scholarly journals Towards an automated monitoring of human settlements in South Africa using high resolution SPOT satellite imagery

2015 ◽  
Vol XL-7/W3 ◽  
pp. 1389-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kemper ◽  
N. Mudau ◽  
P. Mangara ◽  
M. Pesaresi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Image Features ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Image Feature ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Spot 5

Urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa are growing at an unprecedented pace. Much of this growth is taking place in informal settlements. In South Africa more than 10% of the population live in urban informal settlements. South Africa has established a National Informal Settlement Development Programme (NUSP) to respond to these challenges. This programme is designed to support the National Department of Human Settlement (NDHS) in its implementation of the Upgrading Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) with the objective of eventually upgrading all informal settlements in the country. Currently, the NDHS does not have access to an updated national dataset captured at the same scale using source data that can be used to understand the status of informal settlements in the country. <br><br> This pilot study is developing a fully automated workflow for the wall-to-wall processing of SPOT-5 satellite imagery of South Africa. The workflow includes an automatic image information extraction based on multiscale textural and morphological image features extraction. The advanced image feature compression and optimization together with innovative learning and classification techniques allow a processing of the SPOT-5 images using the Landsat-based National Land Cover (NLC) of South Africa from the year 2000 as low-resolution thematic reference layers as. The workflow was tested on 42 SPOT scenes based on a stratified sampling. The derived building information was validated against a visually interpreted building point data set and produced an accuracy of 97 per cent. Given this positive result, is planned to process the most recent wall-to-wall coverage as well as the archived imagery available since 2007 in the near future.

scholarly journals Access to improved sanitation facilities in low-income informal settlements of East African cities

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Okurut ◽  
R. N. Kulabako ◽  
P. Abbott ◽  
J. M. Adogo ◽  
J. Chenoweth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
East African ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan

Throughout Africa, the population in urban areas is increasing rapidly, often exceeding the capacity and the resources of the cities and towns to accommodate the people. In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of urban dwellers live in informal settlements served by inadequate sanitation facilities. These settlements present unique challenges to the provision of sustainable and hygienic sanitation, and there is insufficient information on access to improved facilities. This paper reports findings of a study undertaken in low-income informal settlements using a mixed methods approach to assess access to sanitation and identify the barriers to household uptake of improved sanitation facilities. More than half of the respondents (59.7%) reported using sanitation facilities that are included in the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme definition of improved sanitation. However, a high proportion of these facilities did not provide access to basic sanitation. Less than 5% of all the respondents did not report problems related to sustainable access to basic sanitation. The findings highlight the urgent need to develop specific and strategic interventions for each low-income informal settlement, to upscale the sustainable access and use of improved sanitation in urban centres.

scholarly journals Neuropsychological functioning and cognitive reserve in newly HIV diagnosed antiretroviral-naïve South African adults from peri-urban and informal settlements

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260260
Author(s):  
Kalpesh Narsi ◽  
Andrew Tomita ◽  
Suvira Ramlall
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Psychomotor Speed

Despite lower incidences of HIV-associated dementia due to antiretroviral therapy, neuropsychological impairment (NPI) remains a persistent challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Improving cognitive reserve (CR) can mitigate NPI, but there are few investigations on neuropsychological (NP) performance, and its association with CR in newly diagnosed ART-naïve HIV-positive individuals to inform early treatment strategies. A comprehensive battery of tests were administered to assess various NP domains (International HIV Dementia Scale [for memory, motor speed, psychomotor speed], Digit Span Test [for attention], Action Fluency Test [for language] and Clock Drawing Test [for executive/visuospatial function]), and CR (using Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire) among 211 newly diagnosed ART-naïve HIV-positive participants from two clinics that serve peri-urban and informal settlement communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Regression models were fitted to assess the association between NP performance and CR controlling for socioeconomic and clinical factors. Test results revealed high levels of impairment across NP domains: language (96.7%), memory and psychomotor speed (82.5%), concentration (17.5%), executive function (15.2%) and visuo-spatial function (3.3%). Low CR and educational attainment were the only factors consistently associated with poor NP performance based on regression. High levels of impairment were found in certain NP domains in a relatively young group of newly diagnosed ART-naïve HIV-positive individuals. Residents of peri-urban and informal settlements face multitude of complex challenges in South Africa. An early multilevel intervention targeting clinical- (e.g. CR) and structural-level challenges (e.g. access to education) is needed for mitigating HIV-associated NPI and promoting long-term healthy living.

