21838 research outputs found
Sort by
A conceptual framework to eliminate internal cost of poor quality in the Zimbabwean gold mining industry
No full textThe cost of quality consists of cost of conformance and cost of non-conformance referred
to as cost of poor quality. To simplify, cost of quality equals to cost of conformance plus
cost of poor quality and in this study the focus is on cost of poor quality. Gold mining
organisations in Zimbabwe have the potential of saving USD16 million through the use of
an appropriate cost of poor quality framework to eliminate the cost of poor quality. The
main objective of the research was to develop a conceptual framework on how to eliminate
high internal cost of poor quality that is impeding competitiveness in the Zimbabwean gold
mining industry, since the literature review revealed that currently there is no suitable
framework to meet the stated objective. Despite the industry having implemented various
systems such as International Organisation for Standardization based systems, the
research revealed that the Zimbabwean gold mines are still experiencing high internal cost
of poor quality. A survey was used to collect data using a cross-sectional method from the
367 questionnaires distributed among a population of 4475 within the ten participating
largest gold producers in Zimbabwe. The results that were analysed using the Exploratory
Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, experts’ feedback and Pareto technique
revealed that 19 out of the 40 cost of poor quality variables identified from literature
contribute 86% of the total cost of poor quality in the Zimbabwean gold mining industry.
The developed framework focuses on eliminating the 19 significant cost of poor quality
variables through three critical interventions of: 1) Developing effective cost of poor quality
policy and procedures 2) Training and developing a work-force that has adequate
knowledge and expertise in quality management 3) Active enforcement of cost of poor
quality policies and procedures. The developed framework emphasises the need for
continuous identification of cost of poor quality variables, measurement of the magnitude
of cost of poor quality and repeating the treatment interventions to eliminate residual cost
of poor quality. The developed cost of poor quality framework could be significant if
implemented since it has been noted that the strategy that will ensure the survival of gold
mines in Zimbabwe is the one anchored on cost-reduction due to the instability of gold
prices in the global market, inflationary pressures, lack of Foreign Direct Investment and
other factors negatively impacting the industry. The implications of this study contribute to
the existing body of knowledge as the study included both managerial and non-managerial
employees and the perceptions of experts in the industry.D. Phil. (Economic and Management Science)Colleges of Economic and Management Science
The responsiveness of instructional design in open distance and e-learning to the 4th industrial revolution
No full textAbstracts in English, Northern Sotho and VendaThe rapid advancement of technology has necessitated a review of the approaches to teaching and learning in both face-to-face and distance education settings. These changes, premised within the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution(4IR), include the use of technology for instructional design, teaching, student support and assessment. Open distance education institutions, by their very nature, should be pioneers in the use of technology for education. This study set out to investigate the responsiveness of instructional design in an open distance learning (ODL) institution to the 4IR environment. University of South Africa (Unisa), being an Open Distance and E-learning (ODeL) institution, was selected as the site of the study. Chaos theory was chosen to frame the researcher’s thinking about the impact of a small change in a system on the broader environment. The system, in this case, is the instructional design system. Chaos theory was used together with constructivism because of its (constructivism) emphasis on social interaction in teaching and learning and its positioning in a technologically charged environment. The study targeted instructional