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

The Faculty of Engineering,

Built Environment and

Information Technology is a

leading presenter of locally

relevant and internationally

competitive programmes

in engineering, the built

environment, information

technology, and engineering

and technology management

at undergraduate and post-

graduate level.

 Prof Sunil Maharaj, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology.

It attracts high-quality students According to the Thomson Reuters and staff, and offers extended Essential Science Indicators for programmes to facilitate citations, it was ranked in the top inclusiveness. Through stakeholder 0.5% of engineering schools in the involvement, the Faculty is well world in 2016. equipped in terms of research and teaching activities, and houses several In 2017, it appeared in five research centres and institutes. QS rankings for architecture and the built environment, computer science The close links maintained with and information systems, chemical industry support both the teaching engineering, electrical, electronic and research programmes, and the and computer engineering, and Faculty’s multidisciplinary nature mechanical engineering. facilitates interaction across disciplines in its teaching as well as its research activities. Through this unique According to the Department of approach, there is a high demand for Higher Education and Training, the Faculty’s graduates. almost 27.8% of all professional engineering graduates at South Extensive and cutting-edge teaching, African universities graduate from learning and laboratory facilities are the University of Pretoria. It is also integrated into the excellent campus- proud to be the only university in wide suite of facilities and services Africa to have the USA-based Global offered by the University. Access to Accreditation Centre for Project programmes is expanded through Management Education Programmes extended programmes. To shape its accredit its Master of Engineering students as future leaders, the Faculty (Project Management) and expects total commitment with regard MSc (Project Management) for to individual and group work. seven years.

5 MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN . INNOVATE 12 2017 In 2016, the Faculty celebrated a legacy based and computer-aided design of 60 years in engineering education. education in the architectural degree It takes pride in the thousands of programmes, and close ties and alumni who have ensured this legacy alignment with the construction and have laid a firm foundation on industry. which we can continue building. We believe that innovation brings about The uniqueness of the School of a positive change and change ignites Information Technology makes it hope within us – and hope is what our a leader in the field in South Africa legacy is built on. and its programmes and modern computer science, informatics and In 2016, the School The Faculty is organised into four information science and collaborative schools: the School of Engineering, the laboratories offer students the of Engineering was School for the Built Environment, the advantage of an integrated approach School of Information Technology and to information technology. ranked in the top the Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM). Through various advisory boards, 0.5% of engineering the Faculty has established a strong Its School of Engineering is the largest partnership with the industries it schools in the school of its kind in South Africa in supports. This enables the University terms of student numbers, graduates of Pretoria to be internationally world. and research contributions. competitive, while remaining locally relevant. Where applicable, The School for the Built Environment its programmes are accredited by also offers the entire spectrum of statutory and professional bodies at related programmes, with studio- the national and international levels.

 The Engineering III Building, which houses the University’s School of Engineering.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN 6 INNOVATION FOCUS

Ultra-high strength concrete revolutionises infrastructure development

The development of an ultra- Over the years, successive groups of postgraduate students have worked high strength concrete mixture on enhancing the properties of concrete mixtures by experimenting has been a research focus of on which additives result in the strongest concrete mixture for the University’s Department use in construction, as well as for of Civil Engineering for a strengthened road pavements, trench covers, stormwater kerb number of years, and forms inlets and similar structures.

an important part of the Prof Elsabé Kearsley is supervising this research, and registered a emphasis of the Faculty of patent related to the invention of an ultra-high strength cementitious Engineering, Built Environment material in 2009. According to Prof Kearsley, this invention is and Information Technology on the outcome of about 20 years smart, sustainable cities and of postgraduate research in the  Prof Kearsley and a student Department. “What is significant in the Concrete Laboratory. transportation. about this ongoing research is that we are focused on finding an application in industry for our students’ research to ensure that it is more than just an academic exercise, but impacts on the lives of individuals.”

The specialised materials testing that forms part of this research takes place in the Department’s Concrete Laboratory, which is equipped to conduct both applied and basic materials research. One of the outputs of this research has been the use of high-strength steel fibres to reduce the required thickness of concrete pavements and the manufacture of ultra-thin reinforced  Steel fibres are used to concrete panels. As the resulting reinforce the concrete. product is stronger than traditional

7 INNOVATION FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 The ultimate aim of the research is to transfer this state-of-the-art technology to local communities.

 Civil Engineering students conduct research on the ultra-high strength concrete.

concrete, it has less bulk, which A problem that was identified and prototypes are currently being has cost-saving implications for the with the use of steel grid inlets for manufactured. Their first use will be client. stormwater drainage was that they as cladding for buildings. were often stolen, vandalised or The research team is busy with two damaged by heavy vehicles driving According to Prof Kearsley, these applications of this innovative high- over them. The research team inventions, which emanated from strength cementitious material. therefore investigated the possibility very high-quality experimental The first is the development of of using its steel-reinforced concrete research, represent the concrete grid inlets to replace mixture to construct grid inlets that development of state-of-the-art traditional steel inlets. The second had little second-hand value, and technology that can be transferred is the manufacture of very thin would not be damaged as easily as to local communities. The ultimate concrete panels that can be used the steel structures. These concrete intention of the researchers is for for the cladding of buildings or grid inlets have now been perfected, these products to be manufactured the construction of prefabricated and are ready for commercialisation, locally using materials that are structures to replace the asbestos once a suitable licensee has been inexpensive and readily available panels that were used in the past. identified. to generate an income for the The criteria for these products were communities themselves. Another that the concrete grid inlets should The second application was example of an application for the have the characteristics of steel, initiated to provide a product for concrete panels is to use them in while the concrete panels should use in prefabricated buildings that the superstructures of ventilated contain all the qualities (in terms would not break easily, and did improved pit (VIP) latrines. In the of strength) of asbestos in order not have the health hazards that process, the University will have to make them comparable to this characterised the asbestos panels succeeded in its objective of being material in their use, and therefore that were used in earlier years. locally relevant and making an competitive in the market as a The production of these panels is impact on the country’s economic replacement product. now past the experimental phase, development.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . INNOVATION FOCUS 8 Developing autonomous vehicle control Theunis Botha

Most vehicle manufacturers are The Vehicle Dynamics Group (VDG) However, as the vehicle speed in the University’s Department and lateral acceleration increase, investing in the development of Mechanical and Aeronautical the vehicle control becomes more Engineering has been conducting complex due to the tyre reaching its of autonomous vehicles in research into the control of traction limit. Research done by the autonomous vehicles over the past VDG has shown that, by modelling order to improve the safety few years. The focus of the research the vehicle dynamics more and efficiency of road-based has been the autonomous steering accurately to account for the change of off-road vehicles at the limit of in vehicle dynamics, the vehicle can transport. These developments their capabilities. The steering of be successfully controlled during off-road vehicles is a particular a rigorous accident-avoidance currently only manifest challenge due to the soft suspension manoeuvre. However, this method and high centre of gravity of these requires many vehicle parameters themselves as vehicle safety vehicles. This results in a vehicle to be known beforehand. This is that is more difficult to control than not always possible, as the vehicle systems, such as lane-following a typical passenger vehicle. The parameters may change as the autonomous control of the vehicle road condition changes or as the systems, parking assist and steering at a low speed or during vehicle load changes. Additional adaptive cruise control. low lateral acceleration can be development led to an adaptive easily achieved with simple control controller that adjusts to the However, the ultimate goal is strategies. vehicle’s handling.

to develop fully autonomous

vehicles that do not only

perform the simple repetitive The future is now.

tasks of driving, but also

improve vehicle safety in the

event of an imminent collision.

9 INNOVATION FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  Testing the autonomous steering of off-road vehicles at the limit of their capabilities.

The controller continuously avoidance manoeuvres using a global records the vehicle steering input positioning system (GPS) to provide and vehicle handling. It uses the position feedback of the vehicle. The recorded steering input to model controller successfully allowed the the measured vehicle handling. The vehicle to perform the manoeuvre up controller, therefore, adapts to the to speeds where the vehicle was at changes in the vehicle handling for 90% of its limit and performed better the provided steering input. This than the average driver on both on- creates a robust control strategy and off-road conditions. that does not require any prior vehicle information. It can handle The controller forms part of the changing road conditions without The goal is to requirements for autonomous any external adaptation of the vehicles to operate in emergencies. controller. develop autonomous The controller is not only a vehicles that will requirement for a fully autonomous The controller was successfully vehicle, but can also be used in validated on an actual off-road also improve vehicle driver-assist systems to take control vehicle at a testing facility. The of the vehicle to prevent an vehicle performed rigorous accident- safety. accident.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . INNOVATION FOCUS 10 Converting solar energy into electricity

Developing renewable energy This invention is the brainchild of The concept of getting free energy Dr Willem le Roux, who designed, from the sun fascinated him, and he solutions is an important constructed and tested the initial decided to focus on the idea of using version of the device as part of his air as a working fluid to generate research focus area in the PhD study in 2014. The idea was for heat rather than water. This was it to power homes in off-the-grid and the inspiration for his PhD research, Department of Mechanical and water-scarce areas in South Africa, which aimed to convert solar energy Aeronautical Engineering. An but he now believes that it may into electricity through a micro- even be able to be used in industrial turbine. Most of his work involved invention that will be able to applications. building and testing a solar collector dish with a diameter of 5 m and a harness energy from the sun has The device makes use of a sun- solar cavity receiver. tracking dish reflector, solar receiver, attracted the attention of the recuperator and micro-turbine to Dr Le Roux describes its functioning generate power in the range of by comparing it to someone taking a Technology Innovation Agency 1–20 kW. The parabolic dish reflects lens and focusing the sun’s rays onto and concentrates the sun’s rays a small leaf. “Instead of a leaf,” he (TIA), which provided funding for onto the receiver aperture so that explains, “the energy is focused onto the development of a prototype the solar heat can be absorbed by a solar cavity receiver that heats air”. the inner walls of the receiver. The The heated air can power what is small-scale dish-mounted solar heat is transferred to air as the technically known as a recuperative working fluid, which makes this solar thermal Brayton cycle, which is thermal Brayton cycle. cycle particularly attractive in arid essentially a micro-turbine that can countries such as South Africa. In produce up to 5 kW of power. the recuperator, hot turbine exhaust air is used to preheat compressed He says that this system provides air before it enters the receiver. several advantages over The compressed and heated air photovoltaic (PV) systems (solar then expands in the turbine, which panels) and other CSP plants, such produces rotational shaft power as the heliostat field being built in for the compressor and the electric the Northern Cape. Although the load. The compressor, turbine and system is more expensive than solar generator are mounted on a single panels, it offers much greater solar- shaft, and all spin at the same rate. to-electrical efficiency, as it boasts It is simple, robust and easy to a conversion rate of around 30%, maintain. compared to 10% to 15% for solar panels. The prototype is currently being constructed on the roof of the Compared to conventional CSP University’s Engineering II Building, plants, advantages are found in and Dr le Roux, who has since the way this system converts solar joined the University as a lecturer, energy to power. Whereas most is supervising ongoing research CSP plants use the sun’s energy to related to the device, such as heat either water or salts, the use of upgrading the dish and tracking heated air means that this system system, which will contribute to its can be used in regions where water further development and eventual scarcity is a problem. Ultimately, it commercialisation. will be able to function as a small- scale hybrid system that can heat According to Dr le Roux, he water with the heated air in addition developed an interest in energy to generating electricity. The system and concentrated solar power (CSP) will also be able to function around during his undergraduate studies at the clock as gas can be used to the University of Pretoria. power the turbine.

11 INNOVATION FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Ongoing work related to the correctly. He plans to enrol for a development of the device and master’s degree under Dr Le Roux developing components to optimise in 2018. His research will focus on its functioning may deliver new improving the efficiency of the solar inventions that could evolve into dish recuperator and turbine. potential patents. Master’s student Dr Le Roux hopes that more Tamryn Wolff is currently working postgraduate students will join this with Dr Le Roux. Her research research endeavour, which has focuses specifically on the coil the potential to generate not just receiver that makes the Brayton electricity, but can also supply hot cycle possible. Kyle Dellar, a research water. It can provide electricity for assistant in the Department is 24 hours due to the fact that the also involved in the project, and is turbine can also be powered by assisting with the construction of gas, which makes it ideal for use in the prototype. He also manages its isolated rural communities that do day-to-day operation and ensures not have easy access to the national that all the components function grid.

 Tamryn Wolff, Kyle Deller and Dr Willem le Roux standing in front of the prototype.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . INNOVATION FOCUS 12 EBIT inventions showcased at Innovation Bridge event

The University of Pretoria’s One of the avenues it uses to Technology to showcase. These were expose the University’s IP to the following: Technology Transfer Office (TTO) potential investors is the Innovation Bridge Technology Showcase and Controlled release repellent in the Department of Research Matchmaking event, which was held formulations for malaria control at Gallagher Estate, Johannesburg Polyolefin biocomponent and Innovation identifies, on 15 September 2017. This event filaments for malaria control as protects and commercialises is held biennially and is attended slow release devices for liquid by academics, innovators and actives intellectual property (IP) that government agencies. It provides Improved alkaline-activated slag a valuable opportunity for national composition (the development of emanates from research and international technology-based ready-to use alkali slag cement) companies, entrepreneurs, investors Innovation in 5G technology (the and innovation developed at and other commercialisation partners development of novel on-chip to access the latest technology bandpass filters and digital signal the University of Pretoria. It offerings from South Africa’s processing blocks, as necessitated universities and science councils. by future 5G technologies) maximises the advantages

created by the University’s At this year’s event, the TTO selected These inventions generated much four inventions emanating from interest from the public and research output, exploits the the Faculty of Engineering, Built potential investors, and enhanced Environment and Information the University’s research profile. IP of the University’s scientists

and postgraduate students, and In terms of the University’s Strategic Plan, it is committed to provides support in bringing maximising the advantages created by its research outputs, thereby supporting economic development and competitiveness, these to commercial fruition. and exploiting its IP by bringing its research outputs to commercial fruition.

13 INNOVATION FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 RESEARCH FOCUS

Exploiting cross-cutting research and innovation

With the appointment of This research strategy encourages areas, were identified, which would research and innovation that is contribute to addressing local, Prof Jan Eloff as Deputy Dean: not restricted to finding solutions regional and global challenges. to challenges within particular Research and Postgraduate disciplines only, but rather to Studies in August 2016, the developing initiatives that will have an impact locally, regionally and Faculty of Engineering, Built across the globe. In order to achieve its primary goal of strengthening Environment and Information the University’s research and international profile, the Faculty Technology initiated a process identified five cross-cutting focus areas across its various academic of crafting a progressive departments and schools with the potential for wider research research strategy to position collaboration. The Faculty’s itself to exploit the research The deployment of several highly research focus areas of world-class experts who visible research and innovation were determined by projects within these focus engage in multidisciplinary areas forms the essence of the identifying existing Faculty’s research strategy. These research and innovation over research areas were determined pockets of research by identifying existing pockets of multiple academic departments, research excellence that could be excellence that leveraged, and were defined as schools and faculties within the follows: could be leveraged. University of Pretoria. Big Data Science, ICT and Technology Innovation Management Big Data Science, ICT and Technology Energy Innovation Management Environmental Engineering (Water) Within this focus area, the key Minerals and Materials priority area is the development of Beneficiation a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary Smart Cities and Transportation and transdisciplinary research institute for Big Data and Data Promoting research excellence Science at UP. The main goal is to establish the University as the Within each of the research focus leading authority in Big Data and areas, a number of catalysts and Data Science in South Africa and on projects, as well as key priority the African continent.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 14 The five research focus areas:

• Big Data Science, ICT and Technology Innovation Management • Energy • Environmental Engineering (Water) • Minerals and Materials Beneficiation • Smart Cities and Transportation

Cross-cutting research in this Medicine, Radiology, and Exercise science and medicine, computational focus area is mainly being and Sport Medicine in the Faculty finance and economics, intelligent conducted in the departments of Health Sciences, and the approaches to road-infrastructure of Electrical, Electronic and departments of Physics, Statistics, maintenance, radio-astronomy Computer Engineering, Informatics, and Mathematics and Actuarial (the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)), Information Science, Industrial Sciences in the Faculty of Natural digital forensics, cyber-security and and Systems Engineering, Civil and Agricultural Sciences. e-governance. Engineering and Computer Science. The potential for collaboration with Potential applications of this Energy departments in other faculties at the research to make a difference University includes the departments locally and globally include articial The key priority areas in this of Computational Biology, Family intelligence, transportation, sport focus area are energy efficiency

