Urban-Econ’s GIS Unit is based in the Eastern Cape office, Port Elizabeth. The Unit has had a great deal of experience in GIS modelling and mapping and has established good professional relationships with various private and public GIS organisations, thus developing an extensive GIS database. The database comprises of the latest spatial datasets used to offer cartographic and spatial analysis services to Urban-Econ’s nationwide offices. The GIS analysis tool is used to provide extra dimensions and depth to the firm’s research processes and results.

The unit utilises ArcGIS software for mass map production, spatial analysis and location assessments which have been applied for a extensively wide range of studies (i.e. Property Studies, LEDs, LSDFs and Impact Assessments) and purposes. Urban-Econ has recognised the importance of visually analysing geographic locations, especially for property development studies, in order to gain a better spatial understanding and representation of the market area and its often complex dynamics. The GIS tool is then effective to colourfully illustrate complex features in an easily understandable interface.

Some of the primary applications of GIS when undertaking a property study include, inter alia:

• Site location
• Land use
• Zonings
• Mapping of current market supply and market competitors
• Access, Transport and Road connectivity
• Mapping of economic data (GGP, Employment and Income)
• Mapping socio-economic data (Population density, HHI, etc.)
• Spatial Calculations

Urban-Econ’s GIS unit is headed by Tamara Mazana.

Tamara has obtained a BTech. IT (GIS) degree at NMMU. Tamara has received a Merit Award at NMMU in 2007 and was awarded for Academic achiever in 2008 also at NMMU. She is currently doing her MSc. GISc through a distance learning programme at the University of Salzburg.