designers, electronic originators, academic staff and students. Therefore, individual interviews were conducted with seven instructional designers, five electronic originators, ten academic staff, and four students who were selected to participate in the study. Atlas.ti was used as the selected Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis System (CAQDAS) to analyse the data which yielded four broad themes, namely: Unisa’s instructional design processes, response of Unisa through migration to fully online delivery, the FTA and responsiveness to the 4IR. The data revealed that the process of migrating to online delivery was necessary but quick and unorganised. It resulted in increased workloads for staff, particularly the academics. Students did not receive adequate technical support to tide them over the transition to online delivery. Recommendations were made for the review of the Framework for a Team Approach (FTA) by the Directorate for Curriculum Development and Transformation (DCDT). In addition, it was recommended for the institution to address workload issues and to implement a change management process that recognises the impact of change on both staff and students. The study was successful in achieving its intended goal of determining the responsiveness of instructional design in ODeL to the 4IR demands.Tswelelopele e e akofileng ya thekenoloji e dirile tlhokego ya gore go sekasekwe melebo ya go ruta le go ithuta mo seemong sa namana le sa o le kwa gae. Diphetogo tseno tse di theilweng mo pakeng ya Diphetogo tsa Bone tsa Thekenoloji (4IR), di akaretsa tiriso ya thekenoloji go thadisa dithuto, go ruta, go tshegetsa baithuti le go ba tlhatlhoba. Ditheo tsa thuto ya go ithuta o le kwa gae ka tlholego e tshwanetse go nna baeteledipele mo tirisong ya thekenoloji mo thutong. Thutopatlisiso eno e ne e tlhotlhomisa go tsibogela seemo sa 4IR ga thadiso ya dithuto mo setheong se go ithutiwang o le kwa gae (ODL). Yunibesithi ya Aforikaborwa (Unisa), jaaka setheo sa Thuto e go Ithutiwang o le kwa Gae le ka E (ODeL), e tlhophilwe go nna lefelo la thutopatlisiso. Go tlhophilwe tiori e e lebeletseng dintlha tse di sa bonelweng pele tse di bakang ditiragalo go rulaganya dikakanyo tsa mmatlisisi malebana le kami ya diphetogo tse dinnye mo tsamaisong mo tikologong ka bophara. Tsamaiso mo mabakeng ano ke tsamaiso ya thadiso ya thuto. Go dirisitswe tiori e e lebeletseng dintlha tse di sa bonelweng pele tse di bakang tiragalo gammogo le tiori ya kago ka ntlha ya fa e (tiori ya kago) gatelela dikamano tsa loago mo go ruteng le go ithuta le maemo a yona mo seemong se se dirisang thekenoloji. Thutopatlisiso e ne e totile bathadisi ba dithuto, baitshimololedi ba eleketoroniki, batlhatlheledi le baithuti. Ka jalo, go dirilwe dikopanotherisano tsa bongwe ka bongwe le bathadisi ba dithuto ba le supa, baitshimololedi ba eleketoroniki ba le batlhano, batlhatlheledi ba le lesome le baithuti ba le bane ba ba tlhophilweng go nna le seabe mo thutopatlisisong. Go dirisitswe Atlas.ti jaaka Tsamaiso ya Tokololo ya Data ya Khwalitatifi ka Thuso ya Khomphiutha (CAQDAS) go lokolola data e e tlhagisitseng merero e le mene ka bophara, e leng: Ditirego tsa thadiso ya dithuto tsa Unisa, tsibogo ya Unisa ka go fudugela mo tlamelong ya dithuto ka botlalo mo maranyaneng, FTA le go tsibogela
4IR. Data e senotse gore tirego ya go fudugela mo tlamelong ya mo maranyaneng e ne e tlhokega fela e nnile bonako e bile e sa rulagana. E ne ya okeletsa badiri mokgweleo wa tiro, bogolo segolo batlhatlheledi. Baithuti ga ba a bona tshegetso e e lekaneng ya setegeniki go ba tataisa mo go kgabaganyetseng kwa tlamelong ya mo maranyaneng. Go ne ga dirwa dikatlenegiso tsa tshekatsheko ya Letlhomeso la Molebo wa Setlhopha (FTA) ke Lefapha la Tlhabololo ya Kharikhulamo le Diphetogo (DCDT). Go tlaleletsa foo, go ne ga atlenegisiwa gore setheo se samagane le merero ya mokgweleo wa tiro le go tsenya tirisong tirego ya tsamaiso ya diphetogo e e lemogang kami ya diphetogo mo badiring le mo baithuting. Thutopatlisiso e atlegile go fitlhelela maikemisetso a yona a go swetsa ka go tsibogela ditopo tsa 4IR ga thadiso ya dithuto mo ODeL.U tavhanya u khwinisa thekhinolodzhi zwo kombetshedza u sedzwa hafhu ha maitele a u funza na u guda kha u funza ho livhanywa zwifhatuwo na kha vhupo ha u funza u kule. Tshanduko hedzi, dzo disendeka nga kha tshifhinga tsha Mumono wa Vhuna wa Ndowetshumo ya zwa makwevho (4IR), hu tshi katelwa u shumiswa ha thekhinolodzhi kha u bveledza na u netshedza pfunzo na matheriala a vhugudisi, u funza, thikhedzo ya mutshudeni na u linga. Zwiimiswa zwa nnyi na nnyi zwa u funza u kule, nga mvumbo yazwo, zwi dovha mazhakandila kha u shumisa thekhinolodzhi ya pfunzo. Ngudo yo bvisela khagala u todisisa kufhindulele kwa vhugudisi kha tshiimiswa tsha u guda u kule tsha nnyi na nnyi (ODL) kha vhupo ha
