Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)

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Capacity challenges facing civil engineering contractors in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
(IJEIT, 2013-05) Ntuli, Bonga; Allopi, Dhiren
Insolvency maybe broadly defined as an inability of business entity to meet pending financial commitments. For a construction firm, such a situation creates conditions whereby a business entity is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations with regard to work in progress or credit owing. There are indications to suggest that during times of adverse conditions, the occurrences of insolvencies are mutually exclusive and remain a subject of debate. The occurrences of these financial facilities seem to have adversely affected business operations within the civil engineering construction Industry. in South Africa, figures released by the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) in 1992 were suggesting an expected general decline in work load handling by this sector. This was a result of scaling down of heavy Infrastructure projects because of government shifting focus to housing and other related projects mainly towards meeting the needs of the previously disadvantaged communities. During that period large contractors suffered financially and some went through insolvency. The South African government had also put emphasis to transform the sector to allow participation of emerging and small contractors but this was not properly regulated as most of these contractors did not have the experience and skills to operate sustainable construction firms. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) was established in 2000 as a statutory body to provide leadership to stakeholders and to stimulate sustainable growth, reform and improvement of the construction sector for effective delivery and the industry’s enhanced role in the country’s economy. Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB’s) regulations were implemented after 2003 and are continuously improving the sector’s growth. This research seeks to evaluate the findings of an investigation regarding challenges facing Civil Engineering Contractors in KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa. The research reports on the basis of the hypothesis that “the prominent factors associated with civil engineering contractor’s insolvencies are related to operational and strategic issues”. The analysis of the findings from the questionnaires and liquidators reports supports the hypothesis that operational management and strategic factors attribute to high failure rate amongst civil engineering contractors. From the findings, a number of recommendations are made to develop strategies to promote growth and sustainability in the civil construction industry especially amongst emerging contractors. This paper focuses on the questionnaire feedback from construction firm owners and will discuss the findings of the survey.
Comparison between conditions of major roads within and outside the port of Durban
(ETASR, 2013) Kunene, Oscar M.; Allopi, Dhiren
Over the past years road traffic has increased at the Port of Durban. Due to the lack of maintenance, this has resulted in road deterioration. Roads are considered as the most important transport mode at the Port of Durban. It is an important mean for facilitating economic growth of local, regional and national industries. For the Port to maintain global competitiveness with the current trend of globalization, it has to be ensured that the roads are well maintained. The purpose of the paper is to provide an overview of road condition within and outside the Port. Verification and assessment of the condition of the existing eight major roads was conducted. Comparisons between the condition of the eight major roads within and outside the Port were highlighted. Conclusions and recommendations were also drawn based on the findings.
Evaluating straddle carriers and rubber Tyredgantrys to determine which would be the most suitable container handling infrastructure between the quay and stack area at the Durban Container Terminal; Pier 2
(IJISET, 2015) Naicker, Rowen; Allopi, Dhiren
The Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is currently the largest and busiest container terminal in Africa and handles about 2.7-million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) a year. Berths 203 to 205 of the Pier 2 Container Terminal have been identified to be widened, deepened and lengthened to be able to accommodate Super Post–Panamax container vessels of 9200 TEU capacity with a draft of 14,5m CD. This expansion will allow larger vessels to safely berth, thus increasing the overall economic production gained from the terminal. An assessment of container handling infrastructure currently used at the Port of Durban between the quay and stack area was carried out.Furthermore,alternative infrastructure, like the Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG), that could be used to improve the output results after containers are disembarked from ships were evaluated and is presented in this paper. The results were analyzed and conclusions, as well as recommendations were made.
