People

Dr. Jacques Du Toit

All People

  • Role in Center:

    Advanced Researcher

  • Discipline:

    Urban and Regional Planning

  • University:

    University of Pretoria

  • Country:

    South Africa

Biography: Jacques du Toit is an Associate Professor in the Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria, South Africa. He has a bachelor’s degree in Planning from the University of Pretoria (cum laude), and a master’s (cum laude) and PhD in Social Science Methods from Stellenbosch University. His critical interest is in Social Sciences Methodology, to improve the rigour and relevance of built environment research (i.e., architecture, construction, housing and urban planning and design). His epistemic interest is in People-environment Studies and Environmental Design Research, particularly in terms of planning and designing sustainable built environments that help facilitate human well-being and pro-environmental behaviour.

Selected Publications:

  • Mulibana, L. & Du Toit, J. (Forthcoming). The role of transport planning research in making cities and human settlements in South Africa inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, In W. Filho (Ed) Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Regional Perspectives – Volume 3: SDGs in Africa and the Middle East Region. Springer Nature.

  • Du Toit, J., Napier, M., Marais, L., Cloete, J. & Crankshaw, B. 2022. ‘A typology of designs for housing research: Improving methodological coherence of paradigm, approach and design’, Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 3875-3891.

  • Du Toit, J. & Wagner, C. 2022. ‘Property owners’ uptake of stormwater source controls: A case study of a low-density upmarket residential estate in Pretoria, South Africa’, Urban Water Journal, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 538-545.

  • Pieterse, A., Du Toit, J. & Van Niekerk, W. 2021. ‘Climate change adaptation mainstreaming in the planning instruments of two South African local municipalities’, Development Southern Africa, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 493-508.

  • Du Toit, J./Boshoff, N./Mariette, N. (2017): Normative versus actual methodologies in planning research: A hybrid picture. Journal of Planning Education and Research, vol. 37, no. 4, 477-487.

  • Du Toit, J. (2015): Research design. In; E. Silva, P. Healey, N. Harris & P. Van den Broeck (Eds) The Routledge handbook of planning research methods, Chapter 2.2. New York: Routledge.

  • Venter, C., Minora, N., Shukrani, K. & Du Toit, J. 2014. Chapter 19: A role for GPS data in qualitative research: Exploring links between walking behaviour, the built environment, and crime perception in South Africa, In S. Rasouli & H. Timmermans (Eds) Mobile Technologies for Activity-Travel Data Collection and Analysis. IGI Global.

  • Du Toit, J./Mouton, J. (2013): A typology of designs for social research in the built environment. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, vol. 16, no. 2, 125-139.

Areas of Expertise:

  • Research Design
  • Research Evaluation
  • Urban Sustainability

Current Position(s):

  • Associate Professor at Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Past Position(s)

  • Chief Researcher at Surveys, Analyses, Modelling and Mapping Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

Prizes & Awards:

  • C3-rated Researcher (South African National Research Foundation)

Memberships & Networks:

  • Member on Research Ethics Committee – Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
  • Member on Research Ethics Committee – Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Professional Planner (South African Council for Planners)
  • UKSEA
  • African Urban Planning Research Network