Draft GISc B Hon/ BSc/Professional Degree Framework

Level NQF 8. Minimum 480 credits

The workforce and competency requirements of a GISc technicians is defined in terms of the Geomatics Act 19 of 2013, section 2(a). This implies an
understanding of sub-sections 2(a)(i), (ii), (iii) & (v) and an advance knowledge of sub-section (iv). The difference between the GISc Technologist and GISc
Professional is one year of study at NQF level 8 (including a research project), implying that the GISc Professional has more advanced theoretical knowledge
and accountability than a GISc Technologist.
To be used in conjuction with knowledge area (KA) content specifications Date Approved: 22 April 2015
One credit is considered to be 10 hours of notional learning
KA teaching may be included in more than one course / module
10% leeway per KA is allowed as long as there is no material impact on the qualification
Total
Credits
Knowledge area (KA) Outcomes Units Themes and key words credits %
for Unit
for KA
GSc: Geographical science Understanding
Geographical sience as it 24 5
relates to GISc
GSc1 Area and spatial Comprises the reading, analysis and interpretation of
analysis spatial information; Basic concepts and terminology.
Place and landscape. Broader understanding of what
GIS is and what it involves. Geography as a foundation
for GIS. Historical perspective. Application fields. 12
Understand different fields contributing and forming
part of GISc. Components of a GIS. Functionality,
analysis and processess involved.

GSc2 Earth and GIS in earth and environmental studies:

environmental science A combination of any of the following: Climatology,
Geomorphology, Hydrology, Ecology structural
geology, engineering geology, interpretation of
geological maps, integrated environmental
management, environmental impact assessment,
development science and theory, urban systems and 12
human settlement, population geography, Disasters
(natural and manmade), sustainable development,
natural environmental systems (water, atmospheric,
oceanographic, fauna/flora etc.), tourism, conservation
(natural or heritage), climate change:

MS: Mathematics and Applying mathematics

statistics and statistics in solving 48 10
GISc related problems
 MS1 Mathematics: Differential and integral calculus of functions of one
Introduction to higher variable, differential equations, partial derivatives,
mathematics and problem Taylor series, mean value theorem, solving systems of
solving. linear and non-linear equations, trigonometric
functions, hyperbolic functions, conic sections,
complex numbers, vector geometry, matrix algebra,
eigen vectors and values, linear transformations, space 48
curves and surfaces, differential geometry. Series and
polynomials. Basic statistics: regression, distributions,
error theory, correlation, sampling. including sets,
probability, permutations and combinations, and
mean, standard deviation.
PS: Physical science Understanding the
principles of Physics in
geomatics practice,
12 3
instrumentation and
technology related to GISc

PS1 Kinematics, Newton’s Kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy,

laws of motion, Friction, power, rotational dynamics, torque, angular
Momentum, and work. momentum, gravity, periodic motion, simple harmonic
motion, interference, wave motion, diffraction, 12
refraction and reflection of waves, Doppler effect,
electricity and magnetism, electromagnetic spectrum.
Optics.
AM: Analytical methods Understanding and
applying different
48 10
analytical methods related
to GISc
AM3 Geometric measures Distances and lengths; direction; shape; area; volume
proximity and distance decay; adjacency and 12
connectivity; Terrain Analysis.
AM4 Basic analytical Buffer; overlay; neighborhoods; map algebra
operations 12
AM5 Basic analytical methods Point pattern analysis; Kernels and density estimation;
Spatial cluster analysis; Spatial interaction; Analyzing
multidimensional attributes; Cartographic modeling;
Multi-criteria evaluation; Spatial process models;
12
Geostatistics; Network analysis.

AM7 Spatial statistics Graphical methods; Stochastic processes; The spatial

weights matrix; Global measures of spatial
association; Local measures of spatial association; 12
Outliers; Bayesian methods
CF: Conceptual Understanding the
Foundation information technology 24 5
environment
CF7 Introduction to Computer hardware, operating systems, data
information technology, communications (local and wide area cover networks),
domains and elements of word processing, spread sheets, internet, systems
geographical information development (including systems analysis and design),
distributed systems, CAD, security of systems and
data/information, data storage, data dissemination,
spatial data integration (coordinate systems,
projections, resembling rasters). Geographic
24
phenomena, geographic information, and geographic
tasks are described in terms of space,
time, and properties. Elements of GI i.e. discrete
entities, events and processes, fields in space and
time, integrated models.

CV: Cartography and Understanding and

visualization applying cartography and
24 5
visualization tecqniques

CV2 Data considerations Source materials for mapping; Data abstraction:

classification, selection, and generalization; 8
Projections as a map design issue.
CV3 Principles of map design Map design fundamentals; Basic concepts of
symbolization; Color for cartography and visualization;
Typography for cartography and visualization; Visual
perception, graphicacy, cartographic communication
(including information sense-making, information use
and information-knowledge transformation), graphic
space, symbology (point, line, area, pictorial, 3-D),
colour, cartographic design, typonomy, generalisation, 8
map use, multimedia mapping, data visualisation, 2-D
and 3-D visualisation, interactive maps, Web maps,
general purpose maps, relief representation, thematic
maps (including statistical mapping), Virtual globes.
Presentation and manipulation of point clouds.