Gender and gender mainstreaming In engineering education in Africa
(Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Engineering and Sciences Publication - BEIESP, 2020) Fomunyam, Kehdinga George; Matola, Noluthando; Moyo, Sibusiso
In Africa, a lot of debates on the issues of gender gap and gender inequality has raised concerns in engineering education (EE) and engineering workforce. Thus, gender inequality and equity are significant in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in recent years much has been done to address gender gaps, yet women are still excluded, underrepresented, segregated and relegated inengineering profession and academia. With much sensitization on gender equality, Africa is still far from addressing gender gaps in EE; hence the crux of this paper. This paper was guided by Liberal Feminism theory, focusing on women’s freedom as an autonomy to be free from coercive interference, due to‘gender system’ or patriarchal nature of inherited traditions and institutions. This paper takes a broad look at the concepts of gender and gender mainstreaming in EE in Africa. Specifically, it explores gender and inequality in EE and how gender mainstreaming canbe enacted to address gender gaps in EE, as well as its implications in Africa. Thus, to address these gaps, recommendations such as developing gendersensitive curriculum for EE, adopting policies in facilitating women’s access to training and employment opportunities as well as creating gender-sensitive career counselling were advocated
An investigation of the condition of maintenance of facilities at public primary and high schools in Alfred Nzo East District, Eastern Cape Province South Africa : a literature review
(2023-08-10) Nqakaza, Bavuyise G.; Chikafalimani, Samuel Herald Peter
This paper reviews literature on the condition of maintenance of facilities at public primary and high schools (PPHS) at Alfred Nzo East District (ANED) in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) in South Africa. Scoping review of accessible literature was the research approach used to collect data for the paper. Results of the study identified: overcrowding of facilities, poor design and planning of facilities, lack of facilities maintenance knowledge and skills of school governing bodies (SGBs), and lack of funding for facilities maintenance as main causes of the poor maintenance condition of facilities at PPHS in South Africa. It was revealed through the study also that poor maintenance of facilities at PPHS caused: poor learning and teaching environment; poor performance of learners and educators; scarcity of educators; and security, safety and health concerns at PPHS. Furthermore, the study identified: prioritization and provision of government funding for extension and construction of new school facilities, inclusion of well qualified facility managers and users at facility planning stage, and provision of facilities training to SGBs as main interventions that can be implemented to improve the condition of maintenance of facilities at PPHS in South Africa. Findings of this study will contribute towards the improvement of the condition of maintenance of facilities at PPHS, support high quality education delivery, reduce unemployment and poverty, and accelerate economic development at ANED and in other parts of South Africa in the future
The need for expansion of the Durban Container Terminal
(ARC Pubilications PVT LTD, 2015-09) Naicker, Rowen; Allopi, Dhiren
The Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is currently the biggest and busiest container terminal in Africa and handles about 2.7-million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) a year (Naicker and Allopi 2015: 24). DCT handles approximately 70% of South Africa’s containers and generates 60% of South Africa’s revenue (Port of Durban, 2014).The existing Port of Durban is the leading port in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and the premiere trade gateway between South-South trade, Far East trade, Europe and USA and East-West Africa regional trade. It occupies a focal point in the Southern Africa transport and logistics chain with 60% of all imports and exports passing through the Port of Durban (Increasing South Africa\\\'s Economic Potential: 1). Thus the port assumes a leading role in facilitating economic growth in South Africa. Providing operating capacity ahead of the demand has become an essential element of managing national logistics capability in a fast changing and competitive global economic environment (Urban-Econ (PTY) Ltd 2012).In the South of Africa, ports suffer from insufficient storage spaces and long container dwell time, according to the Port Management Association of Eastern & Southern Africa (PMAESA), which is a regional grouping of ports in the two regions. PMAESA also adds that the ports continue to experience increased traffic and are not well served by access infrastructure (Africa embarks on massive expansion of sea ports, 2015). South Africa is currently proposing a port expansion that will include the deepening and widening of berths 203 to 205 which will allow larger vessels to safely berth, thus increasing the overall economic production gained from the terminal (Urban-Econ (PTY) Ltd 2012). However, this expansion needs to take place urgently as the port is restricted to ships with a carrying capacity of less than 3 500 containers.
Pilot study of a horizontal roughing filtration system treating greywater generated from a peri-urban community in Durban, South Africa
(IWA Publishing, 2019-02-19) Bakare, B. F.; Mtsweni, S.; Rathilal, S.
There is a growing pressure on the available freshwater resources in South Africa and many other countries around the world. This has led to a large scale of interest in the application of water reclamation and reuse of wastewater as alternative water supply sources. This is becoming critical to sustain development and economic growth in the southern Africa region. This study investigated the performance of a horizontal roughing filtration system treating greywater generated from a peri-urban settlement in Durban, South Africa. The horizontal roughing filtration system consists of three compartments containing different sizes of gravels that serve as the filter media. The horizontal roughing filter was operated at a filtration rate of 0.3 m/hr for 90 days. The results indicated that at this low filtration rate, effective reduction in turbidity, conductivity, chemical oxygen demand and total solids can be achieved. Overall average removal efficiencies of 90% turbidity, 70% chemical oxygen demand, 86% conductivity, and 84% total solids were obtained for the entire duration of operation of the horizontal roughing filtration system. Thus, it was concluded that the horizontal roughing filtration system is suitable for the treatment of greywater for non-potable reuse applications although further investigation needs to be conducted for the microbial removal during the treatment.
Power planning for a smart integrated African super-grid
(IEEE, 2022-01-25) Ndlela, Nomihla Wandile; Davidson, Innocent E.
Africa's population has increased sharply from 364 million in 1970 to 1.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach 2.0 billion by 2050, representing the world's largest labor pool. Rapid growth in African population, generation capacity constraints, belated investment in new electricity infrastructure, load growth in unplanned areas, poor maintenance of existing power assets are some of Africa's critical challenges. These have resulted in demand outstripping available power generation capacity, leading to electricity shortages, load shedding, a huge backlog of unserved customers, and low economic growth. This paper presents the concept of a Smart Integrated African Super Grid, designed to energize Africa's emerging economy. In this paper, the five African Power pools are discussed, and the schemes for harnessing Africa's untapped renewable energy resources. A methodology is proposed to use highly complex power system controllers to integrate the African power pools, into a super-grid that absorbs large penetration of renewable powers using dispersed interconnected low voltage micro-grids, without compromising on power quality, stability, technical loss reduction, sustainability, and system reliability.
