting and common in many vegetable crops. Premature flowering (bolting) can be as a response to temperature extremes and photoperiod and affects many other leafy vegetables such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa), spinach (Spinacea oleracea) and mustard rape (Brassica juncea). Bolting leads to production losses in leaf vegetable crops as they flower before they have produced an economic yield. The removal of flowers and nitrogen application resulted in significant increases in the fresh and dry weight of cleome leaves. Removal of flowers resulted in a 46% increase in fresh weight of leaves. The observed positive response of leaf yield to removal of flowers offers a possible way to deal with the problem of bolting. The continuous removal of the flowers leads to increased utilisable leaf yield. The application of incremental amounts of nitrogen top dressing results in increased leaf yield in C. gynandra. The response of selected indigenous vegetables (Corchorus olitorius and Amaranthus cruentus) to micronutrients added to the soil was compared with the response of a reference crop; Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla). For all the levels of micronutrients applied, Swiss chard accumulated Cu, Zn and Mn in the leaves at significantly (p<0.01) higher concentrations than the wild vegetables. Variations between the vegetables in the micronutrients were greater for Zn (72–363 ppm) and Mn (97.9–285.9 ppm) for Cu (8.8–14 ppm). C. olitorius had the least capacity to concentrate Mn and Zn in the leaf, which suggested that this vegetable is a less attractive candidate for agronomic bio-fortification of these elements. However, C. olitorius accumulated Fe at a significantly higher concentration (327 ppm) in the leaves than did Amaranthus (222 ppm) or Swiss chard (295 ppm). Sulphur as a macronutrient varied little in the plant species tested. The mean S concentration in the leaves ranged from 0.26% in C. olitorius to 0.34% in Amaranthus cruentus and Swiss chard. We concluded that the different vegetables have different abilities to take up Cu and Zn in the order Swiss chard > Amaranthus > Corchorus, and that they responded to micronutrients added to the soil but only up to certain limits of supplementation. The results from this current study seem to contradict the belief that wild vegetables have the inherent ability to concentrate mineral micronutrients in their tissue. Factors such as environment, anti-nutrients, dietary diversity, plant parts, plant age, and varieties result in differences in reported nutritional composition of indigenous vegetables. Post-harvest handling, storage, cooking and preservation also alter the composition. The need to optimise protocols for each vegetable type and for different laboratories makes analysis expensive. Equipment and methods of analysis are varied and may not be comparable, making it difficult to generalise on the composition of these vegetables. The Agricultural Research Council of South Africa and other stake holders are conducting studies on some aspects of these vegetables. There are still many information gaps regarding many aspects of these vegetables which require research attention. These include; the selection and improvement of genotypes, seed biology and germination studies, agronomic (population, fertiliser, crop mixtures) studies and phyto-chemical evaluation of these important species in order to encourage the overall use of these important indigenous resources. Finally, there is need to promote their increased utilisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid- Afrika is ryk aan biodiversiteit waaronder half-mak groente spesies, wat as wilde of inheemse groente bekend is, voorkom. Hierdie wilde inheemse groente is aangedui om goed in voedingswaarde te wees met voldoende makro-en mikrovoedingstowwe. Daar is egter nogsteeds 'n hoë voorkoms van wanvoeding, veral tekorte aan mikronutriënte onder die lae of marginale inkomstegroep van die bevolking. Die gebruik van inheemse groente word voorgestel as deel van die oplossing van die probleem van wanvoeding onder hierdie bevolkings. Inheemse groente is 'n belangrike bron van voedsel in die mielie gebaseerde bestaansboerdery sektor van landelike Suid-Afrika. Hul vernaamste rol is as smoor waar dit gebruik word tesame met