Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
http://hdl.handle.net/11462/816
Conference2024-01-01T17:25:42ZAppraisal of public park accessibility in South African cities
http://hdl.handle.net/11462/1817
Appraisal of public park accessibility in South African cities
Das, Dillip Kumar; Honiball, James Edward
Underutilisation of public parks in the residential areas of South African cities is a challenge. Although accessibility,
environmental and social factors are argued to be some of the challenges for the utilisation of parks, the challenges
of accessibility – particularly in the residential areas of cities are least explored. This study examined the most
important accessibility factors that influence the use of public parks and how the utilisation of public parks can be
improved in the residential areas of South African cities. For this purpose, a case study was performed by using
Bloemfontein city of South Africa. Findings suggest that the ratio of road network to pedestrian facilities network,
the number of access streets to the parks, size (in area) of parks and the level of illumination in the parks during
evening periods are the major variables, which to a varied extent influence the utilisation of parks. An optimal level
of number of access streets to the parks, proportionate pedestrian facilities on the roads providing access to parks
and appreciable illumination will enable significant improvement in the utilisation of parks in the residential areas of
South African cities.
Published Article
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZRegenerative ideas for urban roads in South Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/11462/1797
Regenerative ideas for urban roads in South Africa
Emuze, Fidelis A.; Das, Dillip Kumar
Safer and reliable infrastructure in cities is a necessity for urban dwellers. The question is whether conventional planning practices would provide solutions before urban roads are labelled as unmanageable sources of fatalities, especially in developing economies. This paper presents how smart mobility can be achieved. Using Bloemfontein in South Africa, a case study was performed to examine the causal feedback relations among the factors prompting mobility. The study revealed that: (a) the use of information and communication technology in everyday functions, instead of large-scale physical movement is crucial; and (b) efficient public transportation systems would assist in developing smart mobility in urban areas. In effect, regenerative ideas that are based on prioritised causal feedback relations should bring about smart mobility, which engenders traffic safety in urban areas.
Published Article
2015-01-01T00:00:00ZVisualising the effect of different tilt angles on the switch-on time of small PV modules using a simplified measuring approach
http://hdl.handle.net/11462/1774
Visualising the effect of different tilt angles on the switch-on time of small PV modules using a simplified measuring approach
Swart, Arthur James
Renewable energy systems are receiving more
and more attention, as governments and industry seek to reduce
fossil fuel usage and provide more clean energy. PV systems fall
into this category, and are especially sought after in countries
that enjoy sufficient annual solar radiation. It has been
scientifically proven that both the tilt and orientation angles,
along with variable atmospheric conditions, impact significantly
on the optimum output power of PV modules used in these
systems. The purpose of this paper is to present a simplified
measuring approach to validate this fact when considering the
tilt angle. Research is not always about discovering new aspects,
but also involves using various scientific methods to test and retest
current findings. This simplified measuring approach is a
re-test of current findings that indicates that a PV module with
a high tilt angle starts operating earlier than a PV module with
a lower tilt angle for winter periods in South Africa. However,
the simplified approach costs less than 25% of traditional
measuring approaches, providing a visual dimension and
perspective in validating current research findings.
Conference Proceedings
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZUsing reflective self-assessments in a learning management system to promote student engagement and academic success
http://hdl.handle.net/11462/1773
Using reflective self-assessments in a learning management system to promote student engagement and academic success
Swart, Arthur James
Learning management systems have the capabilities
of creating, fostering, delivering, and facilitating learning at
anytime and anywhere, allowing students to engage in online
discussion and collaborative activities. However, many
researchers feel that the online space essentially remains a
repository for content. However, the fact that some academics use
such systems as a content dumping site cannot be generalized. No,
such a blanket statement would be a grave injustice to those few
academics that are trying to improve the teaching and learning
process, especially through reflective practice. The purpose of this
paper is to highlight how an academic in electrical engineering has
effectively used BlackboardTM to promote student engagement and
academic success through online reflective self-assessments. An
ex-post facto study is used with descriptive statistics of the
quantitative data. Two groups of students enrolled for different
electronic communication modules were asked to complete
biweekly online reflective self-assessments via BlackboardTM.
Results indicate that those who completed more than 50% of these
self-assessments were almost twice as likely to achieve academic
success as compared to those who completed less than 50% of
them. These results tend to suggest that some academics are using
educational technology more effectively than other academics, to
the benefit of students and higher educational institutions.
Conference Proceeding
2017-01-01T00:00:00Z