Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African government started the restructuring process of the state’s forest assets in 1998. The privatisation process includes all the assets of the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) and half of the former homelands’ 150 000 hectares of forest. In August 2000 SAFCOL released their “Operational Plan for Implementing Exit from Forestry in the Southem-Cape Portion of the Western Cape Region”. This plan identified only major land uses (agriculture, forestry, and conservation). A more detailed and intensive land evaluation study was required to specify land utilisation types that are tailor-made to each land unit of the study area. The main intention of this research study is to develop a more detailed evaluation process that elaborates on the land uses proposed by SAFCOL, which is site-specific in terms of the type of agricultural system to be used on specific areas, or the type of indigenous vegetation to be restored in conservation areas. La Motte plantation was taken as the case study and the SAFCOL digital database for the study area was used as the input data. The Automated Land Evaluation System (ALES) was the computer software package used to build the expert system to evaluate land according to the method presented in the FAO 1976 report. The ALES model built in this research study had 15 decision trees (one per land utilisation type) resulting in a total of 1678 branches, which relate land characteristics to severity levels of land qualities. During the computation of an evaluation ALES attempts to place each map unit into one of the four severity levels of land qualities within each landutilisation type. Physical suitability of each land unit for each land utilisation type was determined by the maximum limitation method. ALES is not a GIS and does not by itself display maps. The evaluation result matrix was exported into ArcMap for further optimisation and geographical analysis to enable the spatial representation of the results. After completion, taking into account the theoretical background, optimal terrain units were identified for the different land uses considered and the results are presented as tables and maps. Fynbos is the most suitable alternative land use for the study area followed by Pears, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vines. Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines were least suitable as alternatives. The study found that the SAFCOL’s database is not sufficient to meet the requirements of a detailed site-specific land evaluation process. The polygon attribute table of the soil coverage only provided a subset of the land characteristics necessary to build and run the model. Data fields like soil form, depth, drainage, wetness, terrain type, aspect and climatic information had to be created because most of the data provided were in a non-digital form. The database was not complete and more precise data are needed to improve the system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het in 1998 met die herstruktureringsproses van die bosboubates van die Staat begin. Die privatiseringsproses het al die bates van die Suid-Afrikaanse Bosboumaatskappy (SAFCOL) en die helfte van die vorige tuislande se 150 000 hektaar ingesluit. In Augustus 2000 het SAFCOL sy Operasionale Plan vrygestel vir die implementering van sy onttrekkingsprogram van bosbou uit die Suid-Kaap gedeelte van die Weskaap-streek. Hierdie plan het slegs die hoof landgebruike geidentifiseer, bv. landbou, bosbou en natuurbewaring. ‘n Meer gedetaileerde en intensiewe grondgebruikstudie was nodig om geskikte gebruikstipes te identifiseer wat optimale altematiewe gebruike spesifiseer vir elke landeenheid in die studie-area. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsingstudie is om ‘n meer gedetaileerde proses te ontwikkel ter uitbreiding van die altematiewe landgebruike wat deur SAFCOL voorgestel was. Hierdie voorstel moet meer ligging-spesifiek wees in terme van die tipe landbougewas of die tipe inheemse plantegroei wat in natuurbewaringsgebiede gevestig moet word. Die La Motte-plantasie is as voorbeeld gebruik om hierdie gevalle-studie te doen en die inligting is vanaf die SAFCOL digitale databasis verkry. Die rekenaar sagteware-pakket wat gebruik is om die land-evalueringstelsel te bou, is die “Automated Land Evaluation System” (ALES). Dit berus op die metode wat in die verslag van die FAO in 1976 voorgestel is. Die ALES model wat in hierdie navorsingstudie benut is, het 15 beslissingsbome (“decision-trees”) (een per landgebruikstipe) wat ‘n totaal van 1678 vertakkings lewer. Landeienskappe word hierdeur in verband gebring met verskillende geskiktheidsvlakke vir verskillende gewasse. Gedurende die berekening van hierdie evaluasie, het ALES elke gebiedseenheid in een van die vier geskiktheidsvlakke per grondgebruikstipe geplaas. Fisiese geskiktheid van elke landeenheid vir elke grondgebruikstipe is bepaal deur die maksimum beperkingsmetode. ALES is nie ‘n GIS nie en op sy eie vertoon dit nie kaarte nie. Die uitslag van die geskiktheidsmatriks is na ArcMap uitgevoer vir verdere optimisering en geografiese analises ten einde die resultate ruimtelik voor te stel. Na afhandeling, met inagneming van die teoretiese agtergrond, is optimale terrein-eenhede gei'dentifiseer met inagneming van die verskillende landgebruike en is die resultate in tabel en kaartvorm aangebied. Fynbos is die mees geskikte altematiewe landgebruik vir die studiegebied gevolg deur Pere, Sauvignon Blanc en Chardonnay wingerde. Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon en Cabernet Franc wingerde is minder geskikte altematiewe. Die studie het bevind dat die SAFCOL databasis nie voldoende was om aan die vereistes van ‘n gedetaileerde liggingspesifieke landevalueringsproses te voldoen nie. Die poligoon-attribuuttabel van die grondoorleg het net ‘n subversameling van die landeienskappe verskaf wat benodig was om die model te bou en uit te voer. Datavelde soos grondvorm, diepte, dreinering, vogtigheid, terreintipe, hellingrigting en klimaatinligting moes geskep word, omdat meeste van die data wat verskaf is nie in ‘n digitale vorm beskikbaar was nie. Die databasis was nie volledig nie en meer presiese data word benodig om die stelsel verder te verbeter.