Honours Research Project

Topic 1: Mining and water quality in selected SA catchments.

Topic 2: Trend analysis and identification of potential causes of salinity changes in South African river systems. Other water quality parameters may substitute for salinity upon motivation.

Topic 3: Links between physicochemical water quality and biomonitoring results in selected South African catchments (depending on data availability).

References

AK Gordon, NJ Griffin, CG Palmer (2015) The relationship between concurrently measured SASS (South African Scoring System) and turbidity data archived in the South African River Health Programme's Rivers Database. Water SA 41(1) https://www.ajol.info/index.php/wsa/article/view/110361

NJ Griffin (2017) The rise and fall of dissolved phosphate in South African rivers. South African Journal of Science 113(11-12) http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0038-23532017000700015

NJ Griffin, CG Palmer, P Scherman (2014) Critical Analysis of Environmental Water Quality in South Africa. WRC Report No. 2184/1/14. http://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2184-1-14.pdf

CSIR (2010). CSIR Perspective on Water in South Africa -2010. CSIR Report No. CSIR/NRE/PW/IR/2011/0012/A. https://researchspace.csir.co.za › dspace › bitstream › handle › Wall11_2010

Topic 1: Street naming or toponymic commemoration in Makhanda (Grahamstown)

Naming and renaming of streets and other spaces in South Africa is a hot topic and names are often contested. What are the meanings behind the street names in Makhanda? What steps are followed in the naming process? Are there nicknames for spaces and why?

Alderman, D.H, & Inwood, J. (2013). Street naming and the politics of belonging: spatial injustices in the toponymic commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr, Social & Cultural Geography DOI:10.1080/14649365.2012.754488

Irvine, P.M., Memela, S., Dlongolo, Z.N., & Kepe, T. (2021). Navigating Community and Place Through Colloquial Street Names in Fingo Village, Makhanda (Grahamstown). Urban Forum, 32(3): 333-348

Topic 2: Rethinking urban heritage in Makhanda (Grahamstown)

Makhanda has over 70 provincial heritage resources, but the majority commemorate British history. How can we commemorate the experiences, histories and cultures of the black African residents in Makhanda?

Alderman, D.H. & Inwood, J.F.J. (2013). Landscapes of Memory and Socially Just Futures. In: N.C. Johnson, R.H. Schein & J. Winders (eds.). The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Cultural Geography. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.  

Topic 3: Community Perceptions of Makhanda (Grahamstown)

It’s no secret that Makhanda has its problems, but what are the community perceptions of the city? What are the issues relating to place identity?

Topic 4: Walkability Assessment Using GIS in Makhanda

This is a combination of desk top study and field survey which will map the walkability in the city. Factors that could be explored are the presence/absence of pavements and trees, and the ease of walking/slope of streets, and the density of amenities. 

 Topic 5: The effects of the NSFAS accommodation accreditation policy on funded students and the property rental market in Makhanda (Grahamstown).

NSFAS-funded students must now seek university-accredited accommodation that meets certain standards. How has this affected the rental market, landlords and students alike?

Topic 6: Understanding land use planning and practice dynamics in public spaces

This project will understand the dynamics and tensions within the planning and uses of public spaces.  e.g. Fingo Square, Makhanda or garden refuse dump sites in Makhanda East

Topic 7: Navigating space in Makhanda using taxi landmarks

This project would use participatory mapping and GIS to understand the landmarks used by taxi drivers and passengers to navigate space within the city. 

Irvine, P.M., Memela, S., Dlongolo, Z.N., & Kepe, T. (2021). Navigating Community and Place Through Colloquial Street Names in Fingo Village, Makhanda (Grahamstown). Urban Forum, 32(3): 333-348

Topic 8: Digitising and spatially analysing the Radford Reports in contemporary Makhanda

This project would involve building a geo-referenced database of buildings with historic significance in the city. There would be a fieldwork and desktop component to the project. 

Topic 9: Investigating the Colloquial Names of Township Neighbourhoods

Research has shown that toponyms in gated communities are part of place- and meaning-making and are linked to prestige and ideas of paradise/utopia. Are township neighbourhoods named and what are the meanings attached to these spaces?

Irvine, P.M., Memela, S., Dlongolo, Z.N., & Kepe, T. (2021). Navigating Community and Place Through Colloquial Street Names in Fingo Village, Makhanda (Grahamstown). Urban Forum, 32(3): 333-348

Spocter, M. (2018) A toponymic investigation of South African gated communities, South African Geographical Journal, 100:3, 326-348, DOI: 10.1080/03736245.2018.1498382 

Topic 1: Rainfall variability in the Eastern Cape Highlands

The Eastern Cape province experiences different rainfall regimes in different parts of the country. Despite the different rainfall zones the province is still prone to droughts and water shortages. High elevation sites such as the Drakensberg and Amathole mountains are important water resource regions. The impacts of climate change on these regions should be studied with a focus on rainfall and water resources. 

