Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

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    Description and ecology of Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) Radcl.-Sm. in Namibia.
    (Namibian Scientific Society., 2002) Graz, F. P.
    The Manketti, Mangongo or Mangetti, Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) Radcl.-Sm is an indigenous tree in Namibia, the fruit of which are of significant socio-economic value. The tree occurs in what appears to be even aged groves on deep sand, as part of the dry savanna woodlands. Natural regeneration in the woodland areas seems to be scarce, although some success has been achieved by planting truncheons.
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    Description and ecology of Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) Radcl.-Sm. in Namibia
    (NUST, 2002-02) Graz, F.P
    The Manketti, Mangongo or Mangetti, Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) Radcl.-Sm is an indigenous tree in Namibia, the fruit of which are of significant socio-economic value. The tree occurs in what appears to be even aged groves on deep sand, as part of the dry savanna woodlands. Natural regeneration in the woodland areas seems to be scarce, although some success has been achieved by planting truncheons.
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    Fire damage to Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) trees in north-eastern Namibia.
    (Namibian Scientific Society., 2003) Graz, F. P.
    The nuts of the Mangetti, Schinziophyton rautanenii, are an important food source for a number of rural communities. The environment in which the tree grows, however, is subject to frequent burning. A number of trees have been seen with a characteristic inverted U-shaped fire lesion on the base of the trunk. A collapsed trunk as well as a vertical scar in the same tree showed that heavy branches or a second trunk may collapse under their own weight, thus providing a point for fire entry.
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    Fire damage to Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) trees in north-eastern Namibia.
    (NUST, 2003-05) Graz, F.P.
    The nuts of the Mangetti, Schinziophyton rautanenii, are an important food source for a number of rural communities. The environment in which the tree grows, however, is subject to frequent burning. A number of trees have been seen with a characteristic inverted U-shaped fire lesion on the base of the trunk. A collapsed trunk as well as a vertical scar in the same tree showed that heavy branches or a second trunk may collapse under their own weight, thus providing a point for fire entry.
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    The Cost of Land Registration: a Case Study of Cost Efficiency in Namibia.
    (International Institute of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Enschede, Netherlands, 2003-06) De Vries, W.T.; Georgiadou, P.Y (Yola).; Lewis, J.
    In the light of the global discussion on reducing public and private expenditure on cadastral processes and services, this article reviews the transaction costs of land registration, based on data gathered in Namibia. The data show a large differentiation in the types of costs incurred in the process, as well as various levels of cost recovery. In addition, the degree to which delays in the operational registration processes influence the total cost to land developers and landowners is reviewed.
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    Spatial diversity of dry savanna woodlands: Assessing the spatial diversity of a dry savanna woodland stand in northern Namibia using neighbourhood-based measures.
    (Kluwer Academic Publishers., 2004) Graz, F.P.
    The dry woodland savannas of Namibia are of significant socio-economic importance. The paper tests the suitability of a number of diversity indicators developed for species poor systems in Europe in the woodland context. The indicators that were tested included the species significant mingling index, MSp, the measure of surround and the uniform angle index. The simple application of the methods permit relatively unschooled crews to conduct an enumeration in the field. The results show that the indicators do not only display current diversity status, but also reflect the ecological context of the individual species.
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    Description and ecology of pterocarpus angolensis in Namibia.
    (Namibian Scientific Society., 2004) Graz, F. P.
    The tree Pterocarpus angolensis is an important component of the dry woodland savanna of northern Namibia. Its timber provides the basic resource for much of the carvings in Namibia. Unfortunately little management, particularly regeneration, has been implemented in the country and current exploitation practices amount to mining of the species.
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    Spatial diversity of dry savanna woodlands: Assessing the spatial diversity of a dry savanna woodland stand in northern Namibia using neighbourhood-based measures.
    (Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004) Graz, F. P.
    The dry woodland savannas of Namibia are of significant socio-economic importance. The paper tests the suitability of a number of diversity indicators developed for species poor systems in Europe in the woodland context. The indicators that were tested included the species significant mingling index, MSp, the measure of surround and the uniform angle index. The simple application of the methods permit relatively unschooled crews to conduct an enumeration in the field. The results show that the indicators do not only display current diversity status, but also reflect the ecological context of the individual species.
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    Application of a total station in savanna vegetation surveys.
    (Namibian Scientific Society., 2004) Graz, F. P.
    The article describes the methods used to obtain data with the use of a total station. The advantage of the proposed method is the ease with which data for investigation of spatial relationships between plants and topographical features may be obtained. In addition to location, the total station can be used to assess some plant parameters such as plant height, crown spread, trunk size and others.
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    Description and ecology of pterocarpus angolensis in Namibia.
    (NUST, 2004-05) Graz, F.P.
    The tree Pterocarpus angolensis is an important component of the dry woodland savanna of northern Namibia. Its timber provides the basic resource for much of the carvings in Namibia. Unfortunately little management, particularly regeneration, has been implemented in the country and current exploitation practices amount to mining of the species.
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    Application of a total station in savanna vegetation surveys.
    (NUST, 2004-05) Graz, F.P.
    The article describes the methods used to obtain data with the use of a total station. The advantage of the proposed method is the ease with which data for investigation of spatial relationships between plants and topographical features may be obtained. In addition to location, the total station can be used to assess some plant parameters such as plant height, crown spread, trunk size and others
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    Can mouse and keyboard chase out chalk and blackboard in engineering education?