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The noise produced by aircraft during operations around airports represents a senous social, technical, economic and environmental problem which is only going to get worse as air traffic volumes increase. Rapid urbanisation, development encroachment and poor planning in the past have resulted in noisy airport runways being situated too close to residents' living space. Rapid industrial growth and lack of funding exacerbate noise problems in developing countries. Moreover, developing countries and especially South Africa tend to have moderate climates and open-window living, which makes insulation an ineffective solution to the noise problem. This study aims at employing GIS to establish the potential noise exposure of various sensitive land use categories and population groups in the noise-controlled area at Cape Town International Airport. Firstly, options for the demarcation of a noise-controlled area were evaluated. Thereafter, incompatible land uses and priority areas for land use compatibility projects were identified and recommendations made for urban renewal projects for these areas. Lastly, the noise-exposed population were profiled according to vulnerability characteristics and vulnerable groups identified and located. A recommendation was made that Cape Town International Airport set up an interactive map-based website to disseminate information to the public about noise and any other important issues concerning the airport. An Internet GIS application would empower citizens by providing them with a dynamic and interactive tool for improved public participation and a better understanding of the potential environmental and socio-economic effects of the airport. Noise complaints could also be investigated through the website and prompt feedback given to the communities complaining about aircraft noise. At the local community level where people are being annoyed every day and night resulting in negative health effects, the problem of aircraft noise demands urgent attention, and measures should be put in place to reduce vulnerability to noise and improve the overall quality of life of noiseweary residents. Keywords: aircraft noise, noise mapping, noise-controlled area, noise contours, land use compatibility, noise exposure / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die geraas veroorsaak deur vliegtuie by lughawens bied ernstige sosiale, tegniese, ekonomiese en omgewingsprobleme, wat net erger gaan raak namate vlugverkeer toeneem. Snelle verstedeliking, ontwikkelings-oorskryding en swak beplanning in die verlede het veroorsaak dat raserige aanloopbane te nabyaan mense se leefruimte gebou is. Vinnige industriële groei en 'n tekort aan befondsing vererger geraasprobleme in ontwikkelende lande. Bowendien het ontwikkelende lande, en veral Suid Afrika, 'n matige klimaat en oop-venster-leefwyse wat isolering 'n oneffektiewe oplossing maak vir die geraasprobleem. Hierdie studie het ten doelom GIS te gebruik om die potensiële geraas blootstelling van sensitiewe grondgebruike en bevolkingsgroepe in die geraas-kontrole area by Kaapstad Internasionale Lughawe vas te stel. Eerstens is opsies vir die afbakening van die geraas-kontrole area geëvalueer. Daaropvolgend IS onversoenbare grondgebruike en prioriteitsareas VIr grondgebruikversoeningsprojekte geïdentifiseer en aanbevelings gemaak vir stedelike vernuwingsprojekte vir hierdie areas. Laastens is 'n profiel daargestel van die geraas-blootgestelde bevolkings volgens kwesbaarheidskenmerke en kwesbare groepe is geïdentifiseer en hulligging aangedui. 'n Voorstel is gemaak dat Kaapstad Internasionale Lughawe 'n interaktiewe kaart-gebaseerde webwerf in werking moet stelom inligting oor geraas- en ander belangrike probleme in verband met die lughawe beskikbaar te stel vir die publiek en ander belanghebbendes. 'n Internet-GIS toepassing sal mense bemagtig deur hulle te voorsien van 'n dinamiese en interaktiewe meganisme wat sal lei tot beter gemeenskapsdeelname en ook 'n beter begrip van die potensiële omgewings- en sosio-ekonomiese uitwerking van die lughawe. Klagte oor geraas kan ook deur die webwerf hanteer en ondersoek word, en verder hulp verleen word deur vinnige terugvoering aan die gemeenskap wat die klagtes gelê het. Op plaaslike gemeenskapsvlak, waar mense elke dag en nag geïrriteerd raak en waar dit dan kan lei tot negatiewe gesondheidsinvloed, sal die probleem van vliegtuiggeraas dringend aangespreek moet word, en stappe geneem word ten einde kwesbaarheid van inwoners teenoor vliegtuiggeraas te verminder. Dit sal dan lei tot die algehele verbetering van die lewensgehalte van geraas-moeë Inwoners. Sleutelwoorde: vliegtuiggeraas, geraaskartering. geraas-kontrole area, geraaskontoere, grondgebruik versoenbaarheid, geraas blootstelling

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Veld fires in the mountain regions of the South Western Cape are an annual occurrence. These veld fires occur as a result of human, natural and unknown causes. The Mediteranean weather conditions of the South Western Cape and its typical vegetation are conducive to these fires. Within the mountain regions of the South Western Cape, the use of fire can be advantageous for conservation and forest managers as a tool for fire management e.g. preparation of fire belts, reduction of veld fire occurrence by burning fuel load, rejuvenation of indigenous vegetation and enhancing the water yield of surrounding areas within their management area. Abnormally high incidences and run away veld fires within the management area of conservation and forest managers leads to. the loss of biodiversity, destruction of properties and loss of human lives, and extensive soil erosion. This study aimed at identifying factors contributing towards the occurrence of veld fires in the mountain regions of the South Western Cape, and using GIS to analyse spatially the contributing variables, and to generate seasonal veld fire hazard maps. Potential veld fire occurrence on a seasonal basis was mapped using spatial analyses of variables that are significant to the distribution of veld fires within the study area. Variables used to assess potential veld fire occurrences were: vegetation, slope, population density (human influence), proximity to roads, mean monthly maximum temperatures and mean monthly rainfall. The veld fire hazard maps generated indicated that potential for veld fire occurrence is high in the summer and autumn months, decreasing to a low in the winter and spring seasons. The exception is the Southern Cape sub-region where the possibility of veld fires can be quite high in winter as a result of Fohn-like berg winds. These winds are characterized by sudden increases in temperature and decreases in humidity that may pose severe fire hazards. Reducing and containing veld fires in the mountain regions of the South Western Cape depends on the effective use of the seasonal veld fire hazard maps. The maps can be used to delineate critical zones of veld fire occurrence which can be used for evaluating costeffective control measures and can be implemented to reduce the level of veld fire danger within the management areas of conservation and forest managers. There is a need for a Catchment Management System (CMS) (Richardson, Van Wilgen, Le Maitre, Higgins & Forsyth, 1994) that can be used to generate daily probabilities of veld fire occurrence and to link these to fire-spread models for predicting or simulating expected fire directions and severities or intensities, and educating people about fires and the damage it can do. