I-civili Enjeneering October 2008 Vol 16 No 10

INTERNATIONAL LANDMARK STATUS FOR WOODHEAD DAM P CA A W A R D S W I N N E R 2 0 0 7 FOR EXCELLENCE IN MAGAZINE National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy PUBLISHING AND JOURNALISM BKS-SAICE Bridge Building Competition 20 MONTHS TO FIFA 2010

I-civili Enjeneering OctoberOctoOctob 2008 Vol 16 No 10 COVER ARTICLE INTERNATIONAL LANDMARK STATUS FOR WOODHEAD DAM P CA A W A R D S W I N NER20 07 FOR EXCELLENCE IN MAGAZINE National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy PUBLISHING AND JOURNALISM BKS SAICE bridge building competition IsiXhosa ON THE COVER Liviero Civils, part of the Liviero group, which this year celebrates twenty- On the cover five years of active construction in , was formed in 2005. As a result of the superior expertise it has Liviero is known for its immaculate plant fleet ensuring a taken on board, including its group of committed production capacity in excess of R250 million 41 professional engineers, it has already become a serious player in the market HISTORY AND HERITAGE EDITORIAL 1 Past Master 18: John Gamble 34 The Woodhead Dam is awarded ASCE Past Master 19: Thomas Stewart 36 International Landmark status 2 GENERAL INTEREST A moral and ethical dilemma: systems that fail 45 EDITORIAL 2 Coaching in Construction 52 It takes two to tango – ASCE and SAICE 5 Innovation in Civil Engineering 54

I-civili Enjeneering October 2008 Vol 16 No 10 OTHER PROJECTS Published by SAICE/SAISI South Africa’s largest permeable Block 19, Thornhill Office Park, URBAN AND RURAL: WATER Bekker Street, Vorna Valley, Midrand paving project to date 62 Private Bag X200, Halfway House, 1685 Tel 011-805-5947/48, Fax 011-805-5971 http://www.civils.org.za FOR [email protected] IsiXHOSA FEATURE Indoda enombono 64 Editor Water for the tip of Africa 10 Verelene de Koker [email protected] Tel 011 805 5947/8, Cell 083 378 3996 The dam on a mountain top 14 PEOPLE Editorial Panel Amazing Russian couple at Bateman 66 Elsabé Kearsley (chair), Irvin Luker (vice-chair), Johan de Koker (president), Wally Water shortages bring unification to Burdzik, Huibrecht Kop, Jeffrey Mahachi, Jones Moloisane, Hermien Pieterse, C&CI chief retires after 26 years’ service 67 Eben Rust, Marco van Dijk, Michelle Theron, Verelene de Koker (editor), Barbara Spence (advertising), Dawie Botha (executive director), Zina Girald, Marie Ashpole Peninsula municipalities 17 Annual subscription rate SA R560,00 (VAT included), International US$120,00 IN BRIEF 68 Ninham Shand inherits Stewart’s mantle 21 Advertising SBA constructs waste water treatment works at Ballito Barbara Spence, Avenue Advertising State-of-the-art solar water heater launched New [email protected] Tel 011-463-7940, Fax 011-463-7939 URBAN AND RURAL: Sensus bulk water meter Harnessing the wind with Cell 082-881-3454 Voith WinDrive technology Singapore’s first Design and reproduction international Water Week a huge success Marketing Support Services, Menlo Park, Pretoria INFRASTRUCTURE New urban development on the North Coast Printing Ultra Litho, Johannesburg The National Infrastructure Maintenance The South African Institution of Civil Engineering accepts no responsibil- ity for any statements made or opinions expressed in this publication. SAICE AND PROFESSIONAL NEWS Consequently nobody connected with the publication of the magazine, Strategy, and its implementation 24 SAICE History and Heritage Panel 73 in particular the proprietors, the publishers and the editors, will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of his or her Nail-biting FUN (Bridge Building Competition) 75 action upon any statement or opinion published in this magazine. URBAN AND RURAL: SAICE 2008/9 essay topics for ISSN 1021-2000 professional registration 80 WATER FOR Call for reviewers 81 SAICE Training Calendar 2009 82 LISH The culture of civil engineering and the history B E PU RS E N I Z SAICE Student Chapter at the A

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A S M F of the Gauteng water supply system University of Stellenbosch 84 O 30 N A I O S S O C I AT Civil Engineering | October 2008 1 Text Tony Murray 1 Chairman SAICE History & Heritage Panel [email protected]

Editorial 1 The Woodhead Dam is awarded ASCE International Landmark status SAICE was asked by the American for some 40 years and has identified the selection criteria are much more Society of Civil Engineers to put forward about 50 projects as International Civil stringent and ASCE gave us a few anxious a South African project for recognition Engineering Landmarks and another 250 moments with requests for additional in- as an International Civil Engineering as National Landmarks in the United formation before the good news arrived. Landmark. We are delighted to report States. To qualify for inclusion a project The programme is an excellent model that our first nomination, the Woodhead must basically be over 50 years old and should SAICE decide to set up a similar Reservoir on , was ac- have made a significant impact on civil initiative to recognise local historic sites, corded this honour. The commemorative engineering in its region. In actual fact, and the motivation for doing so has been plaque was handed over at a ceremony at the Silver Tree Restaurant, Kirstenbosch, during the visit of the ASCE President to ASCE has been running the International Landmarks programme for some 40 Cape Town on 1 August this year. years and has identified about 50 projects as International Civil Engineering ASCE has been running the International Landmarks programme Landmarks and another 250 as National Landmarks in the United States

2 Civil Engineering | October 2008 summed up very clearly. ASCE believes famous Telford and Stephenson Bridges that its Landmark Programme has the and Brunel’s Great Western Railway. following objectives and benefits: The Eiffel Tower, Sydney Harbour Bridge NNIt will encourage all civil engineers to and the Suez and Panama Canals are become more aware of the history and obvious inclusions, but ancient works heritage of their own profession. such as Macchu Pichu and the Lake NNIt will increase appreciation by the Moeris Quarry Road in Egypt have also After considering various other projects, public of civil engineering contribu- made the list. The latter and the Victoria the SAICE History and Heritage Panel tions to the progress and development Falls Railway Bridge appear to be the of the United States and the world. only works in Africa recognised to date. selected the Woodhead Dam for our N NIt will identify and designate national Surprisingly the only dam outside the first nomination because it was felt that historic civil engineering works that US to feature is the Zuiderzee Enclosure have made a significant contribution to Structure in the Netherlands. it best conformed to the ASCE criteria. the development of the United States After considering various other Apart from being situated on a famous and other countries and to the profes- projects, the SAICE History and Heritage sion of civil engineering in particular. Panel selected the Woodhead Dam for mountain, it was the first dam of any N NIt will encourage, where appropriate our first nomination because it was felt consequence to be built in the sub- and feasible, the preservation of signif- that it best conformed to the ASCE icant historic civil engineering works. criteria. Apart from being situated on a continent and the first significant project N NIt can provide a documented ar- famous mountain, it was the first dam of to be undertaken by Thomas Stewart, chive of Civil Engineering Historic any consequence to be built in the sub- Landmarks for the use of engineering continent and the first significant project the father of the consulting engineering students, professional writers, re- to be undertaken by Thomas Stewart, searchers, and historians. the father of the consulting engineering profession in South Africa. Construction NNIt can promote the inclusion of infor- profession in South Africa. Construction was fascinating and innovative, and the mation on Historic Civil Engineering was fascinating and innovative, and the Landmarks in encyclopaedias, guide- dam continues to play a part in Cape dam continues to play a part in Cape books and maps used by the general Town’s water supply. Town’s water supply public. Hopefully this is only the first of several Most non-American works on the list works which will make the ASCE list, and of ASCE International Landmarks are the History and Heritage Panel is already 1 The Woodhead Dam straddling Disa Gorge in the United Kingdom and include the looking for further candidates. 2 The Woodhead Dam from the Gorge

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Civil Engineering | October 2008 3 Text D a w i e B o t h a SAICE Executive Director [email protected]

Editorial 2

It takes two to tango – ASCE and SAICE The day had arrived and all was ready those from Ghana and Zimbabwe. Patrick Natale and his wife Sheila, to- for the 1897 Woodhead Dam on Table We returned inspired and enthu- gether with Meggan and her husband Mountain to become an International siastic and eager to start an African Peter, for coming all the way to South Civil Engineering Landmark. Round Table, similar to the ASCE Africa to award International Landmark This was an initiative by the model. From this idea sprung the Africa status to our Woodhead Dam. American Society of Civil Engineering Engineers Forum as we know it today. (ASCE), the first ‘foreign’ engineering We salute our ASCE colleagues for A LADY, A BOY SCOUT AND A institution to invite SAICE into the their acknowledgement of our Institution VOORTREKKER international engineering ranks in 1994, and for their contribution towards the The SAICE Western Cape Branch had the after the historic democratic elections civil engineering profession on the dedication set up and organized to the last that had taken place in South Africa African continent. Over the past four- detail, except for one small problem - this earlier that year. teen years ASCE and SAICE have liaised was the last week of winter in the Cape of SAICE’s first visit to ASCE happened on various matters and have developed Storms and it threw the Mother of Storms towards the end of 1994 when the then a strong and fruitful relationship that at us in the Mother City! President, Brian Bruce and his late wife benefits both institutions. Having a Trusting that the weather would Rita, and my wife Ria and I, attended previous SAICE staff member, Meggan clear in time for the dedication ceremony the ASCE International Round Table in Maugham-Brown, on the ASCE team as on the mountain, the ASCE and SAICE Atlanta at their annual convention. their Director International Relations parties in the meantime enjoyed hot soup During that visit we not only had and Strategic Planning of course helps to and toasted sandwiches (appropriate the opportunity to network with en- streamline mutual visiting arrangements! fare on this bitterly cold and wet day) at gineering institutions from across the We thank the current ASCE a rustic restaurant in Constantia Nek, world, but for the first time ever we met President, David Mongan and his wife which served as the assembly point. A our African colleagues, particularly Janet, and their Executive Director, 4x4 fleet was already lined up to take the

Civil Engineering | October 2008 5 1 group to the dam after lunch. frozen, but elated, especially when two Walking up from Constantia Nek of the 4x4s came up the road to rescue along the steep 8 km ‘jeep track’ was us, albeit without the VI Guests. never really considered an option, except Photographs were quickly taken and that there was of course an adventurous this time those frozen smiles were real. challenge to it. Well, boys will be boys, Warm cars were welcome sanctuaries, with Boy Scouting and ‘Voortrekkering’ and then, once again, it RAINED. The in the blood of some. Not to even mention Cape of Storms does not give up easily. some tough Girl Guides! So it did not take But neither do a Lady, a Boy Scout much persuasion from Kevin Wall to get and a Voortrekker! Heidi and me to walk up with him ahead 2 of the entourage. This was an unplanned GETTING TOGETHER AROUND A PLAQUE opportunity to experience magnificent The wet and freezing weather could not nature and vistas of the Kaapse Vlakte. dampen the spirits though, and that evening Unfortunately our attire was not at all everyone concerned and interested, in- suitable and the biting northwestern re- cluding a host of dignitaries, descended on lentlessly dumped intermittent, but heavy Kirstenbosch’s Silver Tree Restaurant for showers and ice rain on our advance the official ceremony. While those present party. Walking almost became wading were enjoying a pleasant cocktail, and and my leather jacket steadily soaked up meeting old acquaintances again around water to eventually become as heavy as a a cozy log fire, the plaque, succinctly sum- sack of coal. But we made it! ming up the story of the Woodhead Dam, 3 We experienced a minor dilemma, as drew much attention. The handing over we had no cell phone reception up there, of the plaque by ASCE’s President David and Tony Murray, in a most responsible way, Mongan to the representative of the Cape had called off the 4x4 attempt because of Town City Council, Arne Singels, was per- pouring rain at Constantia Nek. A freezing formed to enthusiastic applause. delay.…. and then, up at the magnificent We would like to thank the SAICE Woodhead Dam, the sun broke through for Western Cape Branch, and Tony Murray twenty minutes. The Cape became the Cape in particular, for having arranged this of Good Hope again for a short while. great event so ably, and for so heartily By this stage we were virtually welcoming every guest into their midst.

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1 Drenched but happy – Kevin Wall (left), Heidi Bolton, and Dawie Botha 7 2 The Woodhead Dam on a rainy day – notice the magnificent stonework 3 The President of ASCE, David Mongan, handing the commemorative plaque to Arne Singels, representative of the Cape Town City Council 4 The story of the Woodhead Dam eloquently summed up on the plaque 5 David Mongan (left), ASCE President, and his wife Janet, together with Patrick Natale, ASCE Executive Director, and his wife Sheila 6 Standing from left to right: Marianne Vanderschuren (chair SAICE Western Cape Branch), Johan de Koker (SAICE President), David Mongan (ASCE President), Patrick Natale 8 (ASCE Executive Director), Meggan Maugham- Brown (ASCE Director International Relations & Strategic Planning). Front: Tony Murray, left (chair SAICE History & Heritage Panel), Dawie Botha (SAICE Executive Director). 7 The committee from the SAICE Western Cape Branch who organised the Woodhead Dam event with such enthusiasm 8 Tony Murray, chairman of the SAICE History & Heritage Panel and a long- standing member of the SAICE Western Cape Branch, with his wife Libby. Tony was hugely instrumental in the Woodhead Dam receiving International Landmark status

Civil Engineering | October 2008 7 Seen at the party around the plaque All photos (except photos 1 and 2): Angus Rule

8 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Civil Engineering | October 2008 9 Text Tony Murray Chairman SAICE History & Heritage Panel [email protected]

URBAN AND RURAL: WATER FOR CAPE TOWN

Water for the tip of Africa Early water supply systems for Cape Town

Cape Town owes its foundation unearthed during the construction of the 1 to the presence of fresh water, specifi- project in the 1970s where cally from the stream which once flowed they are on display, in situ, today. into from the Platteklip Gorge In all their colonies the Dutch harked which bisects Table Mountain. The back to their homeland and built canals, stream was prominent in pre-settlement and even in the cash-strapped Company times. A sketch by Peter Mundy in 1634 town at the Cape, a network of channels shows this as a prominent feature of the soon evolved. The main Heerengracht valley below the mountain: "a Prettie canal was augmented by a stream along Brooke which cometh from the Monstrous Plein Street, while a cross canal along Cleft". drained from the slopes of The governing board of the Dutch . Other canals flanked Strand East India Company resolved to set up a Street, Wale Street, Queen Victoria Street temporary settlement at the foot of Table (then called Tuinstraat) and . Mountain and sent Jan van Riebeeck The Kaisersgracht along the present to establish the Company Gardens just Darling Street was built in 1693. below the area where the Platteklip But the “prettie brooke” and its fresh, Stream split naturally into two. He di- verted it into channels around both sides of the cultivated area, and installed a 2 system of minor furrows for irrigation. The major stream, which he named the “Varsche River” then continued down to the sea where it was the source of drinking water for both the settlement and passing ships. In 1660 he widened and deepened the stream bed, which now assumed the status of ‘gracht’ or canal, and he built a dam for filling water casks near the jetty. Van Riebeeck’s successor, Wagenaar, replaced this with a larger cistern in 1670, and the remains of this structure were

1 John Chisholm: Cape Town Water Superintendent 1821-1856 2 Peter Mundy’s 1634 sketch of the “prettie brooke”

10 Civil Engineering | October 2008 clear water was soon a thing of the past. extended to the cross streets. He built The “Varsche River” became polluted several pumps to lift water from under- with dust blown in by the southeaster ground tanks, filled by mountain springs, and by the run-off from the rudimentary for the use of the public. One example, streets, while slaves found it a convenient the Hurling Swaai Pump, still exists in dumping place for household waste. Princes Street, , and has been Within a short while the canal water was declared a National Monument. However, undrinkable. by 1850 only 20% of the town buildings In 1707 Willem Adriaan van der Stel had running water. All others relied on procured 200 lead pipes from the VOC to slaves collecting water from the public bring fresh water from the foot of Table fountains, or carrying water from the Mountain to the jetty. A four-jet foun- mountain springs. tain supplied the local needs, and Cape In about 1827 the town canals had Town was, waterwise, considered to be long passed their usefulness for supplying well provided for. A well in Greenmarket household water and Chisholm made a Square was the main source of drinking start on covering them over with stone water when the fountains were dry. As or brick barrel arches. By all accounts the population increased, slaves had to these drains were not constructed to the bring drinking water to the citizenry from engineering standards of the day. It also In 1707 Willem Adriaan van der Stel springs on the mountainside. is unlikely, given the resources at the procured 200 lead pipes from the The directors of the Dutch East India disposal of the fledgling municipality, that Company, the Here Sewentien, were very any proper maintenance was carried out. VOC to bring fresh water from the reluctant to spend any money on ‘un- The stenches that emerged from these foot of Table Mountain to the jetty. necessary’ infrastructure. Very little was foul sewers – for such they had become done in the eighteenth century to improve – were cause for concern and annoyance, A four-jet fountain supplied the services, and by the end of the era the if not action. local needs, and Cape Town was, Company had declined into near bank- By the mid 1840s the summer flow ruptcy and had no money to spend on any from the Platteklip Stream had all but waterwise, considered to be well improvements. dried up, and in 1849 Chisholm built provided for. A well in Greenmarket a 2,5 million gallon reservoir to store BRITISH RULE winter flow. The main source of supply Square was the main source of When the British took permanent oc- was the spring on the farm Oranjezicht. drinking water when the fountains cupation in 1806 the population of the The supply chamber is still in existence town was about 17 000, but municipal and delivers about one Megalitre per day, were dry. As the population services had progressed very little since although the quality is no longer consid- van Riebeeck’s time. ered potable. A 12 million gallon reservoir increased, slaves had to bring The shortage of water in the town followed in 1856. These open tanks, drinking water to the citizenry from required urgent attention, and the Home Service Reservoirs No 1 and No 2, are still Government appointed the leading engi- in use and can be seen below Camp Street springs on the mountainside neer of the day, John Rennie, to investigate in the Gardens. augmentation of the supply. His solution Around the world public health re- 3 was to build a 250 000 gallon reservoir in form was taking root, and in mid-century what is now Hof Street in 1814. A water significant changes to London’s drainage superintendent, Mr John Chisholm, began to take place. By 1850 it had been was appointed to implement the Rennie amply demonstrated that cholera was scheme, and he held this post under var- spread by infected drinking water, and ious titles until his death in 1856. Under there were vigorous movements to install his guidance the first cast-iron pipeline and improve drainage and sewerage in of 12-inch diameter was laid down Long European cities. The medical practitioners Street, and branches of smaller bore were who came to the Colony from Europe brought ideas about waterborne sewerage 4 with them, but the municipality was not prepared to invest in sanitary services. Cape Town was, however, not only unpleasantly smelly, but unmistakably

3 Main spring chamber - situated on the original farm Oranjezicht 4 The Molteno Reservoir – built 1881, failed 1882, rebuilt 1886

12 Civil Engineering | October 2008 unhealthy, and action was needed. with three hours supply on alternate In 1857 the situation was becoming days. When the drought was broken in intolerable, and the newly established 1882, the reservoir burst, and it was not House of Assembly decided to flex its restored until 1886. muscle. It appointed a Select Committee to As the Colony expanded there was a report on the sanitary state of Cape Town. clear need for proper expertise to organise The Committee heard extensive evidence, the supply of water for the growing towns and one can only marvel at the thorough- and villages. John Gamble was appointed as ness and perspicacity of the Chairman Hydraulic Engineer to the Colony in 1877, of the Committee, the well-known John and amongst his wider duties was asked Fairbairn, who led the questioning. The to find a more adequate and permanent obvious solution was to install proper source of water for Cape Town. Some older sewerage, but there would not be sufficient engineers had suggested that the plateau fresh water to allow for waterborne sanita- behind Table Mountain was a likely source. tion and proper flushing of sewers. Gamble, who had set up rain gauges across The possibility of damming the the country, could confirm that there would Platteklip Stream was examined in some be sufficient rainfall on the mountain top detail, but rejected, and there were brief to justify a bold scheme to bring supplies thoughts on building dams on Table from the back of the mountain through Mountain and exploiting the Newlands the Twelve Apostles to feed the Molteno Spring. These were rejected in favour of a Reservoir. He identified dam sites which reservoir above the town, and augmenta- could be used to store winter rainfall for tion from springs on the property of a consumption during the dry summers. Mr van Breda in the area now known as In the late 1880s a more progressive Oranjezicht. Again, however, there was group of Councillors took control of the no legal machinery to expropriate the municipality and boldly decided to imple- rights to such resources, and significant ment the proposals. Thomas Cairncross was improvements were still some time away. appointed as City Engineer and he designed Nothing happened for over twenty the tunnel through the Twelve Apostles years, when enabling legislation to which was completed in 1891. Initially water permit a reservoir to be constructed on from the Disa River was simply diverted the Van Breda property was eventually into the tunnel, and then piped to the passed in 1877. In fairness to Council Molteno Reservoir, but after a year or two it and its officials, it does appear that the was plain that a dam would be necessary. ratepayers had refused to raise a loan of And so, in 1894, construction com- £10 000 for construction of main sewers. menced on the Woodhead Reservoir. In 1880 the town was in a shocking state. At the same time the main sewerage Unrestrained winter torrents gouged out scheme was implemented, so by the time roads and flooded homes. Sand enveloped the dam was completed the demand for the town in clouds of red dust during water had grown appreciably. By 1899 southeasters, blinding and knocking Cape Town could at last be called a clean, down unfortunate pedestrians. Waste healthy and modern city, but the water accumulated in covered grachts and situation was again critical. At the end of released stinking gases. Night soil and the Anglo-Boer war – during which the refuse collection was inefficient and the influx of large numbers of troops added contents of the latrine pails were fre- to the water shortage – a start was made quently emptied directly into the streets. on the Hely-Hutchinson reservoir, while The city fathers were conservative to the three dams were built nearby to supply point of lethargy and did little to promote the separate municipality of Wynberg. proper sanitation. However, the water But these measures did not quench supply was becoming critical, so the new Cape Town’s thirst, and in the 20th cen- dam was given the green light. tury a succession of much larger dams The Molteno Reservoir was designed were built in the Hottentots Holland to hold 40 million gallons (about 180 Mountains. The latest dam on the Berg Megalitres). This earth dam was com- River near Franschhoek will increase pleted in 1880, but the following year the available quantity of water suffi- was exceptionally dry and the mountain ciently to prevent water shortages in the streams dried up, so there was no winter region until 2013, after which innova- inflow. Water restrictions had to be ap- tive sources would have to be found to plied, and the public had to make do meet the demand.

