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Innovation News Faculty Highlights Issue 12 2017 Innovation news Ultra-high strength concrete revolutionises infrastructure development Developing autonomous vehicle control Converting solar energy into electricity Faculty highlights Exploiting cross-cutting research and innovation: EBIT research strategy Sustaining world-class teaching and learning outcomes Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology Fakulteit Ingenieurswese, Bou-omgewing en Inligtingtegnologie / Lefapha la Boetšenere, Tikologo ya Kago le Theknolotši ya Tshedimošo Content 7 9 11 Editorial 4 Message from the Dean 5 INNOVATION FOCUS Ultra-high strength concrete revolutionises infrastructure development 7 Developing autonomous vehicle control 9 Converting solar energy into electricity 11 EBIT inventions showcased at Innovation Bridge event 13 RESEARCH FOCUS Exploiting cross-cutting research and innovation 14 17 Research synergy: Big Data Science, ICT and Innovation Technology Management 17 Leveraging hidden knowledge through Big Data 18 State-of-the-art developments in Big Data and data science 21 Using Big Data Science to predict insurance claims fraud 22 A Big Data Science experiment: identity deception detection 25 MAD about UX at the Informatics Design Labs 27 Developing stochastic simulations with open-source software 29 Using Big Data to develop smart infrastructure 31 Instrumentation project receives Fulton Award 32 New business technology incubator accelerates innovation 33 Research synergy: Energy 35 Key research focuses on ensuring South Africa’s energy security 36 35 Integrating renewable energy into the national grid 37 Promoting wellbeing through clean energy research 39 Optimising wind farm layout for increased energy generation 43 Research synergy: Environmental Engineering (Water) 45 Optimising water resources through innovation and effective resource management 46 Hydropower research addresses community power needs 47 Research receives Community Engagement Award 51 Using bacteria to tackle lead pollution 53 Research synergy: Minerals and Materials Beneficiation 55 Beneficiating the minerals and materials industry 56 UP launches multidisciplinary Mining Resilience Research Centre 58 Research focuses on enabling mine modernisation 59 45 1 CONTENT . INNOVATE 12 2017 55 65 87 The need for innovation in mining 62 Collaborative research benefits the local heavy industry 64 Research synergy: Smart Cities and Transportation 65 Smart cities are connected cities 66 Collaborative research is the key to building smart, resilient, sustainable cities 70 New engineering facilities increase research capacity 73 Collaborating towards railway safety 77 Real-time monitoring of the extended road network by utilising telematics technology 79 The effects of road conditions and packaging types on transported 89 tomatoes 82 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS Sustaining world-class teaching and learning outcomes 85 Developing a hybrid learning model 87 Empowering the innovation generation 89 Preparing software engineering students for industry 91 Producing well-rounded graduates one project at a time 93 Instrumentation project receives Fulton Award 91 Honouring exceptional achievement 95 Lecturer recognised for excellence in teaching and learning 99 NEWS 103 Enhancing research excellence, innovation and resilience 101 Elevating research and innovation to a new level in the Faculty 102 Celebrating 10 years of information ethics in Africa 103 A new era for the Department of Architecture 105 105 Lecturer elected as SANIRE president 107 Two new textbooks from the pen of Prof Ramesh Bansal 108 Collaboration with the Clay Brick Association of South Africa 109 Brickmaking entrepreneur 109 Female students excel in science, engineering and technology 110 Built for speed 111 UP track champion graduates from Faculty 111 LAST WORD The roots of industrial engineering 112 2017 INNOVATE 12 . CONTENT 2 Issue 12 2017 Innovate 12: 2017 Editorial Advisory Committee: Prof Sunil Maharaj (Engineering, Built Environment and Innovate is an annual publication of Information Technology) the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Prof Tinus Pretorius (Graduate Engineering, Built Environment and School of Technology Management) Information Technology. Prof Josua Meyer (Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering) Editor: Prof MW Pretorius Prof Tinus Maritz (School for the [email protected] Built Environment) Prof Theo Bothma (School of Editorial team: Information Technology) Janine Smit Prof Anastassios Pouris (Institute for Renate Louw Technological Innovation) Helena Haupt Annalize de Klerk Disclaimer: The views expressed Gugulethu Mkhabela in articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Issue 12 2017 Administration: University of Pretoria. Although