published_or_final_version / Asian Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Asian Studies / Master / Master of Philosophy

Piracy is still a significant threat to ships in a maritime environment. Areas such as the coast of Somalia and the Strait of Malacca are still plagued by pirates, and the total international cost of piracy numbers in the billions of dollars. The first line of defence against these threats is early detection and thus maritime surveillance has become an increasingly important task over the years. While surveillance has traditionally been a manual task using crew members in lookout positions on parts of the ship, much work is being done to automate this task using digital cameras equipped with computer vision software. While these systems are beneficial in that they do not grow tired like their human counterparts, the maritime environment is a challenging task for computer vision systems. This dissertation aims to address some of these challenges by presenting a system that is able to use prior knowledge of an object’s shape to aid in detection and tracking of the object. Additionally, it aims to test this system under various environmental conditions (such as weather). The system is based around the segmentation technique known as the level set method, which uses a contour in the image that is evolved to separate regions of interest. The system is split into two parts, comprising of an object detection stage that initially finds objects in a scene, and an object tracking stage that tracks detected objects for the rest of the sequence. The object detection stage uses a kernel density estimation-based background subtraction and a binary image level set filter, while the object tracker makes use of a tracking level set algorithm for its functionality. The object detector was tested using a group of 4 sequences, of which it was able to find a prior-known object in 3. The object tracker was tested on a group of 10 sequences for 300 frames a sequence. In 6 of these sequences the object tracker was able to successfully track the object in every single frame. It is shown that the developed video tracking system outperforms level set–based systems that don’t use prior shape knowledge, working well even where these systems fail. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African Navy (SAN) intends to reinstate Naval Station Durban (NSD) as a fully operational support base for a new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV’s) which the SAN intends to purchase. These acquisitions must be seen against the background of strategic and political considerations in general, and in particular threats to South Africa’s maritime security, due to the possibility of the piracy, along particularly the West African coast, reaching our territorial waters. The aim of this thesis is the development of a cost-optimization model, intended to provide optimal locations for the SAN’s support facilities, given the SAN’s operational obligations, present and future. In the first part, a literary review of facility location formulation and strategic management principles is an attempt to lay the foundations for the proposed model. The review of this literature is primarily based on extracts of the comprehensive research of other authors. Consequently, the research problem was contextualized and classified as a hierarchical location-allocation problem. The second part of the thesis aims to describe the SAN’s environment from a maritime security perspective. Within this framework, formulation was identified and modified to develop a theoretical mechanism to solve the research question. The final part will see the application of the developed model to a case study specific to the situation of the SAN. Validation of the inputs and the model itself proceeded in conjunction with the application of the model. The results and the model itself were validated through visual inspection and independent mathematical validation. This thesis comes to the conclusion that the SAN cannot cost-effectively meet its future obligations by splitting its maintenance capability between Naval Base Durban (NBD) and Naval Base Simon’s Town (NBS). Future research may build upon the results of this thesis in order to facilitate a more comprehensive optimization of preventative networks. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot (SAV) beoog om die vlootstasie in Durban weer op te gradeer na ’n volwaardige vlootbasis vir die beoogde aanskaffing van ’n nuwe klas van patroleringsvaartuie. Die motivering vir die opgradering van Durban kom uit dieper strategiese en politieke behoeftes maar word tans toegeskryf aan plaaslike bedreigings van seerowery en die gevolglike verkryging van nuwe patrollievaartuie om hierdie bedreiging, onder meer, te bekamp. Die doel van hierdie meesters tesis, is om ’n koste optimerings model te vind, of te ontwikkel, wat optimale liggings vir ondersteunings fasilitieite sal lewer, gegewe die toekomstige of huidige verpligtinge van die SAV. Die eerste gedeelte van hierdie tesis bevat ’n literatuuroorsig van fasiliteitsligging-formulering en strategiese bestuursbeginsels. Hierdie literatuuroorsig beoog om die grondslag vir die voorgestelde model te lê. Die oorsig van sodanige literatuur is hoofsaaklik gebaseer op uittreksels uit veelomvattende opsommings deur ander outeurs. Gevolglik is die navorsingsprobleem gekontekstualiseer en geklassifiseer as ’n hiërargiese ligging-toekenningsprobleem. Die tweede deel van die tesis beoog om die omgewing van die SAV vanuit ’n maritieme sekuriteitsperspektief te beskryf. Binne hierdie raamwerk is formulering geïdentifiseer en só gemodifiseer om ’n teoretiese meganisme te ontwikkel om die navorsingsvraag op te los. Die finale deel pas die ontwikkelde model op die spesifieke situasie van die SAV toe. Validasie van die insette sowel as die model self is gedoen in samewerking met die toepassing van die model. Die resultate tesame met die model self is deeglik bekragtig deur visuele inspeksie en onafhanklike wiskundige validasie. Hierdie tesis het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die SAV nie koste-effektief aan sy toekomstige operasionele verpligtinge sal kan voldoen met die verdeling van sy onderhoudsvermoë tussen ’n vlootbasis in Durban en Simonstad nie. Toekomstige navorsing kan op die resultate van hierdie tesis bou ten einde ’n meer omvattende optimalisering van voorkomende instandhoudingsnetwerke te fasiliteer.