Civil Engineering | October 2008 13 The dam on a mountain top The Woodhead Reservoir: A bold scheme to solve Cape Town’s 19th century water shortages

Old-time engineer Patrick engineer who had recently set up a Next problem: no construction of Fletcher was one of the first to suggest consulting practice in Cape Town, was this type had previously taken place in that Cape Town’s water supply prob- appointed to design the structure and the country. Where would the expertise lems could be solved by a dam on Table arrange for its construction. and musclepower be found? Skilled Mountain. The idea took root when It was a daunting prospect. The stonemasons and quarrymen were re- John Gamble, the Colonial Hydraulic easiest access to the dam site was from cruited from Scotland to excavate the Engineer, set up rain gauges on the Kloof Nek via the newly constructed sandstone blocks from the mountain- mountain top and proved that the pre- pipe track to Kasteelpoort Gorge, side for the rubble masonry core; others cipitation and the storage area would through which, after an energetic dressed the granite facings and placed justify building a dam. The site chosen scramble, the Back Table and the dam them to form the durable and elegant by Gamble was on the Disa River, a site could be reached. This route would skin to the walls. Local labour was initi- small stream which meandered across suffice for personnel, small equipment ated into the rigours and skills of civil the “Back Table” – a plateau about 1 000 and provisions to reach the dam site, engineering construction, and soon feet below the famous flat top of Table but how would casks of cement, granite struck up a working relationship with Mountain – before plunging down a facings for the structure and heavy the artisans, despite the difficulties of magnificent gorge to emerge in the equipment be transported? Stewart’s understanding the Scottish tongue. valley. response was to build a cableway The construction town, which in- A tunnel had been built through the from to the summit of cluded a post office and a bank, must have flanking range, the Twelve Apostles, Kasteelpoort and then to lay rail tracks rivalled the Wild West for atmosphere. It between 1887 and 1891 to access the across the plateau to the construction was a man's world where hard men toiled Disa River, but a simple diversion of its site. This solved the problem, but it was in heat and cold, working like Trojans, but waters was only a temporary measure; still impractical for the workforce to also having fun. A womanless community a storage dam was needed to ensure ascend the mountain on foot each day. of fights, whisky, football, chess and piano supply throughout the year. The City The cableway seated only two, and the for entertainment. The workmen were all Council was however not convinced round trip took about twenty minutes. well cared and catered for and in the end that the expense would be justified, but So Stewart arranged for a small produced the goods. after many heated debates they eventu- town to be built at the work site to Work began in 1894 and Tom Stewart’s ally gave the go-ahead for work to com- house the 500-strong workforce who bold design slowly grew out of the gorge. mence. Tom Stewart, a young Scottish would build the dam. Deep foundations were carved into the

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mountainside to allow for faults and weak the steam crane came from Cardiff. Sir John Woodhead, who laid the last layers in the treacherous sandstone. The When the Hely-Hutchinson reservoir stone in May 1897, and was knighted for section across the deepest part of the gorge was being built, a little steam locomo- his vision in promoting the project. is an arch, some 40 metres high and 17 tive, the “Mountain Meg”, was procured, metres wide at the base; the flanking walls dismantled and reassembled, and used 1 The Back Table of Table Mountain, showing are relatively low, and the overflow spillway to replace the mules which had dragged the five dams constructed by Thomas Stewart is spanned by an elegant little bridge. the materials along the rail tracks to the between 1893 and 1907. The Woodhead All machinery and fittings were construction sites. It is still on the moun- Reservoir is at bottom right with the Hely- imported from Scotland, and were dis- tain today, in a tiny museum on the edge Hutchinson alongside. The three Wynberg mantled at the base station, hauled up of the reservoir, together with various dams are at the top of the photograph. the mountain by the cableway and reas- other relics of the construction, which 2 Construction work under sembled on the summit. Cement, also Waterworks Engineer Terence Timoney way on the dam wall imported, arrived in casks, and must have preserved for posterity. 3 Cement casks being lifted to the tested the little ropeway. Coal to power The dam was named after the Mayor dam site by the primitive cableway

Civil Engineering | October 2008 15 The Woodhead Reservoir had scarcely implemented a bold plan for a dam on tives of the engineers and stonemasons been completed when demand for water a mountain top. who worked for four-and-a-half years to again outstripped supply, and it was The centenary of the Woodhead construct the elegant stone-faced dam. agreed to build a second dam upstream Reservoir was celebrated in May 1997 of the first structure. Stewart gathered when more than 100 people gathered at With acknowledgement to André Foot of the together his old workforce, revived the the site. The visitors included several rela- Mountain Club of South Africa cableway and the construction town, and started work on the Hely-Hutchinson 4 dam and three smaller reservoirs on the mountain. Progress was interrupted by the Anglo-Boer War, and the new dam was only completed in 1904. There were thoughts of building further reservoirs on the mountain, but Stewart could point out that the resources of the mountain were now fully utilised. Water supplied for the growing city and its suburbs would in fu- ture have to be found from further afield. The two main reservoirs each hold about 1 000 cubic metres of water and are still in service, contributing about 1% of today’s total consumption in Cape Town and its environs – but the city, and the South African civil engi- neering industry, have grown beyond all recognition since Tom Stewart

4 The Hely-Hutchinson Dam nears completion 5 The elegant bridge across the spillway

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16 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Text Kevin Wall [email protected]

Water shortages bring unification to Peninsula municipalities The primary purpose of govern- HISTORICAL BACKGROUND sion of municipal services. Indeed, it was ment, it is sometimes forgotten, is to pro- In 1900 there were no less than eleven realised that in respect of certain services, vide services to the governed, while giving local authorities in the . especially sewage disposal and water them a say in the process. In view of this, They were the Cape Rural Council supply in certain areas, the ONLY hope it is surprising how few examples there and the municipalities of Cape Town, for the timely provision of these services are of civil society demanding a restruc- Green Point and , Woodstock, lay in unified provision. turing of the local government system in Mowbray, Rondebosch, Claremont, From 1910 the crusaders for unifica- order to better provide these services. Maitland, Wynberg, and tion formed a "Peninsula Municipal The unification of the small local Simon's Town. Union Society", whose chairman was authorities of the Cape Peninsula in 1913 Towards the end of the Anglo-Boer John Parker, an architect and Cape Town was motivated almost entirely by the need War the Cape Colony Government ap- councillor. He described the problem as for services reform. The argument was ad- pointed a commission to review local follows: “Eight municipalities, each widely vanced that only in unification was there government in the Peninsula, from Sea contiguous with, or closely wedged in be- hope that the backlog of and innovation Point to Simon's Town, and particularly tween its municipal neighbours, perma- required for major services could be ad- to deal with water, drainage, sewerage 1 dressed. Indeed, the need for adequate and lighting. The majority report, which water was the single most compelling recommended one municipality from reason for the institution of one local gov- Sea Point to Wynberg, met with a chilly ernment for the whole metropolitan area. reception in municipal circles. Most of The municipalities had grown around the municipalities expressed the desire to a series of nodes. Some of these small remain independent. urban areas were still physically separate from one another, but within a decade RE-AWAKENING OF were likely to form one contiguous urban INTEREST IN UNIFICATION area. Furthermore, some areas were much Towards 1910 there was a re-awakening better served than others. It was apparent of interest in unification, thanks largely to that substantial economies of scale were a realisation by many prominent citizens available, particularly in respect of pro- that the long-term interests of efficiency viding water and waterborne sewerage, and economy lay in the unified provi- and that the smaller urban areas could not afford to improve their services unless 1 The eight Peninsula municipalities they joined forces. before unification in 1913

Civil Engineering | October 2008 17 nently hampered and embarrassed alike years the position would be disastrous by the want of space for the requirements to the health and prosperity of the com- of its position, unable to carry out inde- munity. ... [The necessary] augmentation pendently any scheme for water supply, will be more efficiently and economically drainage, or sewerage.” He noted that the carried out by a Unified Municipality 1904 census had counted a population of than under the existing conditions.” 170 000 of all races in the area, of which 78 000 were citizens of the Municipality RESULTANT LEGISLATION of Cape Town. Largely thanks to these efforts, the Cape Town (which also supplied Ordinance to provide for the combination Green Point and Sea Point) and Wynberg and better government of Municipalities had barely sufficient water reserves in the Cape Peninsula was promulgated for their populations. The Suburban on 28 July 1913. Not only did the eight Municipal Waterworks Board, in which municipalities of Cape Town, Green Point Woodstock, Mowbray, Rondebosch and and Sea Point, Woodstock, Mowbray, Claremont were partners, was able to Rondebosch, Claremont, Maitland and provide a supply totally inadequate for Kalk Bay amalgamate, but additional existing needs. Cape Town and Wynberg areas were also taken over. These latter both possessed dams on Table Mountain, consisted principally of the township but the other municipalities depended of Camps Bay, the area today known upon wells, springs and small streams. as Athlone (then "West London"), and It was obvious to many that the parts of Retreat, Steenberg and Zandvlei. municipalities had to unite in exploiting Furthermore the Ordinance expressly water sources distant from Cape Town. provided for taking over all assets of the “Such a supply would be obtained only Suburban Municipal Waterworks. from a source distant at least forty miles Thus the unified City Council of Cape from Cape Town.” Water was also needed Town inherited the problems of each mu- for sanitation – as early as 1902 “nearly nicipality. Chief among these problems all" of the houses in Cape Town were con- was the water shortage. nected to a waterborne sewerage system, but this experience was not matched ADDRESSING CIVIL ENGINEERING CONCERNS in the southern suburbs. For example, Despite the five reservoirs built on Table Woodstock, Maitland, Mowbray, Mountain between 1890 and 1907, the Rondebosch and Claremont continued to need for increased supplies of water be served by a pail system. remained of first importance among mu- It was also perceived that, whereas nicipal services matters. Consulting en- water supply and sanitation would greatly gineer Thomas Stewart reported in 1901 be facilitated by unification, there would that Cape Town Corporation’s reservoirs also be significant advantages in metro- could only provide 3 million gallons per politan planning and the supply of street day. Cape Town was soon in trouble, as lighting, storm water drainage, fire pro- tection and public transport, and other 2 Despite the five reservoirs built on minor services.

Table Mountain between 1890 and UNIFICATION GAINS SUPPORT 1907, the need for increased supplies The proposals drew considerable support. of water remained of first importance In 1912 a "Municipal Union Conference" was held, attended by delegates from among municipal services matters. all the municipalities except Wynberg, Consulting engineer Thomas Stewart which declined to take part in any way. Following a detailed analysis, including reported in 1901 that Cape Town a projection of population increase and Corporation’s reservoirs could only of water consumption, the Conference reached the conclusion that within five provide 3 million gallons per day. years, taking the Peninsula as a whole, the Cape Town was soon in trouble, as water supply "position might be serious if no adequate steps were taken to augment the daily water consumption had the water supply, whilst at the end of ten

risen to nearly that level by 1905 2 John Parker OBE – architect of unification

18 Civil Engineering | October 2008 the daily water consumption had risen to on highly individual lines, of the eight to keep ahead of rising demand, the dam nearly that level by 1905. municipalities concerned. He now had to was raised for the first time only a few Several alternative Table Mountain take control of all water supplies, roads, years later, thus securing the water supply schemes were put forward, but the bulk of drainage and sewerage in an area of some until the mid-1940s. Table Mountain water was already being seventy-six square miles. Lloyd-Davies’s other priority was to utilized, and to implement any of them advise Council on the main drainage of would have involved expense out of pro- WATER SUPPLY RECEIVES the southern suburbs. His report inter portion to the advantages received. PRIORITY ATTENTION alia recommended the construction of a A commission considered the Prior to 1913 the independent munici- treatment plant at Athlone and the laying problem, and its findings were startling. palities of Mowbray and Rondebosch of some 240 km of sewers. Work on the It recommended that no large additional had purchased options on farms in the Athlone project began in 1921. works should be constructed on Table Steenbras Valley some 70 km from Cape Mountain, and that the only viable solu- Town with a view to obtaining water. VERDICT OF HISTORY tion would be “a scheme giving at least 10 After unification these facilities became In due course the water supply position in million gallons per day, for which it would available to the city as a whole. In 1916 Wynberg Municipality, sufficient in 1913, be necessary to go a distance of up to 50 the Board of Engineers, consisting of changed to one of impending shortage, miles from Cape Town”. Lloyd-Davies and others, after investi- and Wynberg joined the union. When the municipalities amalga- gating both the Wemmershoek Valley The verdict of history has been en- mated, the new Council was forced to on the Berg River and the Steenbras tirely favourable to the 1913 unification. take action. Valley, recommended that Steenbras Slater, the Provincial Secretary, writing Once the Administrator of the Cape should be developed as a water supply in 1972, was able to state that: “Just Province had approved the Unification for the City. imagine the overlapping and chaotic Ordinance, the City Engineer (WJ Jeffries, Construction work began in 1918. conditions which would certainly have succeeded in 1914 by DE Lloyd-Davies), This was none too soon, because, before developed had this amalgamation not faced the onerous task of integrating into the dam was completed in 1921, water taken place. The authorities of those a single entity the engineering depart- rationing was imposed. Supplies were cut days deserve the highest of praise and ments and branches, some of them run by as much as 20 hours per day. In order thanks for their forethought."

Civil Engineering | October 2008 19 Ninham Shand inherits Stewart’s mantle

In 1932 when Tom Stewart was Stewart opted for a dam on the Steenbras as Assistant Resident Engineer on this contemplating retirement, a young con- River above Gordon’s Bay. second ‘raising’ of the Steenbras Dam. He sulting engineer was erecting his brass The first Steenbras Dam was a worked under Jack Hawkins, another dis- plate just a few doors away from the masonry structure in the manner of tinguished water engineer who went on to doyen’s chambers in St Georges Street. Stewart’s Table Mountain dams, and found the practice known for decades as This was Ninham Shand, who had gradu- impounded 2,740 megalitres behind an 8 H2O. Hawkins was an able mentor and he ated from the metre high wall. This soon proved inad- introduced Ninham to the peculiar char- with the Gold Medal in 1919 and whose equate and in 1926 the dam was raised by acteristics of Table Mountain sandstone, guiding hand would influence the water 13 metres to provide a capacity of 27,240 which would stand him in good stead on supply to Cape Town for the next century. megalitres. "Raising" was scarcely ac- future jobs. At weekends the young engi- On obtaining his degree Ninham curate: the entire old structure was envel- neer would go walking in the mountains, joined the Department of Irrigation oped in a mass concrete structure, which noting rock properties, looking out for and was posted to the construction has survived to this day, although the dam sites and developing the awesome works for the Kamanassie Dam near crest of the dam was subsequently raised. stamina for which he became noted. Oudtshoorn. This was followed by a On returning to South Africa in When the dam-raising was completed, year with a contractor, after which he 1926, Ninham Shand spent two years Ninham was appointed as Resident travelled to the United States to widen his experience. There he worked for the 1 US Bureau for Reclamation, the national body responsible for dams and irriga- tion in that country. As Cape Town’s water resources again became critical after the First World War, the city looked towards the Hottentots- Holland Mountains for its future water needs. Tom Stewart had already tramped the valleys and discovered two or three potential sites, and a Board of Engineers comprising the City Engineer (the well- known David Lloyd-Davies), WA Tait (a Scottish water supply specialist) and

1 Site Staff at Steenbras 1926 Ninham Shand is in front second from the right. Jack Hawkins, the founder of the firm HHO is next to him holding a hat.

Civil Engineering | October 2008 21 At the turn of the century Tom Stewart of Engineers to control the project. and Robin MacKellar reported to had identified the Wemmershoek In 1952 Ninham had been on one on the potential for pumped storage in of his busman's holidays to the United the Western Cape and identified that valley as a potential dam site, States and had paid particular attention the Steenbras Dam, perched high on the and in fact he had preferred it to to rockfill dams, which were becoming mountains, would offer possibilities for popular technology. Thinking along those such a scheme. Steenbras. It was an obvious site to lines, he suggested that an old friend and At the time Cape Town was beginning turn to, and Solly Morris, the recently former Head of the United States Bureau to experience shortages in peak electric of Reclamation, Dr John Lucian Savage, power, and the City Electrical Engineer, appointed City Engineer, invited should be the third member of the team, Denis Palser, cast his eye around for ef- Ninham Shand to join the Board of to which Dr Morris readily acceded. ficient solutions. Shands, together with Ninham proposed a rockfill embank- electrical consultants Merz and McLellan, Engineers to control the project ment with a clay core and filters. Washed suggested that Cape Town should con- alluvium would be placed using huge sider the Steenbras option, and Walter water jets to consolidate the dumped Powrie went overseas to link up with Engineer on the construction of the new rockfill in accordance with practice in designers of similar schemes in the British pipeline from Steenbras to Newlands. the United States at that time. Dr Savage Isles. Their report convinced Mr Palser, Ninham then spent some time in supported Ninham’s proposal, and the and the Shands team was appointed to Port Elizabeth where he was Resident design was implemented accordingly, design and implement the project. Engineer on the raising of the Bulk and saving some half million pounds in foun- The existing Steenbras Dam may Sand River Dams and the construction of dation costs. well have been used for the upper the Upper Van Staadens Dam, and where The Wemmershoek Dam and its pipe- reservoir, but the structure was not he showed that water could be delivered line were successfully completed in 1958. considered suitable for raising to pro- to the city under gravity from a site some During investigations for this dam vide the head required by the hydro 80 km away on the Kromme River, which Ninham realised that a much larger dam turbines. Instead the decision was made in due course led to the construction of site was available on the other side of the to construct a separate embankment the Churchill Dam. Before the Churchill watershed, but would require extensive dam within the reservoir. This upper Dam was built Ninham returned to Cape delivery tunnels to bring the water to aug- dam served a dual purpose in that it not Town and set up as a consulting engi- ment the Cape Town system and to irriga- only increased the head available for the neer. Initially he was associated with the tors along the Berg River. In due course generating system but it also augmented Johannesburg practice headed by Geordie this site became the Theewaterskloof the total water supply to Cape Town by Stewart, but in 1947 he became the sole Dam, which was built by the Department doubling the effective capacity of the owner of the firm which bears his name. of Water Affairs and Forestry DW( AF) in original Steenbras reservoir. The fragile state of Cape Town's water the early 1980s and is a vital component The 30 metre high receiving dam supply again became critical after the of the Western Cape water supply system. is sited below the power station on the Second World War, and the authorities once western slopes of the Hottentots Holland more looked to the Hottentots Holland STEENBRAS PUMPED STORAGE SCHEME Mountains to augment the supplies. After Ninham's death in 1969 his younger 2 Ninham points out a feature of First up were improvements to colleagues Walter Powrie, Neville Pells Wemmershoek to Dr John Savage Ninham's old friend the Steenbras Dam, which had the potential for extra storage 2 if the wall could be raised. Ninham was familiar with the innovative prestressing techniques of the celebrated French engineer M Coyne, and together they de- vised a system of pinning a 2 metre high extension onto the old dam wall, which increased the capacity of the dam by some 60%. This relieved Cape Town's thirst for a few years, but by the mid 1950s signs of a crisis were reappearing.

WEMMERSHOEK DAM At the turn of the century Tom Stewart had identified the Wemmershoek valley as a potential dam site, and in fact he had preferred it to Steenbras. It was an obvious site to turn to, and Solly Morris, the recently appointed City Engineer, invited Ninham Shand to join the Board

22 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Mountains near Gordon's Bay and is also spected water engineer. One of his most an embankment dam. significant achievements was to lead the This was a landmark project for both team which compiled the Western Cape Shands and the , whose System Analysis of 1992, highlighting R60 million investment was to prove an the state of local water resources – Cape extremely good one by creating significant Town’s water resources were once again savings in the cost of power purchases in a precarious situation. from Eskom, as well as providing ad- This eventually led to the implementa- ditional capacity for water supply to the tion of the Berg Water Project where Shands ever-thirsty city. joined forces with Goba and Knight Piesold With the usefulness of the pumped to form the Berg River Consultants to win When Ninham passed away storage principle having been established the design and supervision contract for the prematurely in 1969, his son Mike through the Steenbras Scheme, Eskom in scheme, which has a gross storage capacity conjunction with DWAF took the matter of 130 million cubic metres. joined the firm and in due course further and constructed the 1 000 MW It is quite remarkable that one man became a nationally respected water Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme. could have had such an influence on the This was followed by the Palmiet Pumped water supply of a city. Ninham Shand ac- engineer. One of his most significant Storage Scheme, adjacent to Steenbras, cepted the challenge to continue where achievements was to lead the team where the firms of Ninham Shand, VKE Tom Stewart had left off, and he and his and Electrowatt formed the SVE consor- colleagues have served Cape Town with which compiled the Western Cape tium to undertake the design and contract great distinction. Their work is not yet System Analysis of 1992, highlighting administration of the project. complete, as Cape Town seeks to exploit new sources of water in the 21st century. the state of local water resources BERG WATER PROJECT – Cape Town’s water resources were When Ninham passed away prematurely This article is based on the book “Ninham Shand in 1969, his son Mike joined the firm and – the Man and the Practice”, edited by Tony once again in a precarious situation in due course became a nationally re- Murray, which is due to appear early in 2009

Civil Engineering | October 2008 23 Text Kevin Wall [email protected]

URBAN AND RURAL: INFRASTRUCTURE

The National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy, and its implementation The National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy (NIMS) was approved Didiza in May 2008. by Cabinet in 2006. This Strategy sets overarching policy for sector-based Infrastructure maintenance must be regarded as a strategic tool to promote initiatives and describes the framework for a coordinated programme improved service delivery, to unlock of actions. It is an essential part of government's vision of delivering funding to extend infrastructure to historically disadvantaged communities, infrastructure services to all. The simultaneous infrastructure investment and to support the nation's economy. and maintenance that will result from this Strategy will not only improve Maintenance of existing infrastructure should not be seen as of secondary impor- infrastructure performance and underpin the sustainability of services, tance to the apparently more attractive but wil also contribute significantly towards national and local economic prospect of creating new infrastructure. growth, and create long-term jobs. Background to it, and progress with its REVIEW AND ANALYSIS implementation, are described in this article The findings of the sector-by-sector review of the state of infrastructure and facilities, the state of their management, and current initiatives to enhance mainte- All three spheres of government, structure. (In this article, ‘maintenance’ is nance undertaken for the purposes of the together with the state-owned enter- used as a generic term to include planned Strategy, remain valid (DPW et al. 2006; prises, manage major portfolios of im- maintenance, repair, refurbishment and Construction Industry Development movable infrastructure assets. Although renewal, and provision for replacement of Board (cidb) 2007). there is much emphasis on the ‘delivery’ the infrastructure.) The review indicated that all public of infrastructure, delivery does not in Generally, the larger institutions, e.g. sector institutions could be placed in one fact end with the commissioning of the Eskom and DWAF water resources, are of two broad categories described below infrastructure asset. After commis- performing the best with regard to main- and set out in Table 1: sioning, various activities are necessary tenance, but some services in rural-based NNCategory A. These institutions have for continued performance – such as the municipalities have already failed. sound asset management plans for most allocation of necessary budgets and the It is evident that a holistic national of their strategic infrastructure, main- retention of appropriate staff to operate infrastructure maintenance strategy is tenance budgets are adequate, capaci- and maintain the asset over its whole needed, without which many institutions ties and skills are adequate, and their design life. are unlikely to be able to improve their leadership has a strong maintenance Despite the good performance in maintenance policies and practices. With ethic. Or they are largely missing one or some sectors, there is strong evidence this in mind, the National Infrastructure more of the elements listed above but that in other sectors much of the infra- Maintenance Strategy (NIMS) was this is recognised and improvements structure, of both pre- and post-1994 formulated, and presented to Cabinet, are being programmed. vintage, is not being properly maintained. which approved it in August 2006. (DPW NNCategory B. These institutions are not Older infrastructure is often not being et al. 2006) Its aim is to promote sound as strong in each of the elements as the refurbished and renewed when it needs maintenance of infrastructure and facili- institutions of Category A. This situa- to be, and there is inadequate planned ties across the whole of the public sector. tion is not improving and might even preventative maintenance on new infra- NIMS was launched by Minister Thoko be deteriorating. Or they do not have