Archer E, du Toit J, Engelbrecht C, Hoffman MT, Landman W, Malherbe J & Stern M (2022): The 2015-19 multi year drought in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: it's evolution and impacts on agriculture. Journal of Arid Environments, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104630

Strydom S, Jewitt GPW, Savage MJ & Clulow AD (2020): Long-term trends and variability in the microclimates of the uMngeni Catchment, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and potential impacts on water resources. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03127-1 

Topic 2: The pyrogeography of the Eastern Cape 

The project aims to quantify spatial and temporal variability of fires in the Eastern Cape using remote sensing data (fire hotspots/burn scars). Meteorological data will be used for a number of locations within the province to calculate the Lowveld fire danger index. The project will focus on short time scales such as 2017 - present to understand how the most recent ENSO events influenced fire activity in the province.  

Strydom S & Savage MJ (2016): A spatio-temporal analysis of fires in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2016/20150489.

Strydom S & Savage MJ (2018): Observed trends and variability in the microclimate of the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal and its influence on fire danger. International Journal of Climatology, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.5207. 

Topic 3: Understanding variability in agroclimatic indices using Reanalysis data 

The project aims to investigate long-term changes in agroclimatic indices using either the ERA5 or ERA5-Land Reanalysis datasets. I am open to any justifiable study site but would prefer focusing on locations in KZN, the Eastern Cape, and the Northern Cape.   

Strydom S & Savage MJ (2019): Long-term trends and variability in the dryland microclimate of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2642-y.

Muñoz-Sabater J, Dutra E, Agustí-Panareda A, Albergel C, Arduini G, Balsamo G, . . . Jean-Noël Thépaut (2021): ERA5-land: A state-of-the-art global reanalysis dataset for land applications. Earth System Science Data, doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4349-2021 

Topic 1: Erosion and sediment yield estimation in South Africa: chances and challenges.

Topic 2:  Exploring impacts of land cover/ invasive alien species on hydrological water balance in a small catchment.

I am willing to supervise projects that use GIS to address questions across the disciplines of human and physical geography. I expect students to develop competence in traditional geographical methods and be able to use current technologies for data sourcing, manipulation and analysis. You will be expected to carry out desk-top analysis and field work data collection using a mixed methods approach.

1. Climate change impacts on the distribution of Cyclopia species

Using species locality data from the Global Biodiversity Facility, and thematic data layers (bioclimatic variables) from the WorldClim database of global weather and climate data as input to a species distribution model (SDM), it is possible to predict the current and potential future distribution of species. The MaxEnt species distribution modelling software is now a feature of ArcGIS Pro – and using this interface it is possible to develop ‘probability of distribution’ maps and to predict range shifts – using the various climate change scenarios. The bioclimatic variable layers are available for all the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios put out by the IPCC in 2020. The project would involve running a range of scenarios and predicting the potential impacts of climate change on C. intermedia or C. subternata populations. It could focus or cultivated populations or consider the wild naturally occurring populations. 

From a theoretical perspective – the project would draw on material from Geographic Information Science, natural resource management, conservation planning, climate change and fynbos ecology and management.

The research question would be something like: How will projected climate change affect the distribution of C. intermedia?

To do this project you will need to be committed to using GIS. There will be a field work component in which you will check if the model fits with where these species are known to occur.

2. A Geospatial inventory of the honeybush industry

Honeybush products are mostly sold on the export market (75% of the annual volume). It is difficult to find honeybush on local supermarket shelves although it is available to purchase from local and international online suppliers. As part of an initiative to develop the local honeybush market an inventory of honeybush suppliers and sales points in the form of an interactive, online map would be a useful way for consumers to access information and promote consumption of honeybush.

The project would entail using social media and geotagging to locate honeybush products across South Africa and promote information on the industry (particularly sales) in an accessible, interactive and popular format as an online map inventory. The inventory could evolve to show a range of industry assets and information.

The research question would be something like: How can geo-spatial technologies be used effectively to promote a local industry?

From a theoretical perspective – the project would draw broadly on the fields of Geographic Information Science and Economic geography.

To do this project you will need to be committed to developing your online GIS skills. You will need to become familiar with managing and processing volumes of geotagged materials. There will be a field component involving a road trip to capture information.  

3. Biogeography of Craig Doone farm

The farm is home to five biomes and ranges in elevation from 400 to 700m. The landscape is hilly, creating a series of topographic units with a variety of geology, soils and plant communities. Through the use of field surveys and monitoring equipment the aim of the project would be to develop an understanding and a baseline dataset of: soils, vegetation, rainfall, temperature – and variation in these aspects across different slope, aspects, elevations and landscape features.

