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Advances in geospatial analysis platforms and tools: Creating space for differentiated policy and investment responses

Literature › Works

Johan Maritz; Alize Le Roux; Elsona van Huyssteen; Maria Coetzee; Gerbrand Mans; Helga Goss (2010). Advances in geospatial analysis platforms and tools: Creating space for differentiated policy and investment responses. CSIR conference presentation slides (CSIR Conference Centre, 1 Sept 2010). CSIR, Built Environment, Planning Support Systems.
Type conference paper
Scope Post-1994 South African economy
Method policy analysis
Period studied 1994–2010
Regions South Africa, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo, former Bantustan areas
Themes methods data sources, bantustans removals influx, transition post apartheid, demography urbanisation
Citation key maritz2010

Argument

The slides argue that South African planning and policy need spatially nuanced, evidence-based data analysis. Existing administrative boundaries, changing district boundaries and the absence of common analysis zones block comparison across sectors and time. The CSIR proposes a Geospatial Analysis Platform (GAP) built on more than 25,000 'mesozones' of about 50 km2, with spatial relational analysis, simulation, web portals and planning support systems. Applications are presented, including the National Spatial Development Perspective and a comparison of former Bantustan areas with the rest of South Africa. The deck is a promotional tool presentation, not an historical study.

Evidence and method

No empirical data are presented in the text. The slides describe CSIR tools integrating aggregate area statistics, point data such as facilities per town, and satellite land cover data. Example maps (Mpumalanga magisterial district statistics, population density) appear as images not captured in the text.

Findings

  • GAP divides South Africa into a fine grid of analysis zones nested within administrative and physiographic boundaries, to overcome mismatched boundaries. (p. 13)

    A demarcation of South Africa into more than 25 000 “mesozones” of approximately 50 km2 in size (about 7 x 7 km), nested within important administrative and physiographic boundaries.

  • A key data problem is the lack of common zones for comparing economic and other territorial statistics. (p. 10)

    Absence of common analysis zones and databases – e.g. for comparing economic and other territorial statistics

  • Changing administrative boundaries impede temporal analysis, which the tools aim to enable. (p. 7)

    To enable temporal analysis (given change in admin boundaries), cross border regional analysis, and cross-sector analysis

  • A 2009 Presidency request sought to assess quality-of-life progress in former Bantustan areas. (p. 22)

    To determine the progress in quality of life of former Bantustan areas, compare development indicators

  • The Bantustan comparison relied on spatial relational analysis because no data have been captured on former borders since 1994. (p. 22)

    GAP, aggregated data, spatial relational analysis to compare data over time, in spite of no data capturing on former borders since 1994

  • The National Spatial Development Perspective was rolled out nationally to guide investment toward areas of economic significance and concentrations of poverty. (p. 21)

    Rolled out to all 9 provinces, all district and metro municipalities

  • The authors conclude that better data management and sharing are urgently needed. (p. 25)

    Highly data intensive, thus urgent need for better data management, sharing and access by all stakeholders