OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Del Mistro, Romano"

Browsing by Author "Del Mistro, Romano"

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Open Access
Application of survival analysis modeling in water pipelines failure in Cape Town
(2012) Abdelgadir, Salma ME; Del Mistro, Romano
The statistical modelling of water pipelines failure has been widely adopted by water authorities in their pursuit to proactively manage their aging water distribution systems. In this thesis failures of the 100 mm FC pipes in Cape Town City have been modelled by using survival analysis techniques. Estimates of the Mean Cumulative Function (MCF) have been used to predict the failure rates of pipes in the network.
Open Access
Assessing the sustainability of Urban Residential Development: An effects based rating
(2009) Dick, Courtney; Del Mistro, Romano
The effects of historically inefficient urban design have begun to create small negative consequences in urban environments. The aggregation of these small scale changes has led to increasingly recognised large scale impacts. These include, amongst others, climate change, decreasing species diversity, decreasing human health and increasing social inequalities. As the concentrated centres of human activity, urban environments are responsible for the majority of the negative impacts noted. It is not certain to what extent the environmental sinks can assimilate the externalised waste products of the city before a point is reached where the imbalance cannot be corrected. This dissertation investigates what causes the urban environment to operate inefficiently and attempts to provide a manner in which this inefficiency may be recognised and corrected. The particular focus is on mixed income urban residential development in Cape Town, South Africa. This work attempts to develop the theory that effect-based systems of assessment are more useful than traditional technique-based assessment. This may be due to the perceived ease of creation, application and flexibility of effects-based systems. The methodology for this process takes two distinct paths. Firstly it uses extensive literature review to identify urban problems, discuss ideal outcomes and critically assess the systems which attempt to judge these outcomes. Secondly, it attempts to create the new assessment system based on the examination of the evidence from critical review. The success of the processes used in the creation of this assessment system is an important outcome. The assessment system created is tested by applying it to a real development situated in the greater Cape Town area. The findings of this work show that effects-based assessment systems are able to be created and successfully applied. Importantly, it also shows that the methods used to create the system are valid and may be up-scaled in future studies. This work concludes with a detailed review of the outcomes and a set of recommendations for future applications and improvements.
Open Access
Assessment of passengers satisfaction with bus rapid transit: the case of Dar Es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART)
(2019) Mwatawala, Shabani Walad; Del Mistro, Romano
This study was carried out in the city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in June 2018. Its main objective was to investigate how the current DART services are delivered with a view of improving urban transport in the city of Dar as Salaam. In all, 260 city residents using DART services were interviewed on their perception of the quality of services on offer. The respondents were selected using the convenience sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The study findings show that the majority of DART users are generally satisfied with services provided. About 96.9 per cent of the interviewed passengers consider continuing using DART services. Service quality attributes, which were perceived with high levels of satisfaction, include security at stations (perceived as adequate by 33.6 per cent and average by 57.8 per cent of interviewed passengers). Another is travel time (88.3 per cent of the passengers were satisfied with the travel time) and shelter (perceived as adequate by 49.6 per cent and average by 38 per cent of the passengers interviewed). The fares charged were reported as affordable by 72.7 per cent of the passengers. Breakdown of buses was reported as a rare occurrence. Critical shortfall perceived by the passengers includes discomfort on the buses due to overcrowding which is a result of too few buses in operation. To reduce congestion, passengers suggested that the number of buses offering the services should be increased. Some 56.8 per cent of the passengers indicated to have failed to arrive at their respective destinations within the planned time. To address this, passengers suggested that timetables should be provided to enable them to plan their journeys and thus arrive within the planned time. Other challenges the passengers faced while using DART services include lack of service when it rains heavily, long queues at ticket booths, and scrambling in the process of boarding the buses. The study findings have not shown a difference in the levels of satisfaction between male and female passengers. Significant difference in the levels of satisfaction has been observed among passengers aged above 45 years in relation to comfort on the buses and the arrival time. Furthermore, the study found that the public was not invited to contribute views on the project. Thus, the public should be invited to contribute their opinions when undertaking future phases of DART. In addition, the current phase of DART should be improved by considering the passengers’ opinions as established by this study.
