Browsing by Author "Khanyile, Samkelisiwe"

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    A GIS framework for the integrated conceptualisation, analysis and visualisation of Gauteng's complex historic and contemporary post-mining urban landscape
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Khanyile, Samkelisiwe; Esterhuysen, Amanda; Kelso, Clare
    This research study applies assemblage theory as a philosophical lens. It proposes a framework for integrating contemporary and historical landscape characteristics of post-mining and urban landscapes for an integrated conceptualisation, mapping, and analysis of Gauteng, South Africa. The study utilises a mixed methods approach, incorporating spatial and non-spatial (literature and survey) data of varying formats to identify landscape characteristics. Additionally, it applies three multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) and GIS mapping techniques, employing a simplified rationale to keep its complexity low. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was analysed using a thematic analysis. The literature and survey analysis findings were used to inform the development of a framework demonstrating the integration of Gauteng's post-mining and urban landscape characteristics using a fuzzy overlay, weighted overlay and random forest classification, along with an accuracy assessment of the mapped results. Based on the proposed framework, the mapped results' performance was evaluated through four methods: confusion error matrix, cross-evaluation, areal coverage comparison, and an image differencing assessment. The literature and survey analysis findings, used to inform the framework, reveal that the two landscapes consist of an assemblage of characteristics and highlight differences in the characterisation of post- mining and urban landscapes. Distinctions were also apparent between literature-derived characteristics and those identified from local experts. The local expert-derived characteristics demonstrate context- specific characteristics of Gauteng's post-mining and urban landscape. At the same time, those based on the literature emphasise a more distinct and separate portrayal of post-mining and urban landscape characteristics (pages 115-116). The characteristics identified from local experts were less conservative (pages 117-118). They included urban-related characteristics in the description of post-mining landscapes and mining-related characteristics in the description of urban landscapes, presenting some similarities in the characterisation of these two landscapes in Gauteng. Moreover, the findings from local experts also revealed that literature and other written or mapped work informed most definitions of post-mining and urban landscapes. The framework for integrating landscape characteristics (pages 121-123) was spatially represented through the three mapping methods, visually demonstrating several findings providing insight into the Gauteng landscape's uniqueness. First, it demonstrates that the differences in the characterisation of these landscapes also impact how they are spatially represented. The maps of post-mining and urban landscape characteristics based on the literature presented a similar pattern to the traditional mapping of mining and urban landscapes in Gauteng. These mapping techniques show the highest values across the mining belt and at the province's core. These findings highlight the influence of literature on the representation of these two landscapes, which is consistent with local experts' reports. In all three mapping methods, the maps generated from local expert characterisations of post-mining and urban landscapes presented a larger spatial footprint than those based on literature-derived characteristics. This distinction was attributed to incorporating additional post-mining and urban landscape characteristics in the maps based on expert input and applying the three mapping techniques - using representation methods not commonly used in mapping these landscapes. Second, the integrated maps of post-mining and urban landscape characteristics suggested a variance in the presence of post-mining and urban landscape characteristics across the province in the maps generated using fuzzy and weighted overlay techniques. This indicates that some parts of the province have a higher or lower presence of post-mining or urban characteristics (pages 125-132). These findings were visible in the maps generated from literature and local experts, indicating the diversity of both landscapes and the co-existence of post-mining and urban landscape characteristics in the local expert maps. This implies an intricate relationship between these landscapes, challenging the idea of them being strictly separate, as indicated in maps presenting characteristics identified from the literature. Furthermore, a closer inspection of the areas showing the intersection between post-mining and urban landscape characteristics also points towards the porosity of boundaries of these two landscapes and alevel of spatial overlap, organisation and arrangement, which are prevalent at varying levels (pages 164- 168). Third, the maps generated using literature-derived characteristics achieved higher accuracy scores, attributed to using reference data traditionally used to map the two landscapes under investigation. This reference data only comprised classes that characterised the physical mining and urban classes, consistent with those identified in the literature. Consequently, it lacked additional factors characterising the post-mining and urban landscape identified from local experts. The fuzzy overlay maps informed by literature demonstrated an accuracy exceeding 70% for post-mining and urban landscape characteristics. In comparison, those reported by local experts scored 64. The weighted overlay and random forest classification resulted in accuracy rates exceeding 