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elke jaar kom daar veldbrande in die berggebiede van die Suidwes-Kaap voor. Die oorsake van hierdie veldbrande is van menslike, natuurlike of onbekende oorsprong. Die Mediterreense weersomstandighede en die tipiese plantegroei van die Suidwes-Kaap is ook bevorderlik vir die ontstaan van veldbrande. In die berggebiede van hierdie streek kan die gebruik van vuur egter ook tot voordeel van natuurbewaring en bosbou aangewend word deurdat dit gebruik kan word as 'n metode om die brande te bestuur, soos in die voorbereiding van brandpaaie, in die vermindering van die voorkoms van veldbrande deur vooraf van die brandbare materiale af te brand, in die vernuwing van die inheemse plantegroei en in die verhoging van wateropbrengs in die omliggende gebiede binne die area wat bestuur moet word. 'n Abnormale hoë voorkoms van veldbrande binne die bestuursgebied van bewarings- en bosboubestuurders lei egter tot 'n verlies aan biodiversiteit, die vernietiging van eiendom, 'n verlies aan menselewens en uitgebreide gronderosie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die faktore wat bydra tot die voorkoms van veldbrande in die berggebiede van die Suidwes-Kaap te identifiseer, om GIS te gebruik om 'n ruimtelike analise van die bydraende veranderlikes te doen en om dan 'n seisoenale veldbrandgevaarkaart saam te stel. Die potensiële voorkoms van veldbrande op 'n seisoenale basis is gekarteer deur gebruik te maak van ruimtelike analises van die veranderlikes van belang in die verspreiding van veldbrande in die studiegebied. Die volgende veranderlikes is gebruik om die potensiële voorkoms van veldbrande te bepaal: plantegroei, helling, bevolkingsdigtheid (invloed van mense), afstand vanaf paaie, gemiddelde maandelikse maksimum temperature en gemiddelde maandelikse reënval. Die veldbrandgevaarkaarte wat ontwikkel is, het aangetoon dat die potensiële voorkoms van veldbrande hoog is in die somer- en herfsmaande en dan afneem tot 'n laagtepunt in die winter en lente. 'n Uitsondering is die Suid-Kaap-substreek waar die moontlikheid van veldbrande selfs in die winter taamlik hoog is as gevolg van Fëhn-tipe bergwinde. Hierdie winde word gekenmerk deur In skielike toename in temperatuur en In afname in humiditeit wat die brandgevaar skerp kan verhoog. Die vermoë om veldbrande in die berggebiede van die Suidwes-Kaap te verminder en te beperk, sal grootliks afhang van die effektiewe gebruik van die seisoenale veldbrandgevaar-kaarte. Die kaarte kan gebruik word vir die afbakening van kritieke sones vir die voorkoms van veldbrande wat dan gebruik kan word vir die evaluering van koste-effektiewe beheermaatreëls. Hierdie kaarte kan dan geïmplementeer word om die vlakke van veldbrandgevaar binne die gebiede waarvoor bewarings- en bosboubestuurders verantwoordelik is, te verminder. Daar is In behoefte aan In opvanggebiedbestuurstelsel (OGB) (Richardson, Van Wilgen, Le Maitre, Higgins & Forsyth 1994) wat gebruik kan word om daaglikse waarskynlikhede vir die voorkoms van veldbrande te genereer. Dit kan gekoppel word aan brandverspreidingsmodelle wat die verwagte rigting van brandverspreiding, asook die ems of intensiteit daarvan, kan voorspelof simuleer. Die publiek moet ook ingelig word oor veldbrande en die skade wat daardeur aangerig kan word.

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 2004, the then Department of Housing’s Breaking New Ground (BNG) policy introduced a compilation of principles that underlie a sustainable human settlement. The principles were aimed at guiding, amongst others, municipal officials in the decisions they take when faced with a housing development project. This thesis will set out to determine how municipal officials have taken up BNG’s principles for sustainable housing settlements as well as the perceptions, methods of implementation and degree of acceptance that housing and town planning managers have of BNG. In the study, the perceived relevance that these managers have of BNG within their non-metropolitan towns is explored using five of the fifteen leader towns of the Western Cape Province. This research has shown that BNG considers the compact urban form, coupled to other development considerations, as the most sustainable for South Africa. In terms of building sustainable human settlements: the low-income housing unit has evolved substantially since its conception, and that the current unit is held in far higher regard (by both municipalities and beneficiaries) than its predecessors. The design of this unit remains standardised due to a lack of funding for a more flexible design, but its structure allows for additions to be made at the cost of the beneficiary. Funding thus remains a major constraint to housing delivery. Municipalities feel that they are able to implement BNG, but that there are certain shortcomings in the document which prevent its full implementation. One of these shortcomings is the lack of an external funding mechanism for housing delivery, proposed in BNG, but never having materialised. Further, BNG focuses more on the metropolitan scenario and is not always relevant to non-metropolitan towns. Almost all of the municipalities have initiated inner city regeneration projects, but fewer have included the provision of social housing as part of their inner city rejuvenation. Subsidy housing is the most implemented housing typology, but these units often experience decay due to the absence of original owners who have (mostly illegally) sold or rented out their units. The one-erf-one-unit nature of subsidy housing is not seen as sustainable owing to space limitation experienced by most of the municipalities interviewed. Contrary to earlier research, in situ upgrading is a common occurrence in municipalities. However, there is a great need for stronger regional (or broader scale) planning regarding housing delivery. Low-income housing is strongly influenced by politics – a fact which municipalities say negatively influences housing delivery. Migration also poses a serious threat to municipal backlogs. Currently, the fight against an escalating demand for low-cost housing is a losing battle as the rate at which government is rolling out housing is vastly ineffectual. Municipalities deem that large-scale projects like the N2 Gateway might be a solution to their housing backlogs which, they concur, are at crisis point. However, municipalities indicated that their implementation of large scale projects will not follow the same path as the N2 Gateway – the planning of which is seen to be substandard. Currently, urban integration takes place on an income basis and not due to racial division. Inclusionary housing is seen as a relevant tool for the promotion of integration, but cannot be enforced to its full potential due to a lack of supporting legislation.