Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
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Item Infrastructure delivery management challenges in KwaZulu-Natal : a review of the operations and maintenance module(Seybold Publications, 2024-10-22) Hadebe, Weziwe; Armoed, Zakheeya; Mewomo, ModupeGlobally, governments have prioritized infrastructural policy and infrastructure development as the key to economic development. Efforts to accelerate effective infrastructural delivery in South Africa gave rise to the development of a government-wide tool called the Infrastructural Delivery Management System (IDMS). This was developed as a standardized approach for the planning, budgeting, procurement, operations, maintenance, decision-making and general management of South Africa’s infrastructural development across all tiers of government. The study explores the effectiveness of implementing the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) module of the IDMS in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Focusing on the KZN province, the study utilizes a mixed method research approach. Articles were sourced from databases which included Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Governmental platforms. Peer-reviewed studies in the English language that were published between 2010 to 2024 were identified. Key search terms were infrastructure delivery management system, challenges, operations, maintenance, and efficiency that informed the literature review of the study. The study drew a sample of 133 participants responsible for infrastructural delivery using purposive sampling. Data was analyzed using thematic and content analysis. Findings suggest within the ecosystem of infrastructural development in the KZN province, the necessary IDMS capacity and capabilities do exist. However, the impact of different institutional roles, responsibilities and concurrent functions; in coordinating and implementing the IDMS, has influenced a growing backlog in public infrastructural delivery in KZN. This can be attributed to the failures in coordination resulting in the efficiencies of the O&M module. Through the resurrection of district maintenance workshops and decisive leadership in response to poor operational and maintenance plans, the application of IDMS may prove to be successful in alleviating infrastructure backlogs across all tiers of governance.Item Appraisal and optimization of energy-efficient green buildings in South Africa(2024-05) Agbajor, Favour David; Mewomo, Modupe CeciliaGenerally, over 35% of global energy use and 40% of carbon emissions are attributed to the built environment while future forecasts indicate that these values may rise much further. In South Africa (SA), building stocks account for 40% of the country’s final energy demand which strains the country's coal-dependent energy grid and oftentimes results in power outages. Optimizing energy efficiency and thermal comfort while attaining the lofty goal of carbon neutrality is essential for all concerned stakeholders in the building sector globally. Meanwhile, green building (GB), being a recognized revolutionary theory and practice in the building industry, is suggested as a solution to SA’s environmental challenges. On this wise, this research aimed to develop energy-efficient models for optimizing green buildings into the design and operation of buildings to allay their environmental impacts. The goal was to enhance energy efficiency, decrease energy consumption, and mitigate carbon emissions across diverse climates, thus benefiting South Africa's built environment. To achieve the study's goals, three primary research objectives were identified and pursued namely: (i) To provide an overview on status-quo of green building development in South Africa with a view to explore the status quo and provide roadmap for improvement; (ii)To examine the energy-saving potential of incorporating building-integrated greenery systems towards climate-resilience in the subtropical climate zone of South Africa; and (iii) To investigate the energy-performance of green building renewable energy utilization systems within South Africa’s hot and arid climate zones. Initially, the study's first objective entailed a comprehensive literature overview integrating climate, sustainability, and building energy modeling within the South African context. This was carried out through a scoping review approach via the PRISMA guideline of reporting Subsequent objectives involved selecting reference buildings and creating hypothesized models as case studies based on six climate zones from the South African National Standard. For the second objective, a thorough and integrative approach that linked building energy modelling and varying climatic change was devised. The numerical parametric simulation and analysis, being a quantitative research approach was adopted as a data collection method. Similarly, the third objective employed numerical parametric simulation as a data gathering method in this research, which is based on a quantitative analysis to explore various design options iteratively. In the second and third objectives, Global climate databases, Meteonorm, Climate Consultant, and energy simulation software such as DesignBuilder, EnergyPlus, and Polysun were used for weather data analysis, climate modeling, and building energy simulation. The findings highlighted that while South Africa boasts notable green construction projects, scientific research progress has not matched international levels. The focus was on promoting green building adoption through standards, certifications, and incentives. However, gaps were observed in optimized energy performance and post-occupancy evaluation of existing buildings. Despite high awareness, the utilization of green building technologies among South African professionals did not meet anticipated levels. For the second objective, the study's findings indicated an increase in extreme heat