Community-Centred Infrastructure Design Process for Resilience Building in South African Informal Settlements: The “Genius of Space” Solid Waste and Greywater Infrastructure Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lauren Hermanus ◽  
Sean Andrew
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Due to a lack of adequate water and sanitation infrastructure, growing, unplanned urban settlements in South Africa and elsewhere have been linked to pollution of critical river systems. The same dynamics undermine local resilience, understood as the capacity to adapt and develop in response to changes, persistent social and ecological risks, and disasters. Water and sanitation challenges undermine resilience by causing and compounding risks to individuals, and to household and community health and livelihoods, in a complex context in which communities and local governments have limited capacity and resources to respond appropriately. Household and community resilience in informal settlements is drawing increasing policy focus, given the persistence of these kinds of neighbourhoods in cities and towns in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa, in particular. This case considers whether bottom-up responses that combine public and private sector resources, including community participation, and use an interdisciplinary approach can support the production of novel resilience-fostering solutions. This article presents an analysis of the case of Genius of Space waste and wastewater management infrastructure in the Western Cape, South Africa. While the process has been imperfect and slow to show results, this analysis reflects on the gains, lessons and potential for replication that this work has produced. The Genius of Space approach adds to a growing area of practice-based experimentation focussed on incrementalism and adaptive development practices in urban environments, particularly in developing countries.

Exploring Just Sustainability in Re-Blocking Intervention in a Johannesburg Informal Settlement

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 782-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olumuyiwa Bayode Adegun
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Urban Housing ◽  
Material Distribution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Just Sustainability

Addressing intertwined socio-economic and environmental problems in informal urban areas underscores the need for just sustainability. The co-production of urban housing provides a useful domain to link issues related to sustainability with social and environmental justice. Using the example of an informal settlement re-blocking project, this paper shows how co-production as an approach might or might not promote principles ingrained in just sustainability. The study relied on data collected through semi-structured interviews with residents and key informants as well as transect walks within the settlement. The case shows that working towards just sustainability is not straight-forward. It demands efforts that navigate, with foresight rather than hindsight, the dynamics in multi-scalar contexts into which informal settlements are embedded. Social and institutional structures, processes and relationships producing and reproducing material distribution are crucial to entrenching the just sustainability praxis.

scholarly journals Approaches to Addressing Informal Settlement Problems: A Case Study of District 13 in the Kabul city, Afghanistan.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maqsood Rezayee ◽  
Gabriel Hoh Teck Ling ◽  
Siti Hajar Misnan
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Land Readjustment ◽  
Post War ◽  
Basic Infrastructure

Afghanistan witnessed rapid urbanization in recent decades due to the post-war recovery process. When the war ended in 2001 by fall of Taliban regime, most Afghans refugees returned to urban areas of Afghanistan, especially in Kabul city. Moreover, the rapid urbanization, migration from rural areas, and population growth impacted on Kabul city with the manifestation of informal settlement. It is acknowledged that the residents of informal settlements suffer social, spatial, and economic exclusion from the benefit and opportunity of an urban environment. Furthermore, the residents of informal settlements experience disadvantages by geographical marginalization, shortage of basic infrastructure, improper governance framework, vulnerability into the effect of poor environment, and natural disaster. With all the above, the problems of informal settlements are considered challenges for and informal residents. Thus, it is a dire need to tackle and overcome problems of informal settlements. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the most proper approaches to addressing informal settlement problems in District13 of Kabul city. In order to reach this aim, interviews and a questionnaire survey have been conducted with government officials and local inhabitants. And the finding of this paper indicates that through the resident&rsquo;s preferences, government capacity, and District 13 physical condition there are three approaches which can be implemented and adopted for improvement of informal settlement in District 13 of Kabul city, which is settlement upgrading as the first option, the land readjustment as the second option and urban redevelopment as the last option.

