Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/215

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Conceptual framework of environmental sustainable interventions with the use of green infrastructure design criteria on projects
(2014) Saroop, Shian Hemraj; Allopi, Dhiren
This paper presents a conceptual framework that incorporates eco-efficiency on Infrastructure projects with the use of the environmentally sustainable criteria on infrastructure projects. Mainstreaming environmental aspects and incorporating the eco-efficiency concept into various stages of infrastructure development have not been considered as much as they should have been. Engineers need to look at greener technologies rather than just using traditional engineering solutions. This paper aims to develop a framework that enables a project to be designed in accordance with environmentally sustainable criteria. The key aim of the framework was to create a more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable neighbourhood, which focused on combating flooding, waste management, water recycling and enhancing biodiversity.
Finding solid ground : law enforcement, key populations and their health and rights in South Africa
(International Aids Society, 2016) Scheibe, Andrew; Howell, Simon; Muller, Alexandra; Katumba, Munyaradzi; Langen, Bram; Artz, Lillian; Marks, Monique Michal
Introduction: Sex workers, people who use drugs, men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women and transgender people in South Africa frequently experience high levels of stigma, abuse and discrimination. Evidence suggests that such abuse is sometimes committed by police officers, meaning that those charged with protection are perpetrators. This reinforces cycles of violence, increases the risk of HIV infection, undermines HIV prevention and treatment interventions and violates the constitutional prescriptions that the police are mandated to protect. This paper explores how relationship building can create positive outcomes while taking into account the challenges associated with reforming police strategies in relation to key populations, and vice versa. Discussion: We argue that relationships between law enforcement agencies and key populations need to be re-examined and reconstituted to enable appropriate responses and services. The antagonistic positioning, ‘‘othering’’ and blame assignment frequently seen in interactions between law enforcement officials and key populations can negatively influence both, albeit for different reasons. In addressing these concerns, we argue that mediation based on consensual dialogue is required, and can be harnessed through a process that highlights points of familiarity that are often shared, but not understood, by both parties. Rather than laying blame, we argue that substantive changes need to be owned and executed by all role-players, informed by a common language that is cognisant of differing perspectives. Conclusions: Relational approaches can be used to identify programmes that align goals that are part of law enforcement, human rights and public health despite not always being seen as such. Law enforcement champions and representatives of key populations need to be identified and supported to promote interventions that are mutually reinforcing, and address perceived differences by highlighting commonality. Creating opportunities to share experiences in mediation can be beneficial to all role-players. While training is important, it is not a primary mechanism to change behaviour and attitudes.
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
Inclusivity of ICT based solutions to public transportation problems : challenges and opportunities for Bloemfontein
(The Road Association of Serbia Via-vita, 2023-09-22) Bashingi, Ndakhona; Adedeji, Jacob Adedayo; Kumar Das, Dillip; Mostafa Hassan Mostafa, Mohammed
Promoting information and communication technologies as mobility and transportation accessibility solutions in efforts to achieve sustainable transportation excludes socioeconomic vulnerability. ICT-related efforts do not meet the mobility and accessibility needs of every single group in society, resulting in socioeconomic exclusion for specific groups of people. Social exclusion disadvantages vulnerable social groups in society's mobility, while limited mobility reduces access to activities for disadvantaged groups; travel for job hunting, education, work, and health facilities further increases these groups' physical isolation. The need to travel for activities, services, and basic goods for human consumption such as food, water, and medication must be addressed by developing inclusive transportation systems. Through tele-activities, e-payments, security and surveillance, among other components adaptable to travel and mobility, technological solutions have been at the forefront of prescriptions to transportation problems. However, they remain inaccessible to some of society. The study investigates whether inclusive, sustainable public transportation can be fully realized in developing countries by utilizing technology-based travel behavior solutions. It also investigates the effectiveness of ICT solutions to travel, mobility, and accessibility issues in a South African city with a relatively traditional public transportation system. The study considers socioeconomic travel processes as well as travel behavior constructs to inclusivity in order to weigh the prospects of equitable provision of ICT-enabled public transportation services in the developing world. This study discovered that travelers have smartphone access; however, the purposes of smartphones are not directly related to travel and transportation. Furthermore, public transportation service providers do not have an online presence. Overall, for ICT-enabled public transportation to thrive in developing countries, accessible technologies such as calls and SMS that do not require internet access must be considered.