the Mariette Stirk and Estie Powell University makes every effort to [email protected] ensure the accuracy of the content of Innovate, no warranty is made as to Contributing photographers: such accuracy, and no responsibility Lourens and Mariki Uitenweerde will be borne by the University for the consequences of any actions Publisher: based on information so published. Graduate School of Technology Authors may have consulting Management (GSTM) or other business relationships University of Pretoria with the companies they discuss. Private Bag X20 Copyright of all material, including Hatfield that provided by freelance writers Pretoria and photographers, subsists in the 0028 University of Pretoria. Articles may South Africa not be used as a whole without permission of the University of On the cover: Layout and production: Pretoria. Articles may be freely Janine Smit Editorial Services quoted from in part as long as full The five synergistic research focus [email protected] attribution is given to Innovate, South areas of the Faculty of Engineering, Africa. Built Environment and Information Technology have the potential Innovate is a registered trademark of to drive research that can make the University of Pretoria. Products a very real difference in people’s and company names mentioned lives. Researchers in the Faculty in the magazine may be registered are encouraged to see this as an trademarks of their respective opportunity for collaborative work companies. that can have a positive impact. 3 EDITORIAL . INNOVATE 12 2017 EDITORIAL Technology and the future – not science fiction anymore! Since the existence of the first alter the way we live, work and relate to one another on a scale people on earth, technology unlike anything humankind has experienced before”. The term has had an impact on the way “Fourth Industrial Revolution” has become a reality of today and is we have lived. Over thousands certainly not seen as science fiction of the far future anymore! of years, the first primitive tool Policy makers, business leaders technologies used during the and academics all over the globe have taken serious notice of the Stone Age have developed to enormous technological changes the level of the very complex on our doorsteps. Researchers and practitioners have created new and sophisticated technology concepts, such as Industry 4.0 (smart industries), Operations 4.0 management, energy, environmental systems we use today. The (smart factories), Cities 4.0 (smart engineering (water), minerals and cities) and many more. Emerging materials beneficiation, and smart original development and technologies such as autonomous cities and transportation. These robots, autonomous vehicles, areas are all high-priority areas for adoption of technologies 3D manufacturing, Big Data South Africa and our neighbouring analytics, artificial intelligence countries. Our researchers have were slow, but today every and many others are integrated a huge responsibility on their into complex technology systems shoulders to make sure that the generation experiences waves for application in factories, right and most appropriate new mines, process plants, hospitals, technologies are available in of new technologies that not telecommunications and many the future for the benefit of our others. Business leaders are industries and social environments. only impact on our lives as excited about new markets, individuals, but also on our higher productivity and larger In this edition of Innovate, you will profits, but policy makers are read about the excellent work our businesses, governments and extremely concerned about future researchers are doing in this regard. employment, job losses and a There are also interesting articles on nations as a whole. shortage of skilled workers. the education and learning initiatives and strategies in the Faculty, as well Half a century ago, new technologies If ever there was an opportunity as how the research and educational were often linked to science fiction for researchers to delve into the activities are aligned to ensure the adventures. Today we experience development and impact of the new maximum benefit of the society we real disruption and transformation wave of emerging technologies, it serve. on a scale that has even attracted is now! The Faculty of Engineering, the attention of the World Economic Built Environment and Information I trust you will enjoy this issue of Forum in the words of its Executive Technology at the University of Innovate! Chairman, Klaus Schwab: “We stand Pretoria focuses its research in five on the brink of a technological prominent areas: Big Data Science, Editor revolution that will fundamentally ICT and technology innovation Tinus Pretorius 2017 INNOVATE 12 . EDITORIAL 4 Message from the Dean Prof Sunil Maharaj
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