A review of long-distance UHVDC technology : a future energy disrupter
(IEEE, 2020-03) Davidson, Innocent E.
It is proposed to use highly complex power system controllers to integrate African power grids into one super-grid that can accept large penetration of renewable powers, without compromising power quality, active and reactive power flow, and voltage and power system stability. The proposed super-grid constructed with ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) and flexible ac transmission systems (FACTS) along with dedicated ac and dc interconnectors with intelligent systems applications to produce a Smart Integrated African Super-Grid. DC interconnectors will segment the entire continent's power systems into five large asynchronous segments (regions). Asynchronous divisions will prevent ac fault propagation between sections while allowing power exchange between different parts of the super-grid, with minimum difficulty for grid code unification or harmonization of regulatory regimes across the continent as each segment maintains its autonomy. A Smart Integrated African Electric Power Super-Grid powered by these technologies is critical in supporting Africa 's sustained economic growth and development; established on the cornerstone of renewable energy and utilizing over 200GW enormous potential of Africa's clean and renewable hydroelectric, photovoltaic and wind power as a portion of a vast energy mix made of traditional and complementary energy resources.
Technical and financial analysis of large-scale solar-PV in eThekwini Municipality : residential, business and bulk customers
(Elsevier BV, 2021-11) Sewchurran, Sanjeeth; Davidson, Innocent E.
Regulatory changes, economic challenges, environmental concerns, and changing public perception have contributed to the profound changes observed globally in the electricity industry. Since 2008, South Africa has been experiencing electric power deficits and outages. This has been due in part to generation capacity constraints, belated investment in new electricity infrastructure, deferred maintenance of existing power assets, load growth in areas which were not adequately planned for, high population and economic growth over the last two decades. This has resulted in peak electricity demand outstripping available power generation capacity, leading to electricity shortages and load shedding, which is now impeding economic growth. In South Africa, forced under frequency load shedding, rising electricity tariffs, energy efficiency, declining cost of solar PV systems, the introduction of Carbon taxes, high cost of unserved energy has led consumers to explore embedded generation options to assist with reducing their energy bills, hence investments in solar PV has become an option to municipal customers. The simple payback period of solar PV systems is an important indicator for customers to ascertain whether to invest in these systems or not. Revenue loss remains a significant concern for municipalities who have historically designed single and two-rate bundled tariffs, which rely on municipalities selling electricity to ensure its business’s sustainability. Municipalities have now proposed new tariff structures designed to minimize the adverse impact of reducing electricity sales from solar PV by creating net billing tariffs with a built in network access charge component based on the customer’s inverter size. Case studies were carried out to better understand the impact on the feasibility of solar PV systems with and without the implementation of these new tariffs and its impact on the customer’s payback periods. A calculation of the levelised cost of electricity and customers rate of return for the different customer classes were also calculated to provide a better picture on the financial feasibility of rooftop solar PV. Results obtained from these case studies indicate lucrative payback periods for customers installing solar PV systems with improved revenue recovery for the municipality.
What has been done and still needs to be done to skill South Africans to deliver infrastructure projects
(2016) Chetty, Maggie; Bird, Adrienne; Lawless, Allyson
The National Infrastructure Plan is made up of eighteen Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) each of which consists of a large number of projects drawn from a wide range of economic sectors and stretching across all nine provinces of South Africa. The Department of Higher Education and Training, was given the task of ensuring that the skills demands of these projects were realised both in advance of (for), and on the sites of (through), the development of the Strategic Integrated Projects. This paper presents the approach adopted to determine the occupations required and the interventions necessary to address the demand. Although focused on infrastructure skills, the approach can be generalised for skills planning in any field such as health, education, etc. The concept of determining which occupations are required is fundamental to the process. The aim is to increase the pool of those with the requisite skills in the South African labour market – rather than seeking to map an individual to a job vacancy. Education and training providers have their own language, that of qualifications which does not speak to the language of occupation in a linear fashion. So the notion of a learning pathway was created to bridge the two. It commences with the underpinning knowledge or theory required, followed by simulated practice of some of the critical skills and procedures, followed by supervised practice in a real workplace and culminating in a formal assessment which might result in a professional designation, a trade certificate, a licence to practice or some other recognition that the practitioner is now competent to practice without supervision – with the qualification providers being equivalent to the first one or two steps of this pathway. A methodology was developed to determine the skills required for different types of projects. The methodology essentially consists of developing what are called skills prototypes for typical projects in each of the different sub-sectors. These prototypes are then used to estimate the skill requirements of similar projects by scaling the prototype up or down. In this way an estimation of the total skills required for all projects was developed.