Open Access
An assessment of the capability of the iSLP model of delivery to meet the poverty needs of the Cape Metropolitan Area
(2005) Ntuli, Bongani; Del Mistro, Romano
The Integrated Serviced Land Project (iSLP) was conceived in 1991 following a spate of incidents of violence in Crossroads and its surroundings in the 1980's and early 1990's. The discussion held at the time between all stakeholders resolved that an end to the violence in the affected areas could only be achieved through the implementation of a holistic development project that sought to provide housing and the lacking community facilities to the affected communities over a period of five years. The prime objective of the project was to provide serviced sites to poor families who with time would establish themselves in those sites and utilise support mechanisms on offer inclusive of housing and a wide range of community facilities.
Open Access
A comparative study of public transport systems in developing countries
(2013) Roux, Yolandi; Del Mistro, Romano
The large and mostly impoverished populations of African cities are dependent on public transport to provide them with accessibility and mobility. In most African cities, private vehicle ownership and traffic is increasing rapidly, scheduled or formal public transport systems are declining or have disappeared altogether and the unscheduled or informal Para-transit systems that have replaced them are unsafe and offer a low quality service. The problem with public transport planning in most African cities is that public transport is either poorly planned or not planned at all. This is due to the fact that there is a lack of adequate information and planning framework to guide decision makers and that they either select inappropriate systems based on those used in developed countries or allow private operators to decide. It is the responsibility of government to ensure that public transport systems meet the needs of the communities they serve and political decision-makers urgently need to make the right decisions for the development of public transport. Precise and relevant performance indicators and statistics will give a clear overview of the public transport systems of cities and will help to monitor the benefits of implementing efficient public transport systems. There is therefore a need to develop a methodology to assess public transport systems in African cities. The main aim of this study is to describe, discuss, and compare the public transport systems in developing countries. The methodology will be based on a set of performance indicators and related benchmarks that can be used to evaluate the public transport system of a city against certain goals. This study also describes the current existing public transport systems and their characteristics, as well as findings on the application of the methodology in Cape Town, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. The literature review aims to identify the characteristics of public transport systems and to develop a methodology that can be used to describe, discuss and compare public systems. It is based on studies that have been done on the characteristics of public transport systems. The first part of the literature review examines various studies and papers on public transport to determine which components of the public transport system are important and is followed by a more detailed discussion on the characteristics of these components.
Open Access
The cost to employers of limiting the catchment size from which they employ their staff. Viola Proctor.
(2013) Proctor, Viola; Del Mistro, Romano
Apartheid has left an urban legacy with excessive commuting distances for low income workers. Climate Change and Peak Oil will cause transport costs to rise. „Low carbon‟ solutions are not viable in developing cities such as Cape Town, where most workers already use public transport and it is unlikely that governments will have the resources to further subsidise increasing transport costs. Consequently, a proposal to restructure the city to reduce travel distance between work, home and recreational activities will assist the poor but also mitigate climate change. Cities in developing countries are expected to double in population over the next 25 years. This provides the opportunity to plan new settlements to reduce the dependency on motorised travel. This study seeks to explore one specific dimension of the costs and benefits of city restructuring: the perceived costs and benefits to employers of reduced employee catchments and whether there is “a point where increasing the size of the catchment of employees does not produce additional benefits to the employer.” Interviews were conducted with 47 managers of large Cape Town companies. A stated preference questionnaire was compiled to identify the trade-offs that employers make when faced with recruitment decisions. The costs were presented as a proportion of the company‟s current recruitment pool, the average distance travelled by employees per day, the change in environmental impact (CO2 emissions) of staff commuting and the financial cost of employee travel to the business (comprised of transport subsidies and carbon tax).Employees were divided into two groups. “Level 1” were low to lower-middle income staff (earning R3 000 – R10 000 per month) and “Level 2” were middle income staff (earning R10 001 – R30 000 per month). A Multinomial Logit (MNL) model was used to analyse the Level 1 and Level 2 data separately in terms of employers‟ utility. Results showed that an inflection occurs in employers‟ perceived value of catchment size and indicates a possible range at which this occurs. For employers recruiting Level 1, this inflection occurs at approximately 50% of the current recruitment pool and 15km radius. For Level 2 staff, this point of inflection would be approximately 55% of their current recruitment pool and 15km radius. Employers also emphasised the importance of low cost public transport to their business. As travel costs inevitably rise, reducing travel distances may become the only viable and long term solution. To become a viable solution, employers‟ fears must be understood and overcome. Denser and more integrated settlements around business hubs need to be presented as a win-win for environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Open Access
The derivation of a set of rates that can be used to determine the operation and maintenance cost of municipal engineering services in residential areas in the Western Cape
(2006) October, Carl Samuel; Del Mistro, Romano
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-130).
