Incorporating local participation and GIS in assessing flood vulnerability in informal settlements : Masiphumelele case study

Abstract

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.The case study applies a GIS-based methodology to assess the vulnerability of Masiphumelele, to both wetland flooding and coastal storm surges. This informal settlement, south of Cape Town has rapidly expanded since its inception 20 years ago, and large numbers of economic migrants largely from the Eastern Cape have swelled the population and over-whelmed the local infrastructure. The settlement is now expanding northwards in a largely uncontrolled fashion into an ecologically important wetland