Research Publications (Accounting and Informatics)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/212

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The adoption of an intelligent waste collection system in a smart city
(IEEE, 2023-03) Mthethwa, Simphiwe M.; Xulu, Thuthukani; Msani, Nonsikelelo N.; Mohlakoana, Thuso T.; Ndlovu, Experience E.; Aroba, Oluwasegun Julius
Solid waste management has become a significant concern in environmental issues. This can be a problem, especially in cities where the population is quickly developing, and the sum of waste produced is expanding like never before. Programs for innovative city waste can help raise proficiency, diminish costs, and improve the aesthetics of open places as cities endeavor to oversee waste in public regions effectively. This study enhances intelligent waste systems by developing innovative technologies and software as additional tools for collection. This research demonstrates how the SQERT model, a periodic trend analysis report specific to projects, will be used to assess the intelligent waste management system and the proposed software technology. Furthermore, A software prototype visualization was created to demonstrate and show how the software system will look and its functionalities to improve the waste collection system.
Adoption of smart traffic system to reduce traffic congestion in a smart city
(Springer Nature Switzerland, 2023) Aroba, Oluwasegun Julius; Mabuza, Phumla; Mabaso, Andile; Sibisi, Phethokuhle
Cities across the world suffer significantly from traffic congestion. Governments are trying to harness the power of today's computing, networking, and communication technologies to build system that can improve the efficiency of current road traffic and conditions. The study investigated the purpose efficiencies of intelligent system to assess their performance. Considering the findings, it can be said that traffic flow forecasting (TFF) possibilities are numerous, involve a variety of technologies, and can significantly reduce most traffic issues in smart cities. The studies were later evaluated to find similarities, content, benefits, and disadvantages of traffic congestion. By applying the project management tools such as the performance metrics and SQERT model were used to evaluate and prioritize the state-of-the-art methods. A classical model was proposed to improve upon and determine the traffic dangers that affect road users and aggregate the information about traffic from vehicles, traffic lights, and roadside sensors. These on-road sensors (ORS) performance are used for analyses such are vehicle classification, speed calculations, and vehicle counts.
Data augmentation for deep learning algorithms that perform driver drowsiness detection
(The Science and Information Organization, 2023-01) Mohamed, Ghulam Masudh; Patel, Sulaiman Saleem; Naicker, Nalindren
Driver drowsiness is one of the main causes of driver-related motor vehicle collisions, as this impairs a person’s concentration whilst driving. With the enhancements of computer vision and deep learning (DL), driver drowsiness detection systems have been developed previously, in an attempt to improve road safety. These systems experienced performance degradation under real-world testing due to factors such as driver movement and poor lighting. This study proposed to improve the training of DL models for driver drowsiness detection by applying data augmentation (DA) techniques that model these real-world scenarios. This paper studies six DL models for driver drowsiness detection: four configurations of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), two custom configurations as well as the architectures designed by the Visual Geometry Group (VGG) (i.e. VGG16 and VGG19); a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) and a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). These DL models were trained using two datasets of eye images, where the state of eye (open or closed) is used in determining driver drowsiness. The performance of the DL models was measured with respect to accuracy, F1-Score, precision, negative class precision, recall and specificity. When comparing the performance of DL models trained on datasets with and without DA in aggregation, it was found that all metrics were improved. After removing outliers from the results, it was found that the average improvement in both accuracy and F1 score due to DA was +4.3%. Furthermore, it is shown that the extent to which the DA techniques improve DL model performance is correlated with the inherent model performance. For DL models with accuracy and F1-Score ≤ 90%, results show that the DA techniques studied should improve performance by at least +5%
The effect of biographical variables on self-efficacy of management accounting students
(AMH International Conferences and Seminars Organizing LLC, 2022) Naidoo, S. K.
