Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa
Thesis (PhD (Geography))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
Saved in:
| Other Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Pretoria
2022
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613610199482368 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Coetzee, Serena Martha |
| author_browse | Coetzee, Serena Martha |
| author_facet | Coetzee, Serena Martha |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Geography))--University of Pretoria, 2022. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83576 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:38:53.005Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83576 Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa Coetzee, Serena Martha sbuhlela1@gmail.com Cooper, Antony Hlela, Sibusisiwe Bongiwe Patience UCTD Environmental impact assessment competence geographic information taxonomy effectiveness Thesis (PhD (Geography))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Concerns have been raised about the competent use of geographic information for decisionmaking in environmental impact assessments (EIAs). However, such competencies have not been categorised, nor have they been assessed before. Effectiveness studies on the quality of environmental assessments have also not been undertaken on the geographic information competencies for review of the EIA report submitted for decision making. This is a poorly researched topic on the boundaries of EIA and geographic information systems (GIS) and therefore worthy of research. This study describes and categorises the geographic information competencies required for reviewing EIAs. As a first step, literature was reviewed to understand the use and value of geographic information for environmental management, as well as related work on geographic information competencies, competency management, and the use of taxonomies to categorise or classify information. Next, surveys and semi-structured interviews, based on a taxonomy of the use of geographic information, were conducted with officials who review EIAs from all the provincial environmental departments across South Africa as well as the national environmental department. Analysis of the responses confirmed the invaluable contribution of geographic information in decision-making for EIA. EIA officials understood the importance of geographic information competencies. However, optimal use has been affected by a number of factors such as a lack of access to up-to-date geographic information required for the reviews, the costs of associated resources, and that some EIA officials lack technical expertise in GIS. These results informed the development of another taxonomy for geographic information competencies. It categorises and structures competencies into different domains of competence: geography, environmental science, GIS software knowledge, field work expertise, critical thinking, and related courses. The description of competencies in the GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION COMPETENCIES: DECISION-MAKING IN IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA v taxonomy was based on the EIA review work as specified by the participants, and its structure was guided by the literature. The element of subjectivity in the taxonomy approach was countered through the rigorous application of a mixed-methods approach. It is recommended that the taxonomy guides capacity-building efforts to facilitate optimal use of geographic information for decision-making in environmental impact assessment. This thesis has contributed by categorising and assessing the geographic information competencies required in EIA reviews. The results of this research can guide curriculum development, even beyond the borders of South Africa. As geospatial information technologies evolve in future, there will be a need to reassess and possibly revise the taxonomy. Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology PhD (Geography) Unrestricted 2022-02-01T12:55:19Z 2022-02-01T12:55:19Z 2022-05 2022 Thesis * A2022 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83576 DOI: 10.25403/UPresearchdata.19102817 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Environmental impact assessment competence geographic information taxonomy effectiveness Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa |
| title | Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa |
| title_full | Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa |
| title_short | Towards understanding geographic information competencies : the case of decision-making in environmental impact assessments in South Africa |
| title_sort | towards understanding geographic information competencies the case of decision making in environmental impact assessments in south africa |
| topic | UCTD Environmental impact assessment competence geographic information taxonomy effectiveness |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83576 |