15 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 and demand-side management, The goal is to upscale South the short term to transform the advanced materials for energy Africa’s mining industry by focusing Faculty’s research approach into systems, clean and renewable research efforts on mechanisation one that is globally visible. These energy, nuclear and energy and automation, rock-breaking and include, among others, determining modelling. explosive engineering, management the extent of the publication of the and leadership, safety and health, Faculty’s research in high-impact Research in this focus area is of a risk management, mine ventilation journals in order to set achievable multidisciplinary nature and is being engineering and rock engineering. targets for the next five years, and conducted in the departments of Research on minerals and materials developing research indicators to Electrical, Electronic and Computer beneficiation is being conducted improve research outcomes and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, in the departments of Chemical global rankings. Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, as well as the Graduate and Metallurgical Engineering, and Emphasis is also placed on the School of Technology Management. Mining Engineering. The Department development of a research profile There is potential for collaboration of Geoinformatics and Geosciences for all academic staff of the Faculty. with the Department of Physics in the Faculty of Natural and These research profiles will focus in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences also offers on the productivity and quality of Agricultural Sciences. potential for collaboration. This all researchers in the Faculty of research can be applied in the fields Engineering, Built Environment and Environmental Engineering (Water) of industrialisation, diversification Information Technology. and mining resilience. Water resource engineering and Through TuksNovation, the management, water utilisation Smart Cities and Transportation Faculty’s new business technology and environmental engineering incubator (see article on p 33), the are among the key priority areas The first priority in this research idea is to start nurturing a culture within this focus area. Goals in focus area is to establish a Building of innovation, and specifically this regard include developing Sciences Living Laboratory. The to bridge the chasm between the utilisation of hydropower as second priority is to develop research and innovation. In this a viable renewable energy source the facilities on the University’s regard, an incentive scheme will be in South Africa for the benefit of civil engineering, materials developed for the participation and industries and communities, and testing and research facilities on contribution of academics without understanding and improving the the Experimental Farm. These necessarily compromising research security, efficiency, reliability and facilities will form part of a future outputs. sustainability of South Africa’s water transportation activity for rail, road resources. and autonomous vehicles. The According to Prof Eloff, the plan is partnerships with Transnet, the to develop and implement a Faculty Cross-cutting research in this focus Railway Safety Regulator and the research agenda within the next area includes that being conducted South African National Roads Agency two years that clearly reflects the in the departments of Chemical SOC Limited (SANRAL) are key identified research focus areas, and Engineering, Civil Engineering, drivers of this agenda. how they relate to high-visibility and Mechanical and Aeronautical projects. Stakeholder alignment Engineering, while the UP Water Cross-cutting research in this focus will be sought for the University’s Institute in the Faculty of Natural area is being conducted in the research agenda, while launching and Agricultural Sciences also offers departments of Civil Engineering, activities within the Faculty that potential for collaboration. This Electrical, Electronic and Computer will ensure growth and investment research can be applied in the fields Engineering, Mechanical and opportunities for partners in of hydropower and sustainable Aeronautical Engineering, industry. water resources, biomass resources Architecture, and Town and Regional and support infrastructure. Planning. Potential applications By 2020, the Faculty hopes to of this research include energy formalise both a Faculty Stakeholder Minerals and Materials Beneficiation efficiency, smart building, smart grids, Model and a Faculty Collaboration green retrofitting, social learning Model that will focus on global In this focus area, the priorities are spaces and occupant behaviour so collaboration. This will contribute to twofold: to enhance the activities of as to model future sustainable and achieving the University’s mission the University’s Mining Resilience smart cities, especially related to the to be a leading research-intensive Research Centre (MRRC) and – African continent. university in Africa, recognised through the research strengths internationally for its quality, in chemical and metallurgical Research strategy relevance and impact, and also engineering – to work towards the for developing people, creating establishment of a Future Cluster on Several initiatives have already been knowledge and making a difference Minerals and Materials Beneficiation. identified that will be launched over locally and globally.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 16 Research synergy: Big Data Science, ICT and Innovation Technology Management

Establishing UP as the leading authority in Big Data Science, ICT and technology innovation management

Big Data Science, ICT and technology innovation management are considered strategic research focus areas in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology. Research in this focus area includes Big Data, data management, machine learning, statistical learning, the Internet of Things, data fusion, digital forensics, cyber-security and visualisation, among others.

In support of this focus area, the Faculty has launched a Master’s in Information Technology (Big Data Science) degree with participation from multiple academic departments across different faculties. It is envisaged that this degree will contribute to increasing the number of PhDs in the Faculty with 20% by 2020. Funded research programmes that will provide scholarships will be developed to grow the next generation of researchers, as well as the number of postgraduate students in the Faculty.

It has also developed an interdisciplinary Data Science Institute, which will contribute to establishing UP as the leading authority in Big Data Science in Africa. The international visibility of the institute will be leveraged by the University’s highly recognised research profile, notably through its A-rated scientists in artificial intelligence and, in particular, machine learning.

Several existing initiatives related to Big Data Science, ICT and technology innovation management are also contributing to strengthening the Faculty’s research profile. These include the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Advanced Sensor Networks, the Sentech Chair in Broadband Wireless Multimedia Communications, the Carl and Emily Fuchs Institute for Micro-electronics (CEFIM) with its leading mm-wave laboratory (the only one in Africa), as well as ongoing research in human-computer interaction and applied data science.

The current alignment of research in cognitive radio networks, advanced sensor networks and cyber-security will strengthen the opportunity to exploit forthcoming bilateral agreements between the National Research Foundation of South Africa and the National Science Foundation of the USA.

Further endeavours to enhance the Faculty’s research profile include the potential for establishing new research chairs in Data Science, Digital Forensics, Machine Learning, Cyber-security and Statistical Learning. A research collaboration model will be developed with well- ranked international universities, such as Rutgers University in the USA. Postdoctoral fellows will also be recruited and appointed, which will attract a strong postgraduate fraternity in Big Data Science.

17 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Leveraging hidden knowledge through Big Data

Today, just about every sector In the Faculty of Engineering, Built challenges include data capture, Environment and Information data curation, efficient search or of the economy has access to Technology, Big Data Science, querying, data sharing, storage, information and communication transfer and privacy issues. huge amounts of data, in a technology (ICT) and technology innovation management are Data analytics is not a new concept. number of different formats, considered to be strategic focus Tools to store, retrieve, manipulate areas that are exposed through and analyse data have been and accumulates more data teaching and research in the fields developed and used since the at a rate that by far exceeds of Big Data, data management, early 1960s. Machine learning and machine learning, statistical learning, statistical learning technologies are capacity. Many industries do not the Internet of Things, data fusion, in abundance, and have been very digital forensics, cyber-security, successfully applied to identify and yet extract any value from their e-governance and visualisation, better understand hidden trends in among others. data, extract knowledge from data data archives and warehouses. and mine data. However, these early What is Big Data? tools mostly considered structured It becomes more and more the data and data of a modest size. Although the term Big Data was first case that data is simply captured coined in the 1990s, academically, it Data analysis and understanding and stored, and nothing is done first made its appearance in 1998 to have become a more complex describe working with large volumes problem with the increase in the to leverage hidden knowledge of data. Big Data is the term used for amounts of data to be analysed, as a collection of data sets so large and well as the requirement to analyse embedded in such data. This complex that they become difficult data of different formats to include to process using on-hand database text, images, audio and video. Even is mainly due to a dearth in management tools or traditional considering these complexities, data-processing applications. efficient tools have been developed Big Data and data science to provide insights into hidden Gartner (2014) describes Big trends. Solutions have also been expertise, both nationally and Data according to its underlying developed for applications that internationally. characteristics. It mentions that require multiple data sources to be Big Data is a collection of high- integrated. volume, high-velocity, high-variety information assets that demand The main challenge in data analytics cost-effective, innovative forms came with the tremendous increase of information processing for in the amount of data generated, to enhanced insight and decision be stored, analysed and archived. making. The fact that we have too We are no longer faced with data much data to consume is not new. sets of megabytes or gigabytes, but The term “information overload” was data sets are reaching terabytes popularised by Alvin Toffler in 1970 in and even petabytes. This increase his book Future shock (Toffler, 1970). in data, as well as the demand This term has evolved into what is for new efficient data analysis known as Big Data. techniques, has spawned the Big Data revolution. Data science refers to the scientific investigation that employs innovative In addition to the increase in data, approaches and algorithms for the complexity of data analytics is managing, processing and analysing further increased due to the fact data. With reference to Big Data, that data becomes incrementally

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 18 available (it is continuously of stronger structures. Under the streamed). This not only requires auspices of the multidisciplinary new scalable data analytics tools, Centre for Transport Develop- but also requires tools that can ment, vast amounts of data detect change in underlying data about traffic patterns are being distributions, requiring one to generated and analysed in the continuously adapt the data model. Department of Industrial and Big Data requires the capability Systems Engineering and the to manage such huge amounts of Department of Civil Engineering. structured and unstructured data, at acceptable speeds and within Big Data Science The application of Big Data for time frames that allow for timeous research even extends beyond insights into hidden trends. Typically, is traditionally the Faculty of Engineering, Built Big Data consists of data from a Environment and Information, number of related and unrelated the domain Technology. In the Centre for sources of different types, and may Geoinformation Science in the consist of static data sources or of Computer Department of Geography, dynamic data streams. Geoinformatics and Meteorology, Science. research is being conducted on The complexities inherent spatial data. In the Department in Big Data and Big Data of Mathematics and Applied analytics demand sophisticated Computer Science, it is not the only Mathematics, research is being infrastructure, including physical department to conduct research conducted in data-driven computing resources, security and in this field. The Department modelling, bio-mathematics authentication, and analytical tools, of Informatics also has focused and financial engineering. In the thereby opening up new research research activities in data-driven Department of Actuarial Sciences, opportunities in the entire life cycle technologies, data warehousing, research is being conducted in of a Big Data Science project. and explorative data analysis and risk management and financial data mining. In the Department of modelling. Big Data Science and ICT Information Science, information research at UP ethics, research data management, Other departments and entities multimedia for Big Data within the University’s various The significance of Big Data for visualisation, and virtual reality are faculties are also producing teaching and research lies in the key research areas. vast amounts of data, which can fact that it has grown from being benefit from the insights to be a concept into something tangible Beyond the School for Information gained through data analysis. with measurable characteristics. Technology, the Intelligent Systems These include the Department Within the Department of Computer Group in the Department of of Family Medicine, the Institute Science, the Computational Electrical, Electronic and Computer for Sport, Exercise Medicine and Intelligence Research Group (CIRG) Engineering is also very active Lifestyle Research, the Genomics is very active in research related in research related to artificial Research Institute, the Centre for to artificial intelligence, machine intelligence, and machine and Bioinformatics and Computational learning, and data analytics and statistical learning, as well as Biology and the Institute for data mining research. Furthermore, Big Data-enabling platforms and Cellular and Molecular Medicine. the Cyber-security Research Group technology, data fusion and data is focusing on the intelligent analytics, image processing and The application of Big Data detection of fake identities on Big computer vision. In the Department Science, ICT and technology Data platforms such as social media of Chemical Engineering, innovation management at (particularly Twitter). The newly researchers have developed a the University of Pretoria has established Data Science Institute software package that is being unlimited potential and impacts is also poised to strengthen the used in the development and on every aspect of people’s lives. University’s research profile with simulation of stochastic models for regard to Big Data and data science value chains. In the Department research. of Civil Engineering, data analysis References systems are being used to measure Gartner 2014. Gartner Research. [Online] However, despite Big Data Science the behaviour of strain-bearing Available from: http://www.gartner.com/ and ICT traditionally being the structures such as integral bridges, technology/topics/big-data.jsp?fnl=search. domain of the Department of which will assist in the development Toffler, A. 1970. Future shock. Random House.

19 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Big Data is the term used for a collection of data sets so large and complex that they become difficult to process using on-hand database management tools or traditional data-processing applications.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 20 State-of-the-art developments in Big Data and data science

In recognition of the potential Due to its existing world-class ones, which could include the expertise in multiple disciplines following: of a research institute for Big related to Data Science, the University is well positioned to Big Data Science for e-Government Data Science, the University host such a research institute. This Big Data Analytics expertise includes Prof Andries Artificial Intelligence of Pretoria established a Data Engelbrecht, an A-rated scientist (Machine Learning) Science Institute, within the who is a leader in computational Optimisation intelligence on a global level, and Cyber-security Faculty of Engineering, Built Prof Jan Eloff, a B-rated scientist who Digital Forensics specialises in cyber-security. Applied Data Science Environment and Information Information Ethics The vision of the Data Science Information Fusion Technology, to enhance Institute is to become a recognised, world-class facility for research In the short to medium term, the its international profile in Big Data Science, as well as research activities of the Data in technologies, human capital Science Institute will focus on and visibility, increase its development and the delivery of or support the development of impact through high-quality innovative solutions. innovative solutions in a number of applications, including image multidisciplinary research and This vision will be implemented by analysis, cyber-security, digital means of the following: forensics, financial services, publications, and produce high- biodiversity, computational biology Developing a co-stakeholder and information fusion. quality postgraduate students model, which includes industry, academic and public sector Key education initiatives in the to fill the gap in the availability partners. Department of Computer Science Building a multidisciplinary and that are closely related to the Data of Big Data and data science interdisciplinary Big Data Science Science Institute include the master’s experts. It will contribute to group within UP across various degree in Information Technology academic faculties, departments (Big Data Science), as well as short establishing UP as the leading and institutes. courses to industry that can be used Delivering world-class research for professional career development authority in Big Data and data outputs that contribute to the and the reskilling of existing staff. advancement of Big Data and These courses include Introduction science in South Africa, as well Data Science in general. to Big Data Science, Introduction to Implementing advanced Machine Learning and Introduction as the leader on the African human capacity building and to Big Data Platforms, which are the provisioning of relevant presented through Enterprises UP. continent. educational Big Data Science programmes for industry at The software infrastructure undergraduate and postgraduate comprises an open-source levels. component and a propriety Focusing on the delivery of component. Funding for the innovative data science solutions commercial software will be sought for real-world problems, which from major industry stakeholders, are of value to South Africa and such as IBM, while funding for the the developing world. start-up hardware has been obtained with the assistance of a grant of The plan is to leverage existing R2.3 million from the Department of research chairs or establish new Science and Technology (DST).

21 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Using Big Data Science to predict insurance claims fraud David Kenyon and Prof Jan Eloff

The cost of insurance in South To reduce this cost, researchers in is no longer valuable to an external the Department of Computer Science attacker, then the cyber-security risk Africa has increased due to investigated the development of a can be seen to be partially mitigated. secure framework using Big Data new legislation. If this cost is Science to predict whether an Research framework insurance claim is fraudulent. This not offset by reducing other was done within the bounds of the The Big Data Science process can costs, insurance in South Africa fact that alternate new legislation, be split into four phases: data such as the Protection of Personal preparation, machine learning, could become increasingly Information (POPI) Act, limits how knowledge application and model data about a person can be stored maintenance. expensive. This is further and what it can be used for. The data preparation phase compounded by an increase Insurance fraud can be defined as comprises data pre-processing the wrongful or criminal deception (removing outliers, fixing or in fraud that is plaguing the of an insurance company for the removing missing values and purpose of wrongfully receiving repairing discrepancies in fields insurance industry. Fraud costs compensation or benefits. Insurance such as names), data masking, the insurance industry of South fraud can further be split into hard data extraction, data cleaning, data and soft fraud or planned and import and data transformation. Africa an estimated R8 billion a opportunistic fraud. Criminals who Open-source tools such as create false accidents or injuries OpenRefine are used to standardise year, of which claims fraud is a are seen as an example of planned the fields in order to eliminate any (hard) fraud. In comparison to this, discrepancies that may affect the substantial contributor. policy holders who overinflate their results. claims to increase their monetary gain can be seen as an example of In normal operating procedures, opportunistic (soft) fraud. pre-processing would ideally happen after data extraction. However, due Having large data sets adds little to the sensitivity of the data, pre- value unless enhanced insight can processing needs to occur before be gained from it. Therefore, there data masking. Data masking is is an overlap between Big Data, data necessary in cases where anonymity science and predictive analytics. is important. Owing to the fact that this research aims to protect privacy, The financial services and insurance data masking is an integral step in sector is becoming increasingly the process. The data needs to be susceptible to cyber-security threats, anonymised in such a way that a such as malware, phishing and the policy holder cannot be identified abuse of internal access rights, as by a record, but where the data well as theft or loss of hardware and would still be usable in the machine information. To mitigate this risk, learning process. This includes being the private and public sectors must able to uniquely identify a policy undertake preventative measures, holder based on alternate personal such as technical (hardware and information, such as gender, postal software) prevention, training and code and birth date. vendor management. Data extraction is the process One prevention method involves whereby the data that has already masking any personal information been pre-processed and masked that can be used to uniquely identify is moved from the source system a person. If data is hashed enough into the target data source. so that policy holders’ information Considerations such as different

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 22 The prediction of insurance claims fraud is one of the many applications of research in the field of Big Data.

operating systems, software converting a finite set of input values of the data set to the model and platforms, communication protocols to a finite set of output values. applying the data mining or machine and the structure of the data need learning algorithm to this data to be taken into account. To run Apriori Association Rules on set. This process is repeated with a model, it is often expressed that different combinations of variables. To apply this research to short-term the variables in the model need to The second half of the data set is insurance in countries other than be discrete instead of continuous. To used to test the model. South Africa, the data extracted do this, the variables are discretised; should be generic enough to apply an example of this is placing the Once the model is created, the to property and casualty insurance continuous variables in factors that accuracy needs to be tested. Here, on the global domain. To do this, express a numeric range instead of a the variables that skew the results or the Association for Cooperative floating point number. are unnecessary are removed from Operations Research and the training dataset. Development (ACORD) standards for Another example of data data extracts should be used. transformation that exists in this use Appplying knowledge after it has case would be to create calculated been extracted to systems is a key Once the data has been moved into fields. For the short-term insurance step in the Big Data Science process. a staging area for data cleaning, application, the date difference The main purpose of knowledge the second attempt at data pre- between the policy start date and elicitation is to provide end-users processing takes place. The original the date of the claim is calculated. with automatic recommendations. data pre-processing step exists Instead of requiring analysts to to prevent erroneous data after Once the data has been fully pre- portray the important knowledge and masking. The data-cleaning step, processed, cleaned, masked and rules generated from these systems however, includes the bulk of the transformed, the advent of machine in the form of rules, ratings and pre-processing. learning takes place. Machine concept maps, it can be beneficial to learning techniques to predict fraud create automatic rules that can be Once the data has been cleaned, are not commonly published due to applied to existing systems. it is stored. In a Big Data Science the fact that they need to be kept solution, the data is often stored confidential for security reasons. The rules that are generated in a cluster computing file system. by algorithms are often not This is due to the fact that the The machine learning phase immediately usable by end-user cluster computing framework comprises two sub-phases: model systems. Therefore, the rules are accommodates large-scale training and accuracy testing. To converted to XML and imported analytics. train the model, one needs to into the system and applied to new import the data from the Big Data claims without having to rebuild Although data transformation in an structure. Predictive model creation hard-coded business rules. extract, transform and load (ETL) is often seen as an iterative process process often includes data cleaning, instead of a single-phase approach. If these business rules are this step focuses on filtering and The model is trained by adding half applied to new claims, automatic

