Foreword

Abstract

Welcome to the first issue of the South African Journal of Geomatics. The journal has its genesis in the desire of a group of academics to create a South African peer-reviewed journal covering the broad field of geomatics, set in an African context. The emphasis is on a peer-reviewed journal, publishing the results of original research. However, that does not mean that review articles and theme-based issues of the journal are excluded.

The journal builds upon and is, in some sense, a resurrection of the South African Journal of Surveying & Geo-Information, which started out in 1923 as the South African Survey Journal. It is the intention of the Editorial Board that the journal appear bi-annually. However, the frequency of publication and, indeed, the future of the journal depends very much upon the support given to it by the geomatics profession. Without a steady stream of high-quality article submissions the journal will falter and fail.

Prior to establishing the journal, the Management Board, led by Prof. Julian Smit, considered the various options available for publication, including a printed version. However, it was felt that a purely electronic version was the most cost-effective, and allowed the Board to provide a journal with no subscription, publication or viewing fees. Nevertheless, there are still costs involved, primarily in setting up and managing the journal web page. These costs are initially being borne by CONSAS Conference, who organised the recent highly successful AfricaGeo conference. The South African Geomatics Institute and the Geo-Information Society of South Africa are also supporting this venture. Although the journal is open to all who have access to the internet, readers are encouraged to register (no charge). Not only will this give us information on the size of our readership, but all registered readers will receive an emailed table of contents when each issue is published.

This first issue draws upon papers presented at AfricaGeo, suitably updated and expanded upon. The next issue (due in July/August 2012) will cover the broad spectrum of geomatics in southern Africa.

Your editor is a beginner editor and will make mistakes and will need all the support he can get from readers, authors and reviewers. Please be gentle in pointing out his errors. Authors are encouraged to read and abide by the Author Guidelines - it will make my life so much easier. Reviewers are always in short supply - if you are willing and able to act as a reviewer, please register as one, indicating your areas of expertise. Enjoy your reading.