Open Access
The impact of the current public sector procurement system on the consulting engineering industry
(2018) Moos, Moegamat Fatgie; Del Mistro, Romano
The development of infrastructure in our country is seen as key to eliminating poverty and reducing inequality. This is confirmed by the establishment of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Council who will coordinate the implementation of the 18 Strategic Infrastructure Projects as part of government's programme. For this infrastructure development programme to be successful, competent engineering professionals are needed. The engineering industry is currently in crisis due mainly to the effect the current public sector procurement system has had on it. The procuring of consulting engineering services is currently done primarily by competitive tendering where price is the deciding factor in the award of tenders. Tenders are evaluated solely on the basis of price and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment requirements (also known as preference requirements). The criteria for expertise, experience and capacity are only used as qualifying criteria after which price and preference are used for the evaluation. This process is irrespective of the scale of the project or the skills required. The processes are governed by legislation such as the Public Finance Management Act, Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act. All public sector institutions and public entities are therefore governed by this and must ensure compliance. There has however been an acknowledgement on the part of government that the current system needs to be reviewed. National Treasury published the Public Sector Supply Chain Management Review in February 2015. This frank look at the current Supply Chain Management system highlighted the shortfalls and what is required to be done to improve the system. The important acknowledgement out of this review is that construction procurement is different to normal procurement and different systems should apply. Despite the initiatives launched by government the current procurement system for consulting engineering services remains unchanged and primarily price driven. Respondents in the private and public sectors were surveyed for their views on the current state of procurement. From the research it is clear that respondents both in the private and public sectors indicate that competition based on price should be changed. Due to low fees tendered consultants no longer have the luxury of seconding senior experienced staff to projects for extended periods of time. Training, development and mentoring of graduate staff has also become less and firms have limited ability to reinvest for growth. Public sector clients' perceptions also indicate that consultants' quality of service has deteriorated. In order to arrest the current situation the study recommends that clarity be sought on the relevant sections of the constitution dealing with procurement. Once this is achieved the National Treasury and the National Department of Trade and Industry should be engaged to get the applicable legislation amended to accommodate a quality and cost based selection system and that takes into account the scale and complexity of projects. This will lead to consultants getting paid fees commensurate with the effort required to execute projects thereby allowing consultants to reinvest in their businesses that will ensure its longevity. This will contribute positively to the infrastructure development required to eliminate poverty, reduce inequality and grow the economy.