23 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 recommendations can be made as claims fraud was tested with privacy Science process is highly important. to whether there is a fundamental preserving data mining (PPDM). If it is assumed that the intent of issue with a claim. If the Apriori Rule the machine learning algorithm is indicates that a claim is possibly The validity of a rule is often to find rules based on any facts. For fraudulent, this recommendation is classified using values such as example, if a syndicate committed made. If a business rule is broken lift, confidence and support. Lift fraud multiple times with the same based on Apriori Rules, this will also indicates the measure to which alias across different insurers, be indicated. event A and event B are not brokers and agents, it can be said that independent. Confidence, however, the necessity to mask personal data is Once the model has been generated is the ratio of the number of valid. This can be seen as a viable way and applied, the rules should not transactions with the correct input to apply a machine learning algorithm be static. Very few organisations and output factors to the number to data while maintaining anonymity. maintain their models long after of transactions with the correct they have been created. Ensuring a input factors. Lastly, support is all From the research presented, the successful predictive analytics model items with the correct input and value of using Big Data Science to is an integral step as it can minimise output factors that generate a rule; predict and prevent insurance claims overheads, could result in increased the support can also be seen as a fraud can be seen. Techniques that reuse of the model and could percentage of the total number of add value and can reduce cost will increase performance. transactions in the record set. surely be welcomed by the insurance industry of South Africa and abroad, To facilitate the aforementioned For this research, the researchers due to the increase in the cost of process, a specific architecture used lift as the most valuable insurance. Although predicting to perform Big Data Science indicator of the importance of insurance claims fraud through Big and produce automatic a rule. They therefore created Data Science cannot be said to be recommendations is suggested. a model with 34 distinct fields. completely accurate, the value that is File systems such as HDFS within These fields included information gained is the indication that there are Hadoop can be maintained using such as sum insured, total policy fundamental issues with a claim and a data warehouse structure such revenue, insurer, broker, policy that a claim breaks rules. Finally, if as Hive. Hive translates SQL-like start date, policy end date, personal the antecedent of an association rule language to MapReduce to facilitate information, and calculated fields is the fraudulent claim indicator, then data manipulation. such as loss ratio and the difference one can predict with confidence that between the date of the claim and the claim is fraudulent. To perform machine learning on the the policy start date. data within Hadoop, analytics tools Due to the POPI Act, the use of Big are widely used. These Data Science From these fields, the Apriori model Data Science reduces the chance tools include software such as R, is run with a confidence threshold of of cross-broker and cross-insurer RapidMiner, SAS, SQL and Python, of 0.5, and a support threshold of 0.4. use. With the use of PPDM, data which R is the most commonly used. With these thresholds, 181 distinct hashing and the anonymisation of Alternate versions of R, such as rules are generated. Importantly, data, there is a higher chance that Microsoft R Open and Microsoft R personal information has not filtered adopting Big Data Science will be Server (Revolution R), have been through to the rules. This is due acceptable. Insurers and brokers can developed to make the analytics to the fact that the measures of have a higher assurance that they performed by R more scalable and validity for a rule include support. are not at risk of losing policy holders work with bigger data sets. The personal information of a policy to competitors if they share this holder would not occur frequently information, as there is not enough Alternately, there are machine enough to create a rule in a information to identify a person. learning tools that form part of the sufficiently large dataset. Apache Software Foundation, such In conclusion, it is proposed that if as Mahout. It is suggested that R is However, it should be said that the insurance industry can agree used for optimal results with smaller having high lift, confidence and to share information in this way, data sets. Mahout is suggested support might reduce the knowledge incidence fraud can be reduced. This for bigger data sets to increase gained from the machine learning will benefit them separately and as performance. algorithm. One could therefore a whole. reduce the support threshold to Testing the model on infer more information. This could References insurance claims fraud be done to gain knowledge based on personal details where the number Kenyon, D. and Eloff, J.H.P. 2017. Big Data Science for From the aforementioned process of times that the same information predicting insurance claims fraud. Proceedings of the 16th International Information Security and architecture, the application occurs is low. This will mean that the South Africa Conference, 40–47, 16–17 August of Big Data Science on insurance data-masking step of the Big Data 2017, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 24 A Big Data Science experiment: identity deception detection Estée van der Walt and Prof Jan Eloff

Identity deception detection Even though there are age restrictions the internet. These will be beneficial in place, these are not necessarily to the individual. is a problem on social enforced and the public is expected to be honest. This is dangerous for Big Data, combined with machine media platforms today. Not minors in particular, as they are either learning and predictive modelling, unaware of the dangers or are not allows the extrapolation of value only are there challenges mature enough to be responsible for out of the large volumes of data. towards determining people’s their actions online. Online predators Literature refers to the three are aware of this fact and target this characteristics (volume, velocity and authenticity, but also with group specifically. A study conducted in variety) of Big Data as the three Vs. the University of Pretoria’s Department Many other characteristics of analysing the data that forms of Computer Science presents a work- Big Data have been proposed in-progress towards developing an like value, viability, validity and part of the communications. intelligent Identity Deception Indicator veracity. Because data from social (IDI). It is envisaged that this research media platforms originates from This heterogeneous data could eventually assist authorities in uncontrolled environments, it makes conducting large-scale observation on minors especially vulnerable to includes photographs, videos public social media platforms, such harmful behaviour, paedophiles and audio. Furthermore, most as Twitter. Those personas whose and the like. Social media platforms behaviour and online content do not provide the ideal platform for an social media platforms operate agree with the age group they are attack, mainly because of its Big Data conversing with would be of particular nature and the complexity of its non- in an uncontrolled environment. interest. textual data. It is easy for a predator to go unnoticed in this environment. Anyone can contribute content Deception is defined as a “deliberate attempt, without forewarning, to Figure 1 illustrates the convergence and take part. create in another a belief that the of the particular fields that are of communicator considers to be interest to this study and shows untrue”. According to an article that there is an emanating risk of published in IEEE Internet Computing, identity deception as a result of this identity deception can be defined convergence. according to three different types: hiding your real identity, using an Despite extensive educational identity of another real person, and campaigns on online privacy counterfeiting an identity. Of particular and safety, minors are still being interest is the case of counterfeiting exposed to threats such as cyber- an identity. It is easy for a predator bullying and paedophilia. Protecting to counterfeit an identity and go minors is complicated even more by unnoticed in a Big Data environment, the fact that many minors lie about such as social media platforms. their age when communicating online. Deception is common in New innovative solutions are everyday life and lying on online needed that can minimise the social networks is quite common. risk of identity deception. Large- Deception is always used to scale innovations are those that accomplish goals, and sometimes to will be beneficial to society as a a detrimental effect. whole, including intelligent identity deception tools that can aid the Law enforcement agencies usually prosecution of harmful people. find identity deception difficult to Small-scale innovations are tools detect on a large scale, as they rely on that can provide safe browsing on machines to find exact matches.

25 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Large volumes (Big Data) and the originating from a minor, in this Determine reliance on historic data, however, experiment example, should raise concerns for pose a problem, as the crime is objectives investigation towards protecting usually detected after it has already minors on social media platforms. Identify occurred. Identify the technology stack scope of social for the experiment Conclusion media data It is imperative that all the different execution characteristics of Big Data are Minors are at risk and need to be understood and considered when Initial data protected. Research following this set of searching for solutions to detect Gather social minors study could work towards an early identity deception on social media media sample warning mechanism in the form of data set for platforms. From a cyber-security experiment Data set an IDI. Based on the research, many perspective, the goal is to minimise of last 200 useful variables were identified tweets of the risk of minors being exposed minors towards the creation of an intelligent to harmful behaviour on social and their IDI. However, it appears that much network media platforms. This risk should be Data cleansing more enrichment and data clean-up enrichment reduced by designing the appropriate and is required to work with a data set transformation Interrogate countermeasures, such as the data to that is fit for analysis. proposed IDI. The authenticity of an determine available identity also needs to be determined, variables For example, it was found that considering the online activities of Understanding the phrase “budget cut” was most the data minors and perpetrators on social gathered prevalent in tweets from the sample media platforms. Evaluate set. As this is unrelated to “school” No results and “homework”, it is indicative that some advertisement tweets are Enrichment of still contained in the sample set. variables Apply Big Data Cyber- machine This irrelevant data could render and Data Threat security learning inaccurate results. Science Create and calculate a Apply deep Risk “deception The data clean-up will be addressed Social indicator” learning in follow-up research and further media techniques predictive Vulnerability Good work will be done towards applying trends machine learning and deep learning Validate the Homogeneous data Human factors success of the Heterogeneous data for variable enrichment. Additional (minors) experiment machine learning techniques will be investigated to understand their  Figure 2: The methodology usefulness in creating an IDI. It is followed in this study. envisaged that the experiment will  Figure 1: The convergence of Big culminate in a more mature IDI for Data and Data Science, cyber- social media Big Data sets, which are security and human factors. The researchers postulated that the complex in nature. tweets themselves could carry some indication of age. Furthermore, the Acknowledgment A Big Data Science experiment data indicated that heterogeneous The support of The Hasso Plattner Institute Future Experimental work completed data, like profile images, could also Service-Oriented Computing (SOC) Research Lab in hold valuable information. Potsdam (Germany) is acknowledged for making prior to the current study identified available powerful infrastructure to conduct the Twitter as the social media platform research activities. The initial results of the data analysis to be used. Two sets of Twitter data showed that hash tags were most were retrieved. The first set was an References likely to be found with another hash initial set of tweets where the hash tag. For example, a user who uses Van der Walt, E. and Eloff, J.H.P. 2017. Identity tags “school” or “homework” were deception detection on social media platforms. the hash tag #read will next use the Proceedings of the 3rd International used. These hash tags were chosen hash tag #book. This can be useful Conference on Information Systems Security because they were deemed to be the in the case of minors to understand and Privacy, 573–578. words mostly applicable to minors. what they will most likely talk about Van der Walt, E. and Eloff, J.H.P. 2015. A Big Data The second set comprised the last Science experiment – identity deception or tag next. detection. The 2015 International Conference 200 tweets of the first set, including on Computational Science and Computational the last 200 tweets of their followers The identified set of hash tags will Intelligence, 7–9 December 2015, Las Vegas, NV. and friends. Combined, these two be used as input to train a machine Van der Walt, E. and Eloff, J.H.P. 2015. Protecting sets created a Big Data set of a learning algorithm to classify tweets minors on social media platforms – A Big Data Science experiment. 3rd Scientific Symposium – network of social media messages as originating from minors or not. Operating the Cloud, Hasso Plattner Institute, between potential minors. The classification of a tweet as not 3 November 2015, Potsdam, Germany.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS MAD about UX at the Informatics Design Labs Helene Gelderblom

Every bit of technology that The Informatics Design Labs in the Evaluating e-textbook University of Pretoria’s Department implementation in schools we use was conceptualised of Informatics offer the space, technology and skills required to Prof Machdel Matthee, an associate and designed by some person help organisations and individuals professor in the Department, is design, develop and evaluate involved in evaluating e-textbook or group of people. Someone technology products. They consist of implementation in schools. The saw a need or an opportunity a mobile application development project aims to understand (MAD) lab and a user experience and manage change in school that prompted a process of (UX) lab to support the design of environments where e-textbooks exceptional user experiences, as well are introduced. It also investigates prototyping, testing, developing as the evaluation of user interfaces the relationship between with eye-tracking technology. communication, trust and the and selling the idea. The acceptance of the e-textbook Solving problems by adopting platform. The role of the Informatics competitive environment for UX practices Design Labs is to evaluate the usability of e-textbooks, improve mobile applications compels The aims of the Department’s UX usability through participatory designers to create a user research are to develop a complete design and develop guidelines for understanding of the contextual the design and implementation of experience that will give their issues (which may or may not e-textbooks and their platforms. be unique to South Africa) that product the edge. This is not a define the environment in which In 2017, the researchers conducted the adoption of UX practices is evaluation studies with learners and straightforward process and hindered, and to develop suitable teachers at a local private school approaches for UX and usability using the miEBooks interface. many people with good ideas design and evaluation that will lead Through eye-tracking observation, to a more natural integration of these individual interviews and a focus never get the chance to develop practices into information systems group interview, they established them into products because they development. The researchers the children’s point of view and hypothesise, for example, that made recommendations to the lack the skills and resources to objective approaches to analysing system developers accordingly. user data, such as employing Big Data do so. Science and modern eye-tracking For a practical assignment, the equipment, in addition to traditional honours HCI class conducted human-computer interaction (HCI) usability studies and user testing methods, will provide the means to on the ITSI (www.it.si) web-based effectively communicate the value storefront for buying the e-textbooks of greater emphasis on proper UX and provided the developers with and usability practices in IT systems detailed recommendations. design. They also hope to show, through this research, that deep KidsteamSA: Giving children knowledge of cognitive psychology voice in design and its direct relationship with users’ experience of IT systems will KidsteamSA is based on the affect the success of UX design and Kidsteam at the University of evaluation, as well as how the value Maryland in the USA. This design of these practices is communicated to team, which comprises children, organisational management. Several assists the Department’s research PhD candidates and master’s degree and design work. Prof Helene students enrolled at the Department Gelderblom, who spent six months of Informatics are involved in this working with the University of research. Maryland’s Kidsteam during a

27 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  Researchers conducting an eye-tracking study on the miEBooks interface.

Fulbright visiting scholarship, Through this system, teenagers Conclusion coordinates the team. There she from privileged communities learnt to apply the cooperative will provide online (Skype-like) These projects are just a taste of what inquiry technique of designing with homework support to young the Informatics Design Labs can offer young children. children who do not have such researchers and commercial clients. A support at home. biannual MAD Challenge is also held Children are natural designers for high school learners, where they and are excellent partners on any The prototype system has been are taught the programming skills design project. They love coming co-designed by nine teenagers from they would need to develop their up with ideas and are much less high schools in Pretoria and six own mobile or web applications. The concerned with sounding stupid children in Grade 3 and Grade 4 who researchers are currently working than adults generally are. They are live in a privately owned children’s on establishing a Tech Launch Pad very generous in sharing their ideas home in Pretoria. (See Gelderblom where any UP student can pitch their and can come up with a complete (2014) and Chimbo and Gelderblom design ideas to experts. Promising prototype of a complicated artefact (2014) for more details.) proposals will then be developed into in a very short period of time. high-fidelity prototypes that can be Another KidsteamSA project that used to sell the idea to investors. The Although the technologies designed was conducted in 2016 was the Informatics Design Labs will provide in collaboration with the Kidsteam design of a web-based platform for the necessary support during the children are mostly educational or the Edublox reading and learning design and development process. entertainment applications aimed clinics. Edublox specialises in at children, corporate clients can cognitive training and reading, References also use Kidsteam to generate spelling, comprehension and ideas during the design process of mathematics development through Chimbo, B. and Gelderblom, H. 2014. Comparing innovative business and technology face-to-face sessions, as well as young children and teenagers as partners in co- design of an educational technology solution. solutions. computer-based exercises. Proceedings of the e-Skills for Knowledge Production and Innovation Conference, Cape Recent Kidsteam projects include Prof Gelderblom and a team of nine Town, 17–21 November 2014. The TitanTutor – a prototype of children assisted with the design Gelderblom, H. 2014. Giving children voice in the design of technology for education in the a web-based, cross-age tutoring of the web application that would developing world. South African Computer system that was designed and incorporate Edublox’s computer- Journal 54: 34–42. developed by Prof Gelderblom and based exercises. (More information Gelderblom, H. 2017. What children really Dr Bester Chimbo, who is a lecturer on this project is available in contribute when participating in the design of web-based learning applications. In H. Xie et al. at Unisa’s School of Computing. Gelderblom (2017).) (eds.), Advances in web-based learning, 1–11.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 28 Developing stochastic simulations with open-source software Edgar Whyte, Carl Sandrock and Gerrit Streicher

A software package called A value chain can become quite Software features and complex and small changes can capabilities Automatic Modelling Operations have a big impact on a completely different part of the operation, The goal of the Amoss project is using Stochastic Simulation making it difficult to bring about to create and simulate stochastic change to the value chain. simulations in the most logical and (Amoss) is being developed in user-friendly way. To achieve this, the package must relieve the user from the Department of Chemical This is a classic case where process simulation can be applied with great most of the manual, menial labour and focus on the aspects that make Engineering to assist Sasol in the effect. Over the years, Sasol has developed a modelling methodology, each simulation unique. development and simulation of Modelling Operations using Stochastic Much project development time Simulation (MOSS) (Meyer et al., was spent on automating the stochastic models for its value 2011) to determine the impact of common aspects not only across the modifications on value chains. The stochastic simulation of chemical chains. The software is being strength of such a simulation lies plants, but also across Sasol-specific in the ability to quantify the impact specially developed to fit Sasol’s commonalities. The following of a change over the whole value commonalities were identified: current simulation methodology chain and, in the process, reduce the amount of subjective decision making. Equation generation and needs. However, the existing simulation Mass balance equations, which are method does not easily deal with also known as the laws of nature value chains that have tightly coupled Equations determining how feedback loops where resource components are split at a optimisation is a prerequisite. separator (distillation column) Equations determining how To cope with such processes, the components are distributed into existing simulation method had to be other components in reactors modified to simulate the operation Mixing equations, determining the with an acceptable level of accuracy. composition of process streams The modification included a number at mix-points and mixers, which of complex mathematical formulas includes process buffer tanks that had to be derived, programmed Incorporating operating rules into and tested. This added a significant the system of equations amount of model development time, Priority-based distribution of resulting in a delayed, but accurate set process mass flow to sections of results, which triggered the search based on unit availability and for an alternative set of stochastic maximum capacity simulation tools. Easy sampling of known or custom stochastic distributions A number of alternative software tools were identified, but it soon Simulation setup became clear that it would take too long to complete a proper study To create a new simulation, a with the existing model to manage graphic representation of the value existing projects. The University chain, drawn in OpenModelica (OM) of Pretoria was contacted and is required (see Figure 1). The OM requested to submit a modelling diagram contains the connectivity solution. The existing stochastic of the process, as well as the model (Streicher, 2013), the existing operational units of the value chain. optimisation model and the existing steady-state model were provided to In addition to the OM graph, the the University as usable references. following need to be specified:

29 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 r1

s1 s5 Buffer

s2 Separator s6

Source s9 s10 Sink

s3 Cracker s7

s4 Plant s8

 Figure 1: Defining the connectivity and network node type attribute.

