Abstract

NaHSLI: A South African catalogue of habitable land
Track: Urban and Regional Planning
Authors: Karishma Busgeeth, Joseph Leshabane, Johan Minnie

The South African National Human Settlements Land Inventory (NaHSLI) is a comprehensive, multi-dimensional catalogue of habitable land (i.e. fit for human habitation). Using ArcGIS technology and multi criteria evaluation methods, NaHSLI presents a national tool that is based on the geospatial analysis of the natural, regulatory, social and natural environment context within which a Habitable Land Profile for South Africa has been developed. Further, the tool facilitates the identification of non-habitable land and risk prone areas, informs users (i.e. planners) where human settlements could be best located and gives an insight into the development potential of the habitable land. This paper will present an exposition on the techniques used and will demonstrate how the series of spatial indices developed are guiding the Housing Development Agency in identifying suitable, available, accessible and livelihood land. Lastly, we will also demonstrate how NaHSLI lends itself to the functions of choice, governance and sustainability.