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Evaluating agricultural potential of a Cape Metropolitan Catchment : a fuzzy logic approachFourie, Johannes Christoffel 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Sustainable use of the earth’s resources is seen by many authorities as critical to ensure the planet’s
survival. In this regard agriculture is seen as a major role player and fundamental link in the chain
of sustainability. South Africa, a country with relatively little favourable agricultural land, should
therefore preserve high potential areas for agricultural purposes. The Western Cape, with 75% of all
medium-potential arable land in South Africa, is a valuable asset. One region targeted for
development and where uncertainty prevails regarding its agricultural potential, is the G21B
catchment in the Atlantis Growth Corridor (AGC). The AGC is envisaged as long-term growth axis
for the Cape Metropole, but conflicting opinions exist on its agricultural possibilities and suitability
to absorb urban growth.
Consequently, the aim of this project was to evaluate the suitability of this catchment for a number
of agricultural landuses. Fuzzy logic, a modification of the land evaluation approach originally
developed by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was used to
address this problem. Input data consisted of a soil map and digital elevation model (DEM) of the
area. Parameters identified from these sources and applicable to the study were soil texture of the
first, second and third horizons, as well as coarse fragments in the top soil, wetness, weathered rock,
average pH, effective root depth, and slope. These parameters were compared to the requirements
of six landuses, i.e. wheat, wine grapes, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and citrus, and a fuzzy
representation for every landuse was constructed. Expert opinion aided in a weighting process
whereby the relative weights of parameters were computed and incorporated into the evaluation.
Results showed extensive areas with a relatively high agricultural potential for potatoes and wine
grapes. In addition, areas with potential were also identified for wheat, citrus, and tomatoes, albeit
on more limited scale. Large areas, however, were deemed unsuitable for the aforementioned
agricultural crops and would therefore be suitable to absorb metropolitan growth or to be
maintained as conservation areas.
The fuzzy logic approach provided insightful results. Problematic parameters were easily identified
and no information was lost in the evaluation process. It also allowed for an objective quantitative
comparison between crops. This provided freedom in deciding which landuse should be practiced,
especially if the focus is on a sustainable rather than the most productive crop.
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An evaluation of neonatal nursing care in selected hospitals in the Western CapeBarlow, Hilary Joan 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MCUR)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa has a proud history of a high standard of health care delivery in State funded
hospitals. This implies that high standards of education and care in both medical and
nursing training have been achieved. The care of sick and premature newborn infants by
nurses is a speciality that has evolved worldwide over the last forty years as a result of
various technological developments.
In order to ensure the standard of care delivered, protocols of care should be available for
nurses to refer to and to measure their work against. There were no protocols of care
available in the two Neonatal Units (NICUs) used in this study.
Using a non-experimental, exploratory descriptive design, the researcher set about
measuring the quality of nursing care in the NICUs. Standards (structure, process and
outcome) were written by the researcher, and validated.
The results showed that the standards were not met at an acceptable level in various
areas. One of the areas of great concern was the lack of effective hand washing.
Outcome standards which reflect the consequences of care indicated serious shortages of
staff in some cases and insufficient staff training.
Recommendations are that a Quality Assurance Program should be introduced with
training and education of the nurses working in the NICUs and the introduction of evidencebased
practice. Future research should aim at showing the way to improve the service
delivered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika het ‘n trotse geskiedenis van ‘n hoë standard van gesondheidsorgdienslewering
in Staatsbefondsde hospitale. Dit impliseer dat hoë standaarde in mediese en
verpleegopleiding bereik is. Die versorging van siek en premature pasgebore babas deur
verpleegkundiges is ‘n spesialiteit wat oor die afgelope veertig jaar wêreldwyd ontwikkel het
as gevolg van verskeie tegnologiese ontwikkelings.
Ten einde te verseker dat ‘n hoë standard van sorg gelewer word, moet protokolle
beskikbaar wees vir verpleegkundiges om te gebruik en hulle werkverrigting teen te meet.
Daar was geen protokolle beskikbaar in die twee neonatale eenhede wat in hierdie studie
gebruik is nie.
‘n Nie-eksperimentele, verkennende, beskrywende ontwerp is deur die navorser gebruik
om die gehalte van verpleegsorg in die neonatale eenhede te evalueer. Standaarde
(struktuur, proses en uitkoms) is deur die navorser opgestel en gevalideer.
Die resultate toon aan dat die standaarde in verskeie areas nie aanvaarbaar nagekom
word nie. ‘n Kommerwekkende bevinding was die afwesigheid van effektiewe was van
hande. Uitkomsstandaarde wat die resultaat van sorg weerspieël, het aangedui dat daar
ernstige tekorte aan personeel in sommige gevalle bestaan het asook onvoldoende
opleiding van personeel.
Aanbevelings is dat ‘n Gehalteversekeringsprogram ingestel behoort te word en met die
opleiding van verpleegkundiges werksaam in die neonatale eenhede en evidence-based
practice aangespreek moet word. Toekomstige navorsing behoort aan te dui hoe om die
diens wat gelewer word, te verbeter.
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