Components in the system unordered. An incidence matrix Figure 3 shows the incidence matrix of Input variables to the system shows which variables each equation the same set of equations reordered (known variables) depends on. A row in the incidence by the Hessenberg ordering algorithm. Separator split data matrix represents an equation and The ordering algorithm attempts Reactor in/out component a column represents a variable that to order the equations to minimise distribution data needs to be solved. Each black pixel the columns with pixels above the A file with the mathematical in the incidence matrix shows which diagonal. It has six columns with pixels representation of the operating rules variables each equation contains. above the diagonal line, therefore only

0 six of the 152 equations need to be Given these inputs, Amoss will 20  Figure 2: The solved. automatically generate the 40 example of 0 equations that describe the system 60 an incidence 80 20  Figure 3: An and link the operating rules with 100 matrix 40 example of the system equations to produce a 120 of 152 60 an incidence simulation of the value chain. 140 unordered 80 0 14012010080604020 100 matrix of equations. 120 152 ordered Equation ordering and solving 140 equations. 0 14012010080604020 Once all the equations have been The Amoss project has shown itself created, they need to be solved. to be a capable tool for developing References Solving equations simultaneously stochastic models and simulations. Meyer, M., Hylton, R., Fisher, M., Van der Merwe, A., using numerical methods is very The automation of equation Streicher, G., Van Rensburg, J.J., costly in terms of computational generation and the efficient solving Van den Berg, H., Dreyer, E., Joubert, J., time. Implementing an equation- of these equations resulted in Bonthuys, G., Rossouw, R., Louw, W., Van Deventer, L., Wykes, C. and Cawood, E. ordering algorithm will help to reduced development time, which 2011. Innovative decision support in a solve the system of equations more gives it the potential to become a petrochemical production environment. efficiently by ordering the equations valuable aid to Sasol and future Interfaces 41(1): 79–92. to be solved in a sequential manner, modelling projects. OpenModelica. Welcome to OpenModelica. [Online] Available at: https://openmodelica.org/. instead of solving all the equations Streicher, G. 2013. A stochastic simulation model simultaneously. A set of equations that does not of a continuous value chain operation with require simultaneous solving will have feedback streams and optimisation. In The Hessenberg ordering algorithm an incidence matrix with the diagonal Proceedings of the 2013 Winter Simulation Conference: Simulation: Making decisions in a is used. Figure 2 shows an incidence (red) line fully populated, and all the complex world, 3912–3912. Piscataway, NJ: IEEE matrix of 152 equations that are other pixels below the diagonal line. Press.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 30 Using Big Data to develop smart infrastructure

Dr Lin Chen, a lecturer from

the Chang’an University, one of

the leading universities on road

and transportation in China,

located in Xi’an in the Shaanxi

Province, spent a month at the

University of Pretoria conducting

postdoctoral research under

the supervision of Prof Alex

Visser in the Department of Civil

Engineering. Her research was

part of a joint project between  Dr Lin Chen and Prof Alex Visser conducted Big Data research in the the two universities that formed Department of Civil Engineering. part of a Memorandum of

Understanding that was signed This research used a large This analysis is linked to Dr Chen’s infrastructure data set to establish PhD research, which involved earlier in the year. principles and procedures for the developing a multi-objective Big Data analysis of Civil Engineering optimisation model for roads, in behaviour and performance. which she examined models used in Data obtained from various types countries such as the USA, Canada, of structural sensors, as well as Europe and New Zealand. As each environmental sensors, were country has a specific model that analysed over an extended time is designed to meet its unique period to establish linkages between requirements, her study of South the various data sets. It is becoming African conditions and the handling an increasing trend that Civil of large data volumes will give her a Engineering infrastructure is being broader perspective of how transport monitored using large combinations infrastructure will behave. of different sensor types over extended periods.

Traditional methods of statistical analysis are unable to handle the large volume of information collected, and special techniques, using various Data Science principles, have to be developed. The preliminary work has developed initial procedures for this Civil Engineering type of analysis and will be followed by more in-depth evaluation of other research makes use infrastructure where the University had access to similar large data sets. of Big Data analysis.

31 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Instrumentation project receives Fulton Award

The Van Zylspruit Integral The bridge, which has no expansion joints or bearings, was constructed Bridge was a joint winner of the on the N1 between Bloemfontein and Colesberg in the Free State. It is Innovation in Concrete Category the longest integral bridge in South Africa, measuring approximately at the 2017 Fulton Awards. The 90 m. Sarah Skorpen, a lecturer in Fulton Awards for Excellence in the Department of Civil Engineering, working with technicians Rikus Kock the Design and Use of Concrete and Sarel Coetzer, together with Prof Elsabé Kearsley, instrumented (named after the late Dr Sandy the bridge for the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited Fulton) provides an industry (SANRAL) to measure approximately 500 channels of instrumentation. platform to recognise concrete  Sarah Skorpen at the Fulton The instrumentation includes strain Award ceremony. projects and initiatives at the gauges to measure strains in the forefront of innovation and bridge deck, as well as temperature maintenance costs over the life span sensors, tilt-meters and earth pressure of the bridges. technology, and showcases these sensors behind the bridge abutments. The data from the instrumentation is In addition, a pilot study is projects to inspire excellence in logged at 15-minute intervals and is being undertaken on the bridge remotely downloaded once a day to to test the use of a fibre optic concrete design and use. a web server where researchers can strain measurement system in access it. collaboration with the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure The data will reveal how long and Construction. Fibre optic strain integral bridges behave under measurement allows strains to South African conditions where be recorded with unprecedented temperature variations can be accuracy and resolution. significant and the climate is very dry. The benefits of this research will This project demonstrates how civil lead to a better understanding of the engineers can benefit by applying behaviour of integral bridges and the latest technology to learn about hopefully the wider use of integral the behaviour of unusual structures, bridges in South Africa, thus saving allowing designers to design these employers ongoing bearing and joint structures with more confidence.

 Installing the sensors on the Van Zylspruit Bridge.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 32 New business technology incubator accelerates innovation Prof Elma van der Lingen

South Africa is faced with

serious challenges related to

unemployment. According to

Trading Economics (2017), the

youth unemployment rate is

extremely high at 55.9%. The

University of Pretoria is aware

of this challenge and plans to

establish a high-tech business

incubator and accelerator in  Members of the TuksNovation Board of Directors (from left): Mr Horst Weinert (SEDA), Adv Lawrence Baloyi (UP’s Department of Research and Innovation), the Faculty of Engineering, Built Prof Sunil Maharaj (Chairperson and Dean of the Faculty), Mr Naeem Moolla Environment and Information (UP Finance Department), Prof Elma van der Lingen (Graduate School of Technology Management) and Dr Elmar de Wet (Enterprises UP). Technology. This business technology incubator, limited access to funding, as well known as TuksNovation, will as technology transfer offices at promote job creation by providing universities that lack critical skills support for the commercialisation of and capacity. technology, networking, mentoring and sustainable spin-off technology TuksNovation is based on the companies. triple helix model of Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff (1995). According to In a knowledge-driven economy, the University of Stanford Human universities play a major role Sciences and Technologies Advanced in regional socio-economic Research Institute (H-STAR) development. Innovations arising (2011), the triple helix concept from a university’s intellectual comprises three basic elements. capital can stimulate economies Firstly, it allows universities to through new product development. play a more prominent role in Universities are thus highly valued in innovation, on par with industry terms of economic potential. and government in a knowledge- based society. Secondly, there is a Although the creation of spin-offs movement towards collaborative is one of the key mechanisms that relationships among the three universities can leverage to promote major institutional spheres, in which socio-economic development, few innovation policy is increasingly universities in South Africa have an outcome of interaction, rather done so, and the impact has been than a prescription of government. very modest. This low success rate Thirdly, in addition to fulfilling can be attributed to the absence their traditional functions, each of an entrepreneurial culture, institutional sphere also performs

33 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 new roles. Institutions that are be held on campus and interested investors, and corporations. currently taking on non-traditional students will be able to participate Students with commercially viable roles are viewed as a major potential in order to qualify for TuksNovation technology will make pitches and source of innovation. seed funding to develop their ideas submit business plans to potential into commercial products,” she says. investors in order to secure funding. Over the long-term, the business The competitions will have strict SEDA covers the incubator’s initial incubator aims to enable the guidelines and will be evaluated operational costs. development of industrial clusters by a committee comprising mainly with a positive economic impact in representatives from industry and TuksNovation will initially support Tshwane. It is set up in partnership technopreneurs. the development of spin-offs in with the Department of Small the Faculty of Engineering, Built Business Development’s Small The technology development phase Environment and Information Enterprise Development Association of the projects will be conducted in Technology, but can be expanded to (SEDA). TuksNovation also aims a virtual incubator in the University’s other faculties involved in science to build strong networks among laboratories and at facilities at local and technology at UP, depending on academia, government and industry industries. The students will receive the availability of funding. to create new spin-offs that can expert technical guidance from benefit society. academics at the University, as well References as technological entrepreneurship According to Prof Elma van der training. Various in-kind contributions Etzkowitz, H. and Leydesdorff, L. 1995. The triple Lingen, Chairperson of the Graduate will also flow from building strong helix – university-industry-government relations: a laboratory for knowledge-based School of Technology Management industry networks. Some benefits economic development. EASST Review 14: (GSTM) at the University of Pretoria, from this relationship could include 14–19. the TuksNovation model is based the use of industry facilities, Trading Economics 2017 South Africa Youth on allocating seed funding to research on industry-related Unemployment Rate 2013–2017. [Online] Available at: https://tradingeconomics.com/ students who are keen to become problems, employment for students south-africa/youth-unemployment-rate. entrepreneurs and are conducting and mentorship. University of Stanford Human Sciences and research on projects that have the Technologies Advanced Research Institute potential to develop commercially Funding for the business phase of (H-STAR) 2011. Triple helix concept: theoretical framework. [Online] Available at: viable technology. “Annual the projects is secured from external http://www.triplehelixconference.org/th/9/ TuksNovation competitions will funders, such as venture capitalists, the-triple-helix-concept.html.

TuksNovation will provide support for the commercialisation of technology.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 34 Research synergy: Energy

Promoting energy efficiency through the use of renewable sources

Energy is a key priority area for development in South Africa and the broader African continent. Research in this focus area relates to energy efficiency, demand-side management, advanced materials for energy systems, clean renewable energy, nuclear energy, and energy modelling and optimisation. Visibility on an international level is propelled by research into smart grids for energy in collaboration with the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), and research through the Centre of Excellence in Nuclear Safety and Security (CNSS) in partnership with the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Eskom as the key players.

Several existing initiatives related to energy are contributing to strengthening the Faculty’s research profile. These include research conducted in the Graduate School of Technology Management in support of the South African government’s energy objectives. The Centre of New Energy Systems in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering focuses particularly on energy efficiency and demand-side management aspects for the national grid, as well as improving energy efficiency for various industrial processes and for buildings. The Clean Energy Research Group in the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering has also delivered some credible findings related to concentrated solar power, nanofluids, heat exchangers and nuclear energy.

Endeavours to further enhance the Faculty’s research profile include improving its research impact by publishing in top high-impact, relevant journals, networking and delivering presentations at top international conferences. The Faculty also aims to establish productive research collaborations with leading institutions and researchers in the field of renewable energy and advanced materials, as well as nuclear energy.

Furthermore, plans to enhance the socio-economic impact of its research include developing human capital in the field of energy research, offering advisory services to government and local municipalities in terms of energy, and offering consulting services to industry. It will also continue to engage in collaboration agreements with government and industry stakeholders.

Key activities that will be undertaken to grow the next generation of researchers, as well as the number of postgraduate students, include appointing more academic staff members to supervise doctoral students, sourcing more external funding to recruit high-quality doctoral students, and recruiting top students from UP, as well as other local South African and African universities. A 5% growth in PhD students is expected annually.

35 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Key research focuses on ensuring South Africa’s energy security

The University has, for some South Africa’s national electrical where getting electricity to the grid system is under increasing entire population is difficult and the years, recognised the need to strain due to aging infrastructure, conditions for renewable energy insufficient maintenance, and a lack generation are so good. conduct focused research in the of real-time monitoring. Meanwhile, renewable energy infrastructure is However, integrating these new field of energy in an effort to being integrated into this system, technologies into an old, decaying address the energy crisis that is with unknown repercussions for grid is a significant challenge – grid stability and power supply for one for which South Africa is not facing South Africa. Therefore, everyday users. fully prepared. In addition, as these are often new and untested the research conducted in From a world-class energy technologies, many unforeseen infrastructure in the 1980s, challenges lie ahead to decrease the University’s departments South Africa’s electrical grid has South Africa’s reliance on fossil fuels. deteriorated steadily to the state it One particular challenge here is to of Electrical, Electronic and is in today. Failures in generation, develop standards for renewable transmission and distribution are energy integration. Computer Engineering, and all due to insufficient maintenance Mechanical and Aeronautical of the grid and the power stations Beyond the national electricity that generate power. Coupled with system, efficiency in electrical Engineering is focused on ageing infrastructure, the chances systems could be improved in of grid instability and failure are residential, commercial and mitigating this crisis. rapidly increasing. Despite concerted industrial sectors by reducing efforts in demand-side management wastage, and integrating alternative (DSM) over the last 15 years, Eskom sources of energy for specific tasks. is struggling to provide electricity to meet South Africa’s residential and South Africa faces significant commercial demands. challenges in maintaining its national electrical grid. At the same Not only is the national grid ageing, time, introducing renewable energy it is also technologically out of generation and communications date. Modern communication technology threaten the overall technology holds the potential to stability of the power supply. provide a wealth of data about the state and functioning of the Research currently being conducted grid and its various components. in the Centre of New Energy Systems This is important in maintaining in the Department of Electrical, a sprawling national electricity Electronic and Computer Engineering, system, but currently, the grid does as well as by Department of not incorporate any of this new Mechanical and Aeronautical technology. Engineering’s Clean Energy Research Group, are contributing to enhancing With the advent of renewable the Faculty’s research profile with energy generation, new solutions to regard to energy-related research, producing electricity have become and will go a long way to not only feasible, particularly photovoltaic improve the wellbeing of people, (PV), or solar, and wind energy especially in rural communities, technology. These technologies but also to promote economic hold great promise in South Africa, development.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 36 Integrating renewable energy into the national grid Prof Xiaohua Xia

Several research groups in The largest of these groups is the those performed by the National Centre of New Energy Systems Hub for Postgraduate Programme the University of Pretoria’s (CNES), headed by Prof Xiaohua in Energy Efficiency and Demand- Xia, an A-rated research who side Management (EEDSM), which is Department of Electrical, focuses on energy optimisation and hosted in the CNES. management. The CNES focuses Electronic and Computer particularly on energy-efficiency and Research in the Centre for Engineering are working with DSM aspects for the national grid, as New Energy Systems well as improving energy efficiency industry and government for various industrial processes and The energy systems work of Prof Xia for buildings. and his colleagues at the CNES to address energy-related makes a valuable contribution to The research conducted in this the University’s research profile. challenges by improving energy centre is helping to make the The CNES is looking specifically at national grid safer, more stable technology, equipment, operation efficiency and demand-side and more efficient, guiding the and performance aspects for integration of sustainable energy energy efficiency. It has also gained management (DSM). In the sources and improving the data a reputation as being a premier process, they are ensuring that available to engineers working on research institute in the area of the grid. This research is improving energy management, both nationally renewable energy is effectively energy efficiency and reducing waste and internationally. It is the only in homes, buildings and factories Centre of Excellence in energy integrated into the national around South Africa. Some effort optimisation and standardisation has also been exerted to look into in South Africa to address the grid. They are also developing sustainable and renewable energy research, education, development supply, but integrating these and industrial applications of energy smart grids to provide more systems into the national grid comes optimisation and management. with its own set of challenges. The focus on energy management information to engineers and includes both supply-side and managers, from residential to DSM has ensured that South Africa’s demand-side management. It power supply is stable, but that does collaborates with research centres on industrial energy systems. not address the issue of an ageing energy management both locally and fleet of power stations. South Africa internationally. has a promising environment for renewable energy generation. Wind Among other things, the CNES and solar power are slowly being conducts research into improving added to the mix, despite major the efficiency of industrial energy challenges with integration. systems and buildings. It is also the major provider of measurement and A lot of the work done in the verification services for Eskom and Department of Electrical, Electronic for South African municipalities, with and Computer Engineering is more than 400 projects (covering directly or indirectly geared towards approximately a third of the country) improving South Africa’s energy in place at one time. The CNES hosts sector in one way or another. This is the Exxaro Energy Efficiency Chair. mostly achieved through a number Exxaro is a coal-mining company of collaborations and working that sponsors research into energy agreements with the South African efficiency in the coal-mining sector. National Energy Development In the industrial sector, CNES works Institute (SANEDI), South Africa’s on the energy efficiency of mining national energy research agency. equipment and factory processes like conveyor belts. It also develops Direct efforts to address South new technologies for more efficient Africa’s energy challenges include pumps and motors.