The review of sub-Sahara Africa gravel roads maintenance management system’s monitoring and need assessment : Tanzania experience
(WITPress, 2014) Mwaipungu, Richard Robert; Allopi, Dhiren
Although the urge to construct new gravel roads to reach areas, which are potential economically is still there, it is now becoming clear to the road agencies in sub-Saharan Africa that a large proportion of the gravel roads constructed or rehabilitated between 2005 and 2008 years are no longer economical. These roads have reached their terminal stage due to various reasons, ranging from improper monitoring and maintenance needs assessment to challenges of getting the required funds for gravel roads conservation. Based on the above challenges, the sub-Sahara African countries, including Tanzania, are unceasingly searching for ways to strengthen the management of existing gravel roads network as part of roads transport infrastructure. To accomplish the above demand, Tanzania has two organisations concerned with managing its gravel road networks, namely Tanzania Road Agency (TANROADS) and Local Government Authority (LGA)’s District Engineer’s office. Each one of these two organisations uses its own road management system. TANROADS uses Road Maintenance Management Systems, and LGA uses District Roads Management Systems. These two systems have been developed through foreign aid in terms of experts and financial assistance with minimal participation of local experts. This paper focuses on factors affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of these management systems in gravel roads monitoring and maintenance needs assessment in comparison with those in developed countries. The authors expect that by highlighting those elements affecting the provision of accurate gravel roads inventory and road condition data will improve further the diagnosis of distresses influencing the performance of gravel roads, and come up with proper remedy to suit the local condition.
The role of spatial development frameworks in transformation of the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa : reflecting on 20 years of planning
(Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht, 2016-01-06) Musvoto, Godfrey; Lincoln, Gilberte Marie; Hansmann, Robynne Jean
In the 20 years since the advent of a democratic government in South Africa, planned expenditure on infrastructure projects by municipalities has been used in part to redress inequalities and socioeconomic distortions created by apartheid. Our purpose in this article is to assess the effectiveness of planning instruments to achieve desired transformation in the case of the eThekwini Municipality. We evaluated demographic, spatial regional economic, settlement hierarchy, accessibility and functional analysis indicators to assess the eThekwini Spatial Development Framework (SDF) as it applies to the city of Durban, making particular use of the National Population Census results for 2001 and 2011, municipal data on housing and settlement distribution, the munic-ipal evaluation roll, the Industrial Land Study of 2014 and the Eskom household survey of 2009. These data sets were mapped using Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) GIS to analyse spatial changes over the decade from 2001 to 2011 to establish the ways and extent public investment guided by SDFs is responsive to spatial transformation imperatives. We found that, although there has been some economic and population growth, in-migration and densification of the inner city, there has been limited spatial transformation of the urban population, many communities still live in poverty, the traditional inequalities prevail and the benefits of democratic dispensation are elusive to many, despite substantial investment in infrastructure. Our analysis points to inadequacies of the planning tools and their application to spending public funds. Moreover, SDFs appear to be process and compliance-driven rather than inclusive of stakeholder concerns. We argue that they require substantial refinement to achieve the desired results.
Women as canons in engineering theorizing their experiences and exploits
(Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Engineering and Sciences Publication - BEIESP, 2020) Kehdinga, George Fomunyam
Globally theorizing women’s experiences and exploits in engineering has attracted a lot of debates. Thus, efforts put in place to address under-representation among women in engineering, have been thwarted to accomplish Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality, in areas of preconception of engineering male-dominated profession, gender gaps in recruitment of women engineers, lack of gender-sensitive curriculum and low female involvement in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) subjects are still lacking in Africa. With much sensitization on equality, yet women engineers are still plagued with gender disparity in Africa; hence the crux of this paper. This paper was guided by Liberal Feminist Theory focusing on gender inequality, exists as a consequence ofstereotypingdivision of labour and sexparity can be realized if vital institutions are re-patterned. This paper takes a broad look at women as canons in engineering alongside theorizing their experiences and exploits in Africa. Specifically, it explores how women engineers have made huge contributions; and to showcase their experiences and exploits, as well as its implications for Africa. Thus, to address these gaps, implementing of gender policies in eliminating all forms of under-representation of women in engineering was advocated.