24 Civil Engineering | October 2008 The National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy, and its implementation asset management plans, maintenance ACTION PLAN (IAM) plan of each institution to ensure budgets are not adequate, they lack The four thrusts of the NIMS are: that financial provision for mainte- capacity, and their leadership does not 1. Strengthening the regulatory frame- nance is specifically linked to currently regard maintenance as very important. work governing planning and budg- owned strategic infrastructure and to Other significant differences between eting for infrastructure maintenance decisions on investment in new capital Category A institutions and Category B 2. Assisting institutions with non-finan- infrastructure. Also create mechanisms institutions relate to political and senior cial resources to monitor this and to apply corrective administrative emphasis on maintenance, 3. developing the maintenance industry action where necessary. design and construction quality; and, 4. Strengthening monitoring, evaluation NNAction 3. Treasuries (national and sometimes, external forces requiring that and reporting, and feeding this into a provincial) plan for increasing global maintenance be attended to (e.g. regula- process of continuous improvement. allocations for maintenance over time tory and safety requirements) etc. Specific actions follow within each thrust (based on adequate motivations) until Many of the Category B institutions area. such time as maintenance funding ap- are not able to improve their maintenance proaches an optimal level. practice without some level of the assist- Strengthening the regulatory framework NNAction 4. Gazette regulations requiring ance and regulation that implementation governing planning and budgeting for adequate planning for prioritised of the Strategy will provide. Although the infrastructure maintenance maintenance (including organisational Category A institutions are not the target of An effective way to address the needs of structures and skilled staff) especially the Strategy, it is likely that the infrastruc- institutions that have not adopted sound for infrastructure which underpins the ture maintenance of many of them will also infrastructure maintenance policies and core economic and social development benefit from some of these measures. practices would be to strengthen the per- of the country. It is important to identify which formance requirements. NNAction 5. Incorporate in the regulatory Category B infrastructure and facilities NNAction 1. Review, strengthen and harmo- framework requirements for identifying sectors constitute the greatest problem nise the strategic planning regulatory key strategic infrastructure, specifically regarding issues such as effects on human framework so that it includes require- budgeting for its adequate maintenance health and economic growth, lack of effec- ments for planning and budgeting for and for reporting performance. tive countermeasures in the event of failure maintenance, especially of infrastruc- NNAction 6. Audit heritage sites in order of the service, etc. For example, wastewater ture of a strategic nature. to identify work to make them com- treatment works are often problematic. NNAction 2. Create links between the capital pliant with government policies and These sectors must be the main focus of budget, the operating budget and the regulations. efforts to assist the Category B institutions. infrastructure asset management Assisting institutions Table 1: Public sector institutions by their state of maintenance with non-financial resources Category Brief description Institutions Improving human resources capacity A Adequate and/or im- SANRAL, national government public buildings, and providing better-practice guidelines proving maintenance DWAF, ACSA, Eskom, , Transnet, some pro- are measures that will assist institutions vincial roads, some provincial health and education, to improve maintenance. To this end, some municipalities, some water boards norms and standards for the mainte- B Inadequate and/or dete- Some provincial roads, some provincial health and nance of different types of infrastructure riorating maintenance education, most municipalities, some water boards (roads, water, sanitation, etc.) need to

Civil Engineering | October 2008 25 be developed, and appropriate capacity- there is a need for the government to Steering Committee and task teams. building, mentoring and direct support play a role in developing the mainte- Membership may include institutions programmes put in place. Budgeting nance industry, particularly with regard such as DBSA, SALGA, IMESA and norms will also be developed to facilitate to skills development, SMME develop- SANRAL. accurate long-term maintenance budget ment and the promotion of BBBEE in A number of Task Teams have been or forecasting, taking into account the type, the maintenance industry. are being established: age and condition of infrastructure. NNAction 10. Build the maintenance sector NNTask Team 1 – Strategic Planning and The norms will also take account of re- within the construction industry, in- Regulatory Framework liability, which will be determined by what cluding developing models, guidelines NNTask Team 2 – Non Financial Resources constitutes ‘failure’, what the consequences and procedures for procurement of NNTask Team 3 – Developing the of failure are, and mitigation plans. For maintenance services, particularly Maintenance Industry example, if the downtime of the asset ongoing long-term maintenance con- NNTask Team 4 – Monitoring and must not exceed, say, 1% of the time, the tracts that will promote SMME devel- Evaluation maintenance norms need to be a lot more opment, involvement of women, local The cidb will provide overall programme stringent than if downtime as high as, say, employment, etc. Also build capacity management for the NIMS. 10%, could be accommodated. in the industry – the EPWP will play NNAction 7. Develop and promote guide- an important role in this regard. PROGRESS lines, norms and standards for the The NIMS is only one (admittedly, one maintenance of infrastructure – cov- Strengthening monitoring, evaluation of the most significant, if not the most ering financial, technical and skills and reporting, and feeding this into a significant) of a number of national aspects. Extend the cidb “Toolkit for process of continuous improvement IAM initiatives, planned to complement Infrastructure Delivery Management” Monitoring and evaluation processes one another. They are all part of the so that it will support public sector must be strengthened and implemented process of promoting sound mainte- officials to improve the delivery and – with mechanisms for feedback to nance of infrastructure and facilities maintenance of infrastructure. result in the necessary improvements. across the whole of the public sector, With regard to human resource ca- In this way performance change can and setting parameters for the perform- pacity, a Joint Initiative on Priority be measured and the attention of the ance of public sector institutions. Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) initiative institutions concerned can be drawn to NIMS is not an isolated initiative. through the cidb is an audit of existing non performance. The annual reporting It will need to synergise with, and will technical skills in the construction and requirements and the forthcoming in turn to varying degrees be supported maintenance industry, together with GIAMA regulations provide the frame- by, many current initiatives. To empha- projections of the skills requirements work for this. sise – it is not a separate programme, over the next 15 years. NNAction 11. Strengthen and implement but implementation is to be across all NNAction 8. Carry out a study of the non- monitoring and evaluation processes. spheres of government, and within technical human resource capacity departments.1 requirements for improving infra- IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Thus, in terms of NIMS, national structure maintenance, and identify Recognising the importance of in- Government’s integrated approach to actions to address the identified skills frastructure maintenance within IAM macro planning and implementation shortages. government and the role that effective is “work in progress” in respect of the fol- NNAction 9. Identify the Category B maintenance will play in support of lowing initiatives, among others: institutions, and build targeted service delivery, Cabinet approved the NNDefine an adequate IAM strategy and capacity within them, through the NIMS two years ago. The Minister of policy for government, which will Infrastructure Delivery Improvement Public Works was given the responsi- strengthen government’s role to oversee Programme (IDIP), Project Consolidate bility of providing political oversight of and enforce compliance and other capacity-building pro- NIMS within Cabinet, and the national NNInformation sharing within or across grammes. In particular, assist them Department of Public Works (DPW) sectors that will help avoid duplication directly to prepare IAM plans. was appointed to lead implementation of efforts of the programme. NNPromote IAM, as a tool to help meet Developing the maintenance industry Membership of the broad-based regulatory requirements Appropriate infrastructure mainte- Programme Steering Committee, es- NNNational support initiatives to promote nance also creates jobs since it can tablished to oversee implementation IAM throughout the public sector only be done, or can best be done, by of the NIMS programme, will include Reflecting the four thrusts of NIMS, labour-intensive methods, and it is thus the Presidency, national DPW, National Government’s aim is to empower and important that government’s plans for Treasury, Department of Provincial and guide public sector institutions respon- employment creation and the Expanded Local Government, Department of Public sible for infrastructure, and to promote Public Works Programme (EPWP) give Enterprises, and Department of Water IAM, by means of initiatives such as the prominence to maintenance. Affairs and Forestry. following: Given the skills shortages and eq- In addition, an Advisory Group is to NNLegislation uity imbalances in the infrastructure be constituted in order to provide specific NNGuidance: strategy, policy and tools to maintenance and construction industry, inputs and insights to the Programme manage IAM

26 Civil Engineering | October 2008 NNTraining: educational material NNDepartment of Provincial and Local NNImplementation: hands-on technical Government (DPLG) in 2006 released assistance guidelines for IAM in local government, NNContinued improvement: sharing of and during 2008 formulated a guideline information and research for Comprehensive Infrastructure Plans. Much progress has already been made.2 The latter will incorporate maintenance The following is a brief summary: and total live cycles costing principles. NNThe Government Immovable Asset NNThe IDIP, at present targeted within Management Act (GIAMA), tabled selected provincial departments, has in Parliament by DPW, has been law been revised in order to strengthen the for the best part of a year. GIAMA maintenance requirements. makes it obligatory for public sector NNThe cidb is identifying current norms institutions to draw up sound multi- and standards for IAM, with a view to year infrastructure asset management reviewing and re-issuing these. plans. Regulations are currently NNThe National Water Services being drawn up by DPW. Infrastructure Asset Management NNThe Public Finance Management Act is Strategy is in an advanced stage of being amended to incorporate stronger preparation by DWAF. provisions on IAM. The latter is one of a number of “sector NNNational Treasury, with cidb, is con- strategies” on infrastructure main- tinuing to develop and improve IAM tenance that, it is intended, will be guidelines. (These emphasise that prepared by the appropriate national their purpose is “to provide [public government department in respect of sector owners of infrastructure with] each infrastructure sector – all of these a start to improving budgeting for under the ‘umbrella’ of NIMS. infrastructure maintenance”, and Finally, it is one of the objectives of the they are not “a substitute for proper NIMS to raise the profile and the priority infrastructure asset maintenance, of IAM right across the public sector. which should be the ultimate goal in supporting the service delivery Notes improvement.” “It is essential to treat 1. As an important aside – National Treasury each infrastructure asset as a separate has made it clear that implementa- element and plan the infrastructure tion of the provisions of NIMS is not maintenance accordingly.” Therefore going to attract additional funding. The these guidelines provide “indicative Department’s attitude, as expressed minimum budgets” only.) (“National forcefully by the Minister of Finance on Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy: numerous occasions, is that many public infrastructure maintenance budgeting sector institutions are not able to spend guideline”, cidb, in course of prepara- their budgets, and therefore should tion. Similar sentiments are expressed have no difficulty in reallocating capital in “Local government capital asset funding to maintenance purposes. management guideline”, National 2. From October a progress report will be Treasury, in course of preparation.) available on the cidb website NNNational Treasury has begun a (www.cidb.org.za). process to amend the Standard Chart of Accounts, which apply to all gov- REFERENCES ernment departments, by the inclu- Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) sion of appropriate line items relating (2007). The state of municipal infrastructure Other measures that National specifically to IAM. This will enable in South Africa and its operation and mainte- Treasury has taken to increase budgeting and expenditure against nance. An overview. Available at: these line items to be tracked, http://www.cidb.org.za provincial and local government thereby providing an important Department of Public Works, Construction accountability for assets include monitoring tool. Industry Development Board and Council NNOther measures that National Treasury for Scientific and Industrial Research (2006). the regulations that it has has taken to increase provincial and National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy in support of ASGISA and government published requiring municipalities local government accountability for assets include the regulations that it has growth objectives. Available at: to do impairment testing at both published requiring municipalities to http://www.cidb.org.za South Africa (2007). Government Immovable the asset and network level do impairment testing at both the asset and network level. Asset Management Act, Act 19 of 2007.

28 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Text Hugh Hodge Senior Civil Engineer (at the time when this article was written) [email protected] T Wanakwanyi Senior Civil Engineer Rand Water [email protected] J Critchley Chief Planning Engineer Rand Water [email protected]

U R B A N A N D R U r a l : W a t E R F o r G A U T E N G

The culture of civil engineering and the history of the Gauteng water supply system

As a result of the discovery of gold in South Africa in 1886, the City RAND WATER – of Johannesburg was founded, resulting in the need for an adequate THE FIRST 50 YEARS: 1900 TO 1950 Tempelhof (2003), in his com- water supply for the region. To meet this need the Rand Water Board prehensive report on the centenary (now Rand Water) was established in 1903. Entwined in the history history of Rand Water, gives some fascinating details, which will be ab- of the Board and in the development of Johannesburg, is the golden breviated in this article. thread of the civil engineering profession. Over the years the profession As a result of the intensive develop- ment of gold mining operations, the increasingly became recognised as part of the very fibre of society. industrial sector was the major con- Events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which provide unique sumer of water on the Witwatersrand in the period after 1901. Shortly after opportunities for civil engineering practitioners to focus on economies the British forces had taken over of scale, offer further occasion to grow the culture of civil engineering, Johannesburg in the Anglo-Boer War, the British commander, Lord Roberts, thereby generating future growth benefits for all the peoples of Africa appointed Major WAL O’Meara of the Royal Engineers to take control

30 Civil Engineering | October 2008 of Johannesburg’s local affairs until was aware that, with the growth of The Vaal Triangle civil authority could be restored. population and industrial development, On 26 May 1950 the Board responded Public health was considered a primary sterilisation had to become a standard favourably to a suggestion by Chief responsibility of local government procedure, and in 1916 – 1917 a chlo- Engineer JP Leslie to give particular at- and consequently water and sanitary rination plant was built at Zwartkopjes. tention to the potential socio-economic matters featured prominently in the The hardness of the Board’s water development of the basin recommendations that O’Meara made supply also came under scrutiny. region, which he considered to be the in a report of April 1901 – the private When William Ingham became the natural economic and industrial centre water companies were to be replaced Board’s Chief Engineer in 1910 he im- of South Africa. by a public utility. What lay ahead was mediately started with a programme In the Vaal Triangle region indus- a daunting challenge to the brightest of to pump more water from Zuurbekom, trial development was taking place engineering minds. pushing the supply up from 11,25 to at a rapid rate. Apart from the major 32,85 Ml/day. At the end of the 1913 industrial town of Vereeniging, there Appointing the engineers financial year, Zuurbekom was pro- were two new towns: Vanderbijlpark, In its report of February 1902, the viding 40,92% of the Board’s total water where Iscor established its modern iron Water Commission recommended that supply and the water from Zwartkopjes and steel factory, and (on the other side an engineer be appointed as soon as was progressively declining. It was ob- of the Vaal River) , which was possible to report on the proposed water vious that a new source of supply was established to provide housing for the supply system, and in December 1904 needed for the Witwatersrand and plan- employees of the first synthetic fuel it decided to appoint Mr D Leitch, the ning began in earnest. The Vaal River, manufacturing plant in South Africa, Town Engineer of Johannesburg, who including construction of the Barrage in I. Within a short space of time a had considerable local experience. 1922 and construction of the Vaal Dam number of related industries were es- The government also agreed in June in 1928, was to play an important role. tablished in the region that came to be 1902 to the appointment of top-class Notwithstanding the two World known as South Africa’s Sheffield. One consulting engineers from Britain Wars, the Great Depression of the early of the major reasons for these develop- to conduct an investigation into the 1930s and the first major drought of ments was the availability of a water proposed water supply for the colony. 1933, the rapid rate of industrial de- supply from the Vaal River. In 1903, shortly after the Rand Water velopment in South Africa continued. Board started with operations, the firm Many of the technological innovations Zuikerbosch and of Middleton, Hunter & Duff of London of the world war years were now being Vereeniging Pumping Stations was appointed to the task. Their report put to good use in civilian society. The Chief Engineer Leslie conducted ex- was completed in April 1904. black township of Alexandra was also tensive investigations into the question a beneficiary of the rapid developments of pollution and how the Board could Water quality and availability taking place to the north and east of improve the quality of the water. He With the opening up of the under- Johannesburg when in 1938 a pipeline informed the Board in 1943 that the ground water supply of the Klip River was installed from the Signal Hill Klip River and Zuikerbosch River, the at Zwartkopjes south of Johannesburg Reservoir to the northern portion of two tributaries of the Vaal River be- it became necessary to start with water Edenvale, the Modderfontein Dynamite tween the Vaal Dam and the Barrage, treatment. Early problems included Factory and the Germiston munici- were severely polluted. This had started a percentage of iron ore (0,7 parts pality. more or less in 1938 and coincided with per million) in the water supply from Perhaps the definitive civil engi- the industrial development of the Far Zwartkopjes, leading to the growth of neering accomplishment in the Rand East Rand. weed in the mains. A small amount of Water Board’s first half century was Leslie felt that the existing copper sulphate (one part in 3,5 mil- that, contrary to the trend with most Vereeniging filtration and pumping lion) was added to the water to halt this. modern consumption goods, but true station should not be extended further. Bacilli of the typhoid type were also to economies-of-scale, the tariff of To cope with an anticipated increased found at one stage and new boreholes the Board’s water had in fact dropped consumption to 682 Ml/day, the new showed indications of bacterial content, since it started operations in 1903. The station should be 1,5 km upstream from especially when the rainfall was high. average inclusive charge for water to all the Zuikerboschrand River to make it The Board’s Engineering Division consumers was as shown in Table 1. possible to extract water for the Board primarily from the Vaal River. This was Table 1 Drop in the price vs consumption of water vs relative income 1910–1950 (Tempelhoff 2003) to become the Board’s most important Year 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 purification and pumping station and Cost/4,5 Kl 35,14 19,46 20,83 11,68 9,81 it was the first pumping station to be (pennies) completely reliant on electricity from Consumption 18,45 49,95 60,75 208,8 407,25 Eskom. (Ml/day) Before the plan was approved, the best possible treatment system for the Relative 648,3 972,0 1 265,4 2 438,8 3 995,1 water at Zuikerbosch was researched. income At the new plant aluminum sulphate

Civil Engineering | October 2008 31 As a vital part of laying the line with a diameter of 900 mm was secure for the interior of South Africa foundation for the world-class, laid between Meredale-Moroka at a cost a strategic water supply without which of US$150 000. In September 1961 the the country’s economy would have modern industrial business area construction of the Meredale Reservoir been hamstrung. For the Rand Water of Gauteng, Rand Water proved with a capacity of 112,5 Ml was given Board the water was to be provided by the green light by the Board (construc- the Lesotho Highlands Water Project its great worth within the space tion cost estimated at US$190 000). (LHWP). In the early 1980s a series of of less than 100 years by helping In February 1962 the Northern four dams were planned that would be Water Board (NFSWB) used to transfer water over a distance to establish civil engineering in was established with the intention of of some 400 km from the highlands of this country as a culture and a supplying water for urban, industrial or Lesotho by means of gravity tunnels and agricultural purposes within the district river courses to the Vaal Dam. Included profession of substance of Sasolburg. Instead of a smaller in the agreement with Lesotho was a pipeline with a maximum diameter 120 MW hydro-electrical power station. (alum) was to be added in two stages. of 575 mm, Deputy Chief Engineer RJ Of the four dams, the Katse Dam was to Alternatively, lime would be added as Laburn recommended a pipeline with a become the tallest dam on the African a primary process, followed by alum as diameter of 725 mm. The whole project continent. The LHWP was completed in a secondary process. Compared with was estimated to cost US$800 000, but 1997, supplying a minimum of 18 per lime, the price of alum was high. Its the Rand Water Board was eager for the second from the Katse Dam in Lesotho advantage was that small quantities of service to be extended to the NFSWB, to the tributary the substance went a long way towards which also shared the Vaal River. of the Vaal Dam – a massive civil engi- providing the desired flocculation ef- During drought conditions in neering project by any standards. fect. The operations also became more 1966 Mr Laburn (by then the Chief sophisticated in that the plant calcined Engineer) reported to the Board that THE POST-MODERN its own lime for water purification. an additional 450 Ml/d from the Vaal SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT This allowed it to provide sufficient Dam was available if it gave up its right After the 1994 fully democratic elec- quantities of carbon dioxide for the pH to generate hydro-electric power. It tions, the Witwatersrand was incorpo- correction of the water in the lime co- frequently happened in the prime in- rated into an enlarged provincial area agulation process. dustrial months of October-November called Gauteng. Global warming be- that the Board’s supply system had to came an international talking point and RAND WATER – THE SECOND work under great pressure and so the locally an effective anti-developmental FIFTY YEARS: 1950 TO 2000 proposal was accepted. issue despite a lack of consensus among In the period after World War II the scientists and engineers as to the sig- political landscape in South Africa Water supply from the nificant root causes of the phenomenon. changed markedly. The National Party Tugela River and Lesotho The fringes of South African cities and under the leadership of Dr DF Malan The Tugela-Vaal Water Scheme was towns became planned areas for free came to power in 1948. Although the conceived for the first time in the 1950s basic water and electricity justifiably Rand Water Board was an apolitical as a means of augmenting water from promised to the previously disadvan- institution, it was indirectly affected the Vaal River. It was at the time one taged and rural poor. However, adequate by the political transformation, but the of a few alternatives left to planners sanitation and its affordability was a engineering section nevertheless main- to secure the continued growth of the debatable issue, even among certain en- tained a strong English character. Until region. gineers. Black Economic Empowerment the 1980s an English-speaking South The first constructed scheme policies, although necessary to correct African had always held the position of started with operations in 1974 when some of the imbalances of the past, Chief Engineer to the Board. water was pumped from the Tugela simultaneously created additional ten- River to the . The sions in the new ‘rainbow’ society, and Peri-urban areas Board acted as consultants to the the exodus of white engineering and The Peri-Urban Health Board was one Department of Water Affairs on the other professional skills from South of the first government offices to take design and construction of all the Africa began. note officially of the urban sprawl that pumping, pipeline and ancillary plant was now occurring. This encompassed for the scheme. The Sterkfontein The vital new need: capacity-building the region from Florida in the west to Dam had an initial storage capacity of Despite efforts to increase the number of Edenvale in the east (including Soweto), 1 196 752 Ml, which was increased in civil engineering students, there are bot- in the north Pretoria and Rustenburg, the second phase to 2 656 000 Ml and tlenecks at the facilities of South African and in the south the northern Free was equivalent in capacity to the Vaal tertiary educational institutions and State. The Board had to make plans to Dam, but with a smaller surface area the numbers of teaching staff are often supply all these areas with water. and much lower evaporation potential. inadequate to accelerate the throughput By the end of 1961 it was evident South Africa negotiated agree- of students. In addition, the poor quality that Soweto was in need of a lot of ments of friendship with the landlocked of maths and science teaching at many water. As a short term solution, a pipe- neighbouring kingdom of Lesotho to schools frustrates efforts to produce

32 Civil Engineering | October 2008 much-needed engineering graduates of consulting engineers were able to render the right calibre for South Africa - this a service of great value to society. Rand factor often adds years to the teaching Water started out as a public utility, process (SAICE 2007). shaped on the format of a British met- South Africa is addressing this chal- ropolitan institution. On the South lenge as well as it can, but it is becoming African the forces of colonial increasingly evident that adequate and governance ultimately made way volun- sustainable civil engineering capacity is tarily and democratically for the transi- an international problem which could tion to a typical dynamic South African severely retard Africa’s development. organisation. Despite political turmoil, economic fluctuation and social change, CONCLUSION Rand Water has continued in an unob- Notwithstanding that a century is but trusive manner to provide the service a brief period of time in comparison that it had been established for in the with the history of humankind, a series first place – supplying high-quality bulk of mining, civil engineering, political water to its consumers. Sound planning and socio-economic events can have a made it possible to provide an assured lasting effect on society. As a vital part water supply in what was actually a of laying the foundation for the world- semi-arid region with an annual rainfall class, modern industrial business area of only approximately 500 mm. of Gauteng, Rand Water proved its great worth within the space of less than REFERENCES 100 years by helping to establish civil SAICE Annual Review 2007. engineering in this country as a culture Tempelhoff, J W N 2003. The substance of and a profession of substance. ubiquity: Rand Water 1903-2003 (A report The civil engineering planners of on the centenary history of Rand Water). Rand Water and their South African Johannesburg: Rand Water.