4IR. Yunivesithi ya Afrika Tshipembe (Unisa), u vha tshiimiswa tsha Nnyi na nnyi tsha u Guda u kule na U Guda nga kha Lubuvhisia (ODeL), tsho nangwa sa fhethu ha ngudo. Thiori ine vhudziki ha shandukela kha u sa vha na vhudziki yo nangwa u fhata kuhumbulele kwa mutodisisi nga ha masiandaitwa a tshanduko thukhu kha sisiteme ya vhupo vhuhulwane. Sisiteme, kha nyimele heyi, ndi sisiteme ya vhugudisi. Thiori ine vhudziki ha shandukela kha u sa vha na vhudziki yo shumiswa yo tanganelana na u fhata ndivho ngauri u ombedzela u (fhata ndivho hayo) kha u tanganelana ha matshilisano kha u funza na u guda na vhuimo hayo kha vhupo vhune ha shumisa thekhinolodzhi. Ngudo yo vha yo sedza kha vhabveledzi na vhanetshedzi vha pfunzo na matheriala a vhugudisi, vhabveledzi vha elekithironiki, vhashumi vha akademi na matshudeni. Nga zwenezwo, ho farwa inthaviwu dza muthu nga muthu na kha vhabveledzi na vhanetshedzi vha pfunzo na matheriala a vhugudisi vha sumbe, vhabveledzi vha elekithironikisi vhatanu, vha vhashumi vha akademi vha fumi na matshudeni mana vhe vha nangwa u dzhenela ngudo. Ho shumiswa Atlas.ti sa Sisiteme ya u Saukanya Data ya Khwalithethivi ya u Thusedza kha Khomphyutha (CAQDAS) yo nangwaho u saukanya data ye ya bveledza thero nna dzo tandavhuwaho, dzine dza vha: maitele a Unisa a mubveledzi na munetshedzi wa pfunzo na matheriala a vhugudisi, u fhindula ha Unisa nga kha u sudzulutshela kha ndisedzo yo fhelelaho ya kha lubuvhisia, FTA na u fhindula kha
4IR. Data yo dzumbulula uri kuitele kwa u sudzulutshela ndisedzo ya kha lubuvhisia yo vha yo tea fhedzi yo tavhanya na u sa dzudzana. Yo bveledza u engedzea ha mushumo kha vhashumi, nga maanda vha akademi. Matshudeni a vho ngo wana thikhedzo ya thekhiniki yo teaho u vha thusa kha tshanduko u ya kha ndisedzo ya kha lubuvhisia. Themendelo dzo itwa u sedza hafhu Furemiweke ya Kuitele kwa Thimu (FTA) nga Khethekanyo ya Mveledziso na Tshandukiso ya Kharikhulamu (DCDT). U dadzisa kha zwenezwo, ho themendelwa kha tshiimiswa u amba nga ha mafhungo a u dalesa ha mushumo na u shumisa kuitele kwa u langula tshanduko kune kwa dzhiela ntha masiandaitwa a tshanduko kha vhuvhili havho vhashumi na matshudeni. Ngudo yo bvelela kha u swikelela tshipikwa tshayo tsho lavhelelwaho u ta kufhindulele kwa mubveledzi na munetshedzi wa pfunzo na matheriala a vhugudisi, kha ODeL kha thodea dza 4IR.D. Phil. (Education (Curriculum Studies))Curriculum and Instructional Studie
Vhulondoti ha vhathu vho tshenzhelaho dambudzo la khuvhalo ya vhuluvhi : ndivhanyoni na mveledzo ya ndila ya thaluso ya u thogomela
No full textAbstracts in English and VendaTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is presented in literature as one of the major public health and socioeconomic problems that often results in disability and death. Literature further shows that families of individuals who suffered TBI are often faced with the burden of caring for the individual member, with people with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) having limited functional independence and requiring care and support from significant others. Having noted the need for care by individuals who suffered sTBI, the aim of the current study was to explore caregiving in a family context for adults who suffered severe traumatic brain injury with a view to develop a psychological explanatory model. A phenomenological research design was used, with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) being the method utilised. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select 14 individuals who were providing care to adult family members who sustained severe traumatic brain injury. Semi-structures interviews were conducted in Sepedi, Tshivenda and Xitsonga, and later translated into English. Meanings were derived from data collected using IPA.
