SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply basic Geo-Information System (GIS) raster software functions 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116901  Apply basic Geo-Information System (GIS) raster software functions 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Geographical Information Sciences 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Physical Planning, Design and Management 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will prepare people who wish to learn how to use raster GIS software. This unit standard is an entry-level education for persons who enter the GIS field and wish to learn how to use raster GIS Software.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Launch an application and access raster geo-information
  • Perform basic queries and data manipulation
  • Produce basic GI outputs. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Operate PC peripherals.
  • Operate PC System.
  • Use PC Operating System.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of and produce a presentation using basic functions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and produce spreadsheets using basic functions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and produce documents with Word Processors using basic functions 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard should be measured against one of the currently well-known used raster software products in SA. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Launch an application and access raster geo-information. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Access, Log In, Select correct files/links, view control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Ascertain the relevant metadata characteristics. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Datum, projection parameters, coverage, unit, spatial resolution, temporal resolution, spectral resolution.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Select the colour model to use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Pseudo colour, RGB, HSI (Hue, Saturation and Intensity), Palettes.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Select appropriate bands according to specification. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Open and display raster file. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Spatial Data are displayed appropriately. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Perform basic data manipulation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Data are re-classified according to application requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Includes but no limited to: Categorisation, classification, re-grouping (arithmetical, geometrical, statistical).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Data are generalised according to application requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Re-sampling (nearest neighbour, bi-variate, cubic).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Perform colour enhancement by applying histogram stretching. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Create and apply a colour palette according to specifications. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Perform basic queries on raster data. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Query Cell values profile. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including but not limited to: co-ordinates, cell band values, attribute values.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Query Image Properties. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including but not limited to: Min-Max, number of bands, data distribution histogram, summary of class statistics (number, frequency).
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Produce basic geo-information outputs. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Include but not limited to hard and soft copy maps, graphs, text reports etc. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Output consisting of all relevant information according to user requirements is displayed. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Title, Scale reference, geographical references (Grid, North arrow), Legend, band / colour allocation where applicable.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Geo-information output is produced using pre-defined templates. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Geo-information output is produced using correct annotation and to scale. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderation
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Numeracy and Literacy.
  • Graphicacy 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Solve problems.
  • Ascertain the relevant metadata characteristics.
  • Select the colour model to use.
  • Select appropriate bands according to specification.
  • Open and display raster file.
  • Data are re-classified according to application requirements
  • Data are generalised according to application requirements.
  • Perform colour enhancement by applying histogram stretching.
  • Create and apply a colour palette according to specifications.
  • Query Cell values profile.
  • Query Image Properties. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team/ group/ organisation or community.
  • Select appropriate bands according to specification.
  • Query Cell values profile.
  • Query Image Properties. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Select appropriate bands according to specification.
  • Data are re-classified according to application requirements
  • Data are generalised according to application requirements.
  • Query Cell values profile.
  • Query Image Properties. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Ascertain the relevant metadata characteristics.
  • Select the colour model to use.
  • Select appropriate bands according to specification.
  • Open and display raster file.
  • Data are re-classified according to application requirements
  • Data are generalised according to application requirements.
  • Perform colour enhancement by applying histogram stretching.
  • Create and apply a colour palette according to specifications.
  • Query Cell values profile.
  • Query Image Properties. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematics and language skills in the modes of oral and written presentations.
  • Select appropriate bands according to specification.
  • Open and display raster file.
  • Spatial Data are displayed appropriately.
  • Perform colour enhancement by applying histogram stretching.
  • Query Cell values profile.
  • Query Image Properties. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others)
  • Create and apply a colour palette according to specifications. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Display an understanding of the world as a set of related systems.
  • Ascertain the relevant metadata characteristics.
  • Select appropriate bands according to specification.
  • Create and apply a colour palette according to specifications. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58784   National Diploma: Geospatial Image Analysis  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2020-07-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  49063   National Certificate: Geographical Information Sciences  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.