Spatially defining the South African map requirements for Environmental Authorisations: a Gauteng Province perspective

Geography is not limited to a single discipline and must be recognised as a study of the understanding and realisation of how various disciplines are connected and what role they play over time, space and scale in relation to world problems. The “four concepts underlying geography include space and place, scale and connection, proximity and distance and relational thinking”. Spatial mapping has the potential to encompass these concepts, which can provide great value to multiple users when correctly executed. Environmental maps form an integral part and legal component of any Environmental Authorisation process within South Africa. In order for a new development to commence or when an existing project is amended or expanded, it may require a series of Environmental Authorisations. Environmental Authorisations require various maps and spatial input within its processes. These maps provide valuable information and insight to the intentions of the proposed activities as well as the present state of a study area. Spatial requirements and map outputs are currently unclear and may differ between various applications and projects. This study was therefore initiated to address this challenge and alleviate the difficulties experienced by department officials and the private sector in the application and decision-making processes pertaining to Environmental Authorisations in the Gauteng Province. The role of such a database and environmental maps, as an information source and decision making tool was also investigated to understand the value it could provide to both the private sector and Department Officials. The first research objective was to understand the different types of South African Environmental Authorisations and the related mandatory map requirements with an emphasis on the value of these maps. This was achieved through systematic literature review and six (6) semi-structured interviews. One of the findings from the literature review was that multiple GIS databases exist, however they do not entirely complement Environmental Authorisations and the specific map requirements. The second research objective aimed to determine the specific spatial and map output requirements for the Environmental Authorisations generated in the Gauteng Province. A total of 25 relevant case examples were collected using framework structured from the purposeful sampling approach. The literature review identified a list of various spatial map requirements to be included within each types of Environmental Authorisation. These Environmental Authorisations referred to include Basic Assessments, Environmental Impact Assessments; Water Use licenses; Waste Management Licenses and Air Emission Licenses. A cross-evaluation checklist was constructed using the list of spatial map requirements for Environmental Authorisations within the Gauteng Province. The data indicated that more than 70% of the legally required map attributes were included within the EA processes. Additional map attributes such as the Gauteng Conservation Plan and the Gauteng Environmental Management Framework were highlighted as valuable data layers to be included in the GIS database as it contributes greatly to decision-making. The third research objective aimed to spatially define the environmental maps in a Geographic Information System (GIS) database within the Gauteng Province boundary. The theory of ideal requirements distilled was used to design a spatial database capable of including and presenting all the legally required map attributes within the Gauteng Province for the five (5) types of Environmental Authorisations. The data indicated that although such an environmental GIS database would provide great value to the industry, it would have to overcome certain limitations and concerns. One of the biggest concerns and limitation is the ability to retain relevant and updated information within such a database, as certain information is updated at such a pace that it would prove difficult and costly to provide a constantly updated version of data. Regardless of the concerns raised during the study, the data proves that a theory of such a GIS database for Environmental Authorisations would demonstrate great value to the various processes. The GIS database forms a user-friendly platform for both Environmental Consultants and Department Officials, consolidating all the required cartographical information layers for any of the five (5) types of Environmental Authorisations into one database for the Gauteng Province. The value of environmental maps within Environmental Authorisations was not only confirmed throughout this dissertation but provided enough evidence to envisage the evolution of environmental maps and the role it would play as an integral part of an application process.