Civil Engineering | October 2008 33 history and heritage

Past Master 18 John Gamble

It is quite remarkable how young But academic life was not for him. or’s strength of character and energy and relatively inexperienced engineers Suddenly in 1866 he decided to take ar- in carrying out work in difficult and arrived in this country in the 19th cen- ticles with the well-known engineer Sir dangerous circumstances. The survey tury and established a successful branch John Hawkshaw. After an initial spell on was completed after nine months of toil of their profession in a then remote and the construction of the docks at Hull, he under the most trying conditions, and rather backward part of the world without became Resident Engineer on the main Gamble returned to London to draft the benefit of a mentor or role model. sewers in Brighton, where he put his his report. Almost immediately he was A typical example was John Gamble, mathematical skills to good use in de- appointed to the new post of Hydraulic who at the age of 31 came to South Africa vising a system of survey measurements Engineer to the Cape Colony. and set up the foundations for hydro- which ensured that the sinuous tunnels At this time almost all the engineers logical studies and irrigation engineering were correctly located. in South Africa were engaged in railway in this part of the world. In 1874 Hawkshaw was appointed or road work. Despite his lack of similar John Gamble was born in 1842, the by the Brazilian Government to report experience Gamble lost no time in get- son of a naval surgeon, and was a math- on the suitability of several harbour ting to grips with his duties, and he soon ematical prodigy. He won a scholarship to sites in that country and Gamble and impressed his political masters that Oxford, was a brilliant student, and after three assistants set sail for Pernambuco. his plans and requests were practical taking his degree remained at the univer- Shortly after work commenced two of and worthy of support. He undertook sity to become a lecturer in mathematics his colleagues took ill and died, while an extended tour of his area of respon- at Lincoln College. During this period the third was overcome by the heat and sibility, and compiled useful situation he was awarded the Gold Medal for the had to return home. Gamble continued reports which were acted upon in later Johnson Memorial Prize Essay, his subject with one new assistant, who later years. His reports also led to an Act of being “The Laws of Wind”. spoke in glowing terms of his superi- Parliament which formed the basis of the future strategy for irrigation in the 1 Colony and led to the eventual creation of the Department of Irrigation. At Port Elizabeth he made recom- mendations for a proper water supply, which the municipality acted upon and for a time possessed “the finest water- works in the colony”. Other towns and villages received his attention, among them King Williamstown, East London, Queenstown, Somerset East, Riversdale and Graaff-Reinet benefited from his expertise and enjoyed adequate water supply for some years. Gamble prevailed on the Government to set up a rain gauge at each magistracy. As a result some 250 reliable stations were established, and

1 John Gamble alongside his rainfall instruments on Table Mountain

34 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Gamble was then able to produce the Municipality, the government allowed schemes for the Shannon and Barrow first good rainfall maps for the Colony. him to become involved in the search rivers, and with Parliamentary approval This led to the production of the first for augmentation of the local water he produced designs and surveys for daily weather reports. He compiled supply, and he located the position for the proposed works. Sadly he did not a catalogue of all publications about the first reservoir on Table Mountain live to see his projects implemented. Southern African climate and also col- and the Woodhead supply tunnel. When Ironically, having survived the rigours lated a list of all reliable altitude records the Molteno reservoir collapsed in 1882, of foreign climes, he succumbed to ty- of the land form. Gamble was appointed to find the cause phoid fever in the British Isles and died His practical work led to the con- and remedy. in November 1889. struction of several irrigation schemes While in South Africa Gamble met It is quite obvious that Gamble, who and dams. One of the first was at Sak and married Miss Constance Brounger, was affectionately known as “Honest River in the driest part of the Karoo the daughter of the Colonial Railway John”, was a personality of some status, where the irrigation scheme was vi- Engineer William Brounger, and they both professionally and socially. His able for many years. On the other hand produced three daughters. He took a opinion was sought on various engi- he incurred the ire of some colonists keen interest in the SA Public Library, the neering matters, and he was awarded by turning down a proposal for a Philosophical Society and other scientific the Telford Medal and three Telford large dam on the Buffels River near and cultural institutions at the Cape, premiums for papers presented at the Murraysburg, which according to the and became an examiner and Council ICE. He is described as a person who promoters, would have transformed the Member of the . “combined great mental gifts with a sin- district into an agricultural paradise. In 1886 the world and the Colony gular sweetness and modesty of char- Presumably if the scheme had been vi- experienced something of a depres- acter”. As mentor to several engineers able it would at some time or other have sion, and with short-sighted zeal the he made a considerable impression on gone ahead, but as the dam has never government abolished the office of the profession and he can rightly be been built we can conclude that Gamble Hydraulic Engineer. Gamble returned called the father of irrigation and hy- knew his hydrology! to England, and shortly afterwards was drology in South Africa. Although his job description did not appointed to a similar post in Ireland. include assistance to the Cape Town He immediately set to work on assessing Tony Murray

Civil Engineering | October 2008 35 Past Master 19 Thomas Stewart

1 Thomas Stewart at the height of his career Thomas Stewart was born in 1 Craigend, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1857 2 Stewart and colleague in the precarious and as a sixteen year-old entered into a looking bucket of his construction cableway pupilage with Mr DH Halkett. After three years, on completion of his time, he was Town’s water supply, his services were taken into the firm as an assistant engi- placed at the disposal of the municipality neer. He then worked with the Glasgow to find out why the Molteno Reservoir had Corporation Water Works while he fur- burst the previous year, leaving Cape Town thered his studies at Glasgow University. with a severe water shortage. One of young Later he joined the staff of Sir John Wolfe Stewart’s first tasks was to crawl through Barry before being recruited to South pipes in order to find some reason for the Africa in 1882. He arrived at the Cape on failure. It was a vivid and uncomfortable 28 December in the company of another introduction to his new job. (Presumably young Scot, James Rawbone. his efforts led to a solution of the problem, The two young immigrants were less since the reconstructed Molteno Reservoir than charmed by their first impressions of is still in service.) Cape Town, which was windy, dusty and Soon, however, his duties took him badly drained. As they explored the dimly further afield. He was sent to assess the po- lit St Georges Street they were annoyed the Hydraulic Engineer of the Colony, tential of the Olifants River at Clanwilliam by the stoeps of buildings which projected John Gamble. for irrigation, and he looked at the pos- across the sidewalk and which ended Stewart reported for work on January sibility of irrigating the Harts River valley abruptly and steeply at street corners – a 1st 1883 and found that the programme with water from the Vaal – both schemes definite hazard to unwary pedestrians. for the first day of the year consisted of were to be implemented some years later. Hogmanay was to be a dreary time for the an official picnic on Table Mountain. The He worked out schemes for water supply two spirited young Scotsmen. They vowed party for this event included well-known to Barkly West, Cradock, Burgersdorp and there and then that, if at all possible, they politicians such as John X Merriman (a Aliwal North, and in doing so he made a would return to their homeland on the land-surveyor by profession). The Chief favourable impression not only on his boss next ship. Engineer duly read the rain gauges as part but also on some of the clients. Gamble But it wasn’t possible, as they had of the official duties. There were other was prepared to leave him in charge for contracts to honour. Rawbone would practical sides to the visit as Stewart a six-month period when he took home make his mark in the Colonial Forestry was introduced to some dam sites which leave, and in his chief’s absence he gave service, and become the founder of the Gamble had identified as potential new some telling evidence to the commission well-known Rawbone-Viljoen family, sources of water for the growing city. of enquiry into the Sanitary State of Cape the apple-growing pioneers of Elgin. Though the Hydraulic Engineer was Town. It was quite an achievement for a Stewart was employed as assistant to not officially responsible for the Cape youngster still less than 30 years old. His

36 Civil Engineering | October 2008 contract was extended by six months, at 2 the end of which he returned to Scotland. But his initial opinions of South Africa had been replaced by more favour- able impressions. Before the end of the year he was back in South Africa, with an appointment from Cradock Municipality to construct the scheme he had designed a year or two earlier. The supply was brought from a spring some 10 km away, and would continue to serve the town for many years. He spent two years in the Karoo, and then transferred his interests to Wynberg, which needed to augment its water supplies from the Orange Kloof area of Table Mountain. Having success- fully built a reservoir near Constantia Nek and located sites for further reservoirs, he felt it was time to invite further commis- sions and in 1892 he set up on his own in St Georges Chambers, Cape Town, as a consulting engineer. Almost immediately he was appointed to design and arrange for the construction of the Woodhead Reservoir on the top of Table Mountain. At the same time he had been appointed by the tiny Kalk Bay and Municipality to sort out their water problems, which were solved by his design for the Silvermine Reservoir which was built by a contractor, GS Firth in 1898. Not all jobs were productive. In 1898 the Colonial Government appointed him as technical member of the commission investigating an ambitious irrigation scheme at Steynsburg. The scheme was

Civil Engineering | October 2008 37 Another dam, to serve Simon’s time the newly-married young engineer Council in 1913. Town, was also on the cards. This lived at ground level and travelled up the Wynberg, however, was self-sufficient mountain when required. in water because of Stewart’s mountain one would eventually be engulfed Another dam, to serve Simon’s Town, reservoirs, and could not only afford to by the Lewis Gay Dam designed by was also on the cards. This one would thumb its nose at the merger, but to em- eventually be engulfed by the Lewis Gay bark on an ambitious sewerage scheme. Ninham Shand in the 1960s, during Dam designed by Ninham Shand in the Cape Town had recently completed a suc- which time the amazed engineers 1960s, during which time the amazed cessful scheme based on a sea-outfall, but engineers came across a fascinating piece Wynberg, with no coastline, had to go for came across a fascinating piece of of machinery, devised by Stewart. The a totally new concept for South Africa – a machinery, devised by Stewart. The chemical dosing system consisted of a float- land based treatment works. And who actuated bicycle gear, complete with chain else to design it but their tried and trusted chemical dosing system consisted and pedals. The alum-dosed water then ran consultant, Tom Stewart! of a float-actuated bicycle gear, through a long trough containing lumps of Despite not having worked in this limestone. From the trough the water was sphere before, he produced a scheme which complete with chain and pedals led into the slow sand filters containing sea the Council preferred to those of the ex- sand which had a large proportion of readily perienced overseas experts, Dunscombe soluble seashell in it. The results were phe- and Pritchard. The treatment works were condemned. (Seventy years later the nomenal. Never had a clearer, more spar- located in the area between Grassy Park tunnel of the Orange-Fish scheme would kling, but still soft and palatable water been and Prince George Drive (which was still to emerge near Steynsburg and bring long– produced by this ingenious contrivance, and be built), more or less where the Klip Road awaited water to the region.) the Shand men were all grieved to have to cemetery now stands. It was claimed in an During the Boer War he was attached see it make way for the essential larger plant engineering publication of the day that there to the Royal Engineers as a major (without of greater capacity. was now “a prospect of the sewage farm pay) and he designed defence works. The first years of the century became being rendered unnecessary; or at any rate On completion of the war he returned the busiest period in Stewart’s life. Apart will be greatly reduced in size, while sludge, to Scotland again, but not to stay – to from the dams under construction, less the bete-noir of all precipitation works will claim a bride, Miss Mary Mackintosh well-endowed municipalities such as cease to exist.” Stewart, the prudent profes- Young, whom he brought back to Cape Rondebosch and Woodstock were looking sional, merely reported these claims without Town. She bore him three sons, but sadly to locate water sources in the Hottentots- undue comment, but the Town Clerk, Mr passed away in 1921. He later married Holland mountains. Stewart tramped the JB Munnik was more forthcoming: “Under the widow of the well-known Rhodesian catchments and the valleys and made exten- this system there will be no smell or any pioneer “Matabele” Thompson. sive surveys, and discovered two excellent unpleasantness… It is just like standing on The Woodhead Reservoir did not sites in the Steenbras and Wemmershoek a tank of ordinary water.” In 1903 Wynberg solve Cape Town’s water problems, and Rivers, which would see development in Municipality became the proud owners he gathered the survivors of his pre- later years. For the time being, however, the and operators of the first inland municipal vious workforce and began work on the little authorities did not have the financial sewage treatment works in South Africa. Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir above the resources to implement the schemes and The Town Clerk was, however, disap- Woodhead. The Alexandra, Victoria, and nothing could be done until thirst caused pointed in his expectations. The works De Villiers Dams, which served Wynberg, the amalgamation of the seven minnows did smell, and the site proved totally were built in the same period – but this to form the consolidated Cape Town City unsatisfactory (and, a hundred years later,

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38 Civil Engineering | October 2008 engineers are still looking for a satisfactory out the by now desperately urgent press the appreciation of the membership way to get rid of sludge!). Wynberg took an water shortage, and after considering for his long and distinguished connec- option on a piece of State ground between various options decided in favour of the tion with the body. He had in fact, while and the sea for the purpose of Steenbras scheme. Stewart, WA Tait still a student, been awarded the Miller a new disposal site and constructed a new and Lloyd-Davies formed the Board of Prize for a paper entitled “The Prevention works there. In due course this became the Engineers responsible for the design of of Waste in Water”, and later served as huge Treatment Works. the dam and delivery pipeline, and we the Southern African representative on Stewart’s commissions were not can assume that most of the creative the ICE Council for two terms. He had confined to the Cape Peninsula. work was in Stewart’s hands. become an Associate Member of the Outside of Cape Town he designed Stewart’s services were much more Institution in 1883, and a member, at a the Johannesburg Waterworks at than mere dam design, and involved relatively young age, in 1893. Zuurbekom, and provided supply hydraulics and hydrology, as well as a Stewart served as the second president systems for a number of other towns, decent grasp of finance and economics. of the Cape Society of Engineers (now including Bloemfontein, Oudtshoorn, And, if we are to judge from his report SAICE) at the height of his professional Worcester and Stellenbosch. In 1912 to Wynberg on the proposed sewerage powers in 1904. He was also elected as little Riversdale employed him to sort scheme, his written documents were a Fellow of the Geological Society and out problems with the supply scheme models of their kind. served a term as the President of the Royal designed by his old boss John Gamble In 1932, on the 50th anniversary of Society in South Africa. some forty years earlier. He designed his arrival in South Africa, the leading He died at his home in Kenilworth in a new weir on the Vet River, but had local engineers presented him with an October 1942. a set-to with the local Council, who illuminated address to mark the occasion, wanted their local foreman to carry out and to express their admiration for the Tony Murray the construction. Stewart considered achievements of “the doyen of the profes- him incompetent, held out for his own sion in South Africa”. The signatories are 3 Stewart (top) and visitors man, and got his way. a galaxy of the leading practitioners of triumphantly inspect the partly- In 1914 he was employed to design a the time and include Kanthack, George completed Hely-Hutchinson Dam water scheme for Beira. Stewart, Alfred Snape, and a young 4 Tom Stewart in later life The amalgamated Cape Town Ninham Shand, who was just starting 5 The unique, illuminated address Municipality appointed the extremely out as a consultant. A further unusual signed by the leading engineers in the capable David Lloyd-Davies to head up honour came Stewart’s way in 1936 when country and presented to Stewart after its engineering department. He had to the President of the Institution of Civil completing 50 years in South Africa give his immediate attention to sorting Engineers in London wrote to him to ex-

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Civil Engineering | October 2008 39 1 on the cover

Liviero Civils – focused and on track

In today’s pressurised contracting and it is this balance that has helped us 1 Basement excavation at Soccer City. Liviero environment, a company boasting both achieve so much in so little time,” says Civils was awarded the contract for the total youthful professionalism and experience CEO Richard Saxby. “Planned focus has earthworks and paving for the upgrading has distinct advantages. Youthful enthu- been an important part of our strategy of Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium, siasm is more often than not accompa- and a balanced, diversely talented team earmarked to host both the opening and nied by high energy levels, a hunger for has been the key to achieving this across a final matches of the 2010 Soccer World Cup success and, perhaps most importantly, a wide spectrum of the market,” he says. flare for innovation. With Liviero Civils Their versatility has facilitated suc- service and that, to achieve this, disci- (Pty) Ltd this is most certainly the case. cessful growth for the company in all the pline has been the key. “We endeavour Liviero Civils, part of the Liviero disciplines of civils, including concrete to achieve excellence in whatever we group (which this year celebrates 25 years structures, roads and earthworks, infra- do. From the signage on our vehicles to of active construction in South Africa) structure, water and sewage works, and the way we plan a multi-million rand was formed in 2005. The young talent at heavy industrial foundations. contract, and from training our labour Liviero Civils is not their only advantage. The MD of Liviero Civils, Stuart force to understanding the details of our “We have an excellent mix of the ‘mature Knight, says the company’s primary goal clients’ requirements – all these aspects and wise’ and the ‘energetic and hungry’, has been to provide a quality customer are critical for us. The bottom line is that

Civil Engineering | October 2008 41 2

Part of the success of Liviero 3 Civils is due to its emphasis on good governance. The company continuously strives to achieve more effective management structures and better integrated management information and control systems, all of which help to make good governance a deeply imbedded aspect of its corporate culture

we strive to consistently deliver quality ment information and control systems, all work on time.” of which help to make good governance a The core of their ethos is doing things deeply imbedded aspect of its corporate professionally and competently, and the culture. Good governance is ultimately significant number of repeat orders they about being transparent and fair, but a are getting from so many of their clients balance must be achieved between fair- are evidence that this approach works. ness and toughness. They find that this is Part of the success of Liviero Civils crucial in the civils industry where poor is due to its emphasis on good govern- discipline can be dangerous to human life. ance. The company continuously strives Where safety is concerned, they do not to achieve more effective management take chances and they endeavour to stand structures and better integrated manage- firm at all times to ensure that the proper

42 Civil Engineering | October 2008 2 Concrete deck pour of the concourse this regard Liviero is entirely compliant. to its Kyalami headquarters. level of the Gautrain Rosebank Station. In October 2007 black-owned Impepho “However, this is not growth for the Liviero Civils has contributed to a range of Building and Civils (Pty) Ltd acquired a 30% sake of it and it never will be,” says CEO works on the Gautrain rapid-rail link project stake in the Liviero group. The group has Richard Saxby. “Liviero Civils is growing at Rosebank and Sandton stations focused on broad-based principles in their holistically and at a calculated rate. From 3 The Liviero Civils senior management BEE strategy in order to attain a genuine a geographical point of view, this growth team. Back row, from left to right: Richard and sustainable empowerment structure. is focused in Gauteng, North West, Saxby, Chief Executive; Stuart Knight, Managing Turning to the future, Liviero’s aim is Limpopo and . In time, Director; Charles Wright, Contracts Director. not necessarily to be the largest player, but however, we will develop an extensive Front row: Directors Moses Maponyane, they do want to continue developing as an national footprint.” Rob Schunke, Welekazi Dukuza exceptional South African company pro- The mission upon which Liviero em- ducing high quality work. In this way they barked three years ago, namely to set up a standards are maintained. The way in aspire to become the civil engineering successful South African civil engineering which Liviero deals with safety is, in fact, contractor of choice. company to challenge the best, appears to part of an overall consciousness regarding A quick analysis of the company’s be unfolding as planned. They are aware its health, safety, environment and com- fundamentals reveals that they have es- that there is still plenty of work to be done munity (HSEC) issues. tablished a sound basis for expanding in in these challenging times in South Africa, With its roots in a two-generation whatever direction they wish. The group but are as motivated as ever. Liviero’s man- family concern, Liviero understands the as a whole has a turnover of R1,4 billion agement team is focused and optimistic need to play its part in the sustainable and its plant and equipment are valued – the two most important ingredients for development of both its people and the at more than R250 million, making its success – and given its sound value foun- environment in which they work. To private assets among the largest of this dation and excellent systems, the company support this, the company has its own kind in South Africa. The company is also will have a great future. extensive in-house training programmes currently engaged in an expansion pro- INFO and supports various bursaries and gramme with the imminent completion scholarships. of the new Liviero Civils building, which Richard Saxby BEE is also taken into account and in will add another 1 000 m² of office space [email protected]

Civil Engineering | October 2008 43 Text J a m e s R o b e r t s o n James A Robertson and Associates [email protected]

GENERAL INTEREST

A moral and ethical dilemma: systems that fail

“19 out of 20 ERP [Enterprise a commercial and strategic standpoint levels of technological sophistication. Resource Planning] implementations fail (Robertson 2004). However, much of the computer software to deliver what was promised” according For those who are listening atten- that has enabled this sophistication has to a Financial Mail survey published tively there are a significant number of been developed by specialist software some years ago (McCleod 2003). An reports of massive IT write-offs by big- engineers operating according to a dif- article published in Computer Business name corporations, yet silence and the ferent set of standards than those that are Review Africa a few years later quoted a ‘Delete’ key have become the most effec- applied to general commercial software. Gartner executive as saying that “Most tive tools in disposing of failed invest- Furthermore, much of the core tech- organisations are not making better ments that the world has ever known. nical functionality that exists in business decisions than they did five years ago” If buildings, bridges, factories or software is fundamentally unchanged (Technews 2005). large ships failed at the rate that business from that which existed two or even Prof Richard Nolan of Harvard information systems fail to function to three decades ago. The average user of University is reported as saying that specification, or fail to function outright, word-processing software today prob- “Information Technology is the next technologically based society in the ably uses the same or less functionality corporate disaster waiting to happen” shape that we know it today would never than he or she did a decade or more ago. (Alter 2006). The indications are that have reached anything approaching the The software may be considerably more as many as 70% of corporate business present level of sophistication. functionally obese than it was then, but system investments fail to deliver any- One can argue that without com- the basic capturing of text on paper as a thing material at all when viewed from puters we would not have reached these more sophisticated replacement for the