Seaports, or harbours, play a vital role in the logistical supply chain, since they handle the largest volumes of containerised cargo and bulk goods that enter any country. Over the decades, globalisation and free trade have resulted in increased movement of cargo and people through the sea ports. The security functions in all categories of the ports are of paramount importance, seeing that border posts or ports are the main entry and exit points of any country. The marine transport system is responsible for 95-98 per cent of South Africa’s imports and exports. South Africa’s maritime sector, and in particular its eight commercial ports-of-entry, play a major role in the South African economy, as well as those of South Africa’s neighbouring landlocked countries. As a result of the volume of cargo containers passing through these ports, it is often challenging to detect or even examine all of the cargo that enters or leaves the port. A 2007 report titled ‘The collective approach to Border Control’ states that the movement of illegal goods crossing South African borders is in the amount of 20 billion Rand per year. The illegal movement of goods represents an enormous loss to South Africa in terms of revenue, as well as customs and excise duties, and negatively impacts on the confidence of our international investors. One of South Africa’s busiest seaports-of-entry is the Durban harbour. This study sought to investigate the challenges presented by the illegal movement of goods through Durban harbour. The research sought to establish how the goods were being moved illegally through the Durban harbour area. The focus is on the security risk control measures that should control the illegal movement of goods from the Durban Harbour. The objectives of this study were: to examine the existing security risk control measures at the Durban harbour; to assess the risks associated with the illegal movement of goods at the Durban harbour; and to identify the security risk control measures required to prevent the illegal movement of goods at the Durban harbour. The study made use of the qualitative research approach to research the unlawful transfer of goods entering through seaports. Three methods of data collection were used. These were a documentary study of police case dockets, an onsite security audit of the Durban harbour, and face-to-face interviews between the researcher and the interviewees in accordance with an interview schedule. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the SAPS Border Police, customs officials and security officials who were stationed at the Durban harbour. Thirty (30) sample respondents were individually interviewed by the interviewer. An analysis of fifty (50) police dockets which were registered on the SAPS crime administration system for ‘Theft and Contraband Smuggling’ were also analysed, where the scene-of-crime was the Durban harbour. In addition, an onsite evaluation of the current security measures at the Durban harbour was conducted. All of the data collected was analysed using a data-spiral method, which generated themes and categories. The findings established that there are shortcomings or gaps within the existing security measures for the prevention of, and safeguarding the harbour as a port against, criminal risks or security weaknesses. Accordingly, the researcher has recommended certain measures that should assist in eliminating or reducing the associated criminal risks affecting the harbour. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Security Management)

Seaports, or harbours, play a vital role in the logistical supply chain, since they handle the largest volumes of containerised cargo and bulk goods that enter any country. Over the decades, globalisation and free trade have resulted in increased movement of cargo and people through the sea ports. The security functions in all categories of the ports are of paramount importance, seeing that border posts or ports are the main entry and exit points of any country. The marine transport system is responsible for 95-98 per cent of South Africa’s imports and exports. South Africa’s maritime sector, and in particular its eight commercial ports-of-entry, play a major role in the South African economy, as well as those of South Africa’s neighbouring landlocked countries. As a result of the volume of cargo containers passing through these ports, it is often challenging to detect or even examine all of the cargo that enters or leaves the port. A 2007 report titled ‘The collective approach to Border Control’ states that the movement of illegal goods crossing South African borders is in the amount of 20 billion Rand per year. The illegal movement of goods represents an enormous loss to South Africa in terms of revenue, as well as customs and excise duties, and negatively impacts on the confidence of our international investors. One of South Africa’s busiest seaports-of-entry is the Durban harbour. This study sought to investigate the challenges presented by the illegal movement of goods through Durban harbour. The research sought to establish how the goods were being moved illegally through the Durban harbour area. The focus is on the security risk control measures that should control the illegal movement of goods from the Durban Harbour. The objectives of this study were: to examine the existing security risk control measures at the Durban harbour; to assess the risks associated with the illegal movement of goods at the Durban harbour; and to identify the security risk control measures required to prevent the illegal movement of goods at the Durban harbour. The study made use of the qualitative research approach to research the unlawful transfer of goods entering through seaports. Three methods of data collection were used. These were a documentary study of police case dockets, an onsite security audit of the Durban harbour, and face-to-face interviews between the researcher and the interviewees in accordance with an interview schedule. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the SAPS Border Police, customs officials and security officials who were stationed at the Durban harbour. Thirty (30) sample respondents were individually interviewed by the interviewer. An analysis of fifty (50) police dockets which were registered on the SAPS crime administration system for ‘Theft and Contraband Smuggling’ were also analysed, where the scene-of-crime was the Durban harbour. In addition, an onsite evaluation of the current security measures at the Durban harbour was conducted. All of the data collected was analysed using a data-spiral method, which generated themes and categories. The findings established that there are shortcomings or gaps within the existing security measures for the prevention of, and safeguarding the harbour as a port against, criminal risks or security weaknesses. Accordingly, the researcher has recommended certain measures that should assist in eliminating or reducing the associated criminal risks affecting the harbour. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Security Management)