The research question would be something like: How do biogeographic factors vary across space at a local scale?

From a theoretical perspective – the project would draw broadly on the fields of Biogeography Geographic Information Science.

Topic 1: Using Remote Sensing to evaluate vegetation and soil moisture responses to weather at Burnt Kraal, Makhanda.

Utilise daily temperature and rainfall data, multispectral imagery, soil moisture measurements, and plant chlorophyll analysis to focus on the Burnt Kraal Commonage, located west of Makhanda. Following good rains in September and October 2023, it was possible to detect changes to the vegetation and moisture in the commonage at Burnt Kraal. This project will use the above as a point of departure and involve monitoring the area at a high temporal frequency. "Planet" imagery allows almost daily monitoring of vegetation using near-infrared signals and NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) values. In addition to monitoring the above variables, preliminary investigations show that the NIR signal for the plant Chrysocoma ciliata cannot be used to indicate plant health. The extraction of chlorophyll from plant leaves will be used to establish why this is the case.

Various sources of literature are available to support the project; however, none are specific to the study site.

Topic 3: Spatial Variability of Rainfall in Makhanda

A network of rain gauges (manual) will be set up over Makhanda. The rainfall data will be analysed to establish spatial distribution and variability. Analyses involve spatial interpolation of point measurements. Synoptic meteorological data from broader-scale measurements and topography will hopefully explain the observed rainfall distribution. 

Muthoni, F. K., Odongo, V. O., Ochieng, J., Mugalavai, E. M., Mourice, S. K., Hoesche-Zeledon, I.,  Bekunda, M. (2019). Long-term spatial-temporal trends and variability of rainfall over Eastern and Southern Africa. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 137(3-4), pp. 1869-1882. doi:10.1007/s00704-018-2712-1 Retrieved from <Go to ISI>://WOS:000477054700018.

Mupangwa, W., Makanza, R., Chipindu, L., Moeletsi, M., Mkuhlani, S., Liben, F., Nyagumbo, I. & Mutenje, M. (2021). Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa. Water SA, 47. doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2021.v47.i4.3844

Topic 4: Building Locations, Densities and Links to Infrastructure and Topography

There are a number of options available to students utilising Google's V3 Open Buildings and Microsoft's most recent Building Footprints. Projects can be regional or national. Some examples are:

• Using kernel densities to analyse building densities.

• Establishing the relationship between building location and topographic elements. The study will utilise digital terrain models and spatial infrastructure data to determine the optimal locations for buildings.

The research can investigate either of the above or a combination using advanced spatial analysis methods.

Florczyk, A. J., Melchiorri, M., Zeidler, J., Corbane, C., Schiavina, M., Freire, S., Sabo, F., Politis, P., Esch, T., & Pesaresi, M. (2020). The Generalised Settlement Area: mapping the Earth surface in the vicinity of built-up areas. International Journal of Digital Earth, 13(1), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2018.1550121.

Xi, C.-B., Qian, T.-L., Chi, Y., Chen, J., & Wang, J.-C. (2018). Relationship between settlements and topographical factors: An example from Sichuan Province, China. Journal of Mountain Science, 15(9), 2043–2054. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-4863-z.

Xu, J., Zheng, L., Ma, R., & Tian, H. (2023). Correlation between Distribution of Rural Settlements and Topography in Plateau-Mountain Area: A Study of Yunnan Province, China. Sustainability, 15(4), 3458. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043458.

Topic 5: Geomorphometrics

The southern African landscape will be analysed using modern digital methods. There are two possible approaches:

• Revisiting past studies using digital data.

• Analysing the landscape using digital elevation data in one or more of ArcGIS Pro, QGIS and SAGA and then ground-truthing the results.

Atkinson, J., de Clercq, W., & Rozanov, A. (2020). Multi-resolution soil-landscape characterisation in KwaZulu-Natal: Using geomorphons to classify local soilscapes for improved digital geomorphological modelling. Geoderma Regional, 22, e00291. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2020.e00291

De Reu, J., Bourgeois, J., Bats, M., Zwertvaegher, A., Gelorini, V., De Smedt, P., Chu, W., Antrop, M., De Maeyer, P., Finke, P., Van Meirvenne, M., Verniers, J., & Crombé, P. (2013). Application of the topographic position index to heterogeneous landscapes. Geomorphology, 186, 39–49. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.12.015

ESRI (n.d.) Geomorphon Landforms (Spatial Analyst)—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation. https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/spatial-analyst/geomorphon-landforms.htm Accessed: 1 August 2025.