Civil Engineering | October 2008 45 typewriter has not changed much and tomers that has cost the company con- most users are making much less use of cerned the market leadership position macros and other productivity aids than that it once held. they did a decade or two ago. As a matter of interest, I continue To compound the dramatic failure to use the old software because I am so rate of business information system in- familiar with the function keys that I do vestments, we find ourselves confronted not have to think in order to use them with the wholesale forced obsolescence and they are faster to use. The inconven- and apparent failure of software that is ience and time wasted on learning new functioning entirely satisfactorily. The software is simply not warranted and the software industry is the only industry in content is the same whatever tool I use. the world that has successfully granted And so we find that old software fails itself a licence to demolish and destroy under new versions of the best-marketed what it sells when there is no technical operating system, not through a funda- basis to do so. Most software is forcibly mental tendency towards mechanical discarded after a service life of about failure, but through a lack of interest three to seven years or less, unless cus- in maintaining consistency of stand- tomers pay extortion money (licence ards which has the interesting effect of fees) in order to be entitled to purchase making the perpetrators much more upgrades which they often do not need profitable than they would otherwise be. and which frequently are costly and The harsh reality is that individuals time-consuming to install. Although and corporations who would not think many of these upgrades include added twice about contacting their attorneys features and benefits which some users if confronted by failure of this magni- may find of value, many contain sig- tude in any other area of business and nificant repairs to latent defects in the life generally meekly pay up to replace original product. software that is dysfunctional but is so, Marketing hype suggests that old at best, through negligence and, at worst, versions of software may not run on cur- through intentional design while the ap- rent computers, yet it is a fundamental plication software is actually still fully reality that last year’s software will functional. In the process of doing this ALWAYS run on this year’s hardware organisations accept that huge invest- because this year’s software cannot ments in the training of personnel are exist until the hardware to run it has summarily trashed in a manner that is been manufactured. So software crea- demoralising and demotivating to any tion always lags hardware creation. By staff member who has made a real effort logical extension of this principle, it is to develop more than minimal skills with theoretically technically possible to run the current version. software that is many years old on new As a consequence, with the next ver- processors and, in practice, this will be sion staff make less effort to learn how to found to be the case. I regularly write use advanced functionality and become documents (including this article) using more inclined to dabble. The harsh reality is that individuals word-processing software that is 16 years Returning to the subject of forced and corporations who would not old, despite the fact that I have been told obsolescence – there is an interesting by computer salespeople for close to a legal principle termed ‘the right to think twice about contacting their decade that this DOS-character-based maintain and repair’ which originated in attorneys if confronted by failure software will not run on Windows. the motor industry many years ago and In this particular case there are some which, as far as I can ascertain, forms the of this magnitude in any other features that no longer function for valid, basis of the so-called ‘pirate parts’ in- area of business and life generally practical reasons and that I choose to dustry in the motor trade. The essence of live with, and there are some foibles that this principle is that when one purchases meekly pay up to replace software result from conscious choices that some a product, one has the right to maintain that is dysfunctional but is so, at human being has made to deviate from and repair and therefore use that product an established standard at the expense for as long as one chooses to do so. best, through negligence and, at of backward compatibility. But the most The practical implication of this worst, through intentional design interesting thing about this software principle is that if a motor manufacturer is that the most recent version offers a ceases to manufacture exhaust pipes for while the application software compatibility mode and keyboard option your motor car, they axiomatically void that emulates the 16-year-old software their intellectual property rights to the is actually still fully functional – a reflection of a commitment to cus- extent that is required for you to have a

46 Civil Engineering | October 2008 One option is for the customer third party manufacture an exhaust pipe software concerned will achieve levels to become a lot tougher, which, to the original specification or such other of efficiency and effectiveness that can specification as you deem appropriate. be achieved with no other software. incidentally, requires the customer The principle says nothing about the The harsh reality is that computer to become a lot more thorough economic or mechanical practicality of systems, like guns, are value inert. A gun doing this; it simply states that you have held by someone you consider to be good and a lot more realistic about the the right to do it. and pointed at someone you consider to real cost of doing the job right What is also interesting about this be bad is ‘good’, whereas a gun that is principle is that as far as my casual pointed at you is ‘bad’. Computer soft- first time. The other option is for enquiries have revealed, most attorneys ware is much the same: well-designed the industry to take voluntary know of the principle but it appears that and well-implemented software used by there is only one case on record relating well-trained and well-motivated staff is measures to clean up its act to its application. It would seem that the ‘good’, otherwise it is bad (it fails). principle is so intuitively sound that no This problem is compounded by one has ever seen fit to contest it since it the names we use. Careful inspection was first adjudicated in the UK’s House of the software commonly referred of Lords many decades ago in the context to as Enterprise Resource Planning of motor vehicle exhaust pipes. (ERP) software will reveal that in most What has this to do with software organisations where software with this failure? As far as I can see, a huge label is deployed, the software being amount. applied in practice comprises basically Essentially, the right to maintain the same modules as were employed in and repair says that if a software de- ‘Accounting Systems’ in the late 1980s veloper ceases to support a version and ‘Management Information Systems’ of its software that you have legally in the 1990s. There has been an expo- purchased, then you are entirely within nential increase in the functionality of your rights to have a third party main- such software and, accordingly, there tain and repair that software for as long has been an exponential increase in the as you consider it appropriate and are complexity and cost associated with im- willing to pay what it costs to procure plementing this software. Nevertheless, this maintenance. Since the precedent orders still get placed, suppliers get appears to indicate clearly that in such paid, products get sold and paid for, and a case intellectual property rights are all these transactions end up with one void to the extent necessary to maintain leg in the General Ledger. and repair the software, it seems that In all cases the name of the product, you are entirely entitled to demand the supplier, customer, staff member, source code for no more than the rea- etc. comprises the identical pattern sonable cost of making a copy for your of binary 0s and 1s that has applied use. The only real question would ap- for decades to the words in question pear to be whether anyone has the will in electronic form and the numerical and legal resources to consider taking values of the data have also been ex- the necessary measures to establish a pressed in exactly the same way for precedent in the software business. decades. So, in practical terms, there is Turning to the high level of failure a limit to how much more value one can and suboptimal outcomes of business add to the data. One is therefore faced information system implementation, with a huge conundrum as to the basis we find ourselves faced with another on which one can justify the real cost interesting phenomenon. One of the of trashing systems that are five, ten or reasons why “19 out of 20” implementa- even 15 or 20 years old and that are get- tions do not deliver what was promised ting the job done. (that is fail to deliver) is that much of Yes, one may well find ways of ex- what is promised is in the realms of tracting value by adding new modules human ability or even in the realms of and new functionalities that work with the superhuman. We are promised that the existing data. And in most cases one software will do things that only people can almost certainly release substantial can do and in many cases that not value by improving the quality and the even people can do. IT marketing hype classification of the data, and reimple- propagates beliefs in the most remark- menting the existing software. However, able outcomes and creates the impres- telling customers with five-year-old sion that companies that implement the software that they have to replace it on

48 Civil Engineering | October 2008 the grounds of obsolescence requires to eliminate them from our projects. The essential prerequisite for this ap- careful consideration. And this is not a mystical or magical en- proach is a change in attitude on the part Then there is the question of deavour – the factors that cause failure of the client and the IT practitioner. I reducing the ‘head count’ which is are mundane and mostly quite easy to would like to see such a change originate frequently used to justify large system recognise. They are (Robertson 2004): from the profession, but in practice it investments. The problem is that fre- 1. Information technology mythology (30%) will probably be a combination of change quently this head count reduction does 2. Lack of executive custody and inap- from both sides. In its simplest and not materialise and, in fact, an increase propriate policies (20%) harshest form, this change might look in the head count and a reduction in 3. Lack of strategic alignment (15%) like a meeting that I facilitated on behalf overall efficiency is experienced. Added 4. Lack of an engineering approach (12%) of a client some years ago after they had to this there is the moral dilemma of 5. Poor data engineering (10%) been informed that the supplier was the ethics of eliminating jobs in a nation 6. People / soft issues (8%) going to discontinue support for their where unemployment is severe and job 7. Technology issues (5%) version (let us call it xx) of the software creation is supposedly a priority. What you will notice is that only 5% and that they should accordingly prepare So where does this leave us? By of what causes failure relates to tech- to spend a considerable sum of money now you may well be thinking that I nology, 95% relates to factors that have to and incur considerable business disrup- am opposed to all things that relate to do with things that people do and think, tion in upgrading to a new version which, computers and that what I am advocating and 30% relates to the tendency to as- it appeared, there was no strong business constitutes a threat to all that any worthy cribe human and superhuman attributes case to recommend. computer geek holds dear. No, far from it. to ‘binary adding machines’ which only The conversation went something like this: I have devoted most of my career to approximate human ability to the extent Supplier: “We are discontinuing sup- the application of computers in business. that human beings are able to interpret port for version xx from the end of next In fact, I have spent the last 19 years and anticipate applications that simulate year so we need to start making plans for seeking to find ways of achieving high what human beings are able to do. you to upgrade.” levels of reliability and sustainability in To return to the position that I am Client: “We do not want to upgrade. the design and implementation of busi- advocating. Not only am I advocating pre- We want the source code for version xx ness computer systems. This is some- venting failure, but I am also advocating and a five-year support contract for ver- thing that I refer to as ‘an engineering preventing failure in a manner that de- sion xx renewable for five years.” approach’ – an approach that aspires to livers high and sustainable strategic value, Supplier: “Sorry, perhaps we did have the same level of success as we take that is value that facilitates and supports not make ourselves clear, we are for granted from engineering structures. the success of the organisation. DISCONTINUING version xx.” You may recall the bridge failure in If we look at the real cost of failed Client: “There is a legal principle the US last year which made headlines projects coupled with the high ongoing called ‘the right to maintain and repair’ around the world within minutes of its cost of suboptimal projects (those and in terms of this we want the source occurrence. Why did it make headlines? projects that failed to deliver on a real, code and a renewable support contract. Because the failure of bridges is so ex- valid and valuable business case that de- And we are willing to take this to court.” tremely infrequent. livers lasting economic benefit), I submit Supplier: “In that case we will have And why is that? Because engineers that the real cost of the few projects to speak to our principals.” do NOT design bridges to stand up - they that succeed is far higher than is recog- A few weeks later the supplier re- design them NOT to fall down. What is nised and that, accordingly, we should turned with a quote to supply the source the difference? recognise the real cost of success AND code and a draft five-year support con- There is a fundamental difference in the high value of truly successful invest- tract renewable for five years. We did the mindset required to design a bridge ments and then act appropriately. not particularly like the dollar amounts NOT to fall down as opposed to simply Once we are clear on the real cost for either item, but they were a lot more designing a bridge. The first step in this and real value of real success, we can attractive than the real cost of scrapping change in attitude is to recognise that decide either to stabilise and expand the current version and provided a basis the tendency to ‘fall down’ is the natural our existing systems or to invest in new for negotiation. state of things generally and of bridges systems. Once we are clear on the real I would prefer there to have been in particular, just as failure is the natural cost of a new system, we may well be NO NEED for the conversation in the state of business software investments. willing to invest heavily in our existing first place and for the supplier to have So, the first thing we need to do in systems. Once we do this in concert automatically offered to continue sup- order to achieve software success is to with a robust requirement for vendors porting version xx on an ongoing and prevent the epidemic level of software to honour the principle of our ‘right to open-ended basis. failure; to achieve this objective we maintain and repair’ our systems for as Your response to this suggestion may first need to acknowledge that failure long as we desire, we may well acquire a be that it is ‘impractical’ and unreason- is indeed epidemic and then we must very different perspective on the way we able to expect vendors to maintain sup- CHOOSE to work consciously and ac- operate our business system investments port for ‘obsolete’ versions at numerous tively to PREVENT failure. – be it our office automation software or sites indefinitely, to which I suggest that This requires that we understand all our accounting systems or extended ac- the obvious reply is that this is done for the factors that cause failure and work counting systems (ERP systems). buildings, oil refineries and numerous

Civil Engineering | October 2008 49 other large and expensive systems of right first time. The other option is for establish a peer-moderated professional greater tangible complexity and greater the industry to take voluntary measures body that will eventually seek statutory overall cost than business computer to clean up its act. powers to license and moderate the systems. Moreover, if we considered the I recently encountered an out- practice of professional information true cost of trashing thousands of person standing example of the tougher cus- technology practitioners in the various hours of work spent in implementing tomer approach. The customer spent major fields of IT endeavour? new systems every few years, we might a year compiling a set of 300 reference find that the economics would in fact documents, together with a tightly REFERENCES favour the approach that I am advocating structured contract, and appointed the Alter, A 2006. Richard Nolan: A Committee here very considerably. attorney who drafted the contract as of One’s Own. Ziff Davis CIO: Insight Taking this full circle back to where this part of the project team. The project (http://www.cioinsight.com/print_ discussion started (with the unacceptably came in on time and under budget and article2/0,1217,a=119427,00.asp) high level of software failure), I suggest that met all business expectations. In fact, McLeod, D 2003 The IT industry, time for a re- we now find that there is a perfectly sound it came in so far under budget that the boot. Financial Mail, Johannesburg, 28 March. economic basis to do the job properly. company paid material cash bonuses to Robertson, J A 2004. The critical factors for In actual fact, in broad terms we all the staff involved with the project! information technology investment success. know how to do the job properly. The Surely it is time for all those who Johannesburg. biggest problem is that too many people practise in the field of the art and sci- Technews 2005. The way business is moving. lie about the real cost of doing the job ence of business information systems Business Intelligence net.work. (http://www. because of sales targets and short-term (and who aspire to complete projects networktimes.co.za/news.aspx?pklNewsId=17 budgets, and because there is no aware- on time and on budget, and that meet 372&pklCategoryID=204) ness of the real cost of failure. customer expectations, and who are One option is for the customer to willing to bite the bullet of being honest Dr James Robertson is an independent become a lot tougher, which, inciden- about the real costs and are willing to management consultant specialising in tally, requires the customer to become a take a stand with regard to dealing with corporate strategy development and lot more thorough and a lot more real- integrity and in the best long-term in- implementation, and strategic application of istic about the real cost of doing the job terests of the customer) to join forces to information technology

50 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Text Matthew Shelley Corporate Evolution [email protected]

Coaching in Construction

Coaching is a profession that is The International Coach NNToo many coaches are operating in still in the process of forming in Federation (ICF) defines coaching as “part- unethical ways nering with clients in a thought-provoking South Africa and it needs to be and creative process that inspires them to QUALITY OF COACHING AND ETHICS shaped to suit local requirements. maximise their personal and professional As a growing profession we can try to potential”. Coaches are trained to listen, to control the quality of coaching and The development, growth and observe and to customise their approach to unethical behaviour. The professional effective use of coaching will the needs of individual clients. The job of bodies of coaching aim to deal with is- the coach is to provide support to enhance sues of ethics through an ethical code of be achieved in a partnership the skills, resources and creativity that the conduct and a complaints procedure. The between clients and coaches, who client already possesses. local body is COMENSA (Coaches and One particular construction company Mentors of South Africa), who have re- create the market together. In the reported an experience of coaching where cently established their own procedures. construction industry, executive a coachee was deemed, by people in the The International Coach Federation (ICF) company, to have “become dependent” on also has a code of ethics and a well-estab- and performance coaching their coach. This coach subsequently put lished complaints procedure, although it forward management consultancy pro- is not locally administered. The profession appears to have been used more posals and, over time, became involved can encourage the reporting of unethical widely, and to greater effect, in in various aspects of the coachee’s work, behaviour and invite coachees and client even acting on behalf of his coachee in organisations to make valid and specific the US and Europe. The author certain interactions. complaints about unethical behaviour. A feels it is time for the industry This story highlights three things willingness to identify and unmask un- about coaching across all sectors in South ethical behaviour is vital to the develop- to engage in an inquiry into the Africa: ment of the profession. role, problems and possibilities NNThe boundaries are blurred between Certain coaching agencies promise consultant and coach, meaning the role to solve the problem of poor quality of coaching in the construction of a coach is not immediately apparent in coaching by promoting a scientific industry in South Africa to clients method of coach matching that will avoid NNThere is a huge variation in the quality the “risk of making an uninformed buying of coaching on offer decision… relying on luck and instinct.”

52 Civil Engineering | October 2008 (Business Day, 18 June 2008) The meta- When I was running my own con- ence. Perhaps the industry should create phor employed in the article is one of struction business, I found the biggest a forum to discuss the practical use of keeping the “cowboys out of the corral”. pressure on me was the shortage of skilled coaching to finally achieve the promise of site managers. As a small business owner, training and skills development. DESIGNING AND COMMISSIONING AN and the only fully skilled individual in my APPROPRIATE COACHING INTERVENTION business, I did not have the time to develop CONCLUSION Codes of ethics, complaints procedures my site managers in the way I would have Allyson Lawless explains that “many and the professional management of liked. The stress of operating in this way organisations complain that their staff coaching interventions by coaching resulted in my cholesterol reaching an un- are always on training, but have not organisations or individuals are all im- acceptably high level. As Allyson Lawless developed the necessary competence.” portant aspects of an effective profession. states in the introduction to Numbers and Mentoring that focuses on the ‘right’ skills However, relying solely on these measures Needs, Addressing Imbalances in the Civil training for those on a junior level will not ignores the importance of a major precept Engineering Profession (2005), “it is only necessarily produce a different outcome. of coaching which is that clients must be possible to develop capacity if there is suf- In fact, there is some evidence that this in a position to evaluate their own needs. ficient capacity to develop this capacity”. may be counter-productive. In defining coaching, the ICF asserts There is a danger that with such a rapidly Coaching aims to develop the per- that coaches regard their clients as being growing order book and a continuing sonal communication skills and raise the naturally creative and resourceful. This shortage of skills, too much pressure will emotional intelligence (EQ) of coachees. should mean that coaches believe that be placed on the shoulders of those who do This enables them to pass on competence their coachees have the skills and imagi- possess the skills. Concrete is very strong and tacit knowledge. A study spanning 44 nation to inquire for themselves into what under compression but we have all seen Fortune 500 companies determined that coaching is and to trust in their ability how dramatic and sudden failure is in a people with higher EQs achieved twice to choose an appropriate coach. If you testing lab. the sales volume of their colleagues. In follow this approach you will not need to the IT industry, it has been found that be rescued from “cowboys”. Clients need THE PRACTICAL ROLE software developers who test in the top to inform themselves thoroughly before OF COACHING IN CONSTRUCTION 10% of EQ levels write their programs appointing a coach, as they would with As with all industries, middle-level man- three times faster. On the other hand, other aspects of their business. agers are the heart of the operational research at Loughborough University in Obviously, unethical behaviour vitality of our industry. However, much of the UK showed that the EQ of partici- cannot and should not be condoned, but a the coaching in all industries and sectors pants on their Construction Engineering poor experience with one coach can be a is aimed at senior executive level. Allyson Management programme actually re- great excuse. It could be seen as proof that Lawless (2005) describes coaching as a duced during the course! coaching does not work and could there- “luxury” for junior engineers. She also Allyson Lawless asks us to “consider a fore be used as an excuse not to challenge places emphasis on ‘knowledge coaches’ creative name that captures the imagina- the cultural and professional norms that and mentoring. In my opinion, coaching tion and achieves buy-in for coach–pro- expect us to ‘be tough’. However, the designed with and for site managers is tégé relationships to blossom.” Perhaps sustainability of these norms may soon going to be key to supporting and devel- we should rename this role and process be brought into question, particularly oping the capacity of that vital resource. ‘competence coaching’. in the context of the current pressure Coaching will enable site managers to I became a civil engineer to help on contracting and civil engineering reflect on their experience and unlock society and I imagine some readers may professionals, the looming step change in the tacit knowledge they have gained over have chosen this profession for the same contracting order books, and the develop- years of experience. I believe that they are reason. With this in mind, I ask you to ment of South Africa as a whole. too valuable not to be receiving coaching join me in an inquiry into how we want so that they can become ‘models’ for the coaching to operate in this industry so SECTOR PRESSURE industry and use their own coaching skills that we can directly serve the needs of The construction sector in South Africa to pass on their knowledge to their juniors. South Africans in a more powerful and continues its almost breakneck expan- The December 2007 issue of the fulfilling way. sion. Between 2006 and 2007 the top four Construction Management and Economics construction companies increased their Journal features an article on research USEFUL WEBSITES turnover by an average of 45% and staff into site managers’ actual experience COMENSA www.comensa.org.za by an average of 40%. Planned spending of coaching. The authors conclude that ICF www.coachfederation.org on infrastructure for the 2010 FIFA coaching “is not some kind of ‘add-on’ CTI www.thecoaches.com and World Cup, freeway projects, Transnet service to comfort managers, but an www.thecoaches.co.za infrastructure and Eskom development important strategic human resource man- is huge. Indeed, contracts for Eskom agement practice whose role and function Matthew Shelley is a Coaches Training dwarf the order books of even the largest deserve further attention.” The article also Institute (CTI) trained executive and team contractors. The skills shortage is set to states that the coaching literature remains coach whose practice is informed by three become even more critical and there is a largely preoccupied with presenting and different experiential trainings in London and great deal at stake here for South Africa, introducing coaching, rather than giving Johannesburg. He has a Cranfield MBA and the profession and the industry. empirical examples of coaching experi- was chartered as a Civil Engineer in 1991

Civil Engineering | October 2008 53 Text Leon Dison [email protected]

Innovation in Civil Engineering

Continuing the short series covering various projects undertaken over the future. Comment will tend to focus, the last half century or so, as related by Leon (Dick) Dison, herewith however, on the pioneering and develop- ment aspects. In any event, it will become articles three and four. The levels of success achieved, or not achieved, evident that crop production never really in these projects could assist aspirant innovators to select appropriate had a full opportunity to prove or dis- prove itself. lines of approach for their particular needs and aspirations History Operations commenced as planned 3. THE TANGANYIKA extra million pounds for permanent in the late 1940s in three provinces of GROUNDNUT SCHEME: 1947 – 1952 conventional infrastructure. The largest Tanganyika Territory, with the major ef- Shortly after World War II, in view of anticipated capital costs lay in clearing fort concentrated in the Central Province a universal shortage of vegetable oils, of the bush and forests, and preparing near the village of Kongwa, probably the British Government of the day de- the soils for mechanised agriculture, selected because of its access to road and cided to institute a scheme to produce and the first development areas were rail. Nevertheless, the most optimistic groundnuts (peanuts) on a massive scale planned to be located in Tanganyika. forecasts from the start had been cen- in colonial East and Central Africa. The The tone of the report was generally op- tred on a proposed development area in decision was based on recommendations timistic in regard to both development Tanganyika’s Southern Province, situated made by an official three-man mission, costs and future revenues, and admin- near the town of Nachingwea, about members of which were no strangers to istration of the Groundnut Scheme was 160 km east of the port town of Lindi, but Africa: a former Director of Agriculture allocated to the Ministry of Food, acting connected to it only by a low-standard of Tanganyika Territory, the Head of the through a body called the Overseas gravel road. Fairly early on therefore, Plantations Department of the United Food Corporation (OFC). the OFC arranged not only to improve Africa Company and a senior official from Some four or five years after the start the harbour at Lindi but to build a new the Colonial Office. Their plan envisaged of operations, however, the original fore- railway and an all-welded surface pipeline the establishment of 107 mechanised casts of clearing costs, crop production from the coast to Nachingwea, in order farming units of 30 000 acres each in and potential revenue had all failed to to cater for the intensive mechanised unoccupied bush country, of which about meet their targets, and the British govern- clearing and agricultural operations that 75% of the total would lie in Tanganyika ment took what must have been an em- were to come. Furthermore and in all the Territory (now Tanzania). barrassing decision to close the Scheme regions, conventional housing, infrastruc- The total cost of the dry-land (i.e. down. Although the events are well in the ture services, hospitals and schools were non-irrigated) scheme, scheduled for past, the object of this article is to record established to cater for the fast-growing completion of the development phase a brief history in an attempt to explain influx of expatriate and local staff. in five years, was estimated at that time the failure and possibly also to provide a Within two years, contractors had (60 years ago) at £23 million, plus a few guide for agricultural mega-projects of cleared about 100 000 acres at Kongwa,