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aimed to understand how Dukuduku Forest in Kwa-Zulu Natal has changed from 1960 to 2008 and whether the change in political regimes, during and post apartheid eras might have contributed to changes in forest extent. To achieve the aims, the following analyses were made: - Qualitative and quantitative spatial analyses of forest change; - Analyses of the correspondence of change with political changes in the country; - Assessment of perception of people living in the Dukuduku forest area. The Dukuduku land cover was mapped from aerial photos using ArcGIS 9.3 to determine whether or not there has been a significant change in the area from 1960-2008, in response to resource use pressures and to come up with the strategic sustainable management plan from the results found. Five aerial photographs were used to determine the changes in land cover from the year: 1960, 1970, 1992, 2005 and 2008. The Land cover types were classified into four classes, Indigenous Forests, Plantation Forests, Water Bodies and Other (open areas, cultivated land, and all the human disturbed and transformed land). The percentage of cover per class was compared across the years to determine overall change in land cover and the rate of change per year was also calculated. The results from the study showed that: - Natural Forest increased by 11% (700 ha), at the rate of 20.56 hectares per year between 1960 and 1992, which is the apartheid era. Between 1992 and 2008, the democratic era, the forest decreased by 34.4% (2472.31ha), at the rate of 168 hectares per year. - The Dukuduku forest community gains resources (timber and grass for construction, art, firewood, medicinal plants, grazing of livestock and food) from the forest. The people are willing to contribute in protecting the forest only if the governing authorities would include them in decisions made, as the NFA demands Participatory Forest Management, but which does not currently exist in Dukuduku. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die verandering van die Dukuduku woud in Kwa-Zulu Natal vanaf 1960 tot 2008, en vernaamlik of die verandering in politieke regimes tydens en in die postapartheid eras tot verandering bygedra het in die woud se vorm. Om hierdie doelwitte te breik is die volgende analises gedoen: - Kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe ruimtelike analises van woudverandering; - Analises van die korrelasie tussen hierdie fisiese omgewingsverandering en politieke verandering in die land; - Analise van die persepsie van mense wat in die Dukuduku woudgebied woon. Die Dukuduku gronddekking is gekarteer met behulp van lugfotos, waarvoor ArcGIS 9.3 gebruik is om te bepaal of daar noemenswaardige verandering in die gebied plaasgevind het van 1960 tot 2008, in reaksie op hulpbrongebruike, en om ‘n volhoubare bestuursplan gestel voor wat op die bevindinge gebaseer is. Vyf lugfotos is gebruik om verandering in gronddekking te bepaal vir die jare: 1960, 1970, 1992, 2005 en 2008. Die Gronddekking tipes is geklassifiseer in vier klasse naamlik Inheemse Woude, Plantasiebosse, Waterliggame en Ander (oop gebiede, landerye en al die mens-versteurde en getransfomeerde gebiede). Die persentasie van elke dekkingsklas is oor die jare vergelyk om die verandering in algehele grond-dekking te bepaal, en die tempo van verandering is ook bepaal, asook die tempo van verandering. Die resultate van die studie wys dat: - Die natuurlike woud toegeneem het met 11% (700 ha), teen ‘n tempo van 20.56 hektaar per jaar tussen 1960 en 1992, tgedurende die apartheidsera. Tussen 1992 en 2008, die demokratiese era, het die woude verminder met 34.4% (2472.31 ha), teen ‘n tempo van 168 hektaar per jaar. - Die gemeenskap wat in die Dukuduku woud woon verkry hulpbronne van die woud (hout en gras vir konstruksie, kuns, brandhout, medisinale plante, weiding vir vee, en voedsel). Die mense is gewillig om by te dra tot beskerming van die woud indien die owerhede hulle sou betrek in besluite wat geneem word, veral omdat die nasionale Wet op Bosse voorsiening maak vir Deelnemende Bosbestuur, wat tans nie by Dukuduku gebeur nie.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Coastal erosion is a worldwide hazard of which the consequences can only be mitigated via thorough and efficient monitoring of erosion and vulnerability to erosion. This study aimed to establish the accuracy, efficacy and efficiency of various remote sensing techniques for the detection and monitoring of coastal erosion and vulnerability occurring in False Bay, South Africa. There is a need to monitor the erosion in this area as well as to determine the most effective techniques for monitoring the erosion in False Bay and other similar environments in the future. This study provides an assessment of the usefulness of different data sources and techniques for change detection in the coastal environment. The data sources used were Landsat TM/ETM+ imagery and aerial photographs. Image differencing, tasselled cap transformations, vegetation index differencing, Boolean change detection, and post-classification change detection were all performed on the Landsat imagery. The aerial photographs were assessed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) add-on for ArcGIS which determines statistical differences in the shoreline position as digitised in vector format. The results showed that while the resolution of the Landsat imagery was not sufficient to analyse erosion along the beach itself, the larger area covered by the satellite images enabled vulnerability indicators to be seen. Notably, the post-classification change detection indicated consistent increases in built-up areas, while sand dune, beach, and sand (not beach) all decreased. NDVI differencing showed consistent decreases in NDVI indicating