50% for post-mining landscape characteristics maps, regardless of whether literature or expert-derived characteristics were used. Additionally, urban landscape characteristics maps achieved an accuracy of over 76%, regardless of the characteristics used to inform the mapping. These findings were attributed to the different mapping techniques employed, with fuzzy and weighted overlay using a gradual range scale, while random forest classification employed a binary scale. This highlights how different mapping methods affect the representation of space. Additionally, it demonstrates the versatility of these mapping techniques in mapping complex spaces such as post-mining and urban landscapes. In this study, the fuzzy overlay accuracies exceeded 60% for all maps and emerged as the most suitable choice for integrating landscape characteristics due to its ability to represent blurred and porous boundaries between Gauteng's post- mining and urban landscapes. In conclusion, the study challenges the notion of post-mining and urban landscapes as distinct landscapes, emphasising the importance of considering the varying levels of spatial intersection between these two landscapes. With the proposed framework and the alternative representation of these landscapes, including contextual information, this research provides insights into new conceptualisations of urban, post-mining landscapes and mineralised urbanisations as assemblages of different landscapes and characteristics with porous boundaries. This enables a better understanding of Gauteng's post-mining and urban landscapes, which could benefit the representation, communication and management of these landscapes. Recognising the potential applications and limitations of frameworks such as the one developed for this study, the high-level recommendation arising from this study suggests a need for ongoing research into the contextual representation of landscapes and their characteristics. This can be achieved by incorporating input from communities, conducting research on quantifying intangible landscape characteristics and developing tools that facilitate the automation and alignment of such data with development plans.
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    The impact of COVID-19 on long term care facilities
    (Gauteng City-Region Obervatory, 2020-10-01) Maree, Gillian; Khanyile, Samkelisiwe
    For those who live in long term care facilities the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been particularly devastating. For the September Map of the Month we explore the impacts on long term care facilities in Gauteng by mapping the known cases in these facilities across the province. Many, if not most, long term care facilities have had cases of COVID-19 across Gauteng. Most of these have been in retirement and frail care facilities, but facilities for people with mental and physical disabilities have also been affected. To date at least 243 facilities have recorded 2606 cases across Gauteng Province since March 2020. Many long term care facilities were overwhelmed or left unprepared for the impact of COVID-19. By now long term care facilities have been under lockdown for 6 months, with many residents isolated from family and friends. The move to level 1 and increased visitations to these facilities will be welcomed but comes at a high risk of new cases. High levels of vigilance needs to remain into the foreseeable future.
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    Towards applying a green infrastructure approach in the Gauteng City-Region
    (Gauteng City-Region Observatory, 2019-12) Culwick, Christina; Khanyile, Samkelisiwe; Bobbins, Kerry; Dunsmore, Stuart; Fitchett, Anne; Monama, Lerato; Naidu, Raishan; Sykes, Gillian; van den Bussche, Jennifer; Vieira, Marco
    The Gauteng City-Region (GCR) regularly experiences heatwaves, raising renewed concerns over water security, as well as heavy and persistent rains, leading to severe flooding in some areas. In this context of heightened climate variability, thinking about ways to redesign our urban areas with more sustainable infrastructure solutions is becoming more and more important. Green infrastructure (GI) is emerging as an alternative approach to traditional (‘grey’) infrastructure in urban planning and development. Its emergence can be understood in terms of the growing demand for infrastructure and services, increased concerns over natural resource constraints and climate change, and the negative impacts associated with traditional approaches to designing and building cities. It has been proposed that GI can provide the same services as traditional infrastructure at a similar capital cost, while also providing a range of additional benefits. However, despite greater policy interest in green infrastructure in recent years, traditional infrastructure solutions to urban problems continue to dominate. This is partly due to the lack of a systematic evidence base to support GI implementation. There have been calls from decision-makers for more concrete examples of the benefits of successful urban GI applications, as well as for practical guidelines on their implementation. Towards applying a green infrastructure approach in the Gauteng City-Region is the GCRO’s eleventh Research Report. This report builds on the findings of two previous green infrastructure reports, as well as a CityLab process run with academics and government officials between 2014 and 2016. These outputs and the CityLab discussions highlighted as critical the need to for a deeper evidence base in building support for, and enhancing investment in, the GI approach. Unlike the earlier studies which were more theoretically grounded and policy oriented, this report comprises a number of technical investigations that more practically reflect on how a GI approach could be incorporated into urban planning in the GCR, and in other similar urban contexts.
