Land Surveying

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/6529

Browse

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

The development of a local land records system for informal settlements in the greater Edendale area.
(2001) Cowie, Trevor Allen.; Fourie, Clarissa.
This dissertation examines the various forms of informal settlements in evidence in the Greater Edendale Area, and extracts the design criteria for the development of an appropriatc land records system to manage these informal settlements and their upgrading processes. It is shown that the various setllement patterns in existence ill the Greater Edcndale Area (GEA) reflect the apartheid history of South Africa and the policies of the previous governments. All exhibit certain aspects of informality, and therefore exist at various points on a continuum of formality-informality. Certain settlement patterns, such as the properties within formal townships developed by the former Department of Development Aid, possess many formal aspects and relatively fewer informalities, whereas others, for example the conventional informal settlements on State owned land, are informal in almost every respect. It is shown that the government's policies require informal aspects of settlements relating to land tenure and services should be upgraded, and that the responsibility for such upgrading has been delegated to the local government level. I will show that this upgrading of informal settlements can be broken down into four major processes which make up the overall upgrading process. These are land delivery, land tenure reform, provision of services, and cost recovery. It is argued that to effectivcly deal with these upgrading responsibilities, the local government structure. in this case the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi Transitional Local Council , should develop and maintain a land records system at the local level, with community participation to ensure sustainability. The design requirements for such a system are identified throughout the chapters, and are drawn together in the final chapter as a set of design criteria for the land records system. These design criteria call be represented by five main themes: firstly, that the land records system should be based on the design of the multipurpose cadastre; secondly, that in addition, it should accommodate non- parcel-based tenures; thirdly, that it should incorporate temporal GIS technology; fourthly, that it should be easily accessible to the community; and finally, that it should incorporate the users' needs and should be extremely user-friendly.
The development of selected learning units in land administration to facilitate the land reform programme.
(2003) Landman, J. C.; Fourie, Clarissa.; Jackson, Jonathan.
With the introduction of a new government in South Africa in 1994, the country embarked on a programme of land reform, and currently the process of dealing with the issues of Land Redistribution, Land Restitution and Tenure Reform is underway. Sound land administration is crucial to the Land Reform programme, and to future peace in the country. Such land administration requires a range of role players with varying levels of education. Also in the field of education the country saw a complete break away from the system of content-based education and competency based training, to one of outcomes-based education and training. The introduction of this new educational dispensation is overseen by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), who is in the process of ensuring the smooth implementation of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) into all aspects of learning in South Africa. The purpose of the NQF in the broad sense is to provide for the registration of nationally and internationally recognised qualifications on all levels in an integrated system, in order to facilitate access to and provide mobility in education and training. The NQF is designed to develop learning that is relevant to the needs of industry, the individual and the economy, but also to be dynamic and able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. It therefore is providing South African educators with new challenges in the field of Outcomes-Based Education and training. One of the methods available to identify appropriate learner outcomes to meet the above requirements is the DACUM method, which works on the premise that expert workers are better able to describe/define their job than anyone else. The DACUM method is a proven way of arriving at relevant outcomes, which is the starting point in the curriculum development process as used in outcomes-based education and training programmes. In this thesis the DACUM model is tested as a tOGI for designing relevant outcomes, and such outcomes are modified in accordance with outcomes in practices in existing programmes in land administration in SouthernAnother important component in designing learning outcomes is to ensure that appropriate embedded knowledge is identified in order to avoid that learning becomes mechanistic without learners mastering necessary content. In this thesis a body of general knowledge has been compiled which can inform the curriculum developer on relevant embedded knowledge when designing learning units in Land Administration. This body of knowledge includes land related historical issues in South Africa as well as Australia and the USA, Government Policies and Legislation dealing with Land Reform. Finally some learning units in one of the fields in land administration were developed. In making the choice of which field, care was taken to identify one which will span a range of NQF levels, and the choice fell on the adjudication of land rights, which proved to have relevant learning on every NQF level from Level 3 to Level 7. To achieve this the writer had to interview a number of stakeholders and compile a body of knowledge specific to adjudication. Care was taken to develop elements, which could be used by the Standards Generating Body (SGB) in Surveying in designing Unit Standards, as well as by educators in Higher and Further Education. Africa.
Evaluating cadastral systems in periods of uncertainty: a study of Cape Town's Xhosa-speaking communities.
(1999) Barry, Michael Brendan.; Fourie, Clarissa.
