PositionIT e-News

GIS, GPS, surveying and spatial applications in Southern Africa

Issue 70, Oct 2015

Using GIS to enhance the customer experience

by Gary Allemann, Master Data Management

Today's economy is highly challenging for the majority of businesses, from retailers to service providers and everyone between. Rather than trying to offer different or better products and services, the key to success today... (more)

The road to smart cities starts with data

by Johannes Petrowisch, COPA-DATA

Essentially, smart cities use technology to become safer, more sustainable ecosystems and help their inhabitants live healthier, happier lives. It might sound like a fairytale to some, but certain aspects of the story are already a reality... (more)

Statistically speaking: Proudly statistically South African

by Dr. Vincent Micali, Stats4Buz

Shaky statistics often cause anguish to a decision maker; especially when the latter operates in bullish and bearish markets aspish ("pertaining to") in econometrics. Indeed, Statistics can be garish in the results they produce. Therefore in... (more)

Incoming IMSSA president's address

by Dr. Hendrik Grobler, IMSSA

Recently during a debate about the status of the mine surveyor, I felt that it was necessary to remind ourselves of the history and accomplishments of all of those who went before us in this profession. Looking for a... (more)

PositionIT Inbox, October 2015
Winning letter

In this month's letter a reader share's his views on the PLATO article "Does CPD have teeth", which appeared in the September 2015 issue of PositionIT... (more)

Impact of red line diagrams on our national coast line
by Biff Lewis, Professional Land Surveyor

One afternoon, in June last year I had a call from a Town Planning friend of mine (Gideon Roos) who said there were three farmers from Albertinia in his office. These three farmers went to see Theuns Botha, the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health, who then phoned Gideon Roos saying that he didn't understand... (more)

Measuring ocean waves with a smartphone
Information from Environmental Mapping and Surveying

Directional wave buoys have been around for decades. When deployed at sea, a directional wave buoy provides real-time information about the directional ocean wave spectrum. Especially parameters like the significant wave height, peak wave period and peak wave direction are used for a whole range of... (more)

GIS skills and the Infrastructure Skills Development Grant
by Annemarie Fish, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in the Eastern Cape embarked on the focused skills development programme linked to professionalisation of youth in the built environment. The programme commenced in 2012 and was initiated with a request for electricity engineering graduates. GIS is a very scarce skill in the... (more)

GIS mapping and analysis for informal settlement upgrading
by Bosiu Lefulebe, Cape Peninsula University of Technology

This article specifically focuses on introducing GIS spatial analysis and the subsequent thematic mapping to informal settlement upgrading based on information gathered from the residents of the informal settlement, Monwabisi Park. The use of geographic information systems (GIS) in informal settlement... (more)

The status of land cover mapping in South Africa: 1994-2015

by Luncedo Ngcofe, DRDLR, and Mark Thompson, GeoTerraImage

Land cover and land use (LCLU) information is required by a broad spectrum of scientific, economic and governmental applications at various levels (both internationally and locally). LCLU serves as essential input information for analysis of various environmental issues such as health and status of ecosystems... (more)

Interactive tools for disaster management and support

Information from the American Red Cross

In addition to devastating America's Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina spawned many disaster management tools. Over the last ten years the American Red Cross has taken steps using modern technology to better prepare for and respond to disasters. This article details some of these initiatives. The Red Cross has a long history of... (more)

Digital integrated radio system for disaster management

by Aim�e Clarke, EE Publishers

In the midst of a disaster, whether natural or man-made, communication between emergency services and utilities is essential. Commercial communication techniques cannot be relied on as they are costly, inefficient, and vulnerable in a disaster. The City of Cape Town has equipped itself with a digital radio system across... (more)

Views, comment and opinion

PositionIT Inbox, October 2015

GIS and the customer experience

The road to smart cities starts with data

Statistically speaking: Proudly statistically South African

Industry and institute news

New president for mine surveyors' institute
SAGI: SPLUMA, municipalities and the reservation of planning work
Medal conferred on former IMSSA president
International hydrographic community comes to SA
Mine surveyors 2015 AGM and conference
Solution for today's urban challenges
GISSA Gauteng takes an interactive approach
Workshops to support SASDI implementation
GISSA Gauteng chairperson profile

Call for papers for FIG Working Week 2016

Training news

TUT's award ceremony honours achievers

Promoting GIS as a career

Map your world through GIS