|
CSIR course presenter Andries Naude (right) and Wim Hugo from Relogix, who has worked with Naude on the original CoSAMP vision and undertook most of the software development work on GAP3 |
The CSIR's Andries Naude (left) with course participants Moloko Mapatha from Limpopo and Mandy Vickers from Mintek |
A group of 30 participants received training during June on aspects of the beta version of GAP3, the CSIR-developed geospatial analysis platform. The group consisted of CSIR staff as well as external attendees.
"We hosted the two-day introductory course in geospatial profiling, spatial-economic analysis and the use of GAP3," comments Andries Naude, course presenter and GAP3 project manager from CSIR Built Environment's regional office in Stellenbosch.
During the process of developing and applying GAP, different versions have been produced: a proof-of-concept 'demonstrator' (CoSAMP), GAP1 and GAP2 and a prototype GAP3. In each case, the CSIR co-funded relevant base technology and development work, while most of the implementation and application-related work was funded by a number of collaborating institutions. These include the Department of Trade and Industry (co-funder of GAP1, completed in mid-2006); the Policy Coordination and Advice Service of The Presidency and GTZ (co-funders of GAP2, launched in October 2007); and the Limpopo Department of Local Economic Development and Tourism (co-funder of the prototype GAP3).
GAP consists of a meso-scale geo-economic, geo-demographic, geo-accessibility and land cover dataset for South Africa, supported by data and methods for multi-scale spatial profiling; and data and methods for relational spatial analysis. The underlying mesoframe methodology - developed as part of the CSIR-funded CoSAMP project - overcomes the problem of spatially incompatible 'large area statistics' by re-scaling and assembling a variety of census, satellite imagery and other data sources in terms of a common set of meso-scale analysis units (referred to as mesozones, demarcated from an economic/human geography perspective).
"Mesozones have an average size of 50 km² and are determined according to factors such as general topography, predominant land cover, population density, poverty levels, economic activity, employment and accessibility," explains Naude.
"GAP provides information on what is where, how much is where, where the main concentrations or hot spots are to be targeted, and what can be reached from where," he comments. GAP has been developed not only as a technology innovation, but in consultation with key clients and stakeholders as an integral part of the analysis and planning process. The policy context, as well as user and local-specific requirements, was thus taken into account.
The first and second versions of the tool were produced and disseminated in the form of CDs containing maps, documents, GIS data and spreadsheets. The second version was used for updating and developing a number of national strategies and perspectives, including the National Spatial Development Perspective. "We will be making the final version of GAP3 available (in a new web-linked format) when we have had feedback from the beta testers, and resolved a number of funding and business model issues. A related process in terms of which we also need to resolve these issues is the updating of the underlying spatial data (from 2004 to 2009)," says Naude.
As GAP facilitates robust and comparative regional analysis, it can also be used to support development planning and infrastructure investment at local and regional levels, by government and the private sector.
"Our main aim with the course was technology transfer in relational spatial analysis and spatial profiling, spatial-economic analysis, and the development and use of territorial typologies," comments Naude. Feedback from participants will inform material that the CSIR plans to use in a similar GAP3 introduction and training workshop with provincial and municipal spatial planners in Limpopo.
Enquiries: CSIR Communication
|