Evaluating the effectiveness of a cadastral system in situations where the social, political and economic environments are volatile and there is uncertainty over whether the cadastral system is likely to be used in the manner intended by the authorities remains a priority in developing countries. South African society, having negotiated a new democratic political dispensation in the early 1990’s, has been experiencing fundamental social and political change. In this context, the experimental focus of this study is on analysing effective cadastral system usage by people who were previously excluded from owning land in urban areas. The study explores the effectiveness of the existing cadastral system in addressing the wants of Xhosa-speaking communities in Cape Town during this period of substantial change. There is a paucity of substantive and methodological theory to evaluate a cadastral system in an uncertain, unstable situation. Based on soft systems theory, strategic management theory and existing cadastral theory, a conceptual framework to understand a particular situation has been developed. Using this conceptual framework, and drawing on the theory of planned behaviour and a social change model, an evaluative framework has been created that is germane to the South African situation. The primary focus of the empirical work in this study was on usage of the system of cadastral boundaries and the land registration system. A set of four case studies that includes an informal settlement, two site-and service schemes and a suburb where much of the land is held in private ownership were studied. These case studies were augmented by a study of a large area that is predominantly Xhosa-speaking in Cape Town’s eastern metropole. The conceptual and evaluative frameworks and the methodology adopted to conduct this research were found to constitute valid substantive and methodological theoretical foundations for studies of cadastral systems and land administration systems. In the context of the empirical work conducted, it is concluded that in Cape Town’s Xhosa speaking communities, in a stable situation where a favourable environment encourages its usage, the existing cadastral system will be effective and used in the manner intended by government. In volatile, unstable situations, the cadastral system will not be fully utilised for a variety of reasons. One reason being that in a rapidly changing social and political environment the land administration authority may not be able to govern effectively, and at the same time factions within a settlement may manipulate the land tenure rules to suit their own objectives. In such situations, conflict is inherent and natural in the relationship between the authorities and the community within a particular settlement and in the relationship between factions within that community. However, in this study it was found that in these uncertain situations that although cadastral instruments and processes were not used to effect all transactions in land, they form the essential core of a range of systems that are used to affirm an individual’s claims to rights in land. Moreover, in cases of conflict over land rights, the official records and surveyed cadastral boundaries constituted the point of departure in all negotiations.
A framework for applying spatial decision support systems in land use planning.
(2002) Peacock, Peter Graham.; Chilufya, Sexton Mwitwa.; Fourie, Clarissa.
For local authorities to manage land policies effectively data bases of land use information that are current and mirror development on the ground are required. At present local authorities have no mechanisms in place to acquire maintain and spatially link land use information. Detailed land use information is not generally available at the local level. Generally little attention is paid to maintaining the expensive data which is assembled when planning schemes, development plans or projects are prepared. Land use planning has traditionally focussed on the control rather than the facilitation of development. Details of the actual land use on the ground are generally ignored as tariffs for tax purposes are set on the zoning of the land or a flat rate rather than the actual land use. This lack of land use information, which is exacerbated by informal settlement, causes delays in approving new land uses. There is generally no data available for informal areas and land use and tenure is subject to the informal rules that have evolved with such settlements. If these areas are to be included in the formal land management systems, ways of including and maintaining land use information about these settlements must be developed. By reviewing land information theory, the South African legal land development framework and using a small town as a case study, I have shown that provided certain conditions are met a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS), designed to record and maintain the land use data necessary to support land use planning in both formal and informal contexts, could be a valuable land management tool. Such a system should be implemented in partnership with local communities and should; • support local level land use decision making and regulation • serve as a land management tool to integrate formal and informal communities • have mechanisms to keep land use information current • be transparent about the type of land use information • develop linkages with regional government to provide detailed land information over time.
The role of the geomaticist in natural resource management.
(2000) Fifield, Simon Peter.; Fourie, Clarissa.; Forbes, Angus Mcfarlane.
The essence of this thesis may be described by Ruther's argument that the survey profession is confronted with the necessity of having to redefine its role in society, or face the consequences of having the profession become marginalised (n .d: 1). The thesis reviews the functions of a traditional land surveyor, and shows how these functions are diminishing. This is done to illustrate the need for change in the profile of a traditional land surveyor, and the necessity of him redefining his role in society, in order to prosper in the future. The concept of geomatics, as an integrated approach to the acquisition and management of spatial data is introduced, and is used to illustrate the types of skills which a traditional land surveyor already has, and would need to acquire, in order to make the transition to a modern land surveyor, or what is tenned a geomaticist. A case study is then carried out in order to test the validity of the conceptual framework.
Understanding the inter-relationships for the creation of a local land information system : the Zimbabwean local government experience at growth points.
(2000) Zhou, Samson Zigah.; Fourie, Clarissa.
Zimbabwe is made up of eight provinces, fifty-seven districts and as many Rural District Councils. In each district there is at least one Growth Point although some may have up to two or more. A Growth Point is a 'town or City in the making' and is usually, but not necessarily the capital of a district. Rural District Councils, which form the local administrative authority and have administrative responsibility over the land that falls within their jurisdictions, are often located at these Growth Points. These local authorities liaise and interact closely with central government, which is made up of Ministries and Departments with different functions, which somehow hinge on the administration of the land. This makes the linkages and land information flows, based on land records crucial. The legacy of the history of separate development introduced and left systems of government, which are complex and hinder a free flow of information within central government and also between central and local governments. These linkages and interrelationships are mapped and traced with a view to streamlining information flows in order to eliminate or minimize flaws . While the efforts of decentralisation towards this goal are recognized, the shortcomings have been cited and the thesis makes some recommendations based on a research undertaken with the cooperation of Gokwe Rural District Council at Gokwe Growth Point. The thesis recommends strengthening the local capacity by assisting their efforts to computerise their records and eventually develop that into a fully integrated local Land Information System that should eventually be linked to the National System.

Browse

Browsing Land Surveying by Author "Fourie, Clarissa."