decreasing plant health and density. The results of image differencing with both band 4 and the brightness band led to conclusions that vegetation health was decreasing while reflective surfaces such as bare sand and roads were increasing. All of these indicate an increased vulnerability to coastal erosion. The Boolean change detection method was found not to be useful in this case. Aerial photographs were studied on four focus areas: Bayview Heights, Macassar Beach, Strand, and Pringle Bay. The results showed erosion at all four areas, with Strand experiencing only erosion (no accretion) at an average of 53 cm erosion per year. Erosion at Macassar Beach and Pringle Bay was also severe, with Bayview Heights being the least severe and showing a combination of erosion and accretion. The higher resolution available on the aerial photographs was vital to view changes on the beach itself. In future studies requiring assessment of changes in the position or condition of the beach itself, aerial photographs or high resolution satellite data should be used. Studies of vulnerability extending over the entire coastal zone may make use of Landsat TM images. Post-classification change detection provides powerful change direction information and can indicate the percentage of area change from one class to another. However, image differencing and vegetation index differencing are much faster to perform and can provide information about general trends in the changes occurring. Therefore post-classification change detection might be used in areas of high and rapid change while image differencing and vegetation index differencing can be useful to cover vast areas where little change is expected. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kus-erosie is ‘n wêreldwye gevaar waarvan die gevolge slegs deur deeglike en doeltreffende monitering van erosie en kwesbaarheid vir erosie verminder kan word. Hierdie studie poog om die akkuraatheid, doeltreffendheid en effektiwiteit van verskillende afstandswaarneming tegnieke vas te stel vir die opsporing en monitering van kus-erosie en kwesbaarheid in Valsbaai, Suid Afrika. Daar is ‘n behoefte aan die monitering van erosie in hierdie area, sowel as om die mees doeltreffende tegnieke van die monitering hiervan in Valsbaai en ander soortgelyke omgewings in die toekoms te bepaal. Hierdie studie bied ‘n evaluering van die nut van verskillende data-bronne en tegnieke vir die opsporing van verandering in ‘n kusomgewing. Die data-bronne wat gebruik is, is Landsat TM/ETM+ beelde asook lugfoto’s. Beeld differensievorming, “tasselled cap” transformasies, plantegroei indeks differensievorming, Boolse verandering en post-klassifikasie verandering is toegepas op die Landsat beelde. Die lugfotos is ge-evalueer deur die Digitale Kuslyn Analise Stelsel (Digital Shoreline Analysis System – DSAS). DSAS is ‘n bykomstige sagteware vir ArcGIS wat statistiese verskille in gedigitaliseerde kuslyn posisie bepaal. Die resultate toon dat terwyl die resolusie van die Landsat beelde nie voldoende was om strand-erosie self te analiseer, die groter area wat deur die satellietbeelde gedek word toegelaat het om kwesbaarheid aanwysers te ontleed. Spesifiek die post-klassifikasie verandering het aangedui dat konsekwente toenames in beboude areas voorkom, terwyl afnames in sandduine, strand en sand-areas voorgekom het. NDVI differensievorming het konsekwente afnames in NDVI getoon, wat dui op afnames in die gesondheid en digtheid van plantegroei. Die resultate van die beeld differensievorming met beide Landsat Band 4 en die helderheid-band het gelei tot die gevolgtrekking dat die gesondheid van plantegroei afgeneem het, terwyl reflektiewe oppervlaktes soos oop sand en paaie aan die toeneem is. Al hierdie resultate dui op die verhoogde kwesbaarheid vir kus erosie. Die Boolse verandering metode is bevind om nie van nut te wees in hierdie geval nie. Lugfoto’s van vier fokus-areas is bestudeer: Bayview Heights, Macassar Strand, Strand en Pringlebaai. Resultate van die DSAS analise het gevind dat oorwegend erosie by al vier areas plaasvind, met Strand die enigste area wat slegs erosie (geen aanwas) ervaar teen ‘n gemiddelde koers van 0.53 m per jaar. Erosie by Macassar Strand en Pringlebaai was ook ernstig, terwyl Bayview Heights die minste erosie ervaar het, met ‘n kombinasie van erosie en aanwas. Die hoër resolusie beskikbaar deur die lugfoto’s was noodsaaklik om veranderinge in strand areas waar te neem. In toekomstige studies wat die assessering van verandering in die posisie of toestand van strande noodsaak behoort lugfotos of hoë-resolusie satellietbeeld data gebruik te word. Studies oor die kwesbaarheid van ‘n hele kusstreek kan wel gebruik maak van Landsat data. Post-klassifikasie verandering bied kragtige informasie oor die rigting van verandering en kan die persentasie van verandering van een klas na ‘n ander aandui. Beeld en NDVI differensievorming is egter veel vinniger om uit te voer en kan informasie rakende die algemene tendense in verandering lewer. Post-klassifikasie verandering kan dus gebruik word in gebiede van vinnige en beduidende verandering plaasvind, terwyl beeld en NDVI differensievorming nuttig kan wees om groot areas te dek waar min verandering verwag word.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Land reform is a vital political issue that has been fiercely debated in recent years, especially in South Africa. With the historical background of South Africa consisting of colonialism and political resistance that resulted in racial discrimination, apartheid was forced onto the black citizens by the white government. To correct the injustices of the apartheid regime, the new democratic government had to find a way to redistribute land that was previously owned by citizens previously disposed of their land. The South African government uses land reform to address the social, political and economic issues that this newly democratic country face; however, it has not been implemented very well to date. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions on the progress and implementation of land reform in the Matzikama Municipality of South Africa. With different stakeholders’ perceptions to be taken into consideration, this study focused on three aspects: (1) the perceptions of commercial farmers in the Matzikama Municipality; (2) the progress of Equity Share Scheme (ESS) projects in the Matzikama Municipality; and (3) the perceptions of the key role players on land reform. The study focused on the commercial farmer members of the Vredendal famers’ association and members of the ESS projects in close proximity to Vredendal. The research objectives of this study were sixfold, namely (1) to examine the literature on land reform to establish an understanding of what land reform is about, what overall objectives it has, what types and approaches exist and how it has been implemented internationally; (2) to investigate policies, legislation and the land reform programme of South Africa and how it has been implemented nationally; (3) to identify the perceptions of the commercial farmers in the Matzikama municipal area on land reform; (4) to determine how successful or unsuccessful land reform projects have been in the Matzikama municipal area by investigating farms that have incorporated it; (5) to identify the perceptions that key role players have on land reform and to use these perceptions to assess the current state of the land reform programme in the study area; and (6) to identify the problems that the land reform programme is experiencing and to make recommendations on how to improve the current state of land reform. The necessary data was collected through a questionnaire survey among commercial farmers and conducting interviews with beneficiaries of ESS projects and key role-players. The data was then analysed by making use of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. The findings indicate that the commercial farmers have a very negative perception of land reform, the main reason being that they felt the government was targeting white commercial farmers, and some respondents indicated that they felt insecure about land security. As for ESS projects in the Matzikama Municipality, the projects have not being very successful, although the Alfalfa land reform project is still trying to uplift its shareholders. From the data collected from the interviews conducted with the key role players, five problems were identified relating to the current implementation of the land reform programme in the study area in general: (1) the incoherence of the current policy-making approach and the massive gaps between national and local stakeholders in the current decision-making approach; (2) the slow acquisition process for agricultural land due to cumbersome bureaucracy; (3) the lack of partnership and integration between government departments, the private sector and beneficiaries; (4) the lack of government support, which has contributed to the poor success rate of land reform projects; and (5) the beneficiaries’ inexperience and lack of skills concerning farming. To address the problems identified with the current implementation of the land reform programme in South Africa, it is recommended that the government reassesses the approach it has been using to try to redistribute agricultural land. This can be done by ensuring that officials dealing with land reform have the necessary skills and experience to implement the strategies. The government should also consider a grassroots approach when identifying land for redistribution by making use of local communities. Funding from the government is also crucial and should be allocated appropriately. Lastly, the government should invest in programmes that focus on educating emerging farmers on managing a commercial farm successfully. / AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Grondhervorming is 'n belangrike politieke kwessie waaroor daar die afgelope paar jaar heftig gedebatteer word, veral in Suid-Afrika. Met die geskiedkundige agtergrond van Suid-Afrika, bestaande uit kolonialisme en politieke weerstand wat gelei het tot rasse diskriminasie, is apartheid deur die wit regering afgedwing op swart burgers. Om die ongeregtighede van apartheid reg te stel, moes die nuwe demokratiese regering 'n manier vind om grond te herverdeel aan die voorheen benadeelde burgers wat voor apartheid die grond besit het. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering gebruik grondhervorming om die sosiale, politieke en ekonomiese kwessies wat hierdie nuwe demokratiese land in die gesig staar, aan te spreek, maar dit word nie so goed geïmplementeer as wat die voorheen benadeelde burgers verwag het nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die persepsies oor die vordering met en implementering van die grondhervormingsprogram in die Matzikama Munisipaliteit van Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Met verskillende belanghebbendes se persepsies wat in ag geneem moet word, het hierdie studie gefokus op drie standpunte: (1) die persepsies van kommersiële boere in die Matzikama Munisipaliteit; (2) die vordering van Gedeelde-eienaarskapskema (ESS – Equity Share Scheme) projekte in die Matzikama Munisipaliteit, en (3) die sleutel rolspelers se persepsie oor grondhervorming. Die studie het gefokus op die kommersiële boere wat lid was van die Vredendal Boerevereniging en lede van die AWS projekte in die nabyheid van Vredendal. Daar was ses doelwitte vir hierdie studie, naamlik (1) om die literatuur oor grondhervorming te ondersoek om 'n begrip te bekom van wat grondhervorming is, watter algemene doelstellings dit het, watter tipe grondhervormng en benaderings bestaan, en om vas te stel hoe grondhervorming op ’n internasionale vlak geïmplementeer word; (2) om ondersoek in te stel oor die beleide, wetgewing en grondhervormingsprogram van Suid-Afrika en hoe dit op die nasionale vlak geïmplementeer word; (3) om die persepsies van die kommersiële boere in die Matzikama Munisipale gebied oor grondhervorming te identifiseer; (4) om te bepaal hoe suksesvol of onsuksesvol grondhervormingsprojekte in die Matzikama Munisipale area is deur ondersoek in te stel op plase wat AWS projekte begin het, (5) die persepsies wat belangrike rolspelers oor grondhervorming het, te identifiseer en hierdie persepsies te gebruik om die huidige toestand van die grondhervormingsprogram in Suid-Afrika te bepaal, en (6) die probleme wat die grondhervormingsprogram ondervind te identifiseer en aanbevelings te maak oor hoe om die huidige stand van grondhervorming in Suid-Afrika te verbeter. Deur die verspreiding van vraelyste onder die kommersiële boere en deur onderhoude met begunstigdes van AWS projekte en sleutel rolspelers te voer, is die noodsaaklike data ingesamel, waarna dit ontleed is deur gebruik te maak van die Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) en Microsoft Excel. Daar is bevind dat die kommersiële boere ’n baie negatiewe persepsie oor grondhervorming het. Die hoof rede hiervoor is dat hulle voel die regering teiken wit kommersiële boere en sommige respondente het aangedui dat hulle onseker voel oor grondsekuriteit. Die AWS-projekte was nog nie regtig suksesvol in die Matzikama Munisipaliteit nie, maar