37 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Research is helping to make the national grid safer, more stable and more efficient.

South Africa was the first country shifting. This problem is solved using and demand response. The in the world to have an energy- a mixed integer linear programme. research group proposes an efficiency measurement and The results show a 70.7% cost optimal economic dispatch of a verification standard, SANS 50010. reduction upon implementation grid-connected micro-grid. The From the technological side, CNES of this intervention. Following a micro-grid consists of solar PV, researchers develop new water case study, the optimal control diesel and wind power sources. An heating systems, improve air- model showed significant potential incentive-based demand response conditioners, and look at ways to in both energy and cost saving in programme is incorporated in the improve overall energy efficiency, comparison to the digital thermostat operation of the grid-connected for instance through lighting, controller used in most HPWHs on micro-grid. The optimal dispatch insulation technology or better the market. strategy was obtained by minimising building design. the conventional generator’s fuel Another research project conducted cost and the transaction costs Furthermore, CNES works on hybrid in the centre investigates the of the transferable power, and energy systems – combinations of evolutionary game theoretic DSM maximising the micro-grid operator’s different generating technologies and control for a class of networked demand response benefit, while that can provide power more smart grids. In a paper published simultaneously satisfying the efficiently, depending on the user’s as a result of this research, a new load demand constraints, among needs. Examples of this would be DSM problem of networked smart other constraints. The developed hybrid diesel and PV systems, or grids was formulated and solved, mathematical model was tested using a fuel cell to supplement based on evolutionary game theory. on two practical case studies. A standard electrical power from the The objective was to minimise sensitivity analysis of the model to grid. the overall cost of the smart grid, key parameters was also performed. where individual communities could The first case study consisted of The CNES is also working on a wind- switch between grid power and three conventional generator units, PV-hybrid heat pump water heater. local power according to strategies one wind generator, one solar This research develops an optimal of their neighbours. The distinctive generator and three rural customers. control model of a heat pump feature of the proposed formulation The second case study involved a water heater (HPWH) supplied by was that a small portion of the much larger micro-grid, and was a wind generator-PV grid system. communities was cooperative, while chosen to test the applicability of The objective function is energy others pursued their own benefits. the researchers’ model to larger cost minimisation, taking into This formulation can be categorised micro-grids, and also to verify the account the time-of-use electricity as control networked evolutionary scalability of their algorithm. Results tariff, which is an important control game, which can be solved showed that the demand response parameter. The control variables are systematically using the semi-tensor programme curtailed significant the supply switch to the HPWH and product. A new binary optimal grid-relieving amounts of energy in the power from the grid, while the control algorithm was applied to the two case studies considered. hot water temperature inside the optimise transient performances of The integration of incentive-based tank is the state variable. The model the networked evolutionary game. demand response programmes into meets both the HPWH’s technical the micro-grid energy management and operational constraints in The CNES is also working on the problem introduces optimality at providing hot water at a desired optimal dispatch for a micro- both the supply-side and demand- temperature, and achieves load grid, incorporating renewables side spectrum of the grid.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 38 Promoting wellbeing through clean energy research

The Department of Mechanical The Department is also renowned and have delivered contributions for its unique approach by invitation to conferences on and Aeronautical Engineering’s to innovation and design, numerous occasions. as well as its international commitment to quality is status and links with industry, According to Prof Josua Meyer, which gives it a competitive Head of the Department, the aligned with the University’s advantage in international Department’s core business is its vision to be a leading, research- technology development. It has academic endeavours, excellent a rich traditional background teaching and education of students, intensive university in Africa, in fundamental and applied and relevant research of the engineering, which it has highest standard. The pursuit of and its status as one of the maintained through research areas excellence, quality, international that focus on increasingly narrower competitiveness and local relevance foremost providers of high-level topics within subject disciplines. is the prevailing hallmark of these primary tasks. intellectual capital. In support This heritage provides the Department with the breadth The Department considers a of the belief that the University to offer a sound undergraduate contribution to the competitiveness can make a positive contribution education. At the same time, the of the country and the improvement specialisation of academic staff of the quality of life of its citizens to to the economic and social provides a stimulating environment be an important part of its mission. for research. The Department It is not surprising, therefore, that development of the country, the enjoys international recognition and it has chosen to focus its research its academic staff members have efforts on areas that have a direct Department’s research agenda received many prizes for excellent impact on the wellbeing of the research and peer-reviewed articles, industry. is focused on topics that are

relevant to South Africa’s future

energy security. The Department provides a stimulating environment for research.

39 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 The applications of these research CLEAN ENERGY areas have been consolidated into a broader focus on clean RESEARCH energy systems and components. The research of the Clean Energy GROUP Research Group (CERG) is currently focused on energy systems, renewable energy (solar, fuel cells, The Department has been active in wind and ocean engineering), research on energy systems nuclear energy, energy efficiency – including thermoflow systems – and optimisation, heat exchangers, since the early 1980s. Research nanofluids, gas turbines and areas originally focused on heating, aerodynamics. ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and engines. The CERG is involved in experimental and numerical heat Since the early 1990s, however, transfer research focused on clean there has been a growing energy applications. It comprises emphasis on computational 10 researchers, headed by research in the thermoflow Prof Josua Meyer, and has field, with applications like a number of world-class electronics cooling and industrial experimental facilities that are computational fluid dynamics focused on heat transfer, balanced (CFD) gaining ground. These by a CFD division. Research focuses activities are currently balanced by specifically on concentrated solar a growing group in experimental power (CSP), nanofluids and heat heat transfer and CFD research. exchangers, and nuclear energy.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 40 Concentrated solar power Compressor and turbine maps an LFR CSP plant. LFR technology from standard off-the-shelf Garrett has been developed since the 1960s, Three studies related to CSP turbochargers were used. The result and while large improvements in research can be highlighted due showed that, for the calculation efficiencies have been made, there to their impact on the University’s of the steady-state temperatures is still room for improvement. One research profile. The first study, and pressures, there was good such area is in the receiver design conducted by Prof Ken Craig and comparison between the Matlab where the optimal cavity shape, his team, evaluated the use of CFD and Flownex results, except for the coatings, insulation thickness, in the form of the commercial CFD recuperator outlet temperature. absorber pipe selection, layout and code ANSYS Fluent v15 and v16 to With the use of Matlab and Flownex, spacing need to be determined for model the reflection, transmission it was shown that the small-scale a specific application. This research and absorption of solar irradiation open STBC, with an existing off-the- used a commercial tool to find an from diffuse and specular surfaces shelf turbocharger, could generate optimal design for a set of operating found in linear CSP applications. a positive net power output with conditions. The objective functions Two-dimensional CFD solutions, solar-to-mechanical efficiency of that were used to judge the such as line concentration, were up to 12%, with much room for performance of a two-dimensional considered. To illustrate and validate improvement. cavity were combined heat loss this method, two sources were through convention, conduction used. The first included test cases and radiation, as well as wind from literature with published resistance areas. Eleven parameters solutions, while the second entailed were used as design variables, of a combined modelling approach which nine were geometrical and where solutions were obtained using two optical. Based on a sample set both finite volume and ray tracing requiring 151 CFD simulations, a (with SolTrace). For all the test cases, global Utopia point was found that good agreement was found when minimised all three objectives. The suitable modelling settings were most sensitive parameters were used to limit both ray effect and the insulation thicknesses and false scattering errors. Research in the coating emissivities. Based on the Department of results, the multi-objective genetic The second study, conducted algorithm (MOGA), as contained in by Dr Willem le Roux under the Mechanical and ANSYS DesignXplorer, was shown supervision of Prof Josua Meyer, to be effective in finding candidate modelled a small-scale dish- Aeronautical optimal designs, as well as the mounted solar thermal Brayton Utopia point. Cycle (STBC). This set-up makes Engineering focuses use of a sun-tracking dish reflector, Nanofluids and heat solar receiver, recuperator and on concentrated exchangers micro-turbine to generate power in the range of 1-20 kW. The solar power, nano- In terms of research related to modelling of such a system, using nanofluids and heat exchangers, two a turbocharger as a micro-turbine, fluids and heat studies can be highlighted. The first is required so that the optimisation study, conducted by Prof Meyer and and further development of an exchangers, and Prof Mohsen Sharifpur, together experimental set-up can be done. with two co-workers, was an As a validation, an analytical nuclear energy. experimental and numerical study model of the small-scale STBC was of the thermal and hydrodynamic developed in Matlab, where the net characteristics of laminar natural power output determined from an The third study, under the supervision convective flow inside a rectangular exergy analysis was compared with of Prof Craig and Prof Meyer, cavity with water, ethylene glycol Flownex, an integrated systems investigated a response surface (EG)-water and air. Laminar natural CFD code. A parabolic dish with method optimisation of the cavity convection in a rectangular cavity a diameter of 4.8 m with open- absorber of a linear Fresnel reflector with three different heat transfer cavity tubular receiver and plate- (LFR). Optimisation methods to fluids were attached to the cavity type counterflow recuperator was increase the efficiency of CSP plants walls. All other walls were properly considered based on previous work. are an important research topic in insulated. Early experiments Since the recuperator operates at this field. This research focused on revealed that it was hard for the a very high average temperature, applying an integrated optimisation heated and cooled walls to reach it was modelled according to a technology to a solar thermal a uniform temperature when the method, which takes heat loss to application, more specifically for the cavity was filled with water or EG- the environment into account. optimisation of a cavity absorber of water, while a uniform distribution

41 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 of temperature was achieved could be determined without Nuclear energy when the cavity was filled with air. using thermocouples in a water- Commercial CFD software, ANSYS operated heat exchanger. It was Prof Johan Slabber and a team of Fluent 15, simulated the entire found that thermochromic liquid researchers conducted significant set-up to include two special heat crystals (TLCs) have a sufficient research on nuclear safety. Through exchangers and the cavity between temperature response with which this research, they developed a them to investigate all the transport local temperature distributions microvan plasma process operating phenomena. The simulation results can be determined. The obtained at atmospheric pressure for the were in good agreement with the temperature fields also showed synthesis of silicon carbide (SiC) measured data. The distortion of large temperature variations close nanoparticles. The process utilised air flow was much higher than with to the inlet of the heat exchanger, methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) as the other two fluids. Water flow which might be problematic a prescursor, acting as both the inside the cavity was flatter and a big when using low sampling average carbon and silicon source, along circulation area was captured in the wall temperature measurement with an additional hydrogen feed middle of the EG-water fluid flow. techniques. The wall temperature to ensure a fully reducing reaction uncertainties were found to be very environment. In addition, argon The second study, conducted low, which indicated that LCT could served as the carrier gas. The by Prof Meyer, Prof Jaco Dirker be an invaluable tool for measuring parameters studied were the and a third co-worker, entailed wall temperatures. The measured H2:MTS molar ratio and the total the implementation of liquid temperature distributions that were transmission electron microscopy crystal thermography (LCT) as a used to calculate local heat transfer (TEM) micrographs. It was found that wall temperature measurement coefficients were, however, found an increase in enthalpy and a higher technique for a tube-in-tube heat to be higher than the predictions by H2: MTS ratio resulted in smaller exchanger. the majority of the other correlations SiC particle sizes. The adhesion of considered. This was probably due particles was a common occurrence A methodology was developed to a developing boundary layer near during the process, resulting in in which the wall temperatures the inlet of the heat exchanger. larger agglomerate sizes.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 42 Optimising wind farm layout for increased energy generation

Prof Ken Craig and Hendri Breedt

In the Department of Mechanical

and Aeronautical Engineering,

Prof Ken Craig and master’s

student Hendri Breedt are

looking at how computational

fluid dynamics (CFD) can be

used to optimise the layout and

configuration of wind farms in

South Africa. Wind energy and

solar photovoltaic (PV) energy The turbine configuration and life cycle. Complex terrains are location are traditionally accessed increasingly being exploited, and have become the dominant by extrapolating measured wind CFD simulations are the leading data from on-site meteorological technique used for modelling forms of renewable energy masts to each proposed turbine these sites. The simulations focus location. These masts are erected primarily on modelling a neutrally because of the rapid reduction at candidate sites and operate stratified atmospheric surface layer. for a minimum of one to two However, reduction in uncertainties in costs associated with both years to gather sufficient data of can be achieved by modelling all solar cells and wind turbines. The the atmospheric boundary layer the physical mechanisms of the required for wind farm design. atmospheric boundary layer. placement of wind turbines in a Traditional flow models like WAsP Engineering® from DTU Wind One factor that plays a large role wind farm, choosing the correct Energy use linear flow models for in atmospheric flow is the stability modelling the wind conditions on of the atmosphere, which can be turbine for the site conditions site. These models can, however, classified as stable, neutral and only be used in predominately flat unstable. The buoyancy associated and also deciding where such a terrains and neglect the complex with each stability condition can motions of atmospheric flows. result in highly differing conditions wind farm should be situated are These motions are the driving factor at the turbines. In stable conditions, critical for the successful rollout behind variations in wind speed, ambient turbulence and vertical wind direction and turbulence fluxes are suppressed by buoyancy of this form of energy. intensity across turbine locations forces. This suppression of and are crucial for the design of turbulence leads to delays in wake wind turbines, the suitability of recovery from wind turbines and turbines to the site and also the can lead to excess energy losses energy production of the wind associated with velocity deficits farm. Being able to accurately caused by the wake. The lack of predict these conditions allows the vertical motion increases vertical siting of wind turbines in locations wind shear and can lead to the where they can extract maximum turbine rotors being unevenly energy from the wind using the loaded. In unstable conditions, the optimal turbine, while ensuring increase in vertical motion increases that it is suitable to withstand the boundary layer height and is the loading during the wind farm also categorised by higher ambient

43 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 turbulence. These higher turbulence levels affect the blade fatigue loading. In a 24-hour diurnal cycle, stable conditions are typically seen at night with cooler land temperatures, while unstable conditions appear in the day with heightened temperatures. Figure 1 shows the mean stability classification during a diurnal cycle obtained from one year of data. Typically, non-neutral conditions dominate for wind speeds lower than 15 m/s, which is the predominate condition for wind farms. This leads to the conclusion that it is important  Figure 1: Classification of the diurnal stability. to include atmospheric stability in wind farm simulations and that a change of the standard CFD model equations is necessary.

Modelling atmospheric stability using CFD software is one of the main contributions in this research. The stability effects are incorporated using user-defined functions that modify the turbulence model equations. The modification parameters are derived from the measured time series data for  Figure 2: Proposed wind farm terrain. each wind farm location. In such locations, where measured data is not available, a study is conducted into the correlation of the measured data to synthesised meso-scale data sets obtained from weather research and forecasting models. The results will form part of a guideline for including stability effects on proposed commercial wind farms.

Due to the size and complexity of the terrains, coupled with the high accuracy needed from these CFD models, the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in  Figure 3: Computational domain of the terrain created using ANSYS® ICEM CFD. Cape Town is utilised for running the simulations.

Figure 2 shows the typical complex terrain of a proposed wind farm. Contour data obtained from digital elevation models are then used to construct a computational model of the terrain. Figure 3 shows a meshed version of this terrain, with candidate wind turbine locations at the expected highest-wind locations. Figure 4 shows a streamlined visualisation of how the terrain can cause deviations in the wind flow up  Figure 4: CFD simulation using ANSYS® CFX software: streamlines through the the terrain. proposed turbine positions.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 44 Research synergy: Environmental Engineering (Water)

Improving the sustainability of South Africa’s water resources

An understanding of the security, efficiency, reliability and sustainability of South Africa’s water resources is essential for development. Through the environmental engineering (water) research focus area, the Faculty participates in research related to the so-called “water-energy nexus” and the development of expertise in water resource engineering and management.