Open Access
Investigating the relationships between land use characteristics, public transport network features and financial viability at a corridor scale
(2016) Cooke, Sean; Behrens, Roger; Del Mistro, Romano
The successful integration of public transport and land development planning is likely to be central in determining how effectively the cities in the 'global south' manage the mounting pressures from rapid urbanization, population growth and rising income inequality. While a number of Sub-Saharan African cities, particularly in South Africa, have commenced large scale public transport reform, little research has been undertaken to date on appropriate public transport-land use integration in these contexts. As a result, both of the initial phases of BRT corridor implementation, in Cape Town and Johannesburg, have been found to be financially unsustainable in their current urban forms. The major decisions regarding the design of land use environments and public transport networks, in the context of rapidly developing cities, still occur without due consideration for each other. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between land use characteristics, network features and viable public transport services in the South African context and at a corridor scale. The study utilises a public transport corridor operating cost model that was created to simulate the effects of variation in four land use characteristics (population density, density distribution, land use mix and destination accessibility) and two public transport network features (mode technology and service configuration) on the financial viability of services. The corridor operating cost model consists of cascading land use, transport and costing sub-models for which the output of one supplies the input of the next. Gross population density was found to have the weakest causal relationship with financial viability. Density distribution was shown to have a very significant effect on the average passenger trip length, and financial viability as a result. When the majority of the population is articulated adjacent to the public transport trunk corridors, at a higher density, far fewer inefficient feeder services are required. Additionally, the chosen non-motorised transport mode for those accessing the trunk service directly had a considerable effect as the higher speed of bicycles increases the catchment area within which a feeder service is usually not required. Bicycle-based density articulation was able to halve the total cost of the public transport network in one of the cases, relative to the conventional pedestrian-based variety. Land use mix had a strong connection to public transport financial viability, through substantial effects on peak passenger volume. The final land use characteristic, destination accessibility, was represented by distance to the Central Business District (CBD), as well as dictating the length of the transport corridor. It was found to have a substantial influence on financial viability and affordability, especially in the context of a distance-based fare system. Passenger volume is the key determinant of mode technology choice and is influenced by population density, as well as the other three land use characteristics to a lesser degree. Low population densities intuitively favour smaller vehicles, while high densities or economies of scale promote the use of suburban rail and other capital intensive modes. Long public transport corridors with unsupportive land use environments favour larger vehicles, such as the BRT and non-BRT articulated bus modes. Fewer of these large vehicles are required to meet the demand and they can efficiently operate over longer distances than their smaller competitors. Whereas, short corridors and supportive land use environments favour the space priority that the conventional and articulated BRT modes possess. The higher speed that the segregated lanes allow the vehicles to reach over the shorter route distance also decreases vehicle requirements due to the higher rate of trips per hour per vehicle. The trunk-feeder and direct service configurations reacted similarly to the changes in land use characteristics, when the optimum modes are chosen to minimise costs. The results of the study suggest that a detailed land use development plan is necessary for each major public transport corridor, with unique targets for population density, density articulation and land use mix. It also demonstrated that, in the South African context, to achieve a high public transport modal split and sustainable public transport service requires high population densities, high articulation, mixed land uses, small corridor catchment areas and minimal feeder services.
Open Access
An investigation of the perceived consequences to employees of reducing employment related trip end choices in Cape Town
(2014) Tamuka Moyo, Hazvinei Tsitsi; Del Mistro, Romano
In South African, the bench mark for transport expenditure is 10 of monthly income. In the global South “transport poverty” is not a foreign concept considering that most individuals use more than 10 of their income on transport. The driver of these high transport costs is the positioning of economic activities relative to residential areas. Additionally, concerns over Peak Oil’s impact on fuel prices means transport will become even more unaffordable in the future. Through a literature review, this thesis understands the precariousness of transport costs and how they are exacerbated by long commuting distances between places of residence and job locations. This sets the foundation of this thesis and helps in understanding how city structures and travel behaviour are weaved together. This thesis addresses the issue of affordable transport by arguing that providing individuals with a large catchment area from which they can choose jobs is not always beneficial. It builds an argument by borrowing from the “too much” choice theory which posits that the availability of many options does not result in benefits and that there is a point of sufficiency when providing choice. It further argues that access to a larger catchment area in job search is accompanied by a decrease in utility. To test this hypothesis, a stated preference survey was carried among 400 individuals within the Cape Town area in the low and lower middle income groups. From various literatures, it is posited that these individuals have limited options in terms of transport flexibility, in that respect they are identified as the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and Peak oil.
Open Access
Quantifying the value of non-user benefits of improving water and sanitation in informal settlements
(2013) Kobel, Dorothy; Del Mistro, Romano; Armitage, Neil
This study investigated the value among society of the benefits of improving water and sanitation in informal settlements. The benefits of improving water supply and sanitation have been widely researched, both at a societal and at household level. Why then have the efforts to increase access to services over the last 30 years not achieved the desired results? The value of these benefits, measured through assessments of willingness to pay by the users, is commonly used in investment appraisals as indicators of project viability.

Browsing by Author "Del Mistro, Romano"

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