Department of Urban and Regional Planning

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Browsing Department of Urban and Regional Planning by Author "Bikam, Peter"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Access and constraints to commuting in Gauteng Province, South Africa
    (2016-05) Chakwizira, James; Bikam, Peter; Adeboyejo, Aina Thompson
    See the attached abstract below
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    An evaluation of Intelligent Transport System: A case study of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Rea-Vaya in Johannesburg, South Africa
    (2017-09-18) Khwathisi, Ntsieni Colin; Chakwizira, James; Bikam, Peter
    This study focuses on the evaluation of intelligent transport systems making use of the BRT-Rea-vaya in Johannesburg as a case study. This study was motivated by the observation that few studies have been conducted in the study area that tackle explicitly intelligent transport systems evaluation. Intelligent transport systems can assist in improving private and public transportation systems and operations performance. In the public sector where various modes of transport such as the taxi, metro bus, metro rail, Gautrain and the BRT Rea-vaya operates, intelligent transport systems present opportunities for improving Level of Service (LOS) delivery. In Johannesburg, the BRT Rea vaya system was adopted by the Johannesburg metropolitan municipality to provide a safe, reliable, efficient and accessible public transport system. The BRT Rea vaya system is aimed at providing a better public transport, operating systems and service. For the BRT Rea vaya systems to achieve its primary goals and objectives, an intelligent transport system was incorporated to better manage the BRT Rea-vaya systems operations and activities. The study disclosed the status quo, opinions and attitudes of commuters regarding their experiences with the BRT Rea vaya public transport systems in Johannesburg. Furthermore, the study investigated whether the original objectives and aims of intelligent transport system in the BRT Rea-vaya have been meet. A central theme of the investigation is seeking to understand constraints and opportunities regarding BRT Rea-vaya intelligent transport systems‘ operations and activities in Johannesburg. The use of primary and secondary data such as questionnaires, key informant interviews, observation, journals and previous researches related to intelligent transport systems were used to acquire an in-depth understanding of the operational management of BRT Rea-vaya intelligent transport system. Collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with the aid of Microsoft Excel making use of descriptive statistics, regression analysis, cross tabulation and chi-square test. This was presented using tables, graphs, maps etc. Qualitative data was analyzed making use of a thematic approach. The study resonates in the need for rapid public transport systems to provide lessons for improving and adopting intelligent transport systems. As an end product, the research provided a framework of analysis on how to integrate intelligent transport systems in the context of Bus rapid transit systems.
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    Investigation of commuter's perceptions towards the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System: A case study of the BRT System in Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa
    (2018-09-21) Maluleke, Rivoningo Getrude; Chakwizira, James; Bikam, Peter
    The study investigated commuters’ perceptions towards the implementation of bus rapid transport (BRT) system in Polokwane Local Municipality. This was achieved through determining the commuters’ perceptions of the implementation phases of Polokwane BRT. The assessment considered whether the implementation of the Polokwane BRT meets commuters’ travel needs and preferences with respect to the operational characteristics. The study used the stated preference and checklist technique to collect data. Questionnaires were spatially distributed per settlement cluster, targeting the general commuters. Data was also collected through interviews with the company implementing the system and the Polokwane municipal officials. The study was based on a comparison of two scenarios, which are: “protraction of public transport system without BRT and a combination of both public transport and the BRT system”. The collected data was analysed using Scenario-Based Analytical Approach (SBAA), with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel software. The collected data was represented and interpreted using both quantitative and qualitative data presentations formats. The study noted that commuters’ travel needs were limited to comfort, time, fare (affordability), safety and security. The results revealed that the methods used to introduce the implementation of BRT system influenced the perceptions of commuters towards the system. Most of survey respondents (55%) were not aware of BRT system implementation, while (56%) indicated that the methods used were extremely ineffective. Furthermore 43% of the survey respondents were not willing to shift from the public transport to use the BRT system. Therefore, many of the survey respondents (52%) negatively perceived and associated the system with negative transport changes within the Municipality. However, it was also established that the operation of the system within the municipality would attract (77%) commuters towards public transportation such as BRT system, only if the system incorporates commuters’ preferred operational characteristics. On the other hand, the scenarios revealed that without the intervention of BRT system, the municipality is likely to continue experiencing transport problems, although there are also challenges associated with the implementation of BRT system. The use of effective and familiar methods of communication, integrating the system with existing modes of transport, development densification, provision of mixed land use and transit oriented development along BRT corridors and BRT routes extensions to residential and socio-economic areas, are some of the recommendations in support of the BRT system.
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    Spatial (in) justice and street spaces of selected small rural towns in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa
    (2021-11-19) Tsoriyo, Wendy; Ingwani, Emaculate; Chakwizira, James; Bikam, Peter
    Street spaces of small rural towns of Thohoyandou, Musina and Louis Trichardt in South Africa are characterised by spatial (in)justices as urban space is produced and reproduced every day through planning and design and management imperatives. In some cases, the spatial (in)justices are also inherited from the towns’ historical past and geographical location. These are perpetuated unwillingly over time to date. This study, therefore, seeks to interrogate the spatial (in)justices flowing from the streets themselves as distributors of (in)justices as street space users interact on street spaces in their everyday activities; and through processes of street planning, design and management. The study developed a framework of analysis that can be used by other researchers, planners and policy makers to redress spatial injustices on streets as important everyday spaces. The study employed a street space spatial justice case study survey design, which utilises the mixed methods approach. The primary data collection methods used include a street space design qualities inventory of forty-three street spaces in the towns' Central Business Districts; street intercept surveys with five hundred non-vehicular users; and structured interviews with eight spatial planners and city planning professionals knowledgeable about street design and management. Secondary data collection was done through reviewing literature sources from books, journals, municipal records, and internet sources. Analysis of data was done both qualitatively and quantitatively. Variables of safety, security, permeability, accessibility, legibility, robustness, and maintenance, and management were interrogated to measure spatial (in)justice on street spaces. The research findings show that thirty- six out of forty-three street spaces had low to least performing spatial justice qualities. Significant differences (p<0.05) exist between the different categories of users' perceptions of each spatial justice attribute, and also between users' satisfaction and expectations on street spaces. The local municipalities in the selected small rural towns provide packaged and controlled forms of justice which are often not context-specific. A significant output from this research is an improved street space spatial (in)justice analytical framework that can ensure spatial justice on street spaces of small rural towns. Multiple-lensed spatial (in)justice analyses and multi-stakeholder collaboration remain imperative for municipalities to ensure just street spaces.