    (Namibia Open Learning Network Trust (NOLNET), 2005) Oyedokun, Zacchaeus; Oyedokun, Comfort
    The face-to-face method of instruction has dominated the teaching arena from time immemorial. However the rapid advances in information, computer and communication technology is rapidly changing the mode of knowledge transfer from teacher to learner. Remote classrooms and the virtual environment has seen the distribution of learning in time and space. However, there are challenges that must be faced in order for this mode of teaching to permeate all corners of knowledge transfer. There has been some resistance to adopting virtual classroom in practical-intensive, equation-laden courses. This paper discusses strategies that may be employed to surmount the hurdles. It shows that developing a digital learning suite is a prerequisite to successful floating of laboratory and/or equation intensive courses. The digital learning suite is a prerequisite to floating engineering courses in a virtual learning platform where the chalk and blackboard has been replaced by mouse and keyboard.
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    Optimising learning outcome via project-baased learning in the production of technicians.
    (Session M3G, 2006) Oyedokun, Zacchaeus
    The Department of Electrical Engineering runs a multi-exit level programs where student can obtain a National Diploma or the Bachelor of Technology. One of the requirements of the program is for graduates to be industry-ready and globally marketable. Project-based learning was adopted in the Department to produce graduates that are nationally relevant, industry compliant and globally marketable. Design Project 3 is one such course that gives the graduates an apex outcome and a cutting edge advantage in the market place. This was designed to improve employability of the graduates.
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    Are urban land tenure regulations in Namibia the solution or the problem?
    (Taylor & Francis, 2009) De Vries, Walter; Lewis, Joe
    Land tenure in Namibia is regulated by a variety of Acts, some of which date back to as far as 1937, and some of which are yet to be approved by Cabinet. This variety of Acts makes it difficult to evaluate the performance of land administration as a whole, and the appropriateness of coercive instruments with regards to urban land tenure in particular. In this article we evaluate how urban land tenure regularization practices are conducted in Namibia, and to compare new formal procedures, designed to address problems of efficiency and efficacy, to older existing procedures, supposedly not efficient or effective. This evaluation uses a theoretical framework of (Pritchett and Woolcock, 2004) , which deals with public service delivery and transaction-intensive services. Applying this framework for a comparative analysis of 5 different land subdivision practices – each relying on a different land-related act - we conclude that the degree of regulation and regularization is perhaps not so much a solution for urban land tenure problems but perhaps more of a problem in itself.
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    Development of a sun tracking system for a small solar concentrator.
    (NUST, 2010) Mutaleni, C.; Bishi, Isabel; Zulu, Andrew; Swaminathan, Rajaram
    An automatic sun tracking system was extended to a parabolic dish solar concentrator which can be used to cook or heat water. Parabolic dish solar concentrator has been in use couple of decades ago but has been tracking the sun manually. The automatic sun tracking system was incorporated on the parabolic dish with success and it works satisfactory. Every time the dish was left in the sun, it was found facing the sun as expected. These systems has been researched and developed before and applied on large scale applications like solar power generation plants and small electricity generation projects for remote areas which are not connected to national power grids.
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    Design and development of solar concentrator for thermal applications.
    (NUST, 2010) Bishi, Isabel; Zulu, Andrew; Swaminathan, Rajaram
    Parabolic mirror surfaces are found wherever energy needs to be focused effectively and accurately. They are found built into car headlights, spotlights as well as astronomical telescopes. This research concerns the study of transformation of solar energy into thermal energy and focusing this energy at a point to heat water. In this document the parabola was explored to design a simple, cheap and effective solar water heater. Local communities in Namibia can produce similar water heaters using available materials and the fuel; sunlight is abundant throughout the year in most areas. The main part of the heater, the collector can have any shiny material as long as it refracts the sun’s rays. In this project a parabolic solar concentrator was designed and constructed to heat water at the focal point, which is then stored in a tank for use.
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    Assessing Namibia’s performance two decades after independence.
    (2011) Christiansen, T.
    This paper presents the results of a study which reviews Namibia’s performance over its two decades since independence. The study examines the achievements and shortcomings of the country in various fields: politics, civil society, economy, and social / socio-economic development. The results have been split into two separate but interconnected papers. This first article analyses Namibia’s situation at the dawn of independence, its external support by foreign countries and Namibia’s overall performance as compared to the neighbouring countries Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The present paper evaluates in particular data drawn from the World Bank Development Indicator Database and the 2010 Ibrahim-Index of African Governance. A subsequent second paper will present a more detailed appraisal of the above-mentioned development sectors
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    Assessing Namibia’s performance two decades after independence. Part 2: Sectoral Analysis.
    (2011) Christiansen, T.
    This paper presents the results of a study which reviews Namibia’s performance over its two decades since independence. The study examines the achievements and shortcomings of the country in various fields: politics, civil society, economy, and social / socio-economic development. The results have been split into two separate but interconnected papers. This first article analyses Namibia’s situation at the dawn of independence, its external support by foreign countries and Namibia’s overall performance as compared to the neighbouring countries Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The present paper evaluates in particular data drawn from the World Bank Development Indicator Database and the 2010 Ibrahim-Index of African Governance. A subsequent second paper will present a more detailed appraisal of the above-mentioned development sectors.