The following superordinate themes were identified: caregiver lived experiences; attributions and meaning making; facilitators and barriers; essential attributes for caregiving; coping strategies; and, motivation for caring. The overall findings indicate that family members who care for adults who suffered severe traumatic brain injury experience barriers and endure emotional difficulties such as shock, denial, anger, frustration, and loss of hope. Based on the findings of the study, I developed a psychological explanatory model on caregiving for adults who suffered sTBI. The Model identified three types of variables, namely, the antecedent variable (which is sTBI), two key variables (that is, caregiver and caregiving), and consequent variables (for example, meanings attached, facilitators and barriers). The interaction of the three variables impact on the beneficiary who is the care recipient. The implications of the current study in terms of theory, clinical practice, research and policy are highlighted.Dambudzo la khuvhalo ya vhuluvhi li bvukululwa kha manwalwa sa linwe la thaidzo khulwane dza zwa mutakalo na matshilisano, hune la anzela na u vhanga vhuholefhali na lufu. Manwalwa a dovha hafhu a sumbedza uri mita ine ya vha na vhathu vho tshenzhelaho khuvhalo ya vhuluvhi yo livhana na muhwalo wa u thogomela vhenevho vhathu vhane kanzhi vha sa tou vha na vhukoni ha u diitela zwithu nga vhothe. Nga murahu ha u limuwa uri hu na thodea ya u londotwa ha vhathu vho huvhalaho vhuluvhi, ndivho ya ino thodisiso yo vha i ya u tandula vhulondoti mitani ine ya vha na vhathu vho tshenzhelaho khuvhalo ya vhuluvhi hu u toda u bveledza ndila ine ya nga talutshedza zwa u thogomela. Ngona ya thodisiso i saukanyaho tshenzhemo ya vhathu yo shumiswa, khathihi na ngona i sengulusaho tshenzhemo ya vhathu hu u itela u ṋea thaluso ya tshenzhemo yeneyo ho katelwa na kuvhonele kwa mutodisisi. Thumbulo yo anganywaho khathihi na thumbulo ine khayo vhadzheneleli vha themendela vhanwe vhadivhi uri vha shele mulenzhe kha thodisiso, zwo shumiswa musi hu tshi nangwa vhadzheneleli vha fumi iṋa (14) vhe vha tshi khou londota vhathu vho tanganaho na khuvhalo ya vhuluvhi mitani yavho. Mbudzisavhathu dzo farwa na vhadzheneleli nga Sepedi, Tshivenda na Xitsonga, nga vhuya dza pindulelwa kha Luisimane. Thalutshedzo dza mawanwa dzo tutuwa kha mafhungo o kuvhanganywaho hu tshi khou shumiswa tsenguluso na thaluso ya tshenzhemo ya vhathu.
Mihumbulo mihulwane i tevhelaho yo tutuwa: tshenzhemo ya vhalondoti ya duvha nga duvha; mveledzo ya thalutshedzo; zwileludzi na zwithivheli; zwitaluli zwa ndeme zwa vhulondoti; ndila dza u tambala; na, thuthuwedzo ya u londota. Mawanwa nga u angaredza a sumbedza uri mirado ya muta ine ya thogomela vhathu vho tanganaho na dambudzo la khuvhalo ya vhuluvhi vha tangana na vhukondi vhu katelaho zwipfi zwa dzhenuwo, khanedza, tsinyuwo, mbiti na u shaya fulufhelo. Ho livhanywa na mawanwa, ho bveledzwa ndila ya thaluso ya zwa muhumbulo. Ndila yeneyo yo talusa tshakha tharu dza zwitenwa, dzine dza vha, tshitenwa tsha murango wa tshenzhemo (tshine tsha vha khuvhalo ya vhuluvhi), zwitenwa zwa ndeme vhukuma (zwine zwa vha, mulondoti na u londota), na zwinwe zwitenwa zwo tutuwaho khazwo (sa tsumbo, thalutshedzo dzo bveledzwaho, zwileludzi na zwithivheli). Ho wanala uri hu na vhuledzani vhukati ha izwi zwitenwa zwiraru zwine zwa vha na mutsindo kha mutanganedzi wa thogomelo ane a vha mulondotiwa. Mbuelo dza ino thodisiso dzi dodombedzwa dzo livhanywa na thyiori, ndowendowe dza vhulondoti ha mutakalo, thodisiso na milayotibe.D. Phil. (Psychology)Psycholog
A method to develop business capabilities of a firm
Get PDFThe ever-present need for business transformations, be it digital, market changes and agility has compelled organisations to analyse and elect their optimal business capabilities. Business capabilities provide the link between the business strategy and implementation. In addition, business capability has been a topic of discussion because of its role in uncovering the sources of the firm’s competitiveness. However, a clear and agreed upon definition of business capability does not exist.