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    Urban Households' Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
    (2023-05-19) Yusuf, Jimoh Musa; Bikam, Peter; Chikoore, Hector.; Chikoore, Hector.
    The surreptitious impact of climate change on human society is a recurrent issue among scholars and policy makers in the 21st century. While the literature is replete with theoretical discussion and empirical analysis, particularly studies focusing on the major cities of developed economies, there is dearth of empirical studies on the cities of developing economies generally, and South Africa in particular where current dimension of human vulnerability, adaptation and response pattern are very abnormal and pathetically problematic. This thesis therefore examines Urban Households' Vulnerability, adaptation and response to Climate Change in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. It assesses the households', communities‘ and spatial planning coping strategies in response to extreme climate change events in both spatial planning policies and households' practices. Purposive method was used to select six towns (Giyani, Hoedspruit, ModjadjisKloof, Nkowankowa, Phalaborwa, and Tzaneen) in the Mopani District as case studies. Using Multistage sampling techniques, 500 respondents, proportionally distributed among the selected towns were randomly chosen for the purpose of questionnaire administration to elicit information on socioeconomic characteristics and adaptation strategies. 60 years records (1958 to 2017) of rainfall and Temperature were obtained from monthly gridded and high-resolution satellite dataset from the global data to detect climatic trends and cycles in annual and monthly Temperatures and Rainfall during the period. Google earth pro and ‗gps visualizer‘ are used to conduct topographical analysis to assess the influence of terrain on the occurrence of climate related disasters. The use of geospatial analysis of available LandSat imageries was adopted for the examination of Land use and Land Cover Changes to monitor the trend in land and land resources consumption as an influencer of exposure to rainfall and temperature. Household Vulnerability Index (HVI) developed by United Nations (UN) Habitat was used to examine Households‘ and communities‘ degrees of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Ordered Logit Regression Model was used to examine the contributions of factors to HVI and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed in weight assignments. Pearson‘s Correlation Coefficient was used to measure the strength of association that exists between the Households vulnerability Index and some selected socioeconomic attributes (such as age, gender, income, highest qualification) in the selected towns. Livelihood Diversification Index (LDI) was calculated, using the Herfindahl index of diversification to scrutinise the influence of diversification of households‘ Livelihood on their overall vulnerability level in Mopani. A mobile x application and web-based technology and tools are employed to design and develop the Disaster Hotspot Reporting and Monitoring System, for timely reporting and record keeping of climate related incidences. The results reveal that the selected towns across the Mopani District have exhibited increasing warm Temperature (with varying heat waves) throughout the period under examination. Upward correlations that imply increase in the variations in both mean minimum and mean maximum Temperatures are observed over the period, with seasonal variations recorded from year to year. However, the trend in rainfall shows a reducing trend during the same period with yearly seasonal variations in precipitation. Most towns are characterised by gentle slopes, thus flash floods occur in varying intensities and frequencies across the selected towns. Developments (buildings, roads, asphalts, floor tiles etc) consistently invade vegetation, water bodies and bare land. Household exposure and adaptive capacity are observed to be high in the district with about 92% households in exposed category; Nkowankowa town claims the highest proportion (96.58%), while ModjadjisKloof town accounted for 60%, being the least. The HVI is equally high in these towns with Tzaneen being the town with the highest (over 78%) Community Vulnerability Index (CVI), while Hoedspruit town is the most resilient, with the least CVI of 55.56%. The high vulnerability levels observed in these towns were attributed to poor housing conditions, lack of access to essential services, and lack of insurance cover (of any form) among the households, among other factors. However, a point increase in LDI instigates a reduction of HVI by 0.729 points. A point increase in household age has increased HVI by 0.333, while that of educational qualifications significantly decreases the impacts on HVI by -0.0706. Other factors such as physical, statutory, and system failures contributed to high HVI in the study area. The result further reveals that tree planting and fans/air conditioners were the most popular with adoption by 100% respondents as coping strategies to deal with increasing Temperature in the District. In contrast, water treatment and storage tanks in homes were the most commonly embraced adaptation strategies for changes in water levels by 100% and 81% respondents respectively. The findings further show that, local municipalities' plans and policies recognised the impacts of climate change on urban households and the roles urban planning plays a central role in responding to climate change impacts. However, there is little evidence to indicate substantial efforts to pragmatically and coherently address the problems; the municipalities still rely on the national government for urban-related and climate change disaster response policies and strategies. While emphasising greening (in homes and at the city centres) to reduce heat waves and curtail surface runoff, the study led to the development of a framework with an incorporated disaster hotspot reporting and monitoring system for sustainable adaptation planning in the district.