posted on 2024-11-18, 15:34authored byInaugural addresses
Inaugural lecture--Department of Geography, Rand Afrikaans University, 16 April 1969@@Firstly, "place" is defined as an undetermined area of the earth's surface consisting of heterogeneous elements unified into one comprehenisve geospheric system. The study of this system is the task of geography, which aims at a holistic knowledge of the significant variables of the geosphere or part thereof. Amongst the specialized sciences of our time, geography finds its place as an integrating science and, therefore, must be taught as a whole on pre-graduate level, or else it misses its aim as well as providing a sound basis for post-graduate specialization.
Secondly, the traffic congestion of the central business districts of cities is traced as one of the most pressing place dilemmas of our time -a problem that cannot be solved by singleorientated
systematic sciences, because it is expressed as a totality of demographic, social, economic and political phenomena. The increased congestion is correlated with increasing urbanization and the population explosion, and it is postulated that speedways, parking areas and underground train systems -all of which basically aim at relief -actually raise the ceiling, but simultaneously act as a huge magnet to draw in more activities and traffic with a still greater dilemma than previously as a result. The only solution is viewed in the determination of optimum size based upon basic research into the system of behaviour, as well as the restriction of those uses that are not necessarily dependent upon central location.