die Alfalfa grondhervormingsprojek bestaan nog en probeer om die aandeelhouers op te hef. Uit die data wat deur die onderhoude met die sleutel rolspelers versamel is, is vyf probleme met die huidige implementering van die grondhervormingsprogram van Suid-Afrika geïdentifiseer: (1) die onsamehangendheid van die huidige benadering tot beleidskepping en die massiewe gapings tussen die nasionale en plaaslike belanghebbendes wat die huidige besluitnemingsbenadering aanbetref, (2) die stadige verkrygingsproses van landbougrond weens omslagtige burokrasie; (3) die gebrek aan vennootskappe en integrasie tussen regeringsdepartemente, die private sektor en die begunstigdes van grondhervorming; (4) die gebrek aan ondersteun van die regering, wat bydra tot die swak slaagsyfer van grondhervormingsprojekte, en (5) die gebrek aan begunstigdes met ervaring en vaardighede met betrekking tot die landbou. Om die probleme met die huidige implementering van die grondhervormingsprogram in Suid-Afrika aan te spreek, word dit aanbeveel dat die regering die benadering wat hulle gebruik om doe herverdeling van landbougrond te finaliseer, herevalueer. Dit kan gedoen word deur te verseker dat amptenare wat met grondhervorming werk die noodsaaklike vaardighede en ondervinding het om die nodige strategieë te implementeer. Die regering moet ook oorweeg om met behulp van die plaaslike gemeentskap grond te indentifiseer wat beskikbaar is vir herverdeling. Befondsing van die regering is ook van kardinale belang en moet toepaslik toegeken word. Laastens moet die regering belê in programme wat fokus op die opvoeding van opkomende boere wat hulle kan in staat stel om ’n suksesvolle kommersiële boere te word.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rural development problems faced by the impoverished communities in the Transkei, South Africa, are numerous, and environmental degradation has already taken much of its toll. By working at a micro-catchment-level both the socio-economic and biophysical appreciation of the land resources were captured as encapsulated in the concept of resource management domains. Participatory decision-making allowed functional land use goals and evaluation criteria to be incorporated into computerised multi-criteria evaluation and multi-objective land use allocation models in order to reach an idealised or more sustainable land use situation. In the execution of the decision-making process seven procedural steps were followed, which are discussed in detail and applied in the case study. Synthesis of the results emphasised the envisaged rural planning potential of the methods used. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In terme van plattelandse ontwikkeling staar talle probleme die behoeftige gemeenskappe van Transkei, Suid-Afrika, in die gesig en omgewingsdegradering neem ongehinderd sy tol. Deur op ‘n mikro-opvangsgebied vlak te werk kon beide die sosio-ekonomiese en biofisiese waarde van die gebied se hulpbronne bepaal word en uitgebeeld word in hulpbron bestuursdomeine. Deur deelnemende besluitneming is funksionele grondgebruiksdoelwitte en evaluasie kriteria gebruik in gerekenariseerde meervoudige kriteria evaluering en veeldoelige grondgebruiksaanwysingsmodelle ten einde die ideale of ‘n meer volhoubare grondgebruik situasie te verkry. Vir die uitvoering van die besluitnemingsproses is van sewe opeenvolgende stappe gebruik gemaak en die uitvoering daarvan word in diepte bespreek in hierdie gevallestudie. Sintese van die resultate het die potensiaal van hierdie beoogde landelike beplanningsmetodes beklemtoon.

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The problem addressed in this research is that large-scale estate developments in the Western Cape generally have, up to now, apparently not fulfilled their potential as primary economic drivers, thus, failing to contribute in a significant manner to addressing the primary challenges facing the present-day South Africa, namely poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. This research focused on the recently-formulated project-based Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI) approach as a strategy to optimally unlock the potential benefits of largescale development as a primary economic driver. In the research, the potential of the SDI approach in this regard was tested by comparing the envisaged performance of an SDI to be implemented in the Hoogekraal area near George in the South Cape with the performance of five selected large-scale estate developments that have been planned and developed in terms of the ‘conventional’ approach as it was defined for this research. The over-arching purpose of the research was to determine whether the project-based SDI approach, as demonstrated by the pre-development condition of the proposed Hoogekraal SDI, could make a meaningful contribution to the alleviation of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation and whether it presents an improvement in this regard on the ‘conventional’ planning, implementation and management approach for large-scale estate developments. The SDI approach, in its current, conceptual format, does not profess to be flawless. The research has left a number of questions unanswered pertaining to, in particular, the mobilisation, involvement, and required participation capacity of the communities that would be affected by an SDI. The research has indicated that the proponents of the SDI approach still have a long way to go to bridge the divergent views and evident opposition against large-scale estate development of conservation-orientated NGOs and community groups, and factions within government departments. However, the research has indicated that the SDI approach holds the promise to be an innovative strategy through which the benefits of large-scale development could be optimised for both people and the environment. The SDI approach, at least, represents an honest response to the national goals for sustainable development put forward in, amongst others, the South African Constitution. It is therefore concluded that there is merit in the claim of the SDI proponents that the SDI approach to large-scale development presents, to a larger extent than the ‘conventional’ approach, a mechanism through which this development typology can contribute to the eradication of poverty, inequality and environmental rehabilitation in partnership with local communities and other stakeholders. It is believed that this research can contribute as: a) an input in the drafting of regional and municipal development policy aimed at promoting sustainable development, for example, the spatial development frameworks prepared by municipalities in terms of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 (South Africa 2000); b) a basis for the planning and implementation of large-scale estate developments in a manner that would, on balance, improve the state of any given condition in a sustainable, integrated, holistic and practical manner and in partnership with those who would be affected by the developments and those who support the ethos of sustainable development; and c) a basis for further research pertaining to the implementation and long-term management of the SDI approach at the project level, the objective being to promote the continual improvement of the approach.