This includes a focus on the development and utilisation of hydropower as a viable renewable energy source in South Africa and on the quality and treatment processes for, among others, the management of biological wastewater and the production of drinking water. Collaboration with the Water Institute in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is of key importance for the success of this research focus area.

All research efforts in the water-energy nexus will be aligned with national strategies and initiatives, in particular those of the Department of Energy, and the Department of Water and Sanitation. Energy-efficiency initiatives offer opportunities for delivering significant water savings, and likewise, water-efficiency initiatives offer opportunities for delivering significant energy savings. The scope of this research focuses on utilising these inextricable linkages between water and energy to supply both, as well as to improve security, reliability and sustainability.

South Africa is one of the driest regions in the world. Water conservation and water demand management are therefore crucial interventions towards improved water use efficiency, and effectively contribute to water security. The scope of this research focuses on the enhanced understanding of the water supply and distribution system to improve security, efficiency, reliability, sustainability, and water conservation and demand management.

Endeavours to strengthen the Faculty’s research profile include improving its research impact by publishing in top high-impact, relevant journals, networking and delivering presentations at top international conferences. The Faculty also aims to establish productive research collaboration with leading institutions and researchers active in research related to the water- energy nexus, as well as water resources engineering and management. Key activities that will be undertaken to grow the next generation of researchers, as well as the number of postgraduate students, include developing selected undergraduate students for research positions utilising external funding, attracting international specialists for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and obtaining additional funding to further expand its research output.

An annual growth in PhD students of 10% in programmes related to environmental engineering, and 25% in chemical engineering is anticipated.

45 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Optimising water resources through innovation and effective resource management

South Africa is considered to Responding to the urgent need to optimise the country’s existing be a water-scarce country. It is resources, the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information commonly acknowledged that if Technology has identified environmental engineering (with a the current rate of water usage particular focus on water) as a key continues, demand is likely to research priority. Its research efforts are aligned with the strategies and exceed supply at some point not initiatives of the Department of Water and Sanitation. An important initiative too far in the future. Improving in this regard is the development of sustainable hydropower, together water conservation measures, with water conservation and water demand management interventions. water quality and water-use Improving water use efficiency efficiency is therefore a key will contribute to the water national priority. Compared security of this precious resource. In the Department of Chemical to the global average rainfall Engineering, an important focus is on water utilisation and of 870 mm per annum, South environmental engineering. Research in this department includes the Africa only receives 450 mm. development of water management household energy supplies to reduce models for industrial activities, community air pollution exposure This makes it the world’s 30th environmental management in a and the reduction of gaseous and first/third-world developing country, particulate emissions from the driest country. Some projections and quantifying and mitigating ferro-alloy industry. Various aspects of bioremediation and fermentation estimate that South Africa the effect of industrial and mining activities on air quality. Since algal using natural organisms is also a already exploits about 98% of its problems are encountered globally topic that is receiving attention. in the water industry, research is also available water supply resources. aimed at the control of algal growth, An exciting new area of research the determination of carbon cycling in the Department of Chemical and improving the treatability of algal Engineering is environmental metabolites in the interim. nanotechnology, which examines the effect that nano-materials have In water utilisation engineering, on the environment. Understanding the primary focus is on quality how the inherent physico-chemical and treatment processes for and properties of engineered nano- the management of biological materials and water chemistry wastewater, industrial water and influence and impact on the ecology effluent, the disposal of slurries, is studied using both experimental sludges and solid water waste, and and modelling techniques. the production of drinking water. Environmental engineering research Collaboration with the University’s focuses on air quality management Water Institute in the Faculty of by assessing the impact of mining Natural and Agricultural Sciences and power generation on ambient air provides important multidisciplinary quality on the Highveld, alternative research potential.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 46 Hydropower research addresses community power needs Marco van Dijk, Thato Seabi, Chantel Niebuhr and Deon Bonthuys

Despite the fact that South In 2009, the research group Boegoeberg canal system conducted a high-level scoping Africa is the country with investigation into the potential of During 2016 and 2017, the energy generation in the supply of installation of kinetic hydropower the second largest installed water through pressurised conduits, turbines in the existing Boegoeberg and installed a small pilot installation canal system in the Northern hydropower capacity in Africa, at the Queenswood Reservoir in the Cape was further developed and it produces less than 5% of City of Tshwane. is currently being tested and optimised. The project aims to its total electricity generating Since the scoping study and pilot showcase a simple installation installation in 2009, the research where existing infrastructure is used capacity from hydropower. This group has broadened its horizons as a tool to aid rural municipalities and has compiled numerous to produce their own electricity. The clearly highlights the lack of technical reports, ranging from canal system is about 172 km long, retrofitting hydropower to existing starting at the Boegoeberg Dam and the need for hydropower dams in South Africa, to conduit close to Groblershoop where water hydropower potential in water is abstracted from the Orange River, installations in Africa. The distribution systems and low-head winding its way along the Orange Hydropower Research Group in hydropower applications at waste River, providing water for irrigation water treatment plants. needs. the University’s Department of The Hydropower Research Group Seven turbines, each capable of Civil Engineering saw this lack has been involved in the design and producing a maximum of 5 kW, construction of several successful were imported from Smart Hydro of hydropower generation in hydropower installations throughout Power in Germany. The turbines South Arica. It focuses on research are being installed in this canal Africa not as a burden, but as an and the discovery of new, innovative system at two potential sites. ways to recover energy and generate Groblershoop and Wegdraai water opportunity. electricity from existing water treatment works (WTWs) are both in infrastructure and natural water close proximity to the canal. These resources in a viable and sustainable WTWs provide water for most of manner through hydropower the residents of these towns and installations. use a large amount of electricity.

 Installation of kinetic-type turbines in a canal.

47 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 This project aims to assist in these areas, reducing electricity expenses and providing greater income to the municipality. The ultimate goal will be to showcase a way of bringing electricity to rural villages that are not connected to the existing grid and that will not be connected in the near future due to the great distance to the nearest existing electricity infrastructure.

Currently, the turbines are being placed in the water, at different  Installed containerised turbine at the bottom of Thina Falls. positions along the width and length of the canal, to determine the optimum installation for the maximum power output and safety for the community. This is a complex process, as it is the first kinetic installation in South Africa. The installation must therefore be tested for cases specific to South Africa, such as climate, debris conditions, as well as social consequences and risks, before the installation of kinetic hydo-turbines can be scaled and installed on other irrigation canal systems in South Africa.

Kwa Madiba stand-alone hydropower-driven mini-grid

Small-scale hydropower technology, even though considerably smaller  Thato Seabi supervising the local construction team. than conventional storage schemes or hydroelectric dams, still requires robust engagement with households through a stand-alone the conditions of the GA instead and the involvement of several mini-grid. The system utilises a cross- of engaging in a potentially costly relevant government departments flow turbine installed in a modular and lengthy full water-use licencing and stakeholders. Through the containerised turbine room that will process. Hydropower Research Group’s generate 51 kW at the bottom of the successful engagement with waterfall. Construction was mostly The project is near completion, with stakeholders, a pilot project for done with local labourers from the the intake already installed and the Kwa Madiba community in the neighbouring communities. the pipework of the headrace tied Mhlontlo Local Municipality, Eastern into the intake. Access stairs over Cape, began construction in A major achievement, from the the mountain to the bottom of the April 2016. implementation not only of this waterfall have been constructed, project, but for all future small-scale helping to gain access to the turbine This project, funded by the run-of-river hydropower projects, is room, assisting in the construction Department of Science and that the Hydropower Research Group of the foundation, and placing Technology (DST) and implemented was able to successfully participate in the containerised turbine room, via the Water Research Commission and influence the public consultation complete with turbine, generator and (WRC), is designed as a run-of- process of the review of a General electronic controls. river scheme on the Thina River, Authorisation (GA) in terms of the where water will be abstracted at National Water Act, Act No. 36 of The electrical distribution network the top of the Thina waterfall and 1998. The revised publication of the has been completed and the routed through a penstock drilled GA now allows for small-scale run- transmission line to the hydropower through the mountain adjacent of-river hydropower projects, which plant has been installed. Testing and to the waterfall. This installation adhere to specific requirements, commissioning is to be undertaken will benefit a community of 54 to only require compliance with soon. Once the penstock has been

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 48  Installed turbine and control panel (Kwa Madiba).

finalised, the hydropower plant will be ready for commissioning to light up not only the Kwa-Madiba community, but also the progress on rural small-scale hydropower in South Africa.

Bloemwater conduit hydropower plant integration

The Hydropower Research Group successfully implemented a 96 kW conduit hydropower plant at Bloemwater in Bloemfontein, which was launched in 2015. The Caledon-Bloemfontein pipeline supplies potable water from the Welbedacht Dam to Bloemfontein. The treated water is pumped from the Welbedacht Dam to De Hoek Reservoir, from where it gravitates to the Uitkijk Reservoir and further to the Brandkop Reservoir at Bloemwater’s head office in Bloemfontein. The conduit hydropower installation at Bloemwater recovers some of the energy in the system, which was previously dissipated through pressure-reducing valves at the Brandkop Reservoir.

The recovered energy helps to power the operations of the Bloemwater Head Office and contributes to the beginning of a small circular economy.  Section of the automatic changeover panel (Bloemwater).

49 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  Bloemwater hydropower plant.

The Hydropower Research Group building. Subsequently, it executed In June 2017, it made technical continually assists Bloemwater in switching by controlling six motorised presentations at the Hydrovision optimising the utilisation of this plant changeover switches between 2017 Conference, which was to increase resilience and ensure Centlec and Hydro for maximum attended by more than 3 000 sustainability. utilisation of the hydropower. delegates. Thato Seabi, a master’s The CompactLogix PLC constantly degree student in the Department The turbine, based on the available evaluates and subsequently executes of Civil Engineering, presented a pressure and flow, generates a switching actions so that Bloemwater technical paper entitled “Maximising constant output. From this output can utilise maximum capacity of the the energy use of islanded rural the electricity required for running hydropower, but also limits power hydropower electrification systems”. the Head Office is used and the interruptions to a minimum because His paper won second place in the excess is dumped via heating of these switching actions. Social and Environmental category. element regulators. Initially when the This project also earned Marco turbine could not match the demand, The research work conducted by the van Dijk the University of Pretoria’s a manual changeover was utilised research group thus far has been Community Engagement Award at its to switch between the hydropower compiled in numerous research Academic Achiever Award function and Centlec (the electricity supplier), reports and journal publications with held on 10 May 2017. switching the full load from one the aim of creating awareness for source to another. the administrators and operators of water systems. Increased To maximise the utilisation of awareness will assist in the processes the hydropower, an automatic of identifying and evaluating the changeover panel was developed and hydropower potential within their constructed to deal with the variable systems, along with highlighting the demand. The office building’s benefits obtained from generating electrical distribution was divided even small amounts of energy from into six distribution boards to allow untapped sources. each sector to be supplied and switched individually. Achievements of the research group For each distribution board, Centlec and Hydro supply power The Hydropower Research Group meters were installed, linked with a has had the opportunity to share  A proud Thato Seabi with his CompactLogix PLC, which constantly its work on the development and second-place award for the evaluated the incoming hydro supply implementation of hydropower in best technical paper at the against the demand from the office South Africa internationally. Hydrovision 2017 Conference.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 50 Research receives Community Engagement Award

Marco van Dijk is a lecturer This module gives students the The rural electricity situation freedom to excel and use their in South Africa in the Department of Civil specific skills, such as construction supervision, community engagement, The Reconstruction and Engineering and a principal design, as well as regulatory and Development Programme White policy application, to successfully Paper of 1994 laid the foundation researcher for the research complete their research topics. In for South Africa’s developmental projects of the Water Research 2015, he also received the Knowledge trajectory, focusing, inter alia, on Tree Award in the category New providing basic water, electricity, Commission (WRC). He received Products and Services for Economic health care, and education Development by the WRC as ongoing infrastructure and services to all the Community Engagement recognition for his contribution in the the people of South Africa. The water-energy nexus. electrification of urban areas Award at the University of in South Africa, including many Van Dijk has been actively involved in informal settlements, reached Pretoria’s Academic Achiever finding ways to get environmentally its culmination in recent years. friendly, renewable, sustainable However, the electrification of Awards on 10 May 2017. This energy accepted as an alternative rural areas still has a long way award provided recognition for reliable supply of electricity in to go before most of the rural urban and rural areas. He aims to communities will be provided with his supervision of students in the promote the technology, as well a reliable and sustainable supply of as the leading role the University electricity. WBK 890 module. is playing in this field. He has successfully brought the University The national electricity grid, closer to rural communities by managed by Eskom, has been presenting community engagement experiencing difficulties due to opportunities at workshops, various reasons, particularly since public participation events, 2008. The further development of council meetings and one-on- rural electrification is, at present, in one discussions with numerous the doldrums, mainly due to Eskom’s councillors and community leaders. shortage of generation capacity.

The current available generation capacity needs to be available to users who are already connected to the national grid. Urban and rural communities are starting to feel the increases in electricity tariffs. The primary electricity infrastructure is rapidly becoming insufficient and Small hydropower cannot sustain supply against the schemes can play demand for electricity from the existing and future users who are a critical role in connected to the national grid. providing energy Small hydropower schemes can play a critical role in providing energy access to remote access to remote areas in South Africa as stand-alone, isolated areas in South Africa mini-grids. Rural electrification is the provision of long-term, as stand-alone, reliable and satisfactory electricity service to households in remote, isolated mini-grids. rural communities via a grid,

51 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 decentralised or centralised, renewable or non-renewable supply of energy.

Many consider electrification to be a fundamental strategy for poverty alleviation in terms of financial, energy and sustainable developments.

In 2011, the WRC made R2.5 million available for the Hydropower Research Group to work in the specialised field of renewable energy, which has been an important focus of government.

The output of the study in 2011 stimulated further investment by the City of Tshwane for R1.4 million in 2013. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), through the WRC, injected R8.1 million in 2014 and R10 million in 2015 for capacity-building projects for the implementation of small-scale hydropower developments for rural electrification in South Africa.

The DST funding is part of the Innovation Partnership for Rural Development Programme (IPRDP). It commissioned capacity building in some of the 23 identified distressed municipal areas in South Africa, as defined by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) in conjunction with The Presidency. Within the uMzinyathi District Municipality in KwaZulu- Natal and the OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, numerous sites were identified for the implementation of hydropower schemes to supply a basic service, such as for the Kwa Madiba community with 54 households in the Mhlontlo Municipality.

Much of the success achieved with these projects would not have been possible without the research input of Van Dijk and the Hydropower Research Group.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 52 Using bacteria to tackle lead pollution Deon Brink

Lead is an extremely useful In contrast, each year an estimated as a self-defence mechanism or 600 000 new cases of infant mental having the ability to use lead as part industrial metal. It is used retardation and approximately of its metabolism. 143 000 deaths can be attributed to in battery plates, electrical lead pollution globally. This burden Experiments is carried disproportionately by the cable sheathing, ammunition, developing world, specifically by The research group ran batch radiation shielding, type metal, marginalised people, women and experiments with (aerobic) and children. The prevalence of lead without (anaerobic) oxygen to bearing metal and solder. is almost entirely anthropogenic, determine the effect oxygen would with the main contributors being have on the growth and possible Unfortunately, the global supply the industrial processing of silver, removal of lead from the solution. platinum and iron, the use of lead- of lead is finite, with only an based material, and the combustion The aerobic experiments showed of lead in petroleum products. that the biomass increased by a estimated 15 years’ supply of factor of more than 10. However, Traditionally, lead remediation when the lead concentrations lead remaining globally. technologies have had many were measured, it appeared that drawbacks. These technologies do a relatively limited range of lead not always target lead specifically. fractions (10 to 60%) was removed. They produce toxic sludge and have The removal only happened after pH and redox requirements far from more than two days of growth. those of their natural environments, and therefore require a significant It was clear from visual observation dosing of chemicals. that significant bacterial growth took place in the presence of A study conducted in the lead, while no precipitate was Department of Chemical Engineering observed during the experiment. attempted to remove lead from a This indicated that the microbes solution with bacteria obtained from were able to grow well in the a lead mine in Northern Cape and presence of lead and oxygen, a lead-recycling factory in Gauteng. while only removing lead once The idea was that the bacteria significant growth had taken would be resistant to elevated place. The absence of precipitate concentrations of lead, with the in the medium was an indication possibility of either immobilising that the microbial surfaces were lead by removing it from the solution likely employed as immobilisation

9 100 8 90 80 7 70 6 60 5 50 4 40 30 3 20 2 10 Biomass (relative units) 1 0 -10

0 (%) removal lead of Percentage 0 50 100 150 200 250 0 50 100 150 200 250

Experimental time (h) Experimental time (h)

Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant

Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine

 Biomass growth during the  Percentage of lead removed experiment (aerobic). during the experiment (aerobic).