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 Policy implementation considerations for basic services: A South African urban sanitation case

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4 October) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Taing
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Basic Services ◽  
Policymaking And Implementation ◽  
The Republic

The Republic of South Africa formulated numerous progressive laws, regulations and strategies from 1994 to 2008 to support the provision of free basic sanitation access to the poor by 2014. The State has yet to achieve this objective in urban areas – ostensibly due to the poor municipal execution of national policy. This paper challenges this viewpoint, as it ignores policy weaknesses and overlooks the influence of non-municipal actors in service delivery. An assessment of national policy and implementation in South Africa’s second largest city (Cape Town) indicated that irreconcilable differences between municipal officials, residents and advocates’ interpretations of broadly-framed national policy, as well as policy gaps specific to servicing informal settlements and providing shared sanitation, contributed to the municipality’s failure to achieve policy objectives. The actors’ differences and policy shortcomings necessitated municipal policy reformulation according to the ‘lived’ and ‘practical’ realities of servicing informal settlements. The findings suggest a disproportionate focus on turning national policy into practice – for this viewpoint misses how local actors’ perspectives and current practices can shape policy. Understanding, accepting and addressing the interplay between policymaking and implementation can contribute to more constructive means of effectively delivering sanitation in South Africa.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics associated with self-reported diagnosed diabetes mellitus in adults aged 50+ years in Ghana and South Africa: results from the WHO-SAGE wave 1

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000449
Author(s):  
Fitsum Eyayu Tarekegne ◽  
Mojgan Padyab ◽  
Julia Schröders ◽  
Jennifer Stewart Williams
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
South Africa ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Behavioral Characteristics ◽  
Sampling Weights

ObjectiveThe objective is to identify and describe the sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of adults, aged 50 years and over, who self-reported having been diagnosed and treated for diabetes mellitus (DM) in Ghana and South Africa.Research design and methodsThis is a cross-sectional study based on the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) wave 1. Information on sociodemographic factors, health states, risk factors and chronic conditions is captured from questionnaires administered in face-to-face interviews. Self-reported diagnosed and treated DM is confirmed through a ‘yes’ response to questions regarding 1 having previously been diagnosed with DM, and 2 having taken insulin or other blood sugar lowering medicines. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions test associations between candidate variables and DM status. Analyses include survey sampling weights. The variance inflation factor statistic tested for multicollinearity.ResultsIn this nationally representative sample of adults aged 50 years and over in Ghana, after adjusting for the effects of sex, residence, work status, body mass index, waist-hip and waist-height ratios, smoking, alcohol, fruit and vegetable intake and household wealth, WHO-SAGE survey respondents who were older, married, had higher education, very high-risk waist circumference measurements and did not undertake high physical activity, were significantly more likely to report diagnosed and treated DM. In South Africa, respondents who were older, lived in urban areas and had high-risk waist circumference measurements were significantly more likely to report diagnosed and treated DM.ConclusionsCountries in sub-Saharan Africa are challenged by unprecedented ageing populations and transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases such as DM. Information on those who are already diagnosed and treated needs to be combined with estimates of those who are prediabetic or, as yet, undiagnosed. Multisectoral approaches that include socioculturally appropriate strategies are needed to address diverse populations in SSA countries.

Informal Settlement Characteristics in a Rural Land Restitution Case: Elandskloof, South Africa

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-103
Author(s):  
Michael Barry ◽  
David Mayson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Land Resources ◽  
Rural Land ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
Land Administration ◽  
Land Restitution

Research in informal settlements in South Africa has shown that conflict is inherent between groups within a settlement and between the broader community and the land administration authorities. In general, groups and sub-groups continually form, reform and dissolve within informal settlements. Moreover, the internal rules that a community creates relating to land tenure tend to be manipulated by sub-groups as they compete for land, resources and power. Internal rules are not static but are subject to continual change. Similar characteristics were observed in Elandskloof, a rural land restitution case in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document