54 Civil Engineering | October 2008 somewhat fewer than forecast and at an duct a long-overdue survey of the poten- mission from the UK recommended that appreciably higher cost; but a reason- tial of the Nachingwea area in Southern the Scheme be closed down. ably solid block on which to start crop Province – at that time still the great hope Some 50 years later the Tanzanian production. The required sequence of for eventual success. Embassy in Pretoria reported that only mechanised agricultural operations A survey team, termed ‘Forward vestiges of the Scheme remained visible. then commenced, but at the time it was Reconnaissance’, was appointed from Kongwa has indeed become a cattle- not realised to what extent the fleets of among the professionals already on the raising centre. Cotton and maize are rubber-tyred agricultural tractors were Scheme: soil conservation and agri- grown in the cleared areas of the Western gradually compacting the sandy loam cultural officers, engineers, surveyors, and Southern Provinces respectively, the soil. When the time eventually arrived draughtsmen – all under the leadership of railway to Nachingwea lies disused and for harvesting, disaster struck: the a former Chief Geologist of Tanganyika the fuel pipeline has disappeared, having harvesting equipment could manage to Territory – and started field work almost been dismantled and sold for scrap. extract only a proportion of the full crop immediately. The techniques used in The well-intentioned and imaginative from the plants buried in the compacted conducting the survey are of technical post-war dream of colonial transforma- soil, leaving a significant percentage of interest only and might by today’s stand- tion had come to an unfortunate and the crop in the ground, unable to be har- ards be described as somewhat archaic. In dismal end. vested. The tremendous and expensive any event, using both standard and ‘bush’ previous efforts of clearing the bush, pre- techniques, and aided by the availability Discussion paring the soil, planting and cultivating of specially flown aerial photos, the final Armed with hindsight, it is not difficult to had therefore been seriously frustrated. maps and report covering topography, pinpoint the essential reason for failure of The original mistaken decision to vegetation and soils of the entire allocated the Scheme. The OFC had made a head- start full-scale operations before carrying Nachingwea area were handed over after long start with full-scale operations in a out adequate soil surveys and some sort about six months. Even before that time, remote and undeveloped region of Africa of a pilot project was only then brought however, a depressing fact had become without the benefit of a pilot project or at home in somewhat tragic fashion, and evident. The Southern Province area least detailed preliminary investigations a great deal of rethinking and possibly could not provide sufficiently extensive and technical surveys. Such preliminaries recrimination must therefore have taken unfragmented blocks of acceptable land were apparently ruled out by the report’s place both in London and in Kongwa. that would accommodate efficient and emphasis on urgency. Entirely new ideas did the rounds in any economic mechanised crop production, Civil engineering was essentially re- event – amongst others, switching the and could therefore not become the sponsible for bush clearing, but also for project from groundnuts to sunflowers much-anticipated El Dorado that would the Scheme’s other conventional func- or transforming the Kongwa area into a save the Scheme. tions; the latter having been conducted cattle ranch. One positive decision that As an inevitable result, and probably conventionally and without drama. The did arise from the rethinking was the also in view of the setback at Kongwa and proposed railway line and pipeline in immediate appointment of a team to con- its inflated clearing costs, a high-level the Southern Province were completed

Civil Engineering | October 2008 55 The report appears to have planned using the conventional consultant-con- 150 of the OFC’s Caterpillar D8 tractor/ originally for clearing to be carried tractor-client system, while the OFC’s dozers, together with all the usual ancil- in-house engineers handled the estab- lary transport and minor plant. out in the main by the OFC itself, lishment of the infrastructure required The parties entered into clearing con- and for contractors to be engaged for administration of the Scheme, and tracts which, again with hindsight, were the provision of services and accommo- heavily weighted in favour of the con- for an initial limited period only dation for the staff and labour comple- tracting companies. Contractors had been – simply to get the clearing operation ment in the three regions. relieved not only of the financial obliga- In regard to bush-clearing – probably tion of acquiring enormous fleets of heavy going. In any event, during that never attempted before anywhere on the equipment, but also of the more onerous immediate post-war period no scale envisaged by the report – efficient obligation to carry out major repairs to systems were developed only after some large fleets of second-hand plant in the contractor in Africa, nor possibly months of experimentation. Solution remote African hinterland. Furthermore, anywhere else in the world for that of this major operational problem was, the contractors were handed an additional however, accompanied by an enormous incentive by means of a bonus clause for matter, could have mustered an increase in the predicted cost of clearing, beating agreed production rates, so that with obvious serious effects on the orig- compared to normal civil engineering establishment of heavy plant and inal budget contained in the report. practice, their contractual risk became equipment sufficient to carry out The report appears to have planned minimal. As could have been foreseen, originally for clearing to be carried out with the contractor relieved of the heavy bush clearing at the planned rate in the main by the OFC itself, and for repair function, fierce disputes ensued contractors to be engaged for an initial in Kongwa between the OFC’s HRS and limited period only – simply to get the Paulings in regard to alleged abuse of clearing operation going. In any event, machines. (A cynical witticism did the during that immediate post-war period rounds, based on Winston Churchill’s no contractor in Africa, nor possibly war cry “Give us the tools and we’ll finish anywhere else in the world for that the job”; which became “Give them the matter, could have mustered an estab- job and they’ll finish the tools”.) lishment of heavy plant and equipment Relief at achieving a reasonable rate sufficient to carry out bush clearing at of clearing was, however, tempered the planned rate. when financial accounts revealed that After the start of full clearing op- the agreed contractual arrangement had erations, however, a different system created a startling increase of close to emerged: the OFC would still procure and 400%. In fairness, this substantial in- own the clearing equipment (essentially crease was not created entirely because heavy crawler tractor/dozers), but would of the poor contractual arrangements: appoint contractors in each development the report’s estimate had obviously been area to man and operate the machines. completely unrealistic. Furthermore, the OFC would establish The tremendous increase in clearing a Heavy Repair Section (HRS) to carry costs did not seem to deter the OFC in out major repairs, while the contractors the early years, and whatever high-level would be responsible for production, field discussions took place at headquarters in maintenance and light frontline repairs. Kongwa and London, there were no im- Payment would be made monthly on the mediate changes in the basic plan, or cut- basis of areas of work completed under backs in development expenditure, until different categories – felling the bush, the later crop failure. The OFC might have windrowing and creation of contour accepted the extra expenditure by virtue banks, heavy ripping and rooting, heavy of their belief in the eventual success of ploughing – before final handover to the the Scheme and the benefits that would agricultural units. accrue in the course of time. The directors The OFC had already set about pro- might have been comforted by the fact curing the equipment some time earlier that overspending on major projects (the (a major task in itself), essentially from Suez and Panama Canals, for example) is redundant US Army stock in the Far East. not an unusual phenomenon. Overruns The size and scope of the procurement on building and civil engineering projects, and clearing programmes can be judged however, usually produce durable and from the fact that when clearing reached safe structures and services which even- full production at Kongwa, the contractor tually justify their existence. It was the (Paulings, a famous name in African crop failure at Kongwa and the subse- railway construction) was operating quent pessimistic report of the Forward

56 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Reconnaissance team that finally must engineering contractors, who might have supply. In the larger country towns, the have brought about closure. given them a far more realistic picture prospecting team could also call on the Rereading the report of the about costs and the writing of contracts. advice of knowledgeable local citizens and three-man commission confirms that In fact, considering the high propor- officials. Although this somewhat slow their investigations into the costs of tion of the civil engineering cost in the and labour-intensive method generally clearing had been somewhat cursory. original budget, the British Government produced reasonable results, its success They did indeed consult East Africa’s might have been well advised to appoint obviously depended on the experience largest supplier of heavy equipment, as a fourth commissioner in the form of an and expertise of the team, and the pos- well as a prominent Tanganyika pioneer, experienced civil engineer with colonial sibility of missing potentially useful de- famous for his farming developments not experience, especially when such exper- posits was ever present. far from Kongwa itself, but there is no tise was readily available within the UK SEM brought forward a different evidence of their having sought advice professional establishment. approach. Terrain was studied in detail elsewhere. Consulting engineers or civil An unfortunate further consequence first in the office – making use not engineering contractors in Africa (or of failure of the Scheme was that it prob- only of the standard ordnance maps, even from further afield) could perhaps ably prevented other potential colonial geological maps, air photos and pho- have given a more realistic assessment. or developing world projects, possibly togrammetric techniques then current In the report’s defence, however, it is also less difficult and more viable ones, from – but later also, of course, field surveys. likely that data on costs were simply not being attempted or even planned. The From their accumulated data the NIRR available anywhere at that time, in terms ‘groundnut scheme’ became a byword was then able to produce a map (SEM) of the scale and rate of clearing that was for rejection of new ideas. The need to which indeed resembled a geological being proposed. modernise African agriculture and in- map, but which showed topography, In further defence of the report, it dustry has, however, not disappeared, and surface geology (including boundaries might also be argued that the success lessons learnt from the Scheme’s collapse of differing soil types), location of of fairly recent wartime projects like should act as a warning, although not a suitable gravel sources, rock outcrops PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Ocean) complete barrier, to planners of all man- and possible sources of water supply. and Mulberry Harbour had given politi- ners of development in the future. Furthermore, the map covered not only cians and their advisers undue faith in a narrow strip flanking the proposed the ability of science and engineering 4. SOILS ENGINEERING MAP: LATE 1950s road reserve, but also a broad swathe of to overcome all obstacles. They may not The innovation effort described here, territory on either side of its proposed have realised that cost is no barrier to the Soils Engineering Map (SEM), is a centre line. The SEM therefore afforded completion of wartime projects, and product of research carried out during design engineers and contractors greatly that no-one ever knew or ever will know the 1950s at the National Institute of improved opportunities for inspecting those costs. The Groundnut Scheme was Road Research (NIRR) of South Africa’s and locating material suitable for the always going to be subjected to audit CSIR. At the time the research was being various phases of construction, not nec- and scrutiny from the parliamentary initiated, South Africa was already in the essarily adjacent to the centre line, but opposition, despite its apparent urgency throes of its infrastructure surge, with within reasonable and economical range and importance. In any event, the world new roads and freeways comprising a of it. They would also obtain a far better somehow survived the vegetable oil high proportion of the total effort. Much picture of the nature of the terrain and shortage that was feared at the time. of the work was therefore taking place in environment in which construction was Politics in the UK could also have rural or developing areas, and the NIRR scheduled to take place. played a part. The newly elected Labour realised that serious cost savings could The NIRR first published its findings Government, and some senior OFC offi- be achieved by locating local sources in a paper submitted to SAICE at about cials, seemed determined to show that the of supply for concrete aggregates, and the same time as the first contracts using planning principles in which they believed suitable soils and gravels for upper-layer SEM came into operation. Furthermore, would move colonial development away roadworks. The method was in fact de- a subsequent presentation by the NIRR from alleged previous policies of gradu- signed not only to be applicable to civil in Pretoria, which included both theory alism and maintenance of the status quo. engineering, but was also available as a and field experience, was received Such conjectures aside, the basic reasons tool for general evaluation of terrain – without adverse comment and apparently for closure of the Scheme lay not only in town and regional planning and possibly quite enthusiastically. The NIRR must the inflated cost of bush-clearing, but also also agricultural planning. therefore have had good reason to believe in greatly reduced optimism for successful The conventional method of locating that the profession and industry would crop production. such materials at that time was physical accept SEM and use it in the future on a Civil engineering’s contribution to the exploration of the areas traversing the reasonable scale. failure consisted in the considerable bal- line and vicinity of the proposed road. The method was first introduced looning of clearing costs, for which they The investigating team would sample and into the road-building industry during could hardly be held originally or finally test soils and potential borrow pits on and the early 1960s on contracts in the responsible. One feels, however, that a near the proposed centre line, search for north-western Cape Province (now the basic omission made by the three com- likely sources of concrete sand and stone Northern Cape), a developing region that missioners was their failure to consult perhaps a little further afield, and possibly was then being further opened up for experienced consulting engineers or civil also investigate possible sources of water agriculture, cattle raising and mining.

58 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Consultants and contractors engaged Moreover, the South African Railways Moreover, the South African Railways on those and subsequent contracts used authority never saw fit to test the merits authority never saw fit to test the SEM with varying degrees of enthusiasm, of SEM, despite building a number of the doubters generally avowing that suit- major long-distance lines through difficult merits of SEM, despite building a able materials were plentiful enough and terrain during the latter half of the 20th number of major long-distance that SEM was an unnecessary luxury. century. At present the system seems to be Thereafter, only a few devotees in the pri- substantially unknown to the new genera- lines through difficult terrain during vate sector (contractors and consultants) tion of planners, consulting engineers and the latter half of the 20th century continued to make use of SEM. However, contractors. (It might have grown in recent the established system generally remained times, however, into GIS, which has similar dominant, and in fact still seems to be capabilities, or possibly Google Earth.) dominant today. In 1975, about 15 years after the Discussion and comment launch, a symposium was held under Comparison of the aims and modus the auspices of SAICE to discuss SEM’s operandi of the Tanganyika Groundnut progress and practical applications. Scheme with those of the completely Papers were presented on road con- different SEM project is a far-fetched ex- struction experience, town and regional ercise, but it does present both a paradox planning, land-use planning and the and a parallel. In the former instance, an use of SEM in solving environmental ambitious and extremely costly agricul- problems. It was obvious, however, ir- tural project in tropical Africa – under- respective of unanimous acceptance at researched and under-surveyed – failed the symposium itself and of practical catastrophically and had to be abandoned. examples of the advantages SEM had In the latter instance, a competent R&D brought to the various disciplines, that programme, which was carried out at the method was being used on a rather government expense and which promised limited scale by a few devotees only. proven and advantageous applications in

Civil Engineering | October 2008 59 SEM is worthy of resuscitation and it might therefore be useful to consider covered by aerial photos. Such costs, and debate the reasons for its failure to gain general acceptance which in any event did not eliminate the need for field investigations, might have discouraged both employers and consultants from using the system, the fields of construction and land-use mote the adoption of SEM and to check particularly in well-known terrain. It is planning, failed to raise sufficient interest and report on progress and problems. possible, of course, that the extra cost or enthusiasm in the minds of most po- In that connection, a statement from Prof of SEM could have played a part in the tential users. Like the Groundnut Scheme, Tony Ridley’s Brunel Memorial Lecture lack lustre reception of the idea, and SEM has also faded into obscurity, (1999) is relevant: consultants might have displayed more although not quite so dramatically and “ … in academic life the ‘reward enthusiasm if fees had been enhanced certainly not so deservedly. system’ is such that the publication of for using it. The NIRR could have made The Groundnut Scheme is now an good quality work in good quality jour- it clear to potential users that SEM incident that serves only as a warning nals becomes an end in itself. I have no was probably an unnecessary luxury in to super-optimists of the future. SEM is, problem with this, but, if we are to ad- areas or districts with well-developed however, worthy of resuscitation and it vance technology, we must have mecha- road networks, where sources of accept- might therefore be useful to consider and nisms which go further.” able material were already known and debate the reasons for its failure to gain NNThe NIRR paid insufficient attention where standard methods would suffice. general acceptance: in its presentations to the matter of NNThe major employing authorities, essen- NNThe NIRR failed to make efforts comparative costs, i.e. SEM versus the tially the Provincial and National Roads to monitor the progress of SEM in standard method. Extra SEM costs Departments, showed little interest practice. Waiting for feedback from would have included, amongst others, and seemed to leave the choice to their employers, consultants and contrac- expert geological and photogrammetric appointed consultants. They apparently tors was being a little too hopeful and interpretation, the production and did not instruct designers or materials optimistic. The Institute should have printing of the maps (usually in colour) engineers in the consulting firms to use appointed a ‘product champion’, in the and, in some cases, the need for com- SEM in appropriate circumstances, or manner of private enterprise, to pro- missioning photography for areas not agree to increase fees to cover its use.

60 Civil Engineering | October 2008 NNContractors, like consultants, varied in the obligation to open and develop a series should probably have published its rather their approach. Some complained about of rock quarries along the length of the happy experience. In the competitive the apparent complexity of SEM, and it road, nor was he keen to collect by hand construction world, however, that sort is indeed possible that the researchers, and then transport to the crushing plant of public-spirited action would have more often than not engineering geolo- great quantities of suitable boulders. been classed as rather unusual, and the gists by profession, overdid the geo- The contractor thereupon commis- contractor felt under no obligation to logical detail. Contractors at that time sioned an investigation by one of the au- keep the profession or his competitors tended to avoid the risks that might thors of SEM, an engineering geologist. informed. In fact, wherever or whenever arise through the use of alternative His SEM in fact succeeded in identifying, it was thought necessary to locate better materials, and to play safe by abiding by in blocks of land close to the road, a sources of material on new contracts, the what was laid down in the contract. The series of large deposits of chert gravels, same company continued to commission era of encouraging or proposing alter- which eventually proved of sufficient SEM. Outcomes were never again quite as native designs to increase competitive- quality to meet basecourse specifica- spectacular as the original effort, but were ness had not yet reached South Africa’s tions, and where preliminary operations always worth the expense. road-building fraternity. comprised only the screening-out of At present, almost half a century Nevertheless, the experience of a con- excess fine material before the balance later, advances in satellite photography tracting company that enjoyed success was passed to the crushers. Drilling and and photogrammetry might render with SEM is set down for the record: blasting proved to be quite unnecessary, the production of SEM more accurate, On a road contract of 60 km in the and the in situ material proved able to be faster and possibly less costly. A good Northern Cape, the documents specified excavated by conventional equipment. case for revival of the technique could that crusher-run basecourse material was Quite clearly, elimination of the specified therefore be made in view of the present to be produced either from designated expensive preliminary stages – boulder resurgence of the construction industry solid dolerite deposits, or from dolerite collection or the opening up of rock in South Africa. The possibility of the boulders – the latter source abounding on quarries – worked to the contractor’s technique being made available to surface in the adjacent Vaal River valley. financial benefit. the many development projects being Neither of the two alternatives appealed From a strictly professional or ethical initiated all over the African continent to the contractor, who was not excited by point of view, the contracting company should also not be forgotten.

Civil Engineering | October 2008 61 OTHER PROJECTS

South Africa’s largest permeable paving project to date

Permeable interlocking con- of the Property and Infrastructure bottom layer and rising sequentially crete paving (PICP) is taking root in Management Division of Wits, says the to the top, the strata are: 150 mm of South Africa. After its introduction last university opted for this technology recompacted in situ soil; Typar geo- year, the eighth and largest PICP project owing to its environmental and storm textile membrane manufactured by to date has recently been completed. water management attributes. DuPont and supplied locally by DV In this instance, PICP was used The Director of the Concrete Building; 250 mm of 37 mm quarried to pave a 13 000 m2 car park on the Manufacturers Association (CMA), stone; 100 mm of 24 mm quarried West Campus of the University of the John Cairns, says that apart from stone; Inbitex membrane supplied by Witwatersrand. The parking ground, preventing flooding, PICP offers envi- Concor Technicrete; 50 mm of 6,7 mm which abuts one of Johannesburg’s ronmental benefits such as filtering out stone; and finally, 60 mm of rectangular major thoroughfares (Empire Road) pollutants and storing water for re-use, paving blocks rated at 30 MPa which is split into two: a lower section com- and notes that all these conditions apply were supplied by Concor Technicrete. prising approximately 6 000 m2 and an in the case of the Wits project. “The The Typar membrane prevents upper section covering some 7 000 m2. threat of flooding on Empire Road will soil from mixing with the first layer of Designed by Arup, the car park be curtailed and the water that infil- stone and, likewise, the Inbitex mem- was paved with PICP to provide on-site trates beneath the paved surface will brane performs the same function. storm water infiltration and attenua- replenish the underground water table,” Approximately 90% of pollutants will be tion to avoid contributing additional he says. trapped in the upper 50 mm stone layer, run-off to the Empire Road storm water The PICP project at Wits consisted and some of this runoff will water trees system. Emannuel Prinsloo, Director of six material strata. Starting with the planted in tree rings in the car park.