waves with higher peak temperatures in the future. Building energy use in the study area is projected to rise by 8-24% from 2030 to 2080. Notably, heat gains primarily result from envelope thermal transfer rather than solar radiation. Greenery systems were found to effectively support green building goals and urban sustainability across anticipated seasons. Nature-based solutions proved successful in adapting to climate change compared to non-retrofitted conventional buildings. For the last objective, the study revealed regions with substantial solar irradiance, indicating potential for renewable energy adoption. It emphasized the need for durable BIPV systems in hightemperature conditions. BIPV modules generated more energy in Upington than Nelspruit due to varying solar radiation. Opportunities were identified for BIPV systems to achieve optimal power generation. The study provides a foundation for informed decision-making, policy formulation, and targeted research in sustainable building practices. The study presents practical principles to guide urban planners and policymakers in integrating eco-friendly technology into both new and existing building designs. This promotes sustainable urban development and reduces cities' carbon emissions. Going forward, to showcase the effectiveness of these energy-efficient and climate-responsive systems to the public and industry stakeholders, it is recommended to establish and enhance largescale demonstration projects in South Africa's subtropical, hot and arid regions.Item Exploring the challenges and opportunities of farm school infrastructure in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa(RealCorp, 2022-11-16) Pillay, NischolanSouth Africa is a country that has a rich history of segregation of races driven by a minority government. Through the ill system of apartheid, several aspects of human life became intolerable, one of which was the education system. The introduction of the Bantu Education Act of 1953 indoctrinated African learners by educating them to perform menial tasks and manual labour, becoming subservient to the white minority. This “knee on throat” system further oppressed Africans, making it difficult to progress and preserving the idea of education being a privilege and not a right. The act played out at various “black” schools in South Africa, especially farm schools, which created an economic benefit for the farmers. The farm school became a factory to create a new labour force, whose parents were smoke screened to believe paid education would benefit their children. In 1994, a new dawn for all the people of South Africa promised hope and freedom. The government promulgated laws that would benefit citizens’ human rights and allow those who needed them the most. The redress of education policies aimed at giving all South Africans a fair opportunity for education; however, this is seldom the case in most of the country’s impoverished rural and farm schools. The government, through legal frameworks, aims to convert schools on commercial farms to normal stateowned and managed institutions, removing the dependence on the farm owners. However, this process has been arduous, and the farmers’ kick has been great to the extent that children and teachers are restricted from entering the premises. Regular intervention by police and government officials assists; however, this is not long-term management of deep-seated problems. Although the government has taken many steps in the right direction, at the very core, farm schools still suffer from infrastructural issues that are so profoundly entrenched in the buildings that it is difficult to dismantle. Perhaps, like most of South Africa, the apartheid regime is built in brick and mortar. These farm schools, in most instances, do not comply with the basic regulations of the South African Schools Act of 1996. However, these schools continue to operate and educate students across the country. Using a phenomenological paradigm and a qualitative approach, this research uses semi-structured interviews conducted at two farm schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, to gather rich data from participants. This study is limited by cost and time. The researcher used a purposive sampling technique to identify four participants who were probed on different aspects of the farm school infrastructure and experiences working and using the facilities. This research aims to understand the challenges and opportunities that farm schools offer. Findings from the data reveal that although farm schools have several infrastructural challenges, the staff and community adapt the use of these buildings to suit the needs of the activities, albeit with challenges. The researcher proposes adaptive reuse of the infrastructure to suit a school’s programme and provide space for a community.Item 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 PeterThis 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 futureItem Water quality modelling and quantitative microbial risk assessment for uMsunduzi River in South Africa(IWA Publishing, 2022-04) Ngubane, Zesizwe; Bergion, Viktor; Dzwairo, Bloodless; Troell, Karin; Amoah, Isaac Dennis; Stenstrom, Thor Axel; Sokolova, EkaterinaSouth African rivers generally receive waste from inadequate wastewater infrastructure, mines, and farming activities, among others. The uMsunduzi River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is among these recipients with recorded poor to very poor water quality. To identify parts of the uMsunduzi River that are polluted by Cryptosporidium and Escherichia coli (E. coli), this study mapped out pollutants emanating from point and non-point sources using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Streamflow calibration in the upper and lower reaches of the catchment showed good performance with R2 of 0.64 and 0.58, respectively. SWAT water quality output data were combined with a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to