Petter Pilesjö
Professor
Investigating Spatial Data Infrastructure Planning in Tanzania using System Modelling and Social Concepts
Author
Summary, in English
Spatial Data Infrastructure is one of the requirements for sustainable development and many countries worldwide are at different stages of implementation. Several researchers have shown that SDI has helped governments to recover funds due to reduction in duplication of efforts and also has increased efficiency in resource management and planning.
Tanzania as other developing countries, is at initial stages of establishing the National SDI with a policy proposal and the national steering committee in place. However, lack of knowledge and experience among the stakeholders, complexity and dynamics of its components and their interaction are major challenges that hamper the growth of SDI. Although many studies have explained the complexity and dynamics of SDI, little has been done that involves stakeholders to model complexities for more reliable plans.
In this thesis, social concepts and system modelling are used to understand SDI planning process in Tanzania. Input data were obtained based on mixed methods approach, including questionnaire survey and workshops involving local and central government officials and other stakeholders that are producers or users of spatial data. This thesis begins with the application of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) for understanding spatial data sharing and the results showed that TPB was effective in accounting for intention to share spatial data in Tanzania.
Second part was a methodology for SDI planning in Tanzania based on system dynamics technique and the community of practice concept where an optimum model was developed with consensus of SDI stakeholders. The model, gave the
planners an insight about the future effects of today’s plans and decisions. The proposed models and concepts are highly recommended for SDI planning and for raising awareness to gain support from policy makers.
Third part was on investigating the Agent Based Modelling (ABM) approach for simulating SDI development. The output was evaluated and was within a reasonable range and depicted the main attributes, roles and interactions of agents. The results will help SDI planners and other stakeholders in making reliable SDI strategic plans.
Finally a case study for an operational SDI was demonstrated. A land use plan was proposed based on a spatial Multi-Objective Optimization approach where influencing conflicting factors needed to be considered and satisfied. NSGA II
algorithm was used in optimization. The proposed approach and output can considerably facilitate land use planning. Similar approaches are highly recommended for other countries in Africa of which their cities are under development.
Tanzania as other developing countries, is at initial stages of establishing the National SDI with a policy proposal and the national steering committee in place. However, lack of knowledge and experience among the stakeholders, complexity and dynamics of its components and their interaction are major challenges that hamper the growth of SDI. Although many studies have explained the complexity and dynamics of SDI, little has been done that involves stakeholders to model complexities for more reliable plans.
In this thesis, social concepts and system modelling are used to understand SDI planning process in Tanzania. Input data were obtained based on mixed methods approach, including questionnaire survey and workshops involving local and central government officials and other stakeholders that are producers or users of spatial data. This thesis begins with the application of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) for understanding spatial data sharing and the results showed that TPB was effective in accounting for intention to share spatial data in Tanzania.
Second part was a methodology for SDI planning in Tanzania based on system dynamics technique and the community of practice concept where an optimum model was developed with consensus of SDI stakeholders. The model, gave the
planners an insight about the future effects of today’s plans and decisions. The proposed models and concepts are highly recommended for SDI planning and for raising awareness to gain support from policy makers.
Third part was on investigating the Agent Based Modelling (ABM) approach for simulating SDI development. The output was evaluated and was within a reasonable range and depicted the main attributes, roles and interactions of agents. The results will help SDI planners and other stakeholders in making reliable SDI strategic plans.
Finally a case study for an operational SDI was demonstrated. A land use plan was proposed based on a spatial Multi-Objective Optimization approach where influencing conflicting factors needed to be considered and satisfied. NSGA II
algorithm was used in optimization. The proposed approach and output can considerably facilitate land use planning. Similar approaches are highly recommended for other countries in Africa of which their cities are under development.
Department/s
- Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Publishing year
2019-11-15
Language
English
Full text
Document type
Dissertation
Publisher
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Faculty of Science, Lund University
Topic
- Physical Geography
Keywords
- Spatial Data Infrastructure
- System Dynamics technique
- Agent Based Modeling
- Community of Practice
- Multi- Objective Optimization
- Land use planning
Status
Published
Supervisor
- Petter Pilesjö
- Micael Runnström
- David Mfinanga
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 978-91-985015-0-6
- ISBN: 978-91-985016-9-8
Defence date
17 December 2019
Defence time
10:00
Defence place
Pangea Auditorium, Geocentrum II, Sölvegatan 12, Lund
Opponent
- Alexandre Gonçalves (Assistant Professor)