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether biographical variables such as Gender, Race, Home District, School (urban/rural) and Language proficiency play any role in the Self-efficacy of Cost and Management Accounting (CMA) students and to assess whether Self-efficacy. A descriptive, longitudinal, and mixed-methods approach was used in this paper. In the current study, the quasi-experimental design used for the pre-test and post-test control groups was non-equivalent. The population targeted was CMA students. A census survey was performed. The comparative analysis between the variables revealed no significant difference. However, females, Africans, Urban Home District, Urban School, and English Second Language learners scored more in the post-test. The paper recommends that the implementation of General Education modules into the curriculum be instituted. Additionally, current learners appear to have very poor General Education skills, and respondents themselves believed that self-efficacy can have a positive impact on academic performance
Estimating effect of total specific atmospheric attenuation on performance of FSO communication link in South Africa
(Engineering and Technology Publishing, 2022) Maswikaneng, Solly P.; Adebusola, Samuel O.; Owolawi, Pius A.; Ojo, Sunday O.
In comparison with Radio Frequency (RF), the Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) provides higher bandwidth, free license operation, and less initial expenditure. However, its susceptibility to changes in atmospheric weather conditions. In this paper, the impact of irradiance fluctuation on FSO systems was estimated using Rytov theory for major cities in South Africa. The extent to which the refractive index structure parameter, propagation distance and link margin affect the optical signal power at the receiver is discussed and the different methods used in evaluating the atmospheric turbulence effect are investigated. In order to achieve the stated aim, meteorological data, altitude, visibility, and wind speed were obtained from the archive of South Africa Weather Services for a period of 3years (2016-2018) over seven locations which include Cape Town, Pretoria, Upington, Bloemfontein, Emalahleni, Polokwane, East London. Results show that Emalahleni was found to possess the poor visibility of 4.4 km because of foggy conditions due to the activities of miners and other environmental factors, followed by East London with average visibility of 4.8 km. From the analysis of link margin, it was shown that FSO link attenuation reduces at higher wavelengths and long link distances due to the effect of geometric and atmospheric losses. The results show that the rate of decrease in link margin is much higher in the inland regions as compared to the coastal regions; therefore, FSO systems are prone to outage during high rainfall and longer range of connections.
Experimenting on the added value of M-learning for the teaching of word problems
(2012) Cassim, K. M.; Eyono Obono, Seraphim Desire
The aim of this paper is to examine the use of Mobile Learning (M-learning) for the teaching of word problems. This aim is achieved by qualitatively analyzing interviews data from three second grade teachers from urban and rural schools from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province of South Africa. These teachers were interviewed after the participation of their learners in an experiment in which M-learning was used for word problems homework. Results from this experiment indicate that M-learning improves learners’ performance, attitudes and excitement with regard to word problems. All the teachers interviewed were satisfied with the use of M-learning for the teaching of word problems, and they all agreed on its usefulness, effectiveness and efficiency. However, there were some minor differences of opinions among the teachers on the ease-of-use and on the reliability of the cellular phone application used in the experiment. The novelty of this study can mainly be credited to its focus on the use of cell phone based M-learning for the teaching of word problems, compared to existing literature usually concerned with software applications either for the teaching of algebra and geometry in mathematics or, for teaching in general.
