PositionIT e-News

GIS, GPS, surveying and spatial applications in Southern Africa

Issue 62, Jan/Feb 2015

by Adrian Roos, GISSA chairperson

Having moved from working with the government sector to working with the commercial sector late last year, the excitement in people exposed to the true power of geospatial analysis has been energising... (more)

South African RPAS regulations - one giant leap for (un)manned kind

by Sonet Kock, AviComply

This article provides an overview of the proposed remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) regulations which were published for public comment towards the end of 2014... (more)

Presidential report back from PLATO

Information from PLATO

Elbe van Rensburg Report by President Elbe van Rensburg on the 31st annual meeting of the Council for Professional and Technical Surveyors (PLATO) on 10 to 11 November 2014 at Devon Valley Hotel, Stellenbosch... (more)

Geomatics Indaba 2015 launched

Information from GI2015

Representatives of the South African geospatial community gathered on 22 January 2015 at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, to attend the launch of South Africa's largest surveying, geospatial, remote sensing, mapping and location-based services conference, Geomatics Indaba 2015... (more)

PositionIT Inbox

From our readers

This month's letters focus on the issue of SAGI's advisory note for the appointment of surveying and GISc services, and disruptive technology shifts. Our winning letter refers to the advisory note for appointment of surveying and GISc services... (more)

Terrestrial lidar and UAV aerial triangulation for open pit mines

by János Faust, Geo-konzept

Say what you will about the past few years, it has produced some useful tools for the surveyor. First, lidar technology made it possible to collect high-density 3D data with spectacular speed, so that now almost any surveyor can afford a terrestrial lidar scanner... (more)

The role of a land surveyor in the TRANCRAA process

by Ndinae Netshivhangoni, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform

Survey of property boundaries is always done prior to the transfer of land in terms of the Transformation of Certain Rural Areas Act (TRANCRAA) to ensure that the land in question is not subjected to any encroachment, people tampering with boundaries, beacons, and so forth... (more)

Land administration for people, profit and planet

by Kees de Zeeuw, Kadaster, The Netherlands

Society is changing permanently due to economic and political changes, technological development and globalisation of our challenges (environment, population, natural resources etc.). As a result we adapt our land administration systems continuously, anticipating future user requirements... (more)

Accessible GIS data: The game-changer for SA

by Nicolaas Klopper, 1Map

This article outlines how 1Map has democratised GIS data by championing the open online availability of spatial data to South Africa. We live in a wonderful country where the sun shines most of the time and where clouds bring promise of new life. In the world of geography and maps it's also fitting that... (more)

Mapping job seekers' movements
by Graeme Gotz, Chris Wray and Samy Katumba, GCRO

The Gauteng City-Region Observatory's 2013 Quality of Life (QoL) survey asked respondents a series of employment related questions, and also asked them to indicate the purpose of their most frequent trip - i.e. to go to work, to look for work, to go shopping, etc. as well as the destination of that trip... (more)

Developing a national human settlement layer
by Naledzani Mudau, Paida Mangara, and Thomas Kemper, SANSA

Updated information on human settlements is crucial for spatial planning, environmental, disaster management and service delivery and infrastructure development. This article describes the development of a South African human settlements product that will assist in decision making for various applications... (more)

GWIMS: a FOSS-based water infrastructure management tool

by Charles Paradzayi and Anos Kudakwashe Mhazo, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe

Management of water infrastructure information in most local government authorities is carried out using manual systems. This article outlines the development of an affordable web-based tool for managing water infrastructure information in the city of Gweru, Zimbabwe... (more)

Location-based services: business insights and basic functions

by Pierre Potgieter, EE Publishers

Location information provides insight into human behaviour, and is at the heart of delivering services that are relevant and convenient. Those who understand this, use location information and turn it into revenue. LBS drive revenue and are also the magic ingredient which turns science fiction into reality... (more)

Views, comment and opinion

South African RPAS regulations - one giant leap for (un)manned kind

Industry and institute news

Presidential report back from PLATO

Elections, transmission lines, and spatial data in the spotlight

Geomatics Indaba 2015 launched for success

CGIS celebrates GIS Day and emphasises quality data

DEA celebrates GIS Day
Limpopo Agricultural Geographic Information Symposium 2014

Department of Health GIS Day 2014

International hydrographic community comes to Cape Town

Obituary: Mark Dovey (25/10/1926 - 16/09/2014)

Obituary for John Kretzen