CV6 Map use and evaluation The power of maps; Map reading; Map interpretation;
Map analysis; Evaluation and testing; Impact of 8
uncertainty.
DA: Design aspects Understanding and
applying the design
aspects of databases for
24 5
geospatial data,
 DA4 Database design Modeling tools; Conceptual model; Logical models;
Physical models.
24
DM: Data modelling Understanding and
applying DBMS and Data 36 8
modelling
DM2 Database management Co-evolution of DBMS and GIS; Relational DBMS;
systems Object-oriented DBMS; Object-relational DBM;
12
Extensions of the relational model. Data mining.
Spatial data structures i.e. lists, R- and KD-trees.
DM3 Tessellation data models Grid representations; The raster model; Grid
compression methods; The hexagonal model; Terrain
models including the Triangulated Irregular Network 12
(TIN) model; Resolution; Hierarchical data models.

DM4 Vector and object data Geometric primitives; The spaghetti model; The
models topological model; Classic vector data models; The
network model; Linear referencing; Object-based
12
spatial databases.
DN: Data manipulation Implementing data
manipulation in a GISc 24 5
environment.
DN1 Representation Impacts of transformations; Data model and format
transformation conversion; Interpolation; Vector-to-raster and raster-
to-vector conversions; Raster resampling; Coordinate 16
transformations; Data fusion.

DN2 Generalization and Scale and generalization, caveats of generalising

aggregation algorithms (Douglas-Peuker) and auto-snap-up
routines; Approaches to point, line, and area
8
generalization; Classification and transformation of
attribute measurement levels; Aggregation of spatial
entities.
GC: Geocomputation Compiling basic computer
programmes in a
36 8
geographical information
system.
GC10 Computer programming Algorithms; Standard query language (SQL);
Imperative and functional programming language;
Agent based models; Celular automata; Software 36
development for desktop and mobile devices.

GD: Geospatial data Understanding working

with Geospatial data 72 15
GD1 Earth geometry Earth’s shape; geoid, spheres and ellipsoids
8
GD3 Georeferencing systems Geographic coordinate system; Plane coordinate
systems; Linear referencing systems. Two- and three-
dimensional coordinate systems, grid reference 8
systems, geographical coordinates; SA Survey co-
ordinate system and UTM system.
GD4 Datums Horizontal datums; Vertical datums. Reference
datums. 8

GD5 Map projections Map projection types and characteristics;

Georeferencing; mathematical models of projection
and projection properties; Reprojections. 8

GD6 Data quality Primary and secondary sources, Geometric accuracy;

Thematic accuracy; Logical consistency, Resolution;
Precision; Metadata. Completeness and temporal 8
quality. Digitsing and editing of data.

GD7 Land surveying, land law Survey theory and electro-optical methods; Land law:
and GPS/GNSS South African cadastral survey system and the Land
Survey Act and Regulations, registration 12
[Link] Positioning System (GNSS).
GD10 Aerial imaging and Principles of analogue and digital photography,
photogrammetry photogrammetric measurement and data processing
including geometry of images, relative and absolute
orientation, bundle adjustment and aero triangulation,
ortho-rectification, mosaicing, digital elevation models. 8
Accuracy and reliability assessment of
photogrammetrically derived data, image (photo)
interpretation, creation of 3D computer model of
landscapes settlements and buildings. Virtual globes.
 GD11 Satellite and shipboard Earth radiation model and electro-magnetic spectrum,
remote sensing electo-magnetic energy in remote sensing, sensor
systems (airborne, space borne and terrestrial),
satellite orbits, geometry of sensors and sensor
systems (airborne and satellite), acquisition of images,
image media and formats incl. image compression.
Nature of multispectral image data; Platforms and
12
sensors; Algorithms and processing; Ground
verification and accuracy assessment; Applications and
settings; image processing (including image
enhancement, image feature extraction, classification).
Application of terrestial and aerial laser scanning.
Hyperspectral; radar remote sensing.

GS: GI S&T and society Applying professionalism

and ethics in the GISc
12 3
environment

GS6 Ethical aspects of Ethics and professionalism in the GISc practice; Codes
geospatial information and of ethics for geospatial professionals; Codes of conduct
technology in the GISc field. Legislation regulating the profession. 6
Intellectual property rights and copyright, privacy
rights
GS8 Business and project Effective communication within the built environment
management (written and spoken communication, communication in
the workplace); Management functions (planning,
controlling, organising, decision-making), human
resource management, financial management and
management accounting, marketing and client 6
relations, labour legislation, taxation, project planning,
costing, resource allocation, project control and
reporting, business communication, report writing,
contract law. Risk management and Health and Safety
management
OI: Organizational and Operating in the
institutional aspects Geomatics Industry 12 3
OI5 Institutional and Spatial data infrastructures; Adoption of standards;
interinstitutional aspects Metadata; Data transfer and exchange; Spatial data
sharing among organizations; Openness; Balancing
data access, security, and privacy; Implications of 8
distributed GI S&T; Inter-organisational and vendor GI
systems (software, hardware and systems). Data
warehousing.
 OI6 Coordinating National and international organisations and programs;
organisations (National and State and regional coordinating bodies; Professional
international) organizations; Publications; The geospatial 4
community; The geospatial industry

Credits for specialisation

48 10
Maximum three core KAs 48
RM: Research Undertaking research,
methodology compile technical and 36 8
project reports
RM1 Portfolio of evidence Mini thesis demonstrating research and practical skills
in the application of relevant competencies applied in 36
the GISc field.

Total 480 480 100