scholarly journals Garden footprint area and water use of gated communities in South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (2 April) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques L du Plessis ◽  
Ashley J Knox ◽  
Heinz E Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Gated Communities ◽  
Gated Community ◽  
Plot Area ◽  
Outdoor Water Use ◽  
Footprint Area ◽  
The Impact

  Gated community homes in South Africa are popular amongst property buyers in urban environments such as cities and metropoles due to the increased security and lifestyle improvements offered. Garden design and layout requirements are prescribed in architectural guidelines compiled by the homeowners associations of these communities. Garden footprint area in gated community homes is of importance to researchers and planners, because of the influence on water use. This study used a quantitative approach to evaluate the spatial data of garden footprint area as a percentage of total plot area for 1 813 gated community homes in different regions of South Africa. The research reviewed how garden footprint area is prescribed and how it is applied in gated community homes. The impact of garden footprint area on water use was also analysed. The results were compared to relevant information lifted from specific architectural design guidelines developed for each gated community. Data from 11 gated communities were analysed and the average garden footprint area was found to be 36% of the total plot area. Gated community homes with a garden area smaller than 100 m2 were found to have limited influence on monthly water consumption, while the water use of gated community homes with a larger garden footprint area increased proportionally with garden footprint area. The seasonal fluctuation of water use is illustrative of garden irrigation and other outdoor water use. The results provided useful input for incorporation in outdoor water use modelling of gated community homes.

scholarly journals Garden footprint area and water use of gated communities in South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (2 April) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques L du Plessis ◽  
Ashley J Knox ◽  
Heinz E Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Gated Communities ◽  
Gated Community ◽  
Plot Area ◽  
Outdoor Water Use ◽  
Footprint Area ◽  
The Impact

  Gated community homes in South Africa are popular amongst property buyers in urban environments such as cities and metropoles due to the increased security and lifestyle improvements offered. Garden design and layout requirements are prescribed in architectural guidelines compiled by the homeowners associations of these communities. Garden footprint area in gated community homes is of importance to researchers and planners, because of the influence on water use. This study used a quantitative approach to evaluate the spatial data of garden footprint area as a percentage of total plot area for 1 813 gated community homes in different regions of South Africa. The research reviewed how garden footprint area is prescribed and how it is applied in gated community homes. The impact of garden footprint area on water use was also analysed. The results were compared to relevant information lifted from specific architectural design guidelines developed for each gated community. Data from 11 gated communities were analysed and the average garden footprint area was found to be 36% of the total plot area. Gated community homes with a garden area smaller than 100 m2 were found to have limited influence on monthly water consumption, while the water use of gated community homes with a larger garden footprint area increased proportionally with garden footprint area. The seasonal fluctuation of water use is illustrative of garden irrigation and other outdoor water use. The results provided useful input for incorporation in outdoor water use modelling of gated community homes.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATING THE USE OF 3D GEOVISUALIZATIONS FOR URBAN DESIGN IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT UPGRADING IN SOUTH AFRICA

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B2 ◽  
pp. 425-431
Author(s):  
V. Rautenbach ◽  
S. Coetzee ◽  
A. Çöltekin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Feasible Alternative ◽  
Visualization Design ◽  
The Impact

Informal settlements are a common occurrence in South Africa, and to improve in-situ circumstances of communities living in informal settlements, upgrades and urban design processes are necessary. Spatial data and maps are essential throughout these processes to understand the current environment, plan new developments, and communicate the planned developments. All stakeholders need to understand maps to actively participate in the process. However, previous research demonstrated that map literacy was relatively low for many planning professionals in South Africa, which might hinder effective planning. Because 3D visualizations resemble the real environment more than traditional maps, many researchers posited that they would be easier to interpret. Thus, our goal is to investigate the effectiveness of 3D geovisualizations for urban design in informal settlement upgrading in South Africa. We consider all involved processes: 3D modelling, visualization design, and cognitive processes during map reading. We found that procedural modelling is a feasible alternative to time-consuming manual modelling, and can produce high quality models. When investigating the visualization design, the visual characteristics of 3D models and relevance of a subset of visual variables for urban design activities of informal settlement upgrades were qualitatively assessed. The results of three qualitative user experiments contributed to understanding the impact of various levels of complexity in 3D city models and map literacy of future geoinformatics and planning professionals when using 2D maps and 3D models. The research results can assist planners in designing suitable 3D models that can be used throughout all phases of the process.

