Browsing by Author "Barry, Michael"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Conceptual design of a GIS-based land inventory model for urban informal settlement land management
    (2000) Yirenkyi, Samuel Yaw; Barry, Michael
    Bibliography: leaves 77-82.
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    Data capture of geometric data for local authorities' geographic information systems
    (1995) De Wet, Francois Johan; Barry, Michael
    This thesis describes research and development work which led to algorithms, procedures and computer programs which facilitate the cost effective and accurate capture of geometric data. The geometric data for a Geographical Information System (GIS) at a local authority or municipality consist of a number of different data sets. These include inter alia: the cadastral information, zoning information, servitudes, building lines, the outlines of improvements and the reticulation networks and the house connection points of the engineering services. The initial capture of the geometric data appears to be deceptively simple and is often not given the required consideration. The initial data capture phase of GIS projects is usually a difficult and time consuming process. This is even more so in the case of GIS for local authorities. The reason for this difficulty is the large volume of data coupled with the high accuracies required for the cadastral base map and the engineering services. Input facilities of most commercial GIS software packages generally do not provide the most efficient means of data capture. This problem warrants the development of techniques and procedures specific to local authority GIS applications which ensure that data capture can be done effectively and efficiently. The major benefit of these procedures is that they can be implemented on personal computers with low random access memory capacity. This eliminates the need for investment in costly equipment at the initial stage of data capture in the development of a GIS. It allows the capture of data on low cost technology and the postponement of the purchase of an expensive system or workstation until the data capture phase has been completed. The lowest personnel skills required are copy typing in contrast to the traditional methods of using CAD operators who command higher salaries and require more expensive training. The system developed by the author is more productive, both in quality and volume of work produced, than the CAD approach. It also permits the delay of purchase and training on expensive GIS software and hardware, which may be obsolete by the time the graphic database is established.
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    Field computers for spatially referenced social surveys
    (2001) Barodien, Glynnis Erica; Barry, Michael
    This study explores the use of a palm computer, linked to a hand held global positioning system receiver, by members of an informal settlement and a rural community to collect socio-economic (SE) data. The theoretical foundation is taken from such disciplines as Semiotics, Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Survey Research Methods. This theory was used to develop a methodology, which enabled the researcher to investigate whether it is feasible to use icons to represent SE variables, whether HCI theory is useful for assessing the field observations of the volunteers using the palm computer, and whether the data collected is useful in terms of informal settlements and Communal Property Associations (CPA's). The research approach involved developing a set of icons, which were then pretested using feedback from volunteers in Mitchell’s Plain (Cape Town) before doing field-testing in Algeria and Imizamo Yethu. Next, two field studies were conducted. In Algeria and Imizamo Yethu, the volunteers were asked to identify a set of SE icons, they were taught how to use the palm computer and the CyberTracker software, and each volunteer was asked to conduct a mini-survey. The volunteer responses to the SE icons were analysed using semiotic criteria to determine how well they identified the icons. Next, the field observations were assessed with usability criteria from HCI. Finally, the two data sets were evaluated to determine its usefulness. The recommendations of this research are that if a set of SE icons is to be developed, the researcher suggests that symbols, which are well known by the community be used. That these symbols be tested in a 32x32 pixel format to determine if there is enough detail for recognition. Also, avoid detail in a picture that could cause confusion. Also, detailed investigations into the effect of culture, gender and background, as well as human perception is needed with the focus on communities. The main motivation for this is that informal settlements are a mix between rural, urban, educated and not, and also having different cultures. Next, it is further recommended that tests in homogeneous communities also be done to determine whether they do have the same mental concept. Further field studies are required to sort out various technical problems and to test a larger set of icons. Finally, other applications for this system should be investigated, e.g. land allocation distribution.
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    Identifying and evaluating critical success factors in the implementation of a geographic information system (GIS) : a local authority case study
    (2000) Friedman, David Joseph; Barry, Michael
    This single case study examines the analysis of the Critical Success Factors (CSF) involved in the implementation of a GIS. The study is in reaction to the problems users were having in implementing a Geographic Information System (GIS) in a sma1llocal authority, where the author was employed. Although the organisation had been using a GIS for some years, progress was below standard. From the initial investigations, it was evident that relevant literature was scant. The majority of information on successful GIS implementation was documented by vendors who supplied the software. These documents were of sites where GIS had been implemented and can be referred to as anecdotal case histories. The format of these reports was unscientific and lacked the rigours associated with academic research found in case studies. This study aims to test if existing methodology for identifYing CSF in IS can be applied to implementing a GIS in a local authority, and this methodology is based on management information science (MIS) theory. The author shows that there are parallels between IS and GIS and that it is possible to use IS theory on CSF, specifically in GIS implementation. He has used the case study method in order to collect data from various sources. The nature of this data is qualitative rather than quantitative. The research was carried out in four phases. The first phase, which was the longest, documented the different stadia and described the experiences of the author as the GIS manager with regard to the implementation. This is the control data set in the study which is compared with the data collected to test the two IS methodologies. The CSF which the author determined in this part of the research were: active top management support, qualified staff and a consolidated budget to ensure that all resources were pooled. These were established from observations and deductions from the experiences recorded in the study. The second phase was twofold and firstly involved a review of literature on methods to determine CSF in MIS planning; secondly it determined the similarity between GIS and IS theory. The author argues that, because of these similarities, IS theory on CSF can be extended to GIS implementation. The third phase required the author to test the two methodologies discussed in the literature review, both of which have limitations regarding their small sample size.
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    A landscape approach used in designing a representative reserve system for the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
    (1996) Loubser, David Ian; Lombard, M; Barry, Michael
    This study was undertaken in order to propose a representative system of reserves which would protect the biodiversity within the study area. A technique based on the "Gap Analysis Programme" was used. This involved the determination of the representativeness of natural landscapes within the existing reserves, the identification of species richness, endemism and conservation status hotspots. Rules were formulated according to a broad conservation strategy. Once the rules had been set a reserve selection algorithm was run. Four scenarios were looked at: the first scenario merely modelled a reserve system based on the rule that 10% of the landscape should be protected; the second looked at protecting 10% of each landscape, but the proposed system had to include the important species hotspots; the third scenario proposed a reserve system based on the 10% rule which included all existing reserves; and the final scenario included the hotspots, all existing reserves and met the 10% protected landscape rule.
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    A model for the evaluation of location based services in South Africa based on soft systems methodology and the process-outcomes model
    (2005) Wiid, Sean; Barry, Michael
    The increasing pervasiveness of technology has led to questions concerning the contribution and value of technology, and to what extent a particular innovation, invention, product, theory or technological development benefits society. The attempt to answer these questions has led to the development of evaluation methodologies to provde a structured approach to this process of inquiry. In most cases, evaluation methodology can be classified as either fundamentally holistic or reductionist in its approach. This dissertation argues that both holistic and reductionist thinking need to be applied to the evaluation of complex phenomena, and develops theory in order to achieve this. In the context of evaluating Location Based Services (LBS) in South Africa, a conceptual framework was developed to combine the holistic, systems thinking apporach of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and the reductionist approach of metrics and the Process Outcomes model.
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    Using LIS in the development of land tenure arrangements in communal property associations : a study of Algeria
    (2000) Roux, Lani Maré; Barry, Michael
    This thesis investigates the contribution of land information systems (LIS), integrated with video evidence, to improving security of tenure during the creation of a communal property association (CPA). To this end a case study was conducted of the Algeria community, a community in the process of creating a CPA.