Guisan, A., Weiss, S.B., Weiss, A.D. (1999): GLM versus CCA spatial modelling of plant species distribution. Plant Ecology, 143, 107-122.

Jasiewicz, J. & Stepinski, T.F. (2013). Geomorphons - a pattern recognition approach to classification and mapping of landforms. Geomorphology, 182, 147–56. DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.11.005.

Jenness, J. (2006). Topographic Position Index. (TPI). https://www.jennessent.com/downloads/tpi_poster_av3.zip.

Weiss, A.D. (2000): Topographic Position and Landforms Analysis. Poster http://www.jennessent.com/downloads/tpi-poster-tnc_18x22.pdf.

Wilson, J.P. & Gallant, J.C. (2000): Primary Topographic Attributes. In: Wilson, J.P. & Gallant, J.C. [Eds.]: Terrain Analysis: Principles and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, pp. 51-85.

Topic 6: Geomorphology and the Persistence of Late-Lying Snow.

Recent snowfalls in the mountains of southern Africa, combined with ideal atmospheric conditions, provide excellent opportunities to study the geomorphological factors that influence the persistence of snowfall. Some preferences that may be analysed are altitude, aspect and prevailing synoptic-scale meteorology.

Brown, A. (2012). Accounting for snow types. Nature Climate Change, 2, 394. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1571.

Grab, S. W., Mulder, N. A., & Mills, S. C. (2009). Spatial associations between the longest‐lasting winter snow cover and cold region landforms in the high Drakensberg, southern Africa. Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 91(2), 83–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0459.2009.00356.x.

Mulder, N., & Grab, S. W. (2002). Remote sensing for snow cover analysis along the Drakensberg escarpment. South African Journal of Science, 98(5-6), 213–217.

Mulder, N., & Grab, S. W. (2009). Contemporary spatio-temporal patterns of snow cover over the Drakensberg. South African Journal of Science, 105(5-6), 228–233.

Wunderle, S., Gross, T., & Hüsler, F. (2016). Snow extent variability in Lesotho derived from MODIS data (2000-2014) [Article]. Remote Sensing, 8(6), Article 448. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8060448.

Topic 7: Land Cover Changes in the Dukuduku Region 

Satellite imagery will be used to analyse changes in the Dukuduku Forest and adjacent areas since people moved to the area in the early 1990's. In the lead-up to the 1994 democratic government elections, the land was occupied by people who we forcibly removed from one part of what is now the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to the Nibela Peninsula and other areas. This occupation has had a significant impact on the environment there, which is visible in satellite imagery. The project will analyse these changes and include site visits.

Omer, G., Mutanga, O., Abdel-Rahman, E.M. & Adam, E. (2015). Performance of Support Vector Machines and Artificial Neural Network for Mapping Endangered Tree Species Using WorldView-2 Data in Dukuduku Forest, South Africa.  IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 10, 4825-4840, DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2015.2461136

Topic 1:  Analysing the distributive equity dimension of the water security challenges in selected communities within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro

Topic 2: Macroplastics as emerging river stressors - community perception and practices 

Topic 3: Drivers of microplastics as a vector of selected pathogens in freshwater system

Topic: Climate Change/Variation and Resilience/Sustainability

We are jointly offering projects that use a mixed methods approach to explore how changes to local climate may affect local communities within a human-environment nexus. The research will involve climate analysis as well as mapping, interviews, surveys etc. It could be conducted with regard to issues like tourism, urban heat islands, agriculture and so on. 

This kind of project will enable you to develop a wide range of skills and will appeal to students interested in the integration of human and physical geography within their degree. 

Topic: Mapping CCI micro-clusters and understanding urban scenes in small town Eastern Cape

We are jointly offering projects that draw on the clustering of CCIs (Cultural and Creative Industries) and their contribution to the creation of urban scenes in the Eastern Cape Province. Possible study areas include Bathurst, Kenton, Nieu Bethesda, Hogsback etc.

Drummond,  F.  Snowball,  J.  (2019).  Cultural  Clusters  as  a  Local  Economic  Development  Strategy  in  Rural  Small-Town  Areas:  Sarah Baartman District in South Africa. Bulletin  of  Geography.  Socio-economic Series, 43(43), 107-119. DOI:

http://doi.org/10.2478/bog-2019-0007

Hoefnagels, N., Irvine, P.M. & Memela, S. (2023) Makhanda: Exploring the mise-en-scène of a city under threat. Urban Forum 34, 271–291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-022-09467-7 

• Friday 3 March: Decide on Topics;

• Friday 24 March: Proposal Presentation;

• Monday 17 April (8 am): Proposal Submission;

• Wednesday 4 October: Presentations;

• Wednesday 11 October: Final Project Submission.