scholarly journals Optimising the Concentrating Solar Power Potential in South Africa through an Improved GIS Analysis

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3258
Author(s):  
Dries. Frank Duvenhage ◽  
Alan C. Brent ◽  
William H.L. Stafford ◽  
Dean Van Den Heever
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Generating Capacity ◽  
The Impact

Renewable Energy Technologies are rapidly gaining uptake in South Africa, already having more than 3900 MW operational wind, solar PV, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and biogas capacity. CSP has the potential to become a leading Renewable Energy Technology, as it is the only one inherently equipped with the facility for large-scale thermal energy storage for increased dispatchability. There are many studies that aim to determine the potential for CSP development in certain regions or countries. South Africa has a high solar irradiation resource by global standards, but few studies have been carried out to determine the potential for CSP. One such study was conducted in 2009, prior to any CSP plants having been built in South Africa. As part of a broader study to determine the impact of CSP on South Africa’s water resources, a geospatial approach was used to optimise this potential based on technological changes and improved spatial data. A tiered approach, using a comprehensive set of criteria to exclude unsuitable areas, was used to allow for the identification of suitable areas, as well as the modelling of electricity generation potential. It was found that there is more than 104 billion m2 of suitable area, with a total theoretical potential of more than 11,000 TWh electricity generating capacity.

Evaluating the impact of water conservation on fate of outdoor water use: A study in an arid region

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (8) ◽  
pp. 2061-2068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Qaiser ◽  
Sajjad Ahmad ◽  
Walter Johnson ◽  
Jacimaria Batista
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Outdoor Water Use ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Investigating wastewater flow from a gated community to disaggregate indoor and outdoor water use

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Du Plessis ◽  
B. Faasen ◽  
H. E. Jacobs ◽  
A. J. Knox ◽  
C. Loubser
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Gated Community ◽  
Residential Water Use ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Outdoor Water Use ◽  
Annual Water ◽  
End Use ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Abstract Disaggregating residential water use into components for indoor and outdoor use is useful in view of water services planning and demand management campaigns, where outdoor use is often the target of water restrictions. Previous research has shown that individual end-use events can be identified based on analysis of the flow pattern at the water meter, but such studies are relatively complex and expensive. A basic method to disaggregate the indoor–outdoor water use would be useful. In addressing this problem, a technique was employed in this study to disaggregate indoor–outdoor water use based on knowledge of the wastewater flow, with assumptions that link indoor use to wastewater flow. A controlled study site in a gated community, with small bore sewers, was selected to allow certain assumptions to be validated. The results provide insight into the monthly indoor and outdoor water use of homes in the study area, and show how wastewater flow could be used to assess outdoor use. Outdoor use was found to represent up to 66% of the total household water use in January, accounting for ∼58% of the total annual water use in the study area 2016.

scholarly journals Characterising the water use and hydraulic properties of riparian tree invasions: A case study of Populus canescens in South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2 April) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Ntshidi ◽  
MB Gush ◽  
S Dzikiti ◽  
DC Le Maitre
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Hydraulic Resistance ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Vapour Pressure Deficit ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
The Impact

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose a serious threat to the already limited water resources in dry countries like South Africa which are facing increasing water shortages. Much of South Africa is expected to get drier in future due to climate change. In addition, the future climatic conditions are also predicted to accelerate the rate at which IAPs will spread, due to favourable growing conditions, further disrupting the provision of goods and services. Previous studies on tree water use in South Africa focused on commercial forests of introduced genera mainly Pinus, Eucalyptus, and Acacia. This study sought to expand these observations by quantifying water use and its drivers in riparian Grey Poplar (Populus canescens) invasions in the Berg River catchment of South Africa. Whole tree hydraulic resistance ranged from ~ 1.4 MPa·h·g-1 for large trees to ~14.3 MPa·h·g-1 for the small ones. These resistances are higher than those found for poplars in temperate climates, suggesting substantial hydraulic constraints to transpiration. Daily peak transpiration varied from 5 to 6 L·tree-1 in small trees (~9.2 cm DBH) to between 35 and 40 L·tree-1 for large trees (~24 cm DBH). Stand-level transpiration peaked at ~4 mm·d-1 in summer (Jan–Feb). However, the annual total transpiration was only 338 mm due to the deciduous nature of the species and also the high hydraulic resistance in the transpiration stream. Daily transpiration was strongly correlated to solar radiation (R2 > 0.81) while the air vapour pressure deficit (VPD) constrained transpiration at high VPD values. We conclude that the water use of the poplar invasions is significantly lower than that of other riparian invasions. The impact of these invasions on the water resources is therefore likely quite low, warranting less priority in alien plant clearing operations aimed at salvaging water.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATING THE USE OF 3D GEOVISUALIZATIONS FOR URBAN DESIGN IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT UPGRADING IN SOUTH AFRICA