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The multifaceted land degradation problem and its associated manifold impacts have attracted research from different disciplines, resulting in varying definitions of the concept. However, most researchers agree that human intervention that deteriorates the state of the environment is the central element. Among the anthropogenic activities that exacerbate land degradation, land cover has been singled out as the salient element. Rapid and unplanned land cover changes are primary manifestations of this problem. UMhlathuze Municipality, the study area which has superior biodiversity richness, is one of fastest growing municipalities in South Africa and is the locale of significant land modifications in recent decades because of a variety of industrial and residential developments. Using Landsat TM imagery acquired for 1984, 1996 and 2004, this study mapped and quantified land cover change and manifestations of land degradation in the uMhlathuze Municipality in conjunction with settlement intensification computed from orthophotographs acquired for 1984 and 2004. Census population statistics were analysed as a reflection of population dynamics and further to gauge related causes of land cover change. Geographical information technology (GIT) was applied as an analytical tool. The results revealed the anthropogenic influences that led to changes in land cover over the 20- year period between 1984 and 2004. The dominant natural cover classes in 1984 declined continuously and human-dominated land categories had increased sharply by 2004. Much of grasslands, forest and wetlands were converted to monotypical agroforestry (sugar cane and forestry plantations), built-up settlement and mining. These changes engendered complete loss of biodiversity (floral and migration of fauna). Bare ground, signifying land degradation, was noticeable although it exhibited a fluctuating trend which could be attributable to differences between the various imagery used. Along with population growth, the area of settlements increased over the study period and spatially sprawled from urban areas. Settlements showed a fairly stable spatial configuration over the 20-year period, but became magnified in medium- and high-density areas. Grassland and wetlands occurring around Richards Bay, as well as indigenous forest near Port Durnford, were identified as critically threatened ecosystems. The proposed industrial development zone and port expansion were recognized as having adverse ecological implications for wetlands. The study concluded that significant land cover changes occurred in the form of natural land cover giving way to monotypical agroforestry, built-up settlements and mining - all to the detriment of pristine natural habitat. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die veelvlakkige probleem van omgewingsdegradasie en die gepaardgaande veelsoortige impakte lok navorsing uit verskillende dissiplines, wat lei tot verskillende definisies van die konsep. Tog is die meeste navorsers dit eens dat menslike invloede die sentrale element is wat die toestand van die omgewing verswak. Van die vele menslike aktiwiteite is grondgebruikverandering uitgesonder as die belangrikste beïnvloeder van agteruitgang van die omgewing. Veral vinnige en onbeplande grondgebruikveranderinge verteenwoordig die primêre manifestasies van hierdie probleem. UMhlathuze Munisipaliteit, die studiegebied met 'n hoë biodiversiteitsrykdom, is een van die vinnigste groeiende munisipaliteite in Suid-Afrika, waar 'n verskeidenheid nywerheids- en residensiële ontwikkelings beduidende grondgebruikverandering oor die afgelope dekades dryf. Met behulp van Landsat TM beelde van 1984, 1996 en 2004, is hierdie studiegebied gekarteer en oppervlaktes gekwantifiseer om grondgebruikverandering en verwante manifestasies van die agteruitgang van landbedekking in die uMhlathuze Munisipaliteit te konstateer. Tesame hiermee is die verdigting van nedersettings ook met behulp van ortofoto’s van 1984 en 2004 aangeteken. Bevolkingsensusstatistieke is ontleed as weerspieëling van die gepaardgaande bevolkingsdinamika en om moontlike oorsake van verandering in grondbedekking te bepaal. Vir hierdie doel is geografiese inligtingstegnologie (GIT ) as analitiese instrument toegepas. Die resultate toon antropogeniese invloede lei tot veranderinge in grondbedekking oor die tydperk van 20 jaar tussen 1984 en 2004. Die dominante natuurlike dekkingsklasse in 1984 het voortdurend verminder en menslik-gedomineerde kategorieë het teen 2004 skerp gestyg. Baie van die grasvelde, woude en vleilande is daadwerklik omskep tot monotipiese agro-bosbou (suikerrieten bosbouplantasies), beboude nedersetting en mynbou. Hierdie veranderinge behels 'n volledige verlies van biodiversiteit (plantegroei en migrasie van fauna). Kaalgrond, wat dui op die agteruitgang van grondbedekking, was ook opvallend, hoewel dit 'n wisselende tendens toon wat ook kan wees as gevolg van die verskille tussen die beeldmateriaal wat gebruik is. Saam met die groei van die bevolking is bevind dat nedersettings oor die studieperiode toegeneem het en in tipiese spreipatrone weg van die stedelike gebiede uitbrei. Nedersettings het 'n redelik stabiele ruimtelike liggingsopset oor die tydperk van 20 jaar getoon, maar het in medium- en hoë- digtheid gebiedeverdeel. Die voorkoms van grasveld en vleiland rondom Richardsbaai, asook inheemse woud naby Port Durnford, is geïdentifiseer as krities-bedreigde ekosisteme. Die voorgestelde nywerheidsontwikkelingsone en hawe-uitbreiding is geïdentifiseer as ontwikkelings met nadelige ekologiese implikasies vir vleilande. Daar is dus tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat beduidende voortgaande grondbedekkingveranderinge in die gebied voorkom, waarin natuurlike landdekking transformeer tot monotipiese agrobosbou, beboude nedersettings en mynbou - alles tot nadeel van die ongerepte natuurlike habitat.