stapelvoedsel in ʼn graan-gebaseerde dieet. Hierdie groentes was oor die algemeen ook aangedui om ryk te wees in mikrovoedingstowwe. Hoewel hulle verteer kan word in klein hoeveelhede, beïnvloed hulle die inname van graan stapelvoedsel, en speel 'n sentrale rol in huishoudelike voedselsekuriteit vir die armer landelike groepe. Vermenging van verskeie inheemse groente spesies in een maaltyd dra by tot die dieet diversiteit in terme van meer groentesoorte sowel as in terme van die keuse van smaak. Vir 'n paar baie arm gesinne is inheemse groentes die plaasvervanger vir gewone groente gewasse. Die seisoenale voorkoms van hierdie groente laat baie gesinne sonder 'n bron van voedsel gedurende die af-seisoen. Inheemse groente verhoog landbou-biodiversiteit op ʼn huishoudelike vlak . Hierdie landbou-biodiversiteit help buffer teen die opbou en vermeerdering van peste en siektes en bied belangrike dekking vir die grond. Verdere navorsing op akkerbou-, maatskaplike en ekonomiese aspekte is nodig om die rolle van inheemse groentes in bestaansboerdery in Suid-Afrika te verstaan. Die studie opname het getoon dat inheemse groente belangrik was in die dieet van die meeste mense van die platteland in die studie area. Hierdie groentes was gebruik as smoor hoewel hulle nie gekweek word nie. Hul metode van verkryging is deur dit te versamel van huise en die natuur. Die groentes word ook as medisinaal beskou. Die plaaslike benaming van wilde groente het gewissel tussen dorpe in dieselfde distrik, tot so 'n mate dat die benaming van groente tussen dorpe verskil. Hulle was na bewering volop in die somer, en daar was 'n afname in die beskikbaarheid af-seisoen, wat kwesbare mense, wat staatmaak op hul voorkoms, met 'n tekort aan kos laat. Die benutting van wilde groente onder Suid-Afrikaners daal as gevolg van die afhanklikheid in nuwe spsies. Pogings om te mak en wilde groente te kweek, kan belemmer word deur verskeie faktore, insluitend saaddormansie en voortydige blom. In hierdie studie was dormansie waargeneem in C. olitorius. Die reaksie van wilde genotipes van C. olitorius met verskillende saad groottes op verskeie droë hitte en warm water behandelings, was geëvalueer. Sade was geweek in kookwater ( 95oC ) vir tien sekondes en ander in 'n warm water bad by 80oC vir tien minute, en het gelei tot die hoogste reaksie op ontkieming in hierdie spesie. Die studie het ook belangrike interaksies tussen hitte behandeling en saad groottes getoon. Ons het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat C. olitorius sade van verskillende groottes diverse duur van blootstelling vereis en ook so m.b.t. die ondeurdringbare saadhuid. Cleome gynandra is nog 'n spesie wat as 'n groente in verskeie dele van die wêreld, insluitend Afrika verbruik word. Die plant word ook gebruik as 'n medisinale plant vir die behandeling van verskeie siektes van die mens. Onder die wilde groente, was C. gynandra aangedui om vroeg te blom, 'n verskynsel wat bekend staan as “bolting” en is algemeen in baie groente gewasse. Voortydige blom (vas) kan wees as 'n reaksie op die temperatuur uiterstes en fotoperiode en raak ook baie ander groen groente soos blaarslaai (Lactuca sativa) , spinasie (Spinacea oleracea) en mosterd (Brassica juncea ) . “Bolting” lei ook tot produksie verliese in blaar groentegewasse as hulle blom voordat hulle 'n ekonomiese opbrengs opgelewer het. Die verwydering van blomme en stikstof toediening het gelei tot 'n aansienlike toename in die vars en droë gewig van Cleome blare. Verwydering van blomme het gelei tot 'n toename van 46% in vars gewig van die blare. Die waargenome positiewe reaksie van die blaar opbrengs deur verwydering van blomme bied 'n moontlike manier om die “bolting” probleem te hanteer. Die voortdurende verwydering van die blomme lei tot verhoogde bruikbare blaar opbrengs. Die toepassing van toenemende stikstof topbemesting het verhoogde blaar opbrengs in C. gynandra tot gevolg. Die reaksie van geselekteerde inheemse groente (Corchorus olitorius en Amaranthus spp ) met mikrovoedingstowwe toegevoeg tot die grond, is in vergelyk met die reaksie van 'n verwysings gewas; spinasiebeet (Beta vulgaris var cicla . ). Vir al die vlakke van mikronutriente toegepas, was die spinasiebeet opgehoopte Cu , Zn en Mn in die blare, in beduidend (p <0.01 ) hoër konsentrasies as die wilde groente.