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B2 ◽  
pp. 425-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Rautenbach ◽  
S. Coetzee ◽  
A. Çöltekin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Feasible Alternative ◽  
Visualization Design ◽  
The Impact

Informal settlements are a common occurrence in South Africa, and to improve in-situ circumstances of communities living in informal settlements, upgrades and urban design processes are necessary. Spatial data and maps are essential throughout these processes to understand the current environment, plan new developments, and communicate the planned developments. All stakeholders need to understand maps to actively participate in the process. However, previous research demonstrated that map literacy was relatively low for many planning professionals in South Africa, which might hinder effective planning. Because 3D visualizations resemble the real environment more than traditional maps, many researchers posited that they would be easier to interpret. Thus, our goal is to investigate the effectiveness of 3D geovisualizations for urban design in informal settlement upgrading in South Africa. We consider all involved processes: 3D modelling, visualization design, and cognitive processes during map reading. We found that procedural modelling is a feasible alternative to time-consuming manual modelling, and can produce high quality models. When investigating the visualization design, the visual characteristics of 3D models and relevance of a subset of visual variables for urban design activities of informal settlement upgrades were qualitatively assessed. The results of three qualitative user experiments contributed to understanding the impact of various levels of complexity in 3D city models and map literacy of future geoinformatics and planning professionals when using 2D maps and 3D models. The research results can assist planners in designing suitable 3D models that can be used throughout all phases of the process.

scholarly journals Analysis of water use by gated communities in South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1 January) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques JL Du Plessis ◽  
Heinz E Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Gated Communities ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Telecommunication Services ◽  
Homeowners Associations ◽  
Annual Water ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Rainfall Region

Gated communities (hereafter GCs) are popular in many countries, including South Africa, because added security and lifestyle improvements are offered relative to homes built on freestanding properties. One of the key factors for the popularity of GCs is the availability of amenities to support the demands of the residents, such as gymnasia, walkways, golf courses, play parks and polo fields. Further benefits include the improved management of infrastructure such as telecommunication services, roads, water, sewer, electrical and stormwater assets. GCs are often governed by trustees or homeowners’ associations, responsible for the operation and the maintenance functions of the infrastructure, as well as implementing and adhering to legislation that pertains to the GC. As part of this study, the monthly water-use records of 2 888 GCs in 3 different South African cities were analysed. Water use was evaluated for each GC as a whole, and also per household in each case. The average number of homes per GC was 33 households/GC, with the smallest GC in the study sample containing 3 houses and the largest 524 houses. One of the study sites was in the winter rainfall region, while 2 sites were in the summer rainfall region. The average annual water use of individual households in each GC was plotted against current guidelines and was found to be relatively low. The average annual daily demands of all properties in the winter rainfall region was 0.63 kL/d, compared to 0.66 kL/d and 0.49 kL/d for the two study sites in the summer rainfall region. The results highlighted peculiarities in the water use of GCs that have not been reported on before, in particular the relatively low water use and the differences between GC homes’ water use in the various rainfall regions.

Some Reflections on Reparation in Post-Apartheid South Africa, using a Couple Therapy Intervention as a Microcosm of South African Society

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Hill ◽  
Sylvia Poss
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Couple Therapy ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Depressive Position ◽  
Central Hypothesis ◽  
Transference And Countertransference ◽  
Constructive Engagement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Therapy Intervention

The paper addresses the question of reparation in post-apartheid South Africa. The central hypothesis of the paper is that in South Africa current traumas or losses, such as the 2008 xenophobic attacks, may activate a ‘shared unconscious phantasy’ of irreparable damage inflicted by apartheid on the collective psyche of the South African nation which could block constructive engagement and healing. A brief couple therapy intervention by a white therapist with a black couple is used as a ‘microcosm’ to explore this question. The impact of an extreme current loss, when earlier losses have been sustained, is explored. Additionally, the impact of racial difference on the transference and countertransference between the therapist and the couple is explored to illustrate factors complicating the productive grieving and working through of the depressive position towards reparation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document