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    Urban agriculture in the Gauteng City-Region’s green infrastructure network
    (Gauteng City-Region Observatory, 2020-07) Camargo Nino, Eliana; Lane, Sam; Okano, Kanako; Rahman, Irvanu; Peng, Bo; Benn, Hannah; Culwick Fatti, Christina; Maree, Gillian; Khanyile, Samkelisiwe; Washbourne, Dr Carla
    As cities in developing countries contend with the challenges of urbanisation, they need to rethink the traditional modes of urban planning and development. Part of this logic is to cater for growing populations without compromising urban environments and social development. Green infrastructure is one such approach that aims to meet infrastructure and service needs while ensuring the proper functioning of natural ecological systems. Urban agriculture can create multifunctional green assets in the form of urban farms and food gardens. When planned accordingly, urban agriculture can contribute to addressing a range of issues in the Gauteng City-Region (GCR). In the City of Johannesburg, the expansion of urban agriculture, and green infrastructure more broadly, aligns with and could contribute to multiple development goals. This paper interrogates whether a green infrastructure approach could offer the potential to improve urban agriculture efforts if the approach can be mainstreamed into municipal development processes. Realising the benefits of urban agriculture hinges on integrating these approaches into municipal planning and projects, as well as on improving the productivity of ecosystem service delivery from both green infrastructure and urban agriculture. The focus of this report is pertinent in light of persistent infrastructure and service delivery backlogs in the GCR, considerable challenges around food systems and food security, and a highly unequal urban spatial form – all of which impact the distribution of infrastructure and services, both green and conventional. This report argues that a green infrastructure approach is valuable for drawing important connections between focus areas related to urban agriculture that are traditionally siloed. The analysis focuses on urban agriculture in the GCR’s green infrastructure network using urban food gardens in the City of Johannesburg as the unit and site of analysis. This occasional paper falls under the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) Green Assets and Infrastructure research and links urban agriculture and green infrastructure in the GCR together for two main reasons. First, the paper outlines how food gardens are a key component of the interconnected set of the natural and constructed infrastructure systems within the city. This framing helps to link urban agriculture and food systems research to broader municipal development goals in terms of infrastructure and service delivery. Second, the paper outlines evidence of the wider social impact of food gardens which validates the ability of green infrastructure to meet social, economic and public health goals (e.g. social cohesion, employment, economic resilience) beyond a purely environmental focus. Understanding food gardens as multifunctional green assets is one way to promote and secure investment in urban agriculture in the GCR.
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    Women and COVID-19 in Gauteng
    (Gauteng City-Region Obervatory, 2020-08-31) Parker, Alexandra; Maree, Gillian; Götz, Graeme; Khanyile, Samkelisiwe
    This August 2020 Map of the Month is presented as a story map and draws on the infection data from the Gauteng Department of Health (6 March - 7 August 2020) and GCRO’s March 2020 COVID-19 vulnerability indices based on Quality of Life V (2017/18) survey data, to understand the ways in which women may be more vulnerable than men to COVID-19. We also explore some of the implications for this gender bias in the number of positive cases.