53 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  Beginning of the experiment  End of the experiment (aerobic). (aerobic). sites, where the lead stuck to the that a limited and similar subgroup  Beginning of the microbial surfaces as soon as of microbes was likely active in the experiment (anaerobic). enough of these surfaces were removal of lead from the solution, available. However, the removal of even though the microbes came lead was not repeatable or, in most from very different parts of the cases, significant enough to warrant country. Visual observation indicated further investigation. a dark grey precipitate that formed at the end of the experiments, which In the case of the anaerobic was likely elemental lead formed experiments, a limited amount by the organisms “breathing” in the of growth was measured. This lead in the absence of oxygen. growth was significantly less than the growth observed in the aerobic Results from the study indicated experiments. This was anticipated, that the microbes could repeatedly as the energy available under remove most of the lead in the aerobic conditions exceeds that absence of oxygen, most likely which is available under anaerobic by using the lead as part of its conditions by a significant margin. metabolism instead of oxygen. This Interestingly, the amount of lead indicates that further studies should  End of the experiment removed was repeatable for all focus on anaerobic conditions. The (anaerobic) – side view. experiments and exceeded 90% system should also be repeated on after seven days for most of the a larger scale to simulate industrial runs. This observation indicated conditions.

1.6 100 90 1.4 80 1.2 70 1 60 50 0.8 40 0.6 30 20 0.4 10 Biomass (relative units) 0.2 0 0 -10 Percentage of lead removal (%) 0 50 100 150 200 0 100 200

Experimental time (h) Experimental time (h)

Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant Recycle plant

Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine  End of the experiment  Biomass growth during the  Percentage of lead removed during (anaerobic) – bottom view. experiment (anaerobic). the experiment (anaerobic).

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 54 Research synergy: Minerals and Materials Beneficiation

Upscaling South Africa’s mining industry

Research related to minerals and materials beneficiation has the potential to lead to the upscaling of South Africa’s mining industry. Research activities relate to fields such as mechanisation and automation, explosive engineering, risk management, safety and health. Minerals beneficiation also focuses on promoting long-term industrialisation and industrial diversification, while assisting the South African minerals and metallurgical industry to become more competitive. This includes developing expertise in minerals and energy recuperation from waste products. The interdisciplinary nature of this research focus area warrants collaboration with other faculties within the University.

The Faculty plans to strengthen its research profile through the further expansion of the Centre of Excellence for the Mine Health and Safety Council in the Department of Mining Engineering, as well as by expanding the Faculty’s training capabilities with regard to virtual reality training in Africa. It emphasises the importance of postgraduate research, especially as this forms part of a broader strategy to make mining and minerals beneficiation safer, healthier and more profitable in South Africa. Potential new research chairs that will support this initiative include those in Gravity Separation, Flotation Process Engineering and Waste Product Minerals, and Energy Recuperation.

Endeavours to further enhance the Faculty’s research profile include the development of a research collaboration model and strategic alliances with national and international universities, as well as with industry stakeholders in South Africa. This will include increasing the Department’s global footprint by leveraging the facilities of its Kumba Virtual Reality Centre. It also plans to enhance the role of the Mining Resilience Research Centre (MRRC) as a facilitator of multidisciplinary research.

Initiatives planned to improve its research impact over the next five years include publishing in top high-impact, relevant journals, delivering presentations at top international conferences, and building research collaborations with international experts in the fields of minerals processing, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy and mining.

Key activities that will be undertaken to grow the next generation of researchers, as well as the number of postgraduate students, include the establishment of sustainable research projects to support the research themes. It is envisaged that government’s Mining Phakisa project, which is driven by the Chamber of Mines, will support mining research through the establishment of a Mining Hub. It believes that it can provide higher qualified graduates to the South African job market, who can potentially become entrepreneurs and create their own businesses.

55 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Beneficiating the minerals and materials industry

Minerals and materials According to the Department of the extraction and exploitation of Mineral Resources, the government the country’s mineral reserves. The beneficiation has become department tasked to formulate Department of Materials Science and implement policy to ensure the and Metallurgical Engineering, on one of the key drivers in optimal use of the country’s mineral the other hand, focuses on the resources, mineral beneficiation is processing and refining of mineral advancing the empowerment a form of value-added processing, resources into viable materials and of historically disadvantaged and involves the transformation the performance of the materials in of a primary material, which is service. communities in South Africa. produced by mining and extraction processes, to a more finished Mining Engineering It also creates opportunities product that has a higher export sales value. Beneficiation involves a Research topics that receive for the development of new range of activities, including large- particular attention in the scale, capital-intensive activities, Department of Mining Engineering entrepreneurs in both small and such as smelting, sophisticated include those of rock mechanics refining plants and labour-intensive and underground mine design, large mining industries. processes such as metal fabrication rock breaking and surface mining, and the making of jewellery. Each mine management and leadership, successive level of processing allows mine ventilation engineering, risk the product to be sold at a higher management, mineral economics, price than the previous intermediate and underground mining methods product of original raw material and and mine design. With the support adds value at each stage. of industry, the Department operates the Harmony Chair in The concept of beneficiation is not Rock Engineering and the Mining new in South Africa, but took major Resilience Research Centre, which steps forward during the 1990s when conduct research into some of the the South African mining sector pertinent issues facing the mining changed from being predominantly industry, both in South Africa and an exporter of primary commodities internationally. to becoming a world exporter of processed materials. Despite these The Department also has an developments, South Africa still has excellent relationship with the the potential to further raise the Mine Health and Safety Council level of beneficiated mineral output, (MHSC), and has been involved in particularly in the production of several research projects for the finished goods. Council, as well as for the MHSC’s Safety in Mines Research Advisory At the University of Pretoria, Committee (SIMRAC). It is also research into minerals and materials an active participant in the South beneficiation is primarily conducted African Mining Extraction Research, in the Department of Mining Development and Innovation Engineering and the Department of (SAMERDI) Strategy, which aims to Materials Science and Metallurgical improve the competitiveness of local Engineering. These two departments mining equipment manufacturing conduct complementary research in firms, and to develop technological the mineral sciences supply chain in solutions to improve safety and order to address national, regional productivity, reduce costs, and and global challenges in the mining extend the life of mines and their sector. benefit to communities.

Research in the Department of As a partner of the SAMERDI Mining Engineering is focused on initiative, the Department

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 56 collaborates with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Johannesburg. As such, the partner institutions are currently engaged in research to support the modernisation drive of the South African mining industry. According to the World Bank, Africa is Modernisation will help to improve home to about 30% of the world’s mineral health and safety, facilitating the quest for zero harm. It will also reserves, 10% of the world’s oil and 8% contribute to increased skills development, employment, exports of the world’s natural gas. South Africa’s and revenue. mining industry is responsible for an The Department is involved in a number of priority programmes estimated 19% of all economic activity and under the SAMERDI initiative. These include research projects related supports at least another 25% of upstream to advanced ore body knowledge, the modernisation of mining, the and downstream economic activities. mechanisation of gold and platinum group metals (PGM) commodities Engineering is focused on six key specifically on five areas of research: using drilling and blasting, non- areas related to the processing, material property modelling, explosive rock breaking, real-time refinement and application of computational thermochemical information management systems mineral resources and the metals analysis, process modelling, and human factors. extracted from them. These the multiphysics modelling of are pyrometallurgy, welding pyrometallurgical systems The campaign for increased engineering, minerals processing, and techno-economic innovation in mining has hydro-metallurgy, corrosion modelling. culminated in an allocation in the engineering and physical metallurgy. national budget for research and Globally relevant research is enabled The South African Institute development in the South African by three industry-sponsored chairs of Welding Chair in Welding mining industry (in the extractive and an established research institute Engineering focuses on phase of the value chain) on an that conducts contract research for postgraduate research in welding unprecedented level compared to industry. engineering and the postgraduate historical initiatives. training of welding engineers The Anglo American Chair and technologists according to From these outcomes, as part of in Pyrometallurgy performs fully accredited international the detailed plans that arose during internationally competitive programmes. Research is conducted the Mining Phakisa to accelerate the research that is relevant to the in the on-campus welding modernisation drive, a Mining Hub local pyrometallurgical industry. It laboratory and at the facilities of was established. This Mining Hub conducts research on aspects such various industrial partners. This (now called the Mining Precinct) will as ore, sinter and pellets, reductant includes research on the welding of facilitate public-private relationships and flux characterisation, process industrially important base metals and collaboration, and coordinate thermodynamics and mechanisms, and the characterisation of the mining equipment manufacture process optimisation and welded joint. and skills development by mining development, refractory materials companies, original equipment performance characterisation The Industrial Minerals and Metals manufacturers, skills development and by-products valorisation. The Research Institute (IMMRI) hosts entities and research entities such as research group has close links with leading experts in the metallurgical the University’s recently established industry. engineering industry. It is funded by Mining Resilience Research Centre industrial partners to do contract (MRRC). The Glencore Chair in research within the academic Pyrometallurgical Modelling aims environment. Its strong industrial Materials Science and to support the local industry with focus and project-based approach Metallurgical Engineering basic and applied research to provides leading research, especially promote knowledge transfer in the in the field of physical metallurgy, Research in the Department of field of pyrometallurgical processes but it does work in other fields as Materials Science and Metallurgical and related materials. It focuses well.

57 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 UP launches multidisciplinary Mining Resilience Research Centre

The Mining Resilience Research

Centre (MRRC) was launched on the Hatfield Campus on

25 May 2017 following thorough industry consultation. The need to establish such a centre within the Department of Mining

Engineering was identified prior to a number of very exciting and game changing events within the

South African mining context, such as the Mining Phakisa and the establishment of the

South African Mining Extraction  Eugene Preis and Jónatan Jacobs, project managers in the Mining Resilience Research Centre. Research, Development and Innovation (SAMERDI) The MRRC strives to link all the This will take into account the skills expertise related to mining gap, as well as what the future mining initiative. The centre will play research at the University, as well engineer must be able to manage and an important role in these as to harness the skills of local engineer in the mine of the future. and international associates. In initiatives, while simultaneously this endeavour, it will continuously The main aim of the MRRC is to strive to expand its multidisciplinary provide modern approaches, addressing the need to develop network by forming partnerships world-class facilities and globally with leading local and international relevant topics, making it possible the next generation of mining universities. This will involve student for researchers to excel and for and lecturer exchanges, joint the industry to build capacity. It researchers. research activities and opportunities has already established several for postgraduate study. multidisciplinary collaborations, which will succeed in addressing a The focus of its multidisciplinary number of issues of relevance to research activities will be driven by the mining industry. These include an attempt to deliver an enhanced issues such as future mining product or service that takes inputs education, future new technologies, from various disciplines, and the future socio-economic aspects not purely technical engineering of mining and future mining solutions, into consideration. The governance in Africa to meet the centre hopes to develop technical highest standards. solutions that will assist the mining industry to bridge the future gaps Researchers in several faculties at the that mine modernisation and University are currently taking part in mechanisation will bring. the activities of the MRRC.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 58 Research focuses on enabling mine modernisation Jónatan Jacobs and Eugene Preis

The Mining Resilience Research According to Jacobs, it is vital the phases in the mining life cycle: for organisations and individual exploration, project evaluation, mine Centre (MRRC) has delivered a operations to have access to a design, operations, closure and post- platform with technology-related closure. The constituent value drivers number of research projects information to consider for further for each phase were investigated research and development. His and included in the technology map. aimed at mine modernisation. research therefore sought to These were identified as mineral The drive to modernise facilitate mine modernisation resource management, production, through technological advancement productivity and asset efficiency, the mining sector lies in its throughout the mining life cycle by profitability and cost control, supply developing a technology map. chain, socio-economic factors, health, contribution to improving health environment, safety, and legal (see Developing a technology map Figure 1). These formed the seven and safety, facilitating the quest pillars of the general mining cycle, To achieve this, a platform was and were chosen to represent the for zero harm and increasing created to represent the mining platform on which the technology life cycle that incorporates each of map was created. skills development, employment,

exports and revenue. Jónatan Socio-economic factors Profit margin Jacobs and Eugene Preis, project Environment $ Legal

managers at the MRRC, recently Asset efficiency

conducted progressive individual Stakeholders > Shareholders > research projects in this field.

Supply chain Supply chain

Consumables Production Product

Mineral resource management> Communities > Labour

Productivity Safety Health

 Figure 1: A visual representation of the mining cycle.

Mine modernisation is facilitated through technological advancement throughout the mining life cycle.

59 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Technologies, both physical and These included automation, modelling. Examples of innovative digital, with the potential to add machine learning, renewable energy technologies related to geotechnical value to these focus areas, were generation, energy storage and planning could include technologies incorporated into the platform advanced materials. such as unmanned aerial vehicles, to create a technology map. This Big Data, advanced analytics, 3D potential to add value, if applied To illustrate how the technology point-cloud geo-spatial technology, or modified for application, was map was designed from the virtual reality, augmented reality and assessed on any combination of platform of the mining cycle and predictive modelling. five factors (the ability to increase its constituent value drivers, one production, increase productivity, could consider an example from the Another example could be increase efficiency, improve safety, operations phase under the mineral considered from the operations or reduce the risk of human error). resource management pillar for the phase under the productivity pillar, two chosen main value drivers of with a specific focus on underground The primary focus in the technology geology and geotechnical planning development as the main value map was on technologies currently (see Figure 2). driver. For this example, the chosen classified as disruptive and/or supporting value driver would be exponential, such as the Internet of In this technology map, innovative mineral/ore and waste extraction, Things, cloud computing, advanced technologies related to geology which would, in turn, branch out robotics, genomics, 3D printing and would examine technologies that to drill and blast, and mechanised, artificial intelligence. Other emerging could be used for exploration, autonomous mining, as illustrated in technologies were also investigated. monitoring, and mapping and Figure 3.

Mineral resource management

Geology Geotechnical planning [Unmanned aerial vehicles, Big Data, advanced analytics, 3D point-cloud geo-spatial technology, virtual reality, augmented reality, predictive modelling]

Exploration Monitoring Mapping and modelling [Directional drilling technologies, [Internet of Things, Big Data, [Unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced 3D seismics, airborne gravimetry] advanced analytics] analytics, virtual reality, augmented reality, predictive modelling, 3D point- cloud technology]

 Figure 2: A technology map for the mineral resource management pillar.

Exploration Planning Design/construction Operation Mine decommissioning Post-closure (productivity)

Underground Surface

Load and haul Development Hydrology management

[Tunnel boring machines, automation, remote technologies, integrated remote operating centres] [Directional drilling]

Mineral/ore and waste extraction Infrastructure

Drill and blast Mechanised, autonomous mining Blast design and drill pattern [Mechanised technologies, Big Data, advanced analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, [Unmanned aerial vehicles, augmented reality] Internet of Things, augmented reality, mobile internet, enhanced asset management, integrated remote Drilling work and blasting operating centres, tracking technologies, automation, [Directional drilling, precision drilling, augmented reality, robotics] Internet of Things, advanced analytics, non-explosives, advanced materials, enhanced drilling, systems, automation] Underground coal Pre- and post-blast data [Continuous miners, longwall shearers, advanced materials, nanomaterials, automation] [Unmanned aerial vehicles, augmented reality, Big Data, Internet of Things, advanced analytics] Hard-rock narrow reef Identification of misfires and wall damage [Hard-rock mechanised technologies, advanced [Unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence, Internet of materials, nanomaterials, robotics, automation] Things, advanced analytics]

 Figure 3: A technology map for the productivity pillar.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 60 In the technology maps developed These key challenges have placed was identified for the use of an for each pillar in the mining cycle, the mining industry in a difficult innovative R&D process. selected innovative technologies position. They are substantial and, in could be adapted for or developed many cases, complex in nature. NPD processes have been classified in mining, as well as other new into first-, second- and third- technologies in non-mining In order to ultimately solve (and not generation processes. Second- industries with the potential to merely mitigate) these challenges, generation processes are largely add value to mining. In this way, fundamental innovation step changes referred to as stage-gate models as technology maps could be developed are required. The success of the they comprise discrete stages followed that covered the entire life cycle of a potential implementation of these by review points or “gates”. A typical mining venture. changes is to rethink the “starting stage-gate process is a conceptual point” of innovation, namely the and operational framework that is Technologies that can be considered R&D strategy and process. Contrary used to guide NPD projects from the to modernise mining include the to popular belief, innovation does initial idea through to the launch of following: not occur spontaneously. It is, in the idea. It acts as a “blueprint” for the majority of cases, a product of managing the NPD process effectively Advanced analytics and Big Data meticulous planning, thinking, testing, and efficiently. Essentially, it is a tool Advanced materials and iteration and implementation. that breaks down the innovation nanomaterials process into a predetermined number Advanced robotics His study focused on firstly deriving of stages, where each stage defines Airborne gravimetry a skeleton stage-gate model to a set of prescribed, cross-functional, Artificial intelligence and machine conduct further research into the parallel activities, with best practices learning associated key gate criteria, stage and critical success factors built into Augmented reality and virtual activities and critical success factors. each individual stage. reality His research findings were used Automation and automation of to develop a proposed stage-gate In order to advance from one stage knowledge model, which was then assessed at to the next, a gate has to be passed. Directional drilling the hand of a South African mining These gates serve the purpose of Energy technologies case study (the missing person controlling the process, ensuring Genomics and precision locator system). quality of work, and making a decision agriculture on whether the process can advance The Internet of Things The need for an innovative R&D to the following stage. The different Tracking technologies process in the mining industry gates in the process are similar Additive manufacturing has given rise to a new product in nature and structure, and each (3D printing) development (NPD) process. As consists of required deliverables, NPD processes do not always work criteria against which the project is By applying some, or a combination, as well as they should, a clear need judged and defined outputs. of these technologies in innovative ways, operations may stand to gain Idea Idea Development Testing gate Commercialisation soft-screen gate hard-screen gate gate gate significant business value.