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62 Civil Engineering | October 2008 South Africa’s largest permeable paving project to date

There are essentially three types of project, six ‘soakaway’ tests were con- member of the Concrete Manufacturers PICP: full infiltration where everything ducted to ascertain the capacity of the Association (CMA). goes into the soil; partial infiltration soil to accept rain water. The tests es- INFO where some of the water is stored for re- tablished that the soil had a more-than- use; and zero infiltration where all the sufficient absorption capacity, with the John Cairns water is stored for re-use. Apart from lowest absorption result being 79 mm/h. 011 805 6742 the pipes that feed the trees in the rings, When newly laid, the pavement’s ab- the first option applies in the case of the sorption rate will be approximately 1 A new car park on the West Campus of the Wits project. 4 500 ℓ/m2/h. University of the Witwatersrand, paved with a The paving blocks were laid in a her- Voogt says this rate will stabilise at permeable paving system, shown here while still ringbone pattern, which, according to 20% of the original rate after 15 years, under construction. Note the various layers of Concor Technicrete’s product manager or roughly 900 ℓ/m2/h. In other words, stone, membrane and paving blocks comprising Taco Voogt, is the simplest and most 0,9 m2 of water will still be absorbed the system effective pattern for the heavy traffic into the pavement in an hour, i.e. 2 A close-up view of the laid permeable conditions of a car park. Based on a 900 mm/h. paving blocks at the new car park European design, the pavers include Weko Civils was the main con- 3 One of the tree rings that will be fed with vertical slots (3 mm deep and 40 mm tractor and as such was responsible for infiltrated water at the car park wide) at either end through which the the earthworks and the laying of the 4 Completed upper level parking (planting of water infiltrates into the subbase. subbase layers. The paving contractor trees to follow) Before commencement of the was Mondo Meccano, a contractor Photos: David Beer

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Civil Engineering | October 2008 63 Text Maxwell Vavana [email protected]

I siXHOSA FEATURE Indoda enombono

Ndizelwe ngonyaka we 1984, Ndisaqhubeka ngemfundo ephaka- Ndiwenza ngokugqibeleleyo umse- kwiphondo LweMpumakoloni ndaza mileyo ngokuncediswa kwayilenkampani benzi wam kwaye ndizuza ukwaneliseka ndaphumelela imatiliki eMbekweni High kwidyunivesiti iTshwane University of xa ndibona umahluko endiwenzileyo ngonyaka we 2002. Ndiqale imfundo Technology ndiqhubeka Nesidanga jikelele kwisizwe sakowethu. Ndiyazingca ngoku- enomsila kwi Dyunivesiti iWalter Sisulu Kwezokunjinela ngeSivili. bayingcaphephe enesakhono esinegalelo eMonti eMpumakoloni, ndisenza izifundo Ndikwalilungu lesigqeba kwikomiti ekuphuculeni isizwe, nakwindalo. Yilonto zokunjinela kwicandelo lwenkonzo zoluntu yolwanyulo nokuphononongwa kwemiba endenza umdla neyinkuthazo ngelican- ezizezi: Iindlela, Amadama, Iibhulorho, yamalungu kwiqumrhu iSouth African delo lokunjinela ngeSivili yaye ndizibona Izakhiwo, Ugutyulo Lwelindle naManzi Institution of Civil engineers (SAICE), ndiqhubeka ngokwenza umahluko (Isivili Injineringi). Ndikwangunozakuzaku weliqumrhu kuluntu nakwikamva lam liphela ngesisa- Ndisebenze njengengcaphephe eku- ekuthyileni igama nembonakalo yalo khono ndinaso. qeqesho lolwazi kwiqumrhu iJohannesburg eluntwini. Umbono wam kukuba Roads Agency ndikwicandelo lokunon- Imeko nezinga lendawo endikhulele Ndibeyingcaphephe evunyiweyo liqumrhu ophela ulwakhiwo lweendlela, Iibhulorho, kuyo liphantsi yaye ihleleleke kanobom lengcaphephe zokunjinela lomzantsi afrika Uthintelo lwamanzi ezikhukula kunye kwicala lenkonzo zoluntu kwaye akukho khonukuze ndikwazi ukumisa inkampani Nokuhlalutya ezendlela kuMasipala zingcaphephe zaneleyo ukujongana yabucala kwingingqi yam kwicandelo waseGoli. Ndigqithele kwinkampani nalomceli mngeni. Sisona sizathu ndathi lokunjinela. Kubalulekile ukuzenzela yabucala iJeffares & Green (Pty) Ltd, ndabanaso ekuboneni kwam esisimo, igama, umbono, nembali xeshikweni up- ndisebenza njengengcaphephe ekuqulun- ndagqiba ekubeni ndiphakame ndizene- hila phakathi koluntu yiyo kanye ke lonto qeni ulwakhiwo lwendlela, Uthintelo sakhono esiyokwenza umahluko kwisimo ndigxile kuyo kubomi bam, nendenza lwamanzi ezikhukula, ndisakuvelisa ne- endikhulele kuso. Ngenxa yemvakalelo ndihlale ndisiya phambili ngo bomi ndin- mizobo ebonisa inkcukacha ngolwakhiwo nomqweno endinawo ekubeni uluntu gagungqiswa nazizimo endidibana nazo. lwezinkonzo zingentla ndisekwahlola luphile ngendlela eyiyo kuphucuke Indoda enombono ayinakuze igung- nolwakhiwo kwezindidi zenkonzo. nenkonzo ezingundiqo eluntwini. qiswe.

A man with a purpose company Jeffares & Green Consulting Engineers, Membership of SAICE also keeps me up who took me on permanently and who are now to date with the latest developments in the I grew up and matriculated in Queenstown assisting me financially to complete my studies at profession, and I enjoy being an ‘ambassador’ (Ntabethemba, Eastern Cape). Throughout the Tshwane University of Technology. of this Institution. my childhood I dreamed of one day being This company offers engineering My dream is busy coming true. I grew up involved in engineering, so after school I moved services related to Roads, Transportation, in an area where the standard of infrastructure to Johannesburg to study civil engineering at Traffic, Bridges, Environmental Engineering, and engineering services is very poor. That the Germiston College, and thereafter I started Waste Management, Land Development is the main reason why I opted for a career studying towards the National Diploma in Civil and Housing, Infrastructure Development, in civil engineering - so that I could become Engineering at the Walter Sisulu University (East Industrial and Civil Structures, Water, Storm a specialist who could contribute to the im- London Campus). Water and River Catchment Management, provement of such situations. It is my aim to For the first half of my experiential training, Wastewater, Geotechnical Engineering, plough back into my community all the skills I worked at the Johannesburg Roads Agency Geographical Information Systems, Railways, and knowledge that I am now acquiring, and I (JRA) where I was involved in municipal services Airports, Project Management, and Mining. am looking forward to that. Part of my dream such as roads and storm water development I am involved in the Geometric Design is also to one day become a registered profes- and maintenance. In the end I spent 18 months section where I specialise in the design of roads, sional technologist leading my own consulting with the JRA before I moved to the private sector pavements and water services. engineering firm.

64 Civil Engineering | October 2008 PEOPLE Amazing Russian couple at Bateman

Early morning arrivals at the Isak and Rachel Rivkerman. Isak was a study at the Leningrad Institute of Railway busy Bateman office in Boksburg will often chemical engineer working for a rubber Engineers in 1954. Vladimir recalls that encounter Vladimir and Judith Bortnik factory and served in the Russian Army’s he had to write five exams and obtain 23 at their desks at 5:30 in the morning. Chemical Division during World War II. He points to gain entry to this Institute, but Vladimir is a senior civil engineer and survived, but lost all his brothers: three in that the Russian candidates were only Judith is a drawing checker, working in battle and one of starvation in Leningrad. required to obtain 15 points. Although the area of mineral beneficiation. Their Vladimir remembers his early child- Vladimir and Judith had been in the extraordinary background starts with their hood in Leningrad during the siege same class, they first took notice of each being born on the same day in the same by German troops which lasted from other when they failed the same exam: city – 2 July 1936 in Leningrad in the Soviet September 1941 to January 1944. The tiny “Resistance of Materials”. Union (today St Petersburg in Russia). flat he shared with his mother and grand- Vladimir had been standing outside Vladimir was born to Jewish par- mother was located on Nevsky Avenue, the lecturer’s office one morning staring ents, Jacob and Anna Bortnik. Jacob had close to the police headquarters, and suf- at the ‘make-up’ test schedule when Judith been an orphan from Odessa in Ukraine fered many near misses during German arrived. They discovered that the new exam and had progressed from school to the shelling. Vladimir recalls often being alone date was set for 2 July 1958 – their birthday! Politechnik Institute and thereafter to the in the flat during the day while his grand- Since that afternoon they have been insepa- Military Academy. At the time, entry into mother went out to repair primus stoves rable and were married on 22 January 1959. such prestigious institutes was considered and his mother worked as a shop assistant. Vladimir started his career at two a great privilege for a Jew, especially one Judith, her mother and grandmother of the consulting engineering firms from a disadvantaged background. He was left Leningrad at the start of the war and in Leningrad, Giprosantekhprom and even awarded a car for private use at the she therefore found herself at the foot of Giproruda. The former specialised in Academy. Jacob died in December 1941, the Ural mountains early in 1941. Judith the design of factories for sanitary ware, early in the World War II, just outside says that she has wonderful memories of a whereas the latter undertook design for Moscow in command of a tank brigade. carefree childhood in those forests. the iron ore industry. Judith worked at Judith was also born to Jewish parents, Vladimir and Judith both enrolled for Gipronikel in Leningrad, a consulting firm for the nickel industry which had more than 5 000 staff members. They worked on projects throughout the USSR, including the challenging environment of Siberia. After moving to Israel in 1974, they both worked as structural engineers at consulting engineering firms in Haifa until 1984. Their experience ranged from commercial to industrial projects in Iran, Nigeria and South America. Vladimir and Judith moved to South Africa early in 1984. They both joined Iscor in Pretoria towards the end of 1989 and worked there until June 2000 – he as a senior structural engineer and she as a spe- cialist designer and senior draughtsperson. Both consider their time at Iscor to be the

66 Civil Engineering | October 2008 C&CI chairman Hylton Macdonald (centre) wishes C&CI MD Graham Grieve (left) a happy retirement, while the new C&CI MD, Bryan Perrie, looks on Amazing Russian couple at Bateman

highlight of their career. Vladimir was able to apply his particular skills and expertise to new and existing mineral-processing plants and materials-handling structures. He took extreme pride in ensuring that optimally engineered solutions were presented and enjoyed troubleshooting in dealing with corrosion, vibrations and high-temperature environments. C&CI chief retires after 26 years’ service Vladimir first joined Bateman in 2001 and has been responsible for the design of steel and concrete structures on The staff of the Cement & Concrete Institute concrete. This work also brought him full projects ranging from the Maandagshoek (C&CI) said goodbye to a friend, colleague membership of the Institute of Concrete Platinum Concentrator to the Aflease and leader – and expert in many spheres of Technologists in the UK. Uranium Project, a hydrometallurgical concrete technology – when, at the end of Still at the helm as Managing Director, he plant. Judith also started working as a August this year, Dr Graham Grieve retired steered the PCI through its transition into a drawing checker at Bateman in 2001, from C&CI after 26 years’ service. marketing organisation, along with its name where she has become known for her me- After graduating as a civil engineer in change to C&CI in 1996. ticulous attention to detail. 1970 from the University of Cape Town, “Graham’s practical approach and Colleagues have often remarked that Graham worked for the Department in-depth knowledge – coupled with his ana- they are impressed by Vladimir’s work Kustoderzoek, Rijkswaterstaat, in the lytical mind – ensured that his contribution ethic, meticulous calculations and at- Netherlands for a year before returning to on many levels to the cement and concrete tention to detail. One engineer recalls South Africa to take up a post at the Coastal industry was vast and highly valued. His Vladimir asking for assistance in under- Research Unit of the CSIR in Stellenbosch. departure will leave a gap that will not be standing Limit States Design a few years In 1974 he started work as resident engi- easy to fill. He commanded respect from ago. He stated that “the manner in which neer on a road and bridge contract, and then all those whose paths he crossed in many he approached what could only have been a moved to Pretoria in 1978 to join BS Bergman diverse business environments. The number paradigm shift from what he was educated and Partners with responsibility for materials of farewell lunches, dinners and functions ar- in (and taking account of his age) is simply testing and the design of road projects. ranged by academics, peers, colleagues and remarkable”. Another colleague pointed He completed his BSc (Eng) (Hons) at staff attest to the fact that everyone wanted out that Vladimir had even acquainted Pretoria University in 1981 and a year later to say goodbye to him in their own special himself (through self-study) with dynamic he accepted a full-time research post at the way,” said John Sheath, marketing manager analysis on the Strand 7 finite element university, working towards his MEng degree, of C&CI. software within the past few months. which he received in 1984. At a special farewell function in Midrand Judith’s attention to detail also im- He joined C&CI (then Portland Cement at the end of August, C&CI Chairman Hylton presses her colleagues. She has made many Institute) in February 1982 as Director of Macdonald paid tribute to Graham’s notable an engineer realise that his calculations Laboratory Services, becoming Deputy contribution to the growth of the Institute. were not as comprehensive and detailed Executive Director in 1987 and Executive Many people retire with the intention of as he may have thought. Her insistence Director in 1990. taking life easy, but Graham intends enrolling on understanding the full picture and In 1991 the University of the for a second PhD, this time in ornithology, presenting all details clearly has certainly Witwatersrand awarded him a PhD for his and he and his wife, Kate, will be starting a ‘saved’ many a design. research on the practical use of fly ash in new life on the KZN South Coast.

Civil Engineering | October 2008 67 IN BRIEF electrical components expected to amount to a 1 further R3,6 million. The works, which has been designed to treat effluent to achieve a quality above the normal DWAF general standard, is scheduled to SBA CONSTRUCTS be operational by December 2008. INFO solar water heating system. It is an evacuated WASTEWATER TREATMENT Morrell Rosseau tube-based system, significantly more efficient [email protected] than other, older technology, flat-plate systems. WORKS AT BALLITO “Evacuated tubes are approximately 80% efficient compared with about 40% for flat-plate A positive Record of Decision was given to collectors. Flat-plate collectors suffer perform- Siza Water Company by the Department of ance degradation in cold ambient conditions, Agriculture & Environmental Affairs at the end of STATE-OF-THE-ART SOLAR whereas evacuated tubes are unaffected by 2007 for the construction of the new Sheffield such conditions and can operate down to wastewater treatment works, north of Ballito. WATER HEATER LAUNCHED minus 20˚C,” says Sky Power MD Barry Cribb. SBA (Stemele Bosch Africa), which fo- Microprocessor-driven control units give the cuses specifically on infrastructure projects Eskom advises that the energy needed user complete control of the system parameters. and provides multi-disciplinary consulting for water heating amounts to between 30% The unit will display water temperatures at the engineering and project management and 50% of the electricity consumed by an bottom and top of the geyser, as well as the services, is actively involved in the civil, me- average household. One option is to install a manifold temperature. It also controls the pump chanical and electrical components, and the solar water heater which can reduce electricity to ensure that optimum benefit is derived from instrumentation for this project. consumption for water heating by at least 70%, the sun’s power. User-definable time periods can Phase 1 of the project will handle 6,0 Ml/d of depending on the system selected. be set by which heating can be supplemented sewage. However, certain structures, as well as a As far as protecting the environment is electrically if the target temperature has not been modular layout, have been designed to handle concerned, a 150 liter solar water heater unit will reached. This ensures that hot water is always the ultimate flow of 18 Ml/d. “Construction of replace the need for about 4,5 kWh/day of elec- available in the case of no sunshine. the treatment works comes as a great relief for tricity, which can save an estimated two tons The thermal performance of the Sky Power the developers in the Ballito North area, where of carbon emissions per household per year. If product has been measured by the SABS. The this was a prerequisite for further development just 10% of South African households used solar system has also passed all SANS 1307 tests to take place,” says Morrell Rosseau, a director of water heating, the reduction in carbon dioxide conducted by the SABS, allowing it to be classi- SBA, part of the B & A Group. emissions could add up to tens of thousands of fied as hail-resistant. The civil contract is valued at R23,4 million, tons of emissions. The mining industry in par- with estimated costs for the mechanical and ticular is focused on reducing energy consump- INFO tion by 10% and solar heating systems are part www.skypower.co.za 1 Chlorine contact tank floor slab of their power-reduction strategies. 2 Inlet works with de-gritter in the foreground In line with all this, Sky Power has launched 1 & 2 Sky Power’s tube-based solar water an enhanced version of its home and industrial heater system 1 2

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68 Civil Engineering | October 2008 NEW SENSUS BULK WATER METER

Sensus Metering Systems has unveiled a new bulk water meter which delivers higher levels of accuracy over a wider flow range. Incorporating an innovative floating rotor hub, the next-generation MeiStream Series is the first Woltman meter capable of achieving a Class C accuracy standard. The new MeiStream Series replaces three former meter types, thanks to bearings and hydraulics of a radically new design. The base version of MeiStream combines the features of the standard WP-meter and WS-meters. It has been optimised for medium and high flow rates, but also covers the minimum flow rate of WS-meters. Sensus Metering Systems MD Basil Bold says, “Standard bulk water me- ters have specific advantages and disadvantages and can lead to solutions based on compromise. However, with the latest MeiStream, water utilities and municipalities can now choose a meter that delivers an optimum solu- tion for every application.” The MeiStream Plus has been optimised for very low flow rates. Its measuring inserts slip perfectly into the bodies of Sensus WP-Dynamic me- ters, enabling customers to upgrade easily to gain the benefits of MeiStream accuracy and durability. This is a key advantage of the meter for water suppliers. Furthermore, the body length of the MeiStream allows it to be fitted into all existing installation sites of WS, WP and single-jet meters. Both versions are also pre-equipped for upgrading to automatic meter-reading (AMR) systems. The ball-shaped rotor hub is positioned in the water stream and floats between the bearings in response to flow. The specific weight of the rotor is near zero in water and thus supports the no-friction principle, known as ‘three-dimensional rotor balancing’. The main advantage of this ‘balancing act’ is that the rotor works without wear at very high flow rates but also starts to turn at very low flow rates. Water suppliers using the new MeiStream will benefit from extended accuracy over a longer period, as well as high wear resistance. The net effect is higher revenues as a result of the ability to measure very low flow rates.

INFO

Sensus Metering Systems 011 466 1680

Civil Engineering | October 2008 69 opinion this will undoubtedly result in a massive need to follow the easy-to-understand inter- HARNESSING THE WIND WITH demand for this technology in the next 20 years. faces with the drive-train and generator. Martin Darrington, the Director (Industry) WinDrive technology can be installed and VOITH WinDrive TECHNOLOGY of Voith Turbo South Africa, explains: “Voith operated at diverse locations and wind turbines Turbo’s innovative, technologically advanced, have already demonstrated the suitability of their Wind energy is gaining importance across continuously developing mechatronic system, components for both on-shore and off shore the globe as an alternative generator of elec- WinDrive, does not require the use of frequency operation. WinDrive performs efficiently at alti- tricity both on and off shore. Voith Turbo Wind converter technology in wind turbines, which tudes of up to more than 4 000 m above sea level GmbH & Co KG’s dynamic mechatronic system, considerably reduces downtime and substan- and connection to weak energy grids is easily WinDrive, is an innovative and cost-effective tially increases reliability.” The introduction of handled. In addition, WinDrive can be employed solution for wind energy. WinDrive also means that wind turbines are to increase efficiency in hydroelectric power Established in January 2007 and with its becoming more readily available and operating stations where water-powered turbines operate headquarters in Heidenheim/Brenz, Voith Turbo and maintenance costs have been drastically at variable speeds. A pilot project currently under Wind focuses on the development, design and reduced. WinDrive’s increase in size is less than way in Germany will be completed in 2008. marketing of WinDrive technology. In addition, proportional to its output power, translating The initial financial outlay is moderate the company is active in the development and into considerable weight savings in the nacelles because, by incorporating WinDrive tech- implementation of concepts in the field of other and thus the sizes of the associated towers and nology, the maximum operating loads in the renewable energy sources, such as wave energy foundations for multi-megawatt systems. drive-train are reduced. In large systems this and hydroelectric power. The company believes that the uniqueness translates into material savings of up to 20% The need to generate multi-megawatt of the WinDrive concept and its associated for the tower and foundation (steel and ce- power with wind turbines presented the tech- benefits place it in a class of its own in the alter- ment), while hundreds of tons of material can nological challenge of finding reliable, efficient native energy industry. “WinDrive is the first and be saved on each wind turbine. wind turbines to satisfy all power grid criteria only technology that employs the time-proven The unique know-how of Voith Turbo Wind in compliance with power plant standards. The system components used in conventional GmbH & Co KG is protected by a basic patent current concepts using frequency converter fossil fuel power plants and thus represents a and four subpatent applications filed and technology, usually coupled with mechanical significant contribution to solving the primary granted worldwide (PCT WO 2004/088132). gear drives, do not meet all the necessary challenge associated with future developments requirements. – the stability of the power grid.” INFO WinDrive employs proven, time-tested The system’s time-tested synchronous www.voithturbo.de/windtechnologie.htm power plant technologies for wind turbines, generators cope smoothly with various require- allowing wind farms to generate electricity ments such as reactive power (VAr) compensa- that is equal in quality to that generated by tion or grid stabilisation in the event of a short conventional power plants. Obviously, the circuit. By eliminating the frequency converter system also offers a sustainable solution to and step-up transformers, the complexity of the SINGAPORE’S FIRST replacing the world’s rapidly diminishing fossil wind turbines is reduced significantly, decreasing fuels, thus playing a role in reducing the impact the probability of failure and downtime, and INTERNATIONAL WATER of carbon dioxide emissions on the atmosphere. increasing reliability by more than 30%. Increasing raw material costs are another WinDrive is designed for variable-speed op- WEEK A HUGE SUCCESS factor that will force the global move towards eration and the wind rotor can be operated at renewable energy sources and in Voith Turbo’s different speeds, i.e. the aerodynamic optimum The Singapore International Water Week for the rotor. Synchronous generators permit is a new global platform for water solutions. It operation at the medium voltage level, without brings together policy-makers, industry leaders, 1 the need for additional components, and wind experts and practitioners to address challenges, farm efficiency is increased significantly. showcase technologies, discover opportunities WinDrive’s response times are in the mil- and celebrate achievements in the water world. lisecond range, which considerably lowers The theme of the inaugural Water Week, the load in the drive-train under dynamic held from 23 to 27 June 2008 in Singapore, was load conditions. A direct result of this lower Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities and the load is a longer service life for the electricity- event attracted some 8 500 delegates and trade conducting assemblies. visitors. The annual event features the Water The mechatronic system is a single compo- Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo, nent and, since it is approximately 2 m long by Business Forums and the Water Festival, as well 1,5 m in diameter, shipping and transportation as the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water pose no major challenges. Installation is easily Prize for innovative contributions in solving the done on site by local technicians who simply world’s water problems. The first winner of this prestigious international award was Dr Andrew 1 Voith WinDrive technology can be installed Benedek, a Canadian researcher and successful and operated at diverse locations and performs technopreneur, who pioneered the develop- efficiently at altitudes of up to more than 4 000 m ment of low-pressure membranes which made above sea level. it possible to derive drinking water from even

70 Civil Engineering | October 2008 1

highly polluted sources, and at a lower cost. Dr 1 NEWater: Award-winning ultra-clean product Benedek delivered the Singapore Water Lecture of a state-of-the-art water reclamation project at the Convention. During the Water Week governments, water common goals, among them safe drinking water, utilities and water companies signed 27 agree- sustainable sanitation, clean air, a good living ments totalling more than US$270 million. In environment and the efficient use of natural addition, a water fund was launched to attract resources, including water and energy…”. US$320 million in investments in Asian water The proceedings of the Water Leaders projects. This global event for the water industry Summit were presented at the World Water also saw governments and international or- Week in Stockholm in August and will also be ganisations announcing significant initiatives to available at the World Water Forum in Turkey in prioritise water investments and research. March 2009. Also profiled during the Water Week was a water reclamation project, called NEWater, INFO pioneered by Singapore and introduced in Singapore Water Week: www.siww.com.sg 2003. In the NEWater project water is treated NEWater: www.pub.gov.sg/newater/Pages/ and purified with state-of-the-art membrane default.aspx technologies involving microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection. The result is an ultra-clean product that has been vetted by more than 30 000 scientific tests, surpassing even the World Health Organization’s stand- NEW URBAN DEVELOPMENTS ards for drinking water. NEWater recently received an award as ON THE NORTH COAST ‘Environmental Contribution of the Year’ at the Global Water Awards 2008. This prestigious The Seaton Delaval Estate is South Africa’s award bears testimony to NEWater’s success most exclusive equestrian real estate invest- as a viable and sustainable source of water. At ment on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. present, there are four NEWater plants, which This high-profile project complements the meet 15% of Singapore’s water needs. There modern Natal-style architecture and offers are plans to further boost production to 30% expansive freehold plots of approximately by building a fifth plant. 10 000 m² each. The venture, which started In a speech on 25 June at the Water Leaders in October 2006, accommodates 31 erven in Summit, Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore’s the Equestrian Estate, strategically built on Ambassador-at-Large and the Chairman of the different levels to ensure maximum privacy, as Asia-Pacific Water Forum Governing Council, well as approximately 500 high-end residential said: “Water is essential for life. There are over sites with both inland and sea views and eight 1 billion people in the world, 700 million in Asia cluster home sites allowing for 400 units. alone, who do not have access to safe drinking The estate boasts world-class facilities for water. The time has come for us to recognise equestrian enthusiasts and includes Olympic people’s access to safe drinking water and to standard dressage and show-jumping arenas, sustainable sanitation as a human right.” two international-standard polo fields, polo Summing up the conclusions of the crosse fields and 12 stable barns providing suf- Water Leaders Summit, Professor Koh said ficient accommodation for 120 resident horses. that participants had shared a common vision According to UWP Consulting Engineering to “make our cities sustainable, vibrant and Technologist Jean-Paul van der Linde, the multi liveable. Cities should strive for a number of disciplinary project proved to be a challenge

