Geospatially-based software tools to support mass electrification

Over the past decade tremendous progress has been made in bringing grid electricity for the first time to over 2 million homes in South Africa. Over this time a group at Wits University has carried out research leading to the development of innovative geospatial software applications to solve some of the problems faced toy the designers of these new networks. The paper overviews a number of relevant MSc and PhD projects carried out at the University over the past decade, and discusses the contribution made to electrification in South Africa.