understand the microbial health implications for people using river water for drinking, recreational swimming, and non-competitive canoeing. QMRA results for Cryptosporidium and pathogenic E. coli showed that the probability of infection for most users exceeds the acceptable level for drinking and recreation as outlined in the South African water quality guidelines, and by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results of this study can be used as a baseline to assess the economic and health implications of different management plans, resulting in better-informed, cost-effective, and impactful decision-making.Item Fouling control in a woven fibre microfiltration membrane for water treatment(Korean Society of Environmental Engineering, 2019-10-11) Chollom, Martha Noro; Rathilal, Sudesh; Pikwa, Kumnandi; May, LinghamKorean Society of Environmental Engineers. Current available commercial membranes are not robust and are therefore destroyed if left to dry out or handled roughly. Woven fibre microfiltration (WFMF) membranes have advantages over its competitors with respect to durability, thus, favourable for the developing economies and operation during rough conditions. Evaluation of the effects of aeration and brushing as a flux enhancement strategies for WFMF membrane was the purpose of this study. The WFMF membrane was found to be susceptible to pore plugging by colloidal material and adsorption/attachment by microbiological contaminants. This led to a 50% loss in flux. Aeration as a single flux enhancement strategy proved insufficient to maintain high flux successfully. Therefore combined flux enhancement strategies yielded the best results.Item 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 MichalIntroduction: 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.Item A study of causes of delay and cost overrun in office construction projects in the eThekwini Municipal Area, South Africa(2015) Adugna, Nafkote Tesfahun; Mahomed, A.K.; Utting, PeterOn-time completion and conformity with assigned cost of every project are the most important factors in the success of project plans. Cost overruns and time overrun (delays) have been critical problems of many projects around the world in general and in South Africa in particular. The main objectives of this research are to assess the dominant causes of cost and time overruns, identifying possible and practical measures that can minimize overruns in office building construction projects around eThekwini Municipal area of Kwazulu-Natal. These objectives are achieved through the implementation of the research methodologies that are mainly literature review and questionnaire survey conducted to identify and evaluate the significant factors contributing to delay and cost overruns within the projects of interest. A review of literature identified eighty-five variables for delay, grouped in nine major categories and nine variables for cost overruns ranked in their order of importance in three sets based on the responses from the professionals working for the client, consultants and contractors. The agreement among the sets of rankings for delay and cost overruns has also been tested using statistical methods. The result indicates that there is strong agreement on ranking the importance of the individual variables of delay and cost overruns between parties. From each of the three sets of rankings, the twenty most important variables of delay and the three most important variables of cost overrun are identified as critical. Based on overall results, the top five most important causes are contractor’s cash flow problems, delay in progress payments by the client, poor site supervision and management by contractor, inefficient quality control by the contractor during construction leading to rework due to errors, and contractor’s difficulties in financing the project. Out of the 20 most important delay causing variables, three are found to be common between all parties. These are delay in progress payments by the client, delay in delivery and late ordering of material, and insufficient skill of labour. Furthermore, the study reveals that all stakeholders of construction parties are deeply involved in contributing to the causes of the problems. Thus, in order to eliminate or minimize cost and time extension of office construction projects in the eThekwini Municipal area, a joint effort based on teamwork is essential through effective project planning, controlling and monitoring which boils down to putting in place best practice construction project management.Item Rea Vaya : South Africa’s first bus rapid transit system(ASSAf, 2013) Adewumi, Emmanuel Olusegun; Allopi, DhirenToday, both the public and private transport sectors are facing challenges as a result of an increase in vehicle ownership and the suburbanisation of both firms and residences in the world. In the past, public transport was focused mainly on central areas of cities where high population and employment densities enabled frequent services, high occupancy rates and many routes. As growth is spreading to suburban areas from the metropolitan area, imperative challenges arise for public transport: to increase service in order to better serve commuters and to integrate suburban service with metropolitan service. 1 Public transport must be made more attractive and user friendly in relation to improved service, travel information, reliability, safety and the upgrade of infrastructure such as waiting stations. Cost is an important factor that influences the demand for public transport in relation to the time spent waiting, boarding and alighting from vehicles coupled with the risks and inconveniences involved in those actions. It has also been suggested that commuters and business users board the fastest and most direct routes. 2 Here we comment on the performance and maintenance of the Rea Vaya system – South Africa’s first bus rapid transit system – since its inception