Civil Engineering | October 2008 71 from the very beginning because the client, to the client’s requirement for concrete brick and will include the construction of bulk water Amber Mountain, had very specific design paving. A special kerb therefore had to be and sanitation services, as well as roads and requirements. This prominent estate demanded designed to complement the look and to storm water reticulation. Approximately 40 km a high standard of quality finishes with unmis- add to the estate’s overall aesthetic appeal. of roads will be constructed, varying from bus takable exclusivity. Everything from roads and Civil Designer was used during the earthwork routes and collector roads to access courts. The sewer design to water infrastructure design had volume calculations which had to be closely current provincial road will also be widened to unique features. The project also made provi- monitored. The project resulted in the move- accommodate four lanes throughout the length sion for a landscaping team to ensure that the ment of approximately 250 000 cubic metres of of the site, with various pedestrian walkways grounds were in perfect condition, as well as an earth for the construction of the polo fields. provided. About 50 km of sewer, 40 km of water irrigation specialist to maintain vegetation. A second urban development project and 30 km of storm water piping for services will Jean-Paul is an avid user of Civil Designer about which Jean-Paul is equally enthusiastic be installed once all the construction phases and has used the locally developed infrastruc- is the Woodmead development initiative. The have been completed. ture design software with great success on all Woodmead Estate consists of approximately The residential development, which will his projects. Civil Designer was used to design 350 ha of land at Shakaskraal just inland of Salt commence in November 2008, is aimed at various dams throughout the estate for recrea- Rock on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast and middle-income individuals and is expected to tional and irrigational use, and was instrumental is considered to be the largest South African enjoy a rapid take-up as there is currently an in delivering the final design result. They are also middle-income housing development of its kind. acute shortage of such residential land for sale quite fortunate to have a reciprocal arrangement It is situated between the existing townships of on the North Coast. According to Jean-Paul, UWP in place to receive the recycled grey water from Nkobongo in the south and Etete in the north, Consulting Engineers are actively engaged in a the new waste water treatment works being con- while the eastern boundary is defined by the variety of urban and rural development projects. structed to service the burgeoning population P2 provincial road between Shakaskraal and It is therefore encouraging to see high-profile in the area. This recycled water will be pumped KwaDukuza. projects such as the Seaton Delaval Equestrian from the treatment works into the irrigation The Woodmead Estate consists of ap- Estate and the Woodmead development initiative storage dams on the estate and will be sufficient proximately 3 500 residential sites, which include enjoying top priority with consulting engineers. to accommodate the entire irrigation needs of cluster developments and individual erven the development. ranging in size from 400 m2 to 600 m2, a commer- INFO An interesting aspect of the project was the cial centre, a business/light industrial zone, and Yolanda Desai roads design which had unique specifications. educational and institutional sites. The civil works 021 701 1850 The roads within the estate had to conform alone are expected to cost around R140 million [email protected]

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1 Typical topography of the Woodmead Estate site 2 Typical block-paved road within the Seaton Delaval Estate, showing block-paved kerbs and sidewalk detail

72 Civil Engineering | October 2008

Composite SAICE AND PROFESSIONAL NEWS

SAICE History and Heritage Panel

The SAICE History and Heritage where in this magazine). pating in the next volume). Panel was formed some two years ago The SAICE H&H Panel has begun NNArranging for talks and lectures to local in response to a clear call to promote operating in the following areas: cultural organisations such as historical this activity in the Institution. In the NNAssembling a database of researchers, societies, Probus clubs and “Universities past various members have collected writers and other interested persons of the Third Age”, which are always on bits of information about South African – who may or may not be engineers the lookout for interesting speakers. The engineering history, but the efforts were or SAICE Members – who are active Western Cape has been particularly uncoordinated, unrecognised and usu- in the field of Southern African engi- active in this area, and has among other ally unpublished. Probably the greatest neering history. activities contributed two series of impetus to put things on a sounder NNAssembling a database of books, ar- very well received lectures to the UCT footing came from Graham Ross’s hugely ticles, research documents and visual Summer School. successful book, The Romance of Cape presentations about Southern African Ultimately of course, the Panel looks to Mountain Passes, which seized the imagi- engineering history which can assist SAICE to contribute modest amounts nation of the general public when it was researchers (and avoid duplication of ef- of funding towards the promotion of re- published in 2003 and has been reprinted fort!). This will lead to a small collection search, publication of documents and the several times. Not only did it record the of such works (including unpublished celebration of awards – we feel that such great deeds of pioneer engineers, but it monographs) in a library at SAICE expenditure will be well spent. increased awareness and raised the profile House. Although the Panel has been pleasantly of the profession generally. Clearly H&H NNAssembling a database of historic surprised by the number of people who are was not merely an excuse for a trip into engineering works which are worthy actively involved in historical engineering nostalgia, but a vibrant tool for promoting of recognition and preservation, and research, we still need members who are SAICE and the civil engineer. recording their history. Eventually it is prepared to spend a little time in assisting Our major sister institutions have hoped that we can institute a system of with our efforts. We would like representa- already recognised the fact. The London National Landmark Awards, similar to tives in each of the major regions to keep ICE has a very active section known as the ASCE initiative, as well of course as the panel aware of opportunities and PHEW (Panel for Historic Engineering gaining further ASCE awards. initiatives in their area. Deadlines are fairly Works) which meets regularly at venues NNRecording biographies of prominent relaxed, so this is an ideal hobby for the around the United Kingdom, publishes engineers and their achievements. The busy and the not-so-busy! If you have car- its own newsletter, and in particular “Past Masters” series in the magazine is ried out any historical research, however promotes the identification, recogni- the start of this initiative, and has been informal, or know of somebody so oc- tion and preservation of worthy historic well received; we trust it will continue cupied, or would otherwise like to devote a engineering projects. At ASCE the H&H for an extended period. Panel members little time to this very rewarding pastime, group runs the ”Historic Engineering have also contributed to the recently contact the current chairman of the H&H Landmarks” awards – SAICE has for- published “ICE Biographical Dictionary Panel, Tony Murray (asmurray@iafrica. tunately become part of this initiative of Engineers who practised between com) or Marie Ashpole, the administrative by gaining such recognition for the 1820 and 1880” (and are looking for- officer at SAICE National Office Woodhead Dam (see main feature else- ward with some trepidation to partici- ([email protected]).

Civil Engineering | October 2008 73 Text Zina Girald [email protected]

Nail-biting FUN!

The BKS-SAICE International Bridge from Namibia and Zimbabwe, completed whose input this competition could never Building Competition 2008 started off their masterpieces by 15:30. They then left have taken place, the participating teams, with the ‘Amazing Mystery Ghost Bus their bridges to dry, and returned later SAICE branches and supporters, and to Tour’ after registration on the evening of that evening to test their work. all teachers and parents who share an in- 28 August. The learners were returned The atmosphere was exhilarating terest in the competition. We hope to see safely to the venue, St Alban’s College as bridge after bridge was loaded with you all again next year! in Pretoria, to prepare for the gruelling weights, and tested to destruction. Our Bridge Building the following day. heartiest congratulations go to St Johns For more information and downloads, On the morning of 29 August the College from Zimbabwe whose bridge visit our website: http://www.civils.org.za/ learners were given a motivational scored the highest for the second con- EventsAwards/BridgeBuildingCompetition/ briefing by Don Duffield, a teacher at St secutive year. (Please refer to score sheet tabid/122/Default.aspx Albans, and then set off to build their on next page for detailed results.) Or contact Zina Girald at SAICE National Office: bridges. The 18 teams, including a team Thank you to our sponsors, without +27 (0)11 805 5947 or [email protected]

Civil Engineering | October 2008 75 1

Nail-biting FUN!

1 Winner: St John’s College, Zimbabwe From left to right: Kabelo Serutle (BKS), Nick Salthouse, Joe Norton, Luke du Toit, Robin Powles (teacher) 2 First runner up: Bellville Technical High School From left to right: Christopher Pio, Marius Norman, Pierre Roux 3 Second runner up: Domino Servite High School From left to right: Kabelo Serutle (BKS), Gabriel Khwela, Mxolisi Mthembu, Cornelius Grobler

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(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) School Aesthetics Mass of bridge Load carried TOTAL (g) (kg) (2)+200 x ((4)/(3))

1 BELLVILLE TECHNICAL HIGH 21 125 40 85.00 1st runner up 2 HOËRSKOOL BRACKENFELL 19 130 20 49.77 3 HOËRSKOOL OVERKRUIN 15 115 10 32.39 4 HOËRSKOOL CENTURION 16 115 20 50.78 5 DAVID HELLEN PETA HIGH SCHOOL 18 145 25 27.48 6 HOËRSKOOL JIM FOUCHÉ 18 120 32.5 72.17 7 EMPANGENI HIGH SCHOOL 20 120 30 70.00 8 RANDPARK HIGH SCHOOL 19 135 32.5 67.15 9 STIRLING HIGH SCHOOL 13 135 5 20.41 10 HOËRSKOOL DUINEVELD 20 100 10 40.00 11 HARRISTON HIGH SCHOOL 19 110 20 55.36 12 BURNWOOD SECONDARY 22 125 10 38.00 13 DOMINO SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 20 125 40 84.00 2nd runner up 14 HOËR TEGNIESE SKOOL DANIEL PIENAAR 21 120 30 71.00 15 ST JOHNS COLLEGE 19 125 52.5 103.00 winner 16 ETOSHA SECONDARY SCHOOL 22 120 10 38.67 17 ST ALBANS COLLEGE 20 130 22.5 54.62

76 Civil Engineering | October 2008 Nail-biting FUN!

Civil Engineering | October 2008 77 Nail-biting FUN!

78 Civil Engineering | October 2008 SAICE 2008/9 essay topics for professional registration

The current process of regis- cycle, i.e. planning, design, con- experience where appropriate. tration with the Engineering Council struction and maintenance. 8. Describe how you have im- of South Africa (ECSA) was imple- 3. In projects for developing coun- plemented health and safety mented in January 1998. The ECSA tries emphasis is often placed legislation on the projects you “Discipline-Specific Guidelines for Civil on the need for transfer of tech- have worked on, and detail what Engineering” of February 2003, Clause nology. How can this best be opportunities you think there are 6.5, indicate that two essays will have to achieved in practice? for improving health and safety be written by candidates: 4. Discuss the importance of performance. NNThe first essay will be on one of two environmental regulations on 9. Discuss the principle of whole life technical subjects set by the reviewers the design, documentation and asset management with specific in the context of the training report construction of civil engineering respect to municipal infrastruc- and the interview. projects. Use your own experi- ture, using a single service to il- NNThe second essay will be on one of ences to illustrate your argument. lustrate your argument. two topics selected by the inter- 5. Although failures may be a 10. Risk is inherent in most civil en- viewers from a list published in ad- disaster for the individuals gineering work. Discuss the ways vance by SAICE. concerned, many have led to ad- in which such risks can affect Guidance notes for the assessment of vances in theory, design and con- the employer and the contractor, essays are set out in the Guidelines struction methods. Discuss how and how they can influence the for Professional Registration of Civil failures should be dealt with so as form of contract and the con- Engineers, available from SAICE: to ensure the maximum benefit tract price. [email protected]. to society and the engineering 11. “The estimation of costs of The topics for the second essay for community. schemes and their budgetary 2008/9 are listed below, and have been 6. Discuss the opportunities and control is one of the key func- approved by the ECSA Professional threats inherent in industrial and tions of the engineer.” Discuss Advisory Committee on Civil infrastructure projects which how engineers should be trained Engineering: impact on local communities to fulfil this function in design 1. Referring to your own experi- and the role civil engineers can and construction. ence, discuss the way in which play in delivering value to society 12. Identify the areas in which the resources required for either through their involvement in such disagreement between a a design project or a construction projects. Use your own experience Resident Engineer’s staff and the contract should be organized and where appropriate. Contractor’s staff may develop. managed in order to ensure that 7. Describe the planning necessary How can good relations be technical objectives are met and for and the difficulties inherent in achieved between these parties? that work is completed on time (and how they can be overcome) Illustrate where possible from and within budget. the construction of a major civil your own experience. 2. Discuss the most significant in- engineering works, with particular 13. Describe the authority of the fluences, attitudes and strategic reference to quality control and Engineer to delegate decisions issues relevant to the total project quality assurance. Use your own to the Engineer’s Representative

80 Civil Engineering | October 2008 under the General Conditions of Contract (GCC) 2004. In what circumstances could an Engineer vary the level of delegation during the construction period? 14. Discuss how the application of ethics in civil engineering projects or contracts should be regulated in order to ensure that the negative impact of corruption and similar practices are elimi- nated or at least minimised. 15. Discuss the role that the civil engi- Call for Reviewers neering profession has to play with respect to poverty alleviation. SAICE has been conducting therefore requests members who 16. Discuss the future of transport in South Africa in the context Professional Reviews on behalf are interested to contact Dawn of higher fuel prices, global of ECSA for a number of years. Hermanus for an application form. warming and environmental Recently a few of our reviewers Dawn’s contact details are as factors. Consider both rural and urban situations. retired, however, and SAICE follows: 17. Discuss the impact the now urgently needs to recruit E: [email protected] Environmental Conservation more reviewers to assist with the T: 011 805 5947/8 Act has on the planning, design reviewing process. The SAICE F: 011 805 5971 and construction of a civil engi- neering project. Education and Training Panel

Civil Engineering | October 2008 81 SAICE Training Calendar 2009 Contact SAICE on telephone 011 805–5947/8 TOPIC CPD No Days Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec PRESENTER CONTACT Business/General Business Finances for Built SAICEfin06/00004/08 2 17–18 GAU 14 –15 C T 11–12 NEL 30–31 BFN 10 –11 15–16 CT 17–18 GAU Wolf Weidemann Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Environment Professionals 28–29 PE DBN Handling Projects in a Consulting SAICEproj06/00003/08 2 10–11 GAU 11 –12 C T 8–9 NEL 27–28 BFN 7–8 12–13 CT 10–11 GAU Wolf Weidemann Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Engineer’s Practice 25–26 PE DBN The Application of the Finite Element SAICEstr06/00018/08 5 7–13 GAU 6–12 GAU 04–10 CT 15–21 DBN 07–13 GAU Roland Prukl Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Methods in Practice Technical Report Writing SAICEbus06/00014/08 2 3–4 CT 5–6 DBN 2–3 GAU 1–2 3–4 NEL Les Wiggill Sharon Mugeri [email protected] PLK Project Management SAICEbus07/00252/10 4 6–9 GAU 2–5 DBN 4–7 NEL 6–9 PLK 1–4 CT Tony Lydall Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Writing Winning Proposals 2 12–13 GAU 14–15 CT 7–8 DBN 10 –11 12–13 NEL Les Wiggell Dawn Hermanus [email protected] PE Tony Lydall Technical Reports with MS EXCEL & MS 2 15–16 GAU 11–12 CT 13–14 DBN 15–16 EL 10–11 PE Brad Kurth Sharon Mugeri [email protected] PROJECTS Project Management & MS Projects 2 17–18 CT 19–20 16–17 NEL 15–16 EL 17–18 PE Kurt Von Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Hybrid Course GAU Buddenbrook Tenders & Proposals 2 23–24 BFN 18–19 GAU 18–19 GEO 20–21 KBY Kurt Von Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Buddenbrook Les Wiggell Business Plans 2 26–27 NEL 25–26 21–22 PLK 22–23 23–24 DBN Kurt Von Dawn Hermanus [email protected] KBY GAU Buddenbrook Les Wiggell MS EXCEL & MS Projects in Project 2 29–30 GAU 25–26 CT 27–28 DBN 29–30 GAU Kurt Von Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Management Buddenbrook Taryn Schnugh Basic Construction Estimating & 2 30–31 GAU 30–31 CT 26–27 GAU Phil Watson Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Planning Project Management Division GCC 1 14 GEO, 1 CT Willie Claassen Sharon Mugeri [email protected] 18 BFN, 3 EL Dawn Hermanus [email protected] 19 KBY, 4 PE 21 PLK, 22 NEL, 25 GAU, 26 PMB, 27 DBN, 28 RCB Concrete Structural Structural Steel Design Code to SANS SAICEstr06/00009/08 1 20 GAU 19 CT 02 EL Greg Parrott Sharon Mugeri [email protected] 10162: 1–2005 23 PE Transportation Water Water Law of South Africa SAICEwat06/00073/09 1 3 BFN, 15 CT Hubert Sharon Mugeri [email protected] 4 KBY, 16 GEO Thompson Dawn Hermanus [email protected] 10 PE, 21 PLK 11 EL, 23 NEL 17 PMB, 18 DBN, 25 GAU WRSM2000 2 26–27 CT 14–15 DBN 25–26 PE 19–20 NEL 22–23 PLK 23–24 GAU DBN = Durban // GAU = Gauteng // WHK = Windhoek // EL = East London // CT = Cape Town // BFN = Bloemfontein // PMB = Pietermaritzburg // KBY = Kimberley // SCD = Secunda // RUS = Rustenburg // PLK = Polokwane // NEL = Nelspruit // GEO = George // RCB = Richards Bay PLEASE NOTE THAT COURSE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE Contact SAICE on telephone 011 805–5947/8 TOPIC CPD No Days Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec PRESENTER CONTACT Business/General Business Finances for Built SAICEfin06/00004/08 2 17–18 GAU 14 –15 C T 11–12 NEL 30–31 BFN 10 –11 15–16 CT 17–18 GAU Wolf Weidemann Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Environment Professionals 28–29 PE DBN Handling Projects in a Consulting SAICEproj06/00003/08 2 10–11 GAU 11 –12 C T 8–9 NEL 27–28 BFN 7–8 12–13 CT 10–11 GAU Wolf Weidemann Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Engineer’s Practice 25–26 PE DBN The Application of the Finite Element SAICEstr06/00018/08 5 7–13 GAU 6–12 GAU 04–10 CT 15–21 DBN 07–13 GAU Roland Prukl Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Methods in Practice Technical Report Writing SAICEbus06/00014/08 2 3–4 CT 5–6 DBN 2–3 GAU 1–2 3–4 NEL Les Wiggill Sharon Mugeri [email protected] PLK Project Management SAICEbus07/00252/10 4 6–9 GAU 2–5 DBN 4–7 NEL 6–9 PLK 1–4 CT Tony Lydall Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Writing Winning Proposals 2 12–13 GAU 14–15 CT 7–8 DBN 10 –11 12–13 NEL Les Wiggell Dawn Hermanus [email protected] PE Tony Lydall Technical Reports with MS EXCEL & MS 2 15–16 GAU 11–12 CT 13–14 DBN 15–16 EL 10–11 PE Brad Kurth Sharon Mugeri [email protected] PROJECTS Project Management & MS Projects 2 17–18 CT 19–20 16–17 NEL 15–16 EL 17–18 PE Kurt Von Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Hybrid Course GAU Buddenbrook Tenders & Proposals 2 23–24 BFN 18–19 GAU 18–19 GEO 20–21 KBY Kurt Von Dawn Hermanus [email protected] Buddenbrook Les Wiggell Business Plans 2 26–27 NEL 25–26 21–22 PLK 22–23 23–24 DBN Kurt Von Dawn Hermanus [email protected] KBY GAU Buddenbrook Les Wiggell MS EXCEL & MS Projects in Project 2 29–30 GAU 25–26 CT 27–28 DBN 29–30 GAU Kurt Von Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Management Buddenbrook Taryn Schnugh Basic Construction Estimating & 2 30–31 GAU 30–31 CT 26–27 GAU Phil Watson Sharon Mugeri [email protected] Planning Project Management Division GCC 1 14 GEO, 1 CT Willie Claassen Sharon Mugeri [email protected] 18 BFN, 3 EL Dawn Hermanus [email protected] 19 KBY, 4 PE 21 PLK, 22 NEL, 25 GAU, 26 PMB, 27 DBN, 28 RCB Concrete Structural Structural Steel Design Code to SANS SAICEstr06/00009/08 1 20 GAU 19 CT 02 EL Greg Parrott Sharon Mugeri [email protected] 10162: 1–2005 23 PE Transportation Water Water Law of South Africa SAICEwat06/00073/09 1 3 BFN, 15 CT Hubert Sharon Mugeri [email protected] 4 KBY, 16 GEO Thompson Dawn Hermanus [email protected] 10 PE, 21 PLK 11 EL, 23 NEL 17 PMB, 18 DBN, 25 GAU WRSM2000 2 26–27 CT 14–15 DBN 25–26 PE 19–20 NEL 22–23 PLK 23–24 GAU DBN = Durban // GAU = Gauteng // WHK = Windhoek // EL = East London // CT = Cape Town // BFN = Bloemfontein // PMB = Pietermaritzburg // KBY = Kimberley // SCD = Secunda // RUS = Rustenburg // PLK = Polokwane // NEL = Nelspruit // GEO = George // RCB = Richards Bay PLEASE NOTE THAT COURSE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE SAICE Student Chapter at Stellenbosch The University of Stellenbosch re- cently re-established its student chapter with the goal of getting students involved in SAICE activities. The committee is planning a minimum of two talks per term at the university. The first talk was held on 9 May when Tobie Louw from Africon ad- dressed the students on what the modern civil engineer should be like. It was also an opportunity for Africon to market their company under students and to recruit students for bursaries. Companies wishing to address civil engineering students at the University of Stellenbosch should contact the chairman of the student chapter, Pierre van der Spuy, at [email protected] or at 083 572 8393. Committee members of the SAICE Student Chapter at the University of Stellenbosch. From left to The student chapter hopes to per- right: Heindrich Albertyn: 4th year (communications), Chantel Rudman: post-grad (marketing), Wibke suade speakers who address members Dunaiski: post-grad (secretary), Du Toit Oosthuizen: 3rd year (communications), Danny Jordaan: 3rd year of the Western Cape Branch at meet- ( v i c e - c h a i r ) , P i e r r e v a n d e r S p u y : 4 t h y e a r ( c h a i r ) , I n s e t - F r a n c o i s G r o e n e w a l d : 4 t h y e a r ( s o c i a l s e r v i c e s ) ings in Cape Town to also present their The eight member of the committee is lecturer Eddie Delport (treasurer) talks in Stellenbosch. As this will be advertised in the SAICE newsletter, the attend Branch talks in Cape Town. during September at . committee hopes to attract working The committee has also arranged for Forthcoming attractions include talks members who reside in Stellenbosch, ten students from Stellenbosch and ten on women in engineering, civil engi- Paarl, , Strand and students from UCT to attend Fischer neering and the law, as well as a talk on Gordons Bay who have to travel far to Fixing Systems’ Engineer’s Seminar the Construction Charter.

84 Civil Engineering | October 2008