ILS: towards an alternative qualification model for information and libraries in the African context
(2007) Raju, Jayarani
It is important for Africa to blaze its own unique path in terms of developing ILS qualification models that would be realistic and relevant to the African context and, importantly, add value to African library and information services which have a crucial role to play in the growth and development of the continent. Towards this end, a research project is currently being undertaken in South Africa where, as part of the project, work environments in other disciplines such as journalism, health care and engineering are being empirically investigated and compared with LIS services in terms of job functions and higher education qualification types required to fulfill these job functions. The intention is to see if perhaps there are any innovations, lessons or best practices that the ILS profession can draw from these disciplines in terms of staff structures in LIS services, job functions of incumbents, and qualification requirements defining these structures and functions. The purpose of this paper is to report on some of the preliminary findings in an initial and novel comparison involving public, academic and special libraries, and engineering firms, newspaper houses and health care services in an African city. The findings, in the main, reveal that other disciplines seem to embrace vocational institutions, such as universities of technology, in the work place much more than the LIS work environment. The paper recommends that African models in ILS education and training should break the traditional alignment with western grown qualification models. It needs to draw lessons from work place practices in other disciplines and from innovative work place behavior within the ILS discipline evident in the preliminary findings presented in this paper, and more fully utilize qualification products from non traditional university institutions which often are the only tertiary level institutions many African school leavers are able to access. At the same time African ILS qualification models should afford articulation means that provide opportunities for further education and development of these individuals. In reporting these initial findings the paper also interrogates issues such as vocational higher education institutions like the emerging universities of technology and the value and role of their ILS qualifications in the African context vis á vis those of the traditional universities, the role and contribution of the ILS paraprofessional to African LIS services, and the issue of articulation between higher education qualification types and the relevance of this for ILS education in Africa.
Information services for a sustainable society
(De Gruyter, 2023-07-10) Chikonzo, Agnes C.; Muziringa, Masimba C.; Chisita, Collen Takaingenhamo; Enakrire, Rexwhite Tega; Fombad,, Madeleine C.; Chisita, Collence Takaingenhamo; Onyancha, Omwoyo Bosire; Minishi-Majanja, Mabel K.
Abstract: At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified in Wuhan, a city in China. It rapidly spread worldwide, resulting in a global pandemic declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2019. The government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 20, 2020, and quickly responded by instituting infection prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The government encouraged the public to remain in their homes, work from home, practice hand hygiene, adopt physical distancing, and wear face masks in all public places. These measures meant all schools and universities closed for face-to-face contact learning and adopted e-learning. Librarians, as trusted lieutenants for access to quality information working with scientists, have a vital role in combating disinformation. This chapter reports on a qualitative content analysis of posts on COVID-19 on the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) digital platforms. The UZ Library responded with an implementation framework and adapted proven techniques to empower researchers and students with tools to address harmful and false information. The chapter presents the key lessons learned in addressing science disinformation at the peak of the information disorder. The implications of science disinformation to the library practice post the pandemic are explored, along with the impact of the pandemic on staff skills development and service delivery in what has become known as the new normal.
The state of digital records preservation in South Africa's public sector in the 21st century : a literature review
(Emerald, 2022-06-01) Matlala, Mpubane Emanuel; Ncube, Thandukwazi Richman; Parbanath, Steven
This study aims to assess the status of the digital records preservation practices in the South African public sector at the national department level. It set out to establish to what extent digital preservation policies have been implemented in South Africa’s public sector, to determine the related skills and competency of public sector staff, and to make any necessary recommendations of the basis of the results. Design/methodology/approach A content review of Southern Africa literature dealing with the preservation of digital records, its importance and related factors over the past 20 years was conducted. Findings The current state of preservation of South African digital records suggests serious consequences of existing knowledge and training gaps. Addressing those gaps may provide the knowledge needed to support new ways of working. Records management professionals in the South African public sector at the national department level are currently ill-equipped to adequately preserve digital records. This complicates the application of tools offered by the information and communication technologies that have resulted in increased creation of digital records. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to only the public sector of South Africa. Practical implications The study makes practical implications concerning the policy framework for improving the state of digital preservation in South Africa so as to ensure long-term preservation of digital records. For instance, government departments are recommended to formulate and implement in-house policy frameworks, guidelines and plans that address digital preservation of records. Social implications Sufficient funding and resource allocation ought to be provided to advance electronic records management programmes. In addition, the formulation of proper strategies needed to preserve digital records should incorporate technological tools and media software in the existing operations for the creation, capturing, appraising and preserving of digital records. Originality/value This study offers informed recommendations to address the challenges of preserving digital records in South Africa so that future losses may be avoided and allow readers to see changes over the 20-year period.