Browsing by Author "Motala, Siddique"

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    A camcorder-based rapid mapping system
    (1997) Motala, Siddique
    This thesis reports on investigations into the potential of off-the-shelf camcorder imagery for rapid mapping. Video technology was chosen as it has the advantage of continuous image capture, enabling quick acquisition times in environments where access may be limited. Video imagery is also very low cost compared to metric photography, and has the advantage of on-line control of the photography, which, for applications with low to medium mapping accuracies, make it an attractive and cheap alternative, well suited for application in developing countries and dynamic environments. Two case studies are presented. In the first, Hi-8 camcorder imagery was acquired for informal settlement mapping under the UrbanModeler project being run by the Department of Geomatics at the University of Cape Town. The informal settlement of Marconi Beam in Milnerton, Cape Town serves as an application for the UrbanModeler project, whose objective is the development of image exploitation tools for automating the geo-spatial modeling of urban settlements, primarily informal (or "squatter") settlements. Rapid production of georeferenced mosaics from the video imagery is reported on, and these mosaics were used in conjunction with a GIS database of Marconi Beam. This GIS database, containing an inventory of shacks and occupants of the settlement, would ultimately help in relocating the occupants of Marconi Beam to Joe Slovo Park, a low cost formal housing settlement nearby. An analysis of the mapping potential of this data source is made with respect to image interpretability, and three-dimensional point positioning accuracy. The second case study lies in the terrestrial photogrammetry domain, in a joint project between the Department of Geomatics and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cape Town. In June 1996, the fieldwork for the photogrammetric mapping of a newly discovered shipwreck was carried out. A Sony Hi-8 camcorder was used for video image capture, and control for the imagery was obtained by a combination of GPS and theodolite survey. Retroreflective targets were placed along the surface of the wreck to tie the imagery together. This thesis reports on the mapping of one of the sections of the shipwreck, and discusses the use of video imagery for the production of surface maps.
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    The development of counter-surveying as a methodology to document forced removals: case studies of District Six and Die Vlakte
    (2025) Mokomane, Tlotliso; Motala, Siddique
    Nearly 30 years post-apartheid, many victims of forced removals remain displaced, their sense of place and identity fractured. The methodology of counter-surveying, though underdeveloped, has been proposed to identify sites of forced removals and engage with affected communities. According to Motala and Bozalek (2022), counter-surveying is a method that uses traditional surveying techniques to temporarily mark and engage with demolished sites, particularly in the contexts of dispossession and forced removals. This study further develops, enhances and describes the counter-surveying methodology through an interdisciplinary approach, integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS), archival research, site visits, interviews, and hauntology to map forced removal sites. It seeks to document the lives and spaces of those displaced, asking: How can counter-surveying be optimised to capture and document the stories of forced removals? The research centres on ex-residents of District Six and Die Vlakte as they revisit the locations where their former homes once stood. It highlights the danger of oversimplifying the complex ordeals faced by a group and the erasure of individual experiences. The analysis of interviews with ex-residents reveals significant work needed towards reparations for victims of forced removals. Additionally, the results emphasise the importance of ‘exact place' and using non-traditional methods to engage with the past, preserving, and giving life to historical events. This research aims to provide a framework for addressing historical injustices through an innovative methodological approach highlighting the ongoing impacts of past injustices.
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    Using Multi-criteria Evaluation and GIS for Flood Risk Analysis in Informal Settlements of Cape Town: The Case of Graveyard Pond
    (2013) Musungu, Kevin; Motala, Siddique; Smit, Julian
    Rural-urban migrations have contributed to the steady increase in the population of Cape Town. Many of the migrants have settled in informal settlements because they cannot afford to rent or buy decent housing. Many of these settlements are however located on marginal and often poorly drained land. Consequently, most of these settelements are prone to flooding after prolonged rainfall. Current flood risk management techniques implemented by the authorities of the Cape Town City Council (CTCC) are not designed to support informal settlements. In fact, owing to a lack of information about the levels of flood risk within the individual settlements, either the CTCC has often been uninvolved or has implemented inappropriate remedies within such settlements. This study sought to investigate a methodology that the CTCC could use to improve flood risk assessment. Using a case study of an informal settlement in Cape Town, this study proposed a methodology of integration of community-based information into a Geographic Information System that can be used by the CTCC for risk assessment. In addition, this research demonstrated the use of a participatory multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) for risk assessment. A questionnaire was used to collect community-based information. The shack outlines of the informal settlement were digitised using CTCC aerial imagery. The questionnaires were captured using spreadsheets and linked to the corresponding shacks in the GIS. Risk weights were subsequently calculated using pairwise comparisons for each household, based on their responses to the questionnaires. The risk weights were then mapped in the GIS to show the spatial disparities in risk.