Strategy Launch and Preliminary Business and idea Development Testing post-launch 1 assessment 2 case 3 4 5 Implementing R&D as a generation review modernisation process

Preis’s research investigated what  Figure 4: An overview of the stage-gate system. is known as the stage-gate model as a research and development (R&D) implementation process to From Preis’s research findings, industry, and ultimately modernise modernise the mining industry. proposed stage-gate model and the mining in South Africa. case study evaluation, he concluded that the stage-gate model has the The outcomes of his study (and in He explains that, in recent years, potential to assist in the successful particular, the proposed stage-gate innovation in the mining industry modernisation of the South African model) could be tested by conducting has shifted from being a non- mining industry through focused an actual R&D effort into a new value essential business activity to a R&D efforts into the industry’s key proposition. The actual application of necessity. Key challenges in the problem areas and challenges. The the proposed model would reveal the last decade, such as declining ore study further recommended that, degree of value that the stage-gate grades and increased mining costs, in general, the outcomes of the approach could deliver, and could study should be used to conduct serve as proof that the stage-gate have forced companies to focus R&D in the South African mining model and approach could work as a on innovative business initiatives industry in order to more effectively tool in modernising the South African in order to gain incremental cost and efficiently conduct R&D in the mining industry. and productivity improvements.

61 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 The need for innovation in mining Eugene Preis

Innovation is a word that has Innovation has traditionally been In recent years, innovation in the regarded as something that simply mining industry has shifted from been used increasingly in the happens. It is romanticised as being a non-essential business activity something that stems from a single to a necessity. If the mining industry 21st century. A report by Deloitte genial person. In unique cases, this does not initiate step changes may be true, but in most cases, it in conducting its business, it will Touche Tohmatsu Limited, is not. There are different ambition continue on the current downwards Tracking the trends 2016: the top levels of innovation, which depend on slump. Key challenges in the last the type and magnitude of the value decade have forced companies to 10 issues mining companies will they create, as well as their intended focus on business improvement purpose. initiatives, mostly in the form of face in the coming year, defines innovating to gain incremental cost The Organisation for Economic and productivity improvements. innovation as the creation of a Cooperation and Development These key challenges have placed the (OECD) classifies innovation into mining industry at a crossroad. new, viable business offering. product innovation, process innovation, marketing innovation and The challenges currently facing the organisational innovation. industry are substantial. Due to their highly complex nature, they cannot Innovation can be achieved easily be solved. The optimisation of anywhere. The key is to understand traditional practices, technologies and its diversity and not limit thinking methods has provided some relief to new products or inventions. The in the tough times, but the ability application of existing inventions into to gain value through incremental a new field can also be seen as an improvements has run out. Improving innovation. Essentially, whether an productivity by “sweating” existing invention is new or not, something assets will only go so far. Achieving can be classified as an innovation if breakthroughs in productivity the value it creates in the application performance demands rethinking field is new. This is particularly how mining works. Incremental relevant in the field of mining. improvements have run their course in attempting to mitigate these Considering the current state of challenges. In order to ultimately the mining industry, it is evident solve (and not merely mitigate) that mining companies will have to these challenges, fundamental step make critical decisions about every changes are required. aspect of their business. If they do not choose to innovate, they may The impact that these challenges stagnate. Considering how digital have had on the global mining innovation can improve mining industry, as well as the South African productivity, McKinsey & Company mining industry, is evident when remarked that declining commodity one looks at the performance of prices are placing pressure on the industry in terms of the global mining companies’ cash flow in the equities market and the all share short term. In the long term, many index. Over the last five years, the all existing mines are maturing, resulting share index and the global equities in lower ore grades, increasing market have had annualised returns hauling distances, declining ore-body of 15.5% and 12.1% respectively, replacement rates and increasing while the South African and global new project development times. mining industries have seen Furthermore, worldwide mining returns of -2.6% and -8.5%. When operations are approximately 28% considering the past year, although less productive today than they were the all share index and the equities ten years ago. market underperformed at 6.1% and

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 62 9.7% annualised returns, the South Apart from these challenges, the African and global mining industries South African mining industry has recorded annualised returns of unique barriers to modernisation that -20.8% and -12.6%. These alarming may not be present in other countries. figures highlight the financial impact Thus, from the perspective of the that these challenges have had on South African mining industry, it is the mining industry. an even bigger challenge. It requires rapid innovation in order to make A number of paradigm shifts are modernisation a reality. However, this required to solve these challenges innovation needs to be meticulous – and these solutions need to be The barriers and disciplined. The challenges facing sustainable. Innovation across the innovation in the mining industry mining value chain has become a to successful are not that obvious. Innovation is necessity. Without major changes traditionally an expensive endeavour, and interventions, the industry will modernisation are and success rates are generally low, not overcome these challenges. even in a stable environment (unlike Innovation has the power to not uniform across the the highly unstable and volatile only overcome these challenges, but mining environment). can also lead to a more sustainable globe. and economically thriving industry. The main aim would be to seek the According to Deloitte, companies that technology and innovation than the maximum return on investment. innovate perform better financially in petroleum sector. Yet, operating Research on new product terms of stock price returns. costs on mines are increasing three development suggests that the times faster than consumer inflation overall success rate of new product In Australia, out of the top 50 rates, and are set to double in less introductions is relatively low at 60% companies who spent the most on than five years. (across global industries). This figure research and development (R&D), does not refer to viable products – 30 spent more than four times Given the substantial, ongoing it merely refers to the success the national average on R&D per cost increases, it makes sense to rates of turning ideas into some revenue. In turn, these companies’ spend more on innovation and form of a value offering. Success average return on shareholder business improvement initiatives. rates decline as the cost and risk of investment was 17.1%. Australia’s The relatively small amount spent by developing new products increases. top 1 000 enterprises returned an the mining industry on R&D is not Approximately 46% of all resources average of 7.7%. What this financial necessarily due to an unwillingness spent on new product development performance shows is that innovation to innovate. The core business of is essentially wasted. in the mining industry could lead to mining is based on a number of long-term sustainable benefits. uncertainties and constraints. These Considering the innovation challenge constraints are both inherent (such in the mining industry, the key to Apart from the role it plays in as declining ore grades) and imposed unlocking the potential value of overcoming the current survival (such as political and regulatory innovation is to do it at the lowest challenges, innovation will continue issues). In many cases, the need cost, in the least amount of time, to reward benefits once the for innovation is there, but the and with the least amount of wasted challenges have been resolved. constraints prevent an idea from effort. The success rate of innovation The mining industry is currently turning into a reality. can be increased dramatically if unfavourable in the eyes of investors. an engineering-based approach Innovation has the potential to make When one looks at the South African is followed. A sound innovation it attractive once more. Among the mining industry, one of the key foundation is required to foster numerous benefits of innovation themes is that of modernisation. innovation in the mining industry. An are employment creation and the In essence, modernisation refers organisational innovation or process stimulation of economic growth, to a paradigm shift towards next- innovation is required in terms of the which leads to technological generation mining. This presents approach to innovation. This means progression and can have a the biggest challenge for the South that one type of innovation, such as significant socio-economic impact. African mining industry. It needs to process innovation, is needed first, modernise in order to survive (from in order to more successfully achieve In comparison to the petroleum a financial point of view), and needs other types of innovation, such as sector, the global mining industry to keep its stakeholders satisfied product innovation. greatly lags behind in terms throughout the process. of innovation and business The use of an innovative R&D process improvement. On a revenue-to- The barriers to the successful in the South African mining industry revenue basis, the global mining modernisation of the mining industry could therefore lead to significant industry spends 80% less on are uniform across the globe. value gains.

63 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Collaborative research benefits the local heavy industry

The capital-intensive Industry’s collaboration with shape control associated with the Department of Materials these steels. steelmaking, power generation Science and Metallurgical Engineering’s Physical Metallurgy Through its research and oil and gas sectors of the Research Group demonstrates collaboration with the Physical breakthroughs where innovative Metallurgy Research Group, South African economy have research has facilitated advances AMSA has countered this threat a common challenge: that of in the local heavy industry to by using a locally abundant stave off global competition. alloying element, vanadium, in remaining competitive in the conjunction with nitrogen. The South African stainless and global market using existing carbon alloy steel industries Key to this development was the are facing fierce commercial research that uses precipitation and often ageing production competition from the Far East. strengthening during the One such example is where transformation of the steel plants. high-strength micro-alloyed microstructure. Furthermore, plate steels that combine the by using vanadium (instead of alloying elements titanium and titanium and niobium), and by niobium are produced with following hot rolling strategies modern equipment, for export to researched at UP, high roll the entire global market. These forces and poor shape could be steels cannot be successfully avoided. The studies modelled produced at the Arcelor-Mittal the extent of recrystallisation South Africa (AMSA) plate mill in during hot rolling and the impact Vanderbijlpark, due to the high of recrystallisation on flow stress hot rolling forces and difficult at elevated temperature.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 64 Research synergy: Smart Cities and Transportation

Developing smart, sustainable cities

A key priority of this research focus area is the establishment of a Building Sciences Living Laboratory to provide a multidisciplinary platform for research in energy efficiency, smart buildings, smart grids, smart transportation, green retrofitting, social learning spaces and occupant behaviour, specifically related to the African continent. Another key priority is the development of the facilities on the University’s Experimental Farm for research into future transportation systems for rail, road and autonomous vehicles as a collaborative effort between the University, Transnet, the Railway Safety Regulator and the South African Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).

This research focus area calls for input from a wide range of departments within the Faculty, as well as other faculties, to achieve optimal results. Endeavours to strengthen the Faculty’s research profile include collaborating on research projects with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), as well as a range of international partners, such as the Delft University of Technology.

The Faculty plans to improve the impact of its research by publishing in top high-impact, relevant journals, networking and delivering presentations at top international conferences. It also aims to establish productive research collaborations with leading institutions and researchers, and continuing current collaborations with international universities.

Plans to strengthen its socio-economic impact in South Africa and Africa include increasing its engagement with industry, and providing a better understanding of the factors that enhance the success of interventions, such as a building management system that reduces energy usage and increases environmentally friendly behaviour. It intends establishing a cohort of young professionals who have the necessary modelling capabilities and experiential understanding to produce more resource- efficient buildings and thus contribute to the development of more case studies, as well as to improve an understanding of the relationship between spatial design, and human wellbeing and productivity.

The Building Sciences Living Laboratory and its international networks and research programmes are intended to attract students who plan to practice as a professional after graduation, and to encourage them to consider research as an alternative or additional career path. Further activities to grow the next generation of researchers, as well as the number of postgraduate students, include the development of funded research programmes that provide scholarships. A pipeline of undergraduate students will be developed for research positions in a combined UP-CSIR Built Environment approach, based on the availability of the SANRAL laboratories. A 10% growth in PhD students is expected annually.

65 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Smart cities are connected cities Johnny Coetzee

The research focus on smart In the Department of Town and is displayed on durable, easy-to-use Regional Planning, PhD candidate smart screens that replaced outdated cities and transportation in the Jennifer Mirembe evaluated the public furniture, such as pay phones, features of a smart city, and reached located at bus stops, train stations, Faculty of Engineering, Built the conclusion that information and major entrances, shopping malls and communication technology (ICT) plays sports facilities. Locally, the i-traffic Environment and Information an important part in this concept. system of the South African National Technology provides the According to Mirembe, ICT and Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) related e-technologies have had an provides a web-based platform to opportunity for collaboration enormous impact on the urban space. provide real-time traffic information, including incident alerts, traffic within various departments What is a smart city? speeds, construction updates and closed-circuit television (CCTV) images in the Faculty’s four schools. During the course of her study, that are to the benefit of road users. Mirembe found that the idea to It provides email or SMS alerts about The multidisciplinary nature of make cities smarter and more road works and road conditions along beautiful dates back to the late 1800s a user’s route, as well as changes in research conducted to ensure when reference was made to the travel time along the route. that the urban space, with City Beautiful Movement of Daniel Burnham. This concept was later Smart cities demand digital its associated infrastructure, respected by planners and architects connectivity between people. In all over the world. The development addition, there is a prevalence of is smart and sustainable, of normative planning theories computer hardware, computer and philosophies that unpack operating systems and software. encompasses civil engineering, the imperatives that are needed According to the City of Tshwane’s to transform a city into a good, Integrated Development Plan, a computer science, architecture, smart and liveable city are largely smart city refers to integrating underscored by the popular writings people with capital and construction economics, and of the late Jane Jacobs in The death infrastructure through technology. town and regional planning, to and life of great American cities, as well As such, the City envisions improving Kevin Lynch’s Good City Form. quality of life through the smart mention but a few. approach, focusing on “economy, By definition, a city is defined as being mobility, environment, people, living “smart” when technologies, especially and governance” by 2055. ICTs, are used to address urban problems. Several examples can be Smart cities have a number of cited. In Amsterdam, The Netherlands, benefits for society and the economy, an intelligent street lighting system as well as for individuals in terms of has been implemented, which the liveability and beauty of cities. entails sensors, wireless lighting In addition to creating numerous controls and connected lighting opportunities for job creation, management software. The use of tourism and education, a smart city this system allows Amsterdam to is also better able to compete in the achieve energy savings of up to 80%, demanding global nexus. reduce infrastructure maintenance costs and lower lighting pollution. Smart cities are typically concerned New York City’s City24/7 programme with the environment, carbon is an interactive platform that emissions and environmental integrates information from open change, managing population government programmes, local densities, safety, sanitation and businesses and citizens to provide the general needs and priorities meaningful and powerful knowledge of people. Monetarily, a smart city anytime, anywhere, on any device. is also connected to employment It therefore delivers the information creation and poverty alleviation. people need where and when it Some authors argue that smart cities helps them most. This information are about satisfying the needs of

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 66 the wealthy, while others argue that network. Cellphone connectivity grew little thought is given to how smart exponentially from 14 people per cities are actually changing the lives 1 000 in 1995 to 252 per 1 000 by of the poor living in the informal 2002. By 2002, 11.2 million cellular enclaves of urban spaces. phone users were reported and by 2006 the figure was 21 million. Smart cities and smart technologies From 2002, there was deliberate can result in smarter communities, investment in the installation of a spaces and networks, and smarter digital network infrastructure in many cities in general. However, smart parts of South Africa, especially the cities and ICT in smart cities can larger metropolitan municipalities. have a major negative impact on A city is defined In an attempt to provide capacity communities, spaces and networks for ICT to function effectively, both and can actually result in communities, as being “smart” in South Africa and elsewhere in the spaces and opportunities (outside world, Intelsat Company established the smart city) becoming isolated or when technologies, a commercial satellite communication divorced from the real smart spaces. network with 22 geo-stationary Again, it is the poor and destitute who especially ICTs, satellites, and the undersea SAT-2 will be most affected. cable digital network infrastructure are used to address was installed to connect Africa, Europe There seems to be an impression and Asia. that the principle of a smart city urban problems. is only visible in big cities, such as The City of Tshwane also embarked London, New York and Amsterdam, Examples include on strategies to become a and that it is associated with the computerised city that would engage wealthy, but not for poor, developing the intelligent its population and promote a green countries such as those in Africa economy. The City also developed or South America. However, smart street lighting initiatives to enhance integration, cities and smart e-technologies are system in expand its economic competitive evenly applicable in poor areas and edge, bridge the digital divide, developing countries. In fact, it has Amsterdam advance agribusiness and develop been specifically argued that more its social capital through online could be done to apply the smart city and New York training. In short, the City of Tshwane principle in impoverished areas in an Metropolitan Municipality made attempt to create smart rural areas. City’s City24/7 various efforts to become a smart city. Smart cities in South Africa programme. Other major metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, such as In her research study, Mirembe Johannesburg, Cape Town, Ethekwini discovered that, during the 21st and Ekurhuleni, also attempted century, South African cities to show the distinction between a increasingly shifted from an industrial traditional city and a smart city. In mode to an informational mode of However, in the goals of the revised 2015, the City of Johannesburg was operation. Digital technology became 1993 Pretoria Structure Plan, it was reported to have introduced smart an important aspect of urban life, acknowledged that the influence meters, smart transportation, open with some urban cultures attempting of telecommunications, radio and web access focuses and affordable to understand the potential of ICTs. television would play an increasingly broadband. Similarly, the City of Evidence of this lies in the fact that important role in the city of the Tshwane introduced free Wi-Fi in South Africa is the fourth-fastest future. The argument was that public spaces throughout the city, growing mobile communication communication technologies had and the City of Cape Town, through market in the world, with 80% of increased personal communication, Smart Cape, introduced smart PCs the population connected to digital and that the manner in which people in public libraries, notwithstanding communication networks. commuted from residence to work the utilisation of mobile applications would play a role in informing future (apps) for security. It is somewhat In her study of the spatial planning planning. ironic to note that so much attention policies of the City of Tshwane prior was given to the development of ICTs to the 1990s, Mirembe found little However, during the 1990s, South in urban areas in an attempt to create evidence of the use ICTs other than Africa started to show a new interest a smart city, yet so little attention the use of transport technologies, in ICTs. By 1995, approximately 10% was given to this and no investment which were acknowledged as the of people in South Africa had access was made in the impoverished and driver of urban structure expansion. to a telephone through a landline poor areas. A brief analysis of various

67 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 During the 21st century, South African cities have increasingly shifted from an industrial mode to an informational mode of operation. Digital technology has become an important aspect of urban life.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 68 spatial development frameworks in is the foremost spatial planning anywhere in the world, anytime, with South Africa also revealed the overall document