Claims made by The Open Group Architecture Framework of delivering business capabilities lacks empirical evidence. Delivering business capabilities is not a trivial activity to perform, due to the nature of their characteristics and context surrounding their applicability. Enterprise Architecture practitioners mandated to design and create business capabilities struggle, due to the lack of comprehensive tools to assist with these tasks.
This study creates a technique that aims to solve the challenge of designing and developing business capability. Design Science Research is applied for this study to critically explain the problem and the solution. The technique is evaluated with industry practitioners for feedback on its effectiveness and utility purposes. In addition, the study provides with basic conceptual elements that constitute a business capability as further work.M. Sc. (Computing)School of Computin
A Psychoanalytic Case for Anti-capitalism as an Organisational Form
Get PDFFor many, anti-capitalism signifies too much and thus lacks the political conviction
needed to inform left-wing strategy and tactics. What remains neglected, though, is
how anti-capitalism can function as an organisational form, one that is constituted by the
democratic requirements of struggle. At different moments and for different purposes,
anti-capitalist organising may rely on vertical, horizontal, centralised, or decentralised
formations. We cannot predetermine the organisational particularities of anti-capitalism
because it is always a form of forms determined by the demands of struggle. However,
we can explore the psycho-political valances of anti-capitalist organisation. The appeal
of anti-capitalism, so conceived, lies in its ability to facilitate subjects’ enjoyment and
political commitment through formal and psychic lack, rather than through neoliberal
excess or ideological surety. Psychoanalytic theory is useful for considering how the
anti-capitalist form’s significatory field can foster emancipatory knowledges, acts, and
ways of being in politically fraught contexts of struggle.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS
A framework for evaluating the user experience of digital moderation systems in the South African secondary school environment
Get PDFThe continued emphasis on education quality amidst the accelerating pace of technological developments, which create new opportunities, expectations, and challenges in the teaching and learning environment, requires evidence-based, robust, regulatory frameworks for monitoring standards. Innovative and dynamic approaches are required to quality assure assessment processes (moderation). The reviewed literature provided scant evidence of theorization on the concept of digital moderation (eModeration) and little empirical evidence on systems used in secondary schools. This deficiency in the literature in terms of digital moderation is problematic since it leaves educators, managers, and researchers without evidence-based guidance on how eModeration systems should be designed or evaluated. This deficit provides the rationale for an investigation into the components of a framework to evaluate the user experience of an eModeration system. This study draws on the extant eModeration literature and theories of technology acceptance, Information Systems success (IS) models, and constructs from the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to create a theoretical framework that integrates constructs identified from the different literature streams to evaluate an eModeration system's user experience. A Design Science Research (DSR) approach guided the design, development, and evaluation of an eModeration evaluation framework. A Participatory Action Design Research (PADRE) approach was used to position the user within the iterative DSR cycles as a means of knowledge acquisition. Participatory Design (PD) was positioned as a data collection strategy during requirements gathering and the generation of design ideas for an eModeration prototype system. Qualitative and quantitative data collection was used to record perceptions of individuals interacting with the prototype. The theoretical contribution is the literature-based framework underpinning this study. This theoretical framework was used as input in determining the components of an eModeration evaluation framework, which is the main contribution of this study. This research has practical value in guiding the design of evaluation criteria for the user experience of an eModeration system for implementation in secondary schools.D. Phil. (Information Systems)School of Computin
Mathematics techniques with machine learning implementation for facial recognition
Get PDFThe rapid evolution of facial recognition technology has elevated its signi cance across diverse
applications, ranging from security systems to human-computer interaction. This thesis focuses
on the intricate challenges faced by facial recognition systems, particularly emphasizing the im-
pact of facial occlusion heightened by the widespread use of face masks during the COVID-19
pandemic. The study advances the eld by exploring dimension reduction techniques, encom-
passing established methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant
Analysis (LDA) and Auto-Encoter-based, alongside innovative approaches hybrid methodolo-
gies such as PCA-Autoencoder and LDA-Autoencoder. Notably, the study introduces Higher-
Order Singular Value Decomposition (HOSVD) as a novel avenue for dimension reduction in
facial recognition.
The examination of facial occlusion yields nuanced insights into the challenges faced by recog-
nition systems in real-world scenarios. Techniques developed in response aim to e ectively
mitigate the adverse e ects of facial occlusion, ensuring precision and reliability in identi ca-
tion processes, by developing face mask datasets adequate for the study.
In the dimension reduction realm, the study meticulously evaluates traditional and innovative
techniques. PCA and LDA are scrutinized for e ectiveness, while Autoencoder-based methods
prove instrumental in facial feature extraction and dimension reduction. The innovative hybrid
methodologies, PCA-Autoencoder and LDA-Autoencoder, demonstrate synergistic potential
by capitalizing on the strengths of individual techniques. Tensor decomposition (HOSVD) e-
merges as a novel mathematical approach, providing a fresh perspective on dimension reduction
strategies.
The ndings of this research signi cantly contribute to the theoretical foundations and practi-
cal applications of facial recognition technology. Recommendations for future research include
further exploration of diverse facial occlusion scenarios, real-time adaptive systems, and the
integration of deep learning architectures to enhance dimension reduction methodologies. As
technology advances, this thesis stands as a catalyst for ongoing innovation, fostering a deeper
understanding of the intricate dynamics inherent in facial recognition systems.D. Phil. (Applied Mathematics)Mathematical Science
Corporate social responsibility initiatives and sustainability within the hospitality industry : a conceptual framework
Get PDFThe research had a multifaceted purpose, aiming to explore the existing corporate social
responsibility (CSR) practices and their impact on Company Performance (CP) in the global
hospitality industry. Specifically, the study sought to determine the sustainable CSR initiatives
undertaken worldwide and whether they add value to both the hospitality organizations and the
community. Moreover, it aimed to evaluate the extent to which the hospitality industry in emerging
economies adds value to different stakeholders through their CSR initiatives while still remaining
sustainable. The research also aimed to assess the benefits of investing money in CSR activities
within the hospitality industry in emerging economies. Additionally, it sought to investigate the
relationship between perceived CP and CSR in hotels in emerging economies. To meet these
objectives, the study adopted a mixed-methods approach, collecting data from 366 survey
responses (junior, middle, and senior management employees) and eight interviews with hoteliers
(senior managers) in emerging economies. The quantitative and qualitative data collection were
concurrent in design and occurred simultaneously. The findings of the study indicate that the
hypothesis positing a relationship between CSR and CP of hotels is partially supported. The
implementation of CSR initiatives pertaining to community, environment, and employees has been
found to have a favorable influence on the CP of hotels. The findings of this study provide a
distinctive addition to the field of CSR in developing nations, where CSR is frequently perceived
as a Western concept owing to the absence of robust institutions and norms in these regions. This
study contributes to the extensive body of literature examining the impact of CSR on CP.
Specifically, the findings suggest that participation in social initiatives and allocation of resources
towards charitable endeavors can enhance a firm's competitive edge and promote its sustained
viability. The hospitality industry has actively participated in environmental initiatives. Improving
a hotel's environmental and social performance can result in a more inviting work environment, a competitive advantage, and an improved corporate image. The study offers significant
contributions to the understanding of the execution of CSR and its impacts in developing nations.DBLGraduate School of Business Leadershi
The influence of reasonableness on determining delictual or tort liability for pure economic loss – comparative conclusions
Get PDFCollege of La
Mapping fruit tree dynamics using phenological metrics from optimal Sentinel-2 data and Deep Neural Network
Get PDFAbstract
Accurate and up-to-date crop-type maps are essential for efficient management and well-informed decision-making, allowing accurate planning and execution of agricultural operations in the horticultural sector. The assessment of crop-related traits, such as the spatiotemporal variability of phenology, can improve decision-making. The study aimed to extract phenological information from Sentinel-2 data to identify and distinguish between fruit trees and co-existing land use types on subtropical farms in Levubu, South Africa. However, the heterogeneity and complexity of the study area—composed of smallholder mixed cropping systems with overlapping spectra—constituted an obstacle to the application of optical pixel-based classification using machine learning (ML) classifiers. Given the socio-economic importance of fruit tree crops, the research sought to map the phenological dynamics of these crops using deep neural network (DNN) and optical Sentinel-2 data. The models were optimized to determine the best hyperparameters to achieve the best classification results. The classification results showed the maximum overall accuracies of 86.96%, 88.64%, 86.76%, and 87.25% for the April, May, June, and July images, respectively. The results demonstrate the potential of temporal phenological optical-based data in mapping fruit tree crops under different management systems. The availability of remotely sensed data with high spatial and spectral resolutions makes it possible to use deep learning models to support decision-making in agriculture. This creates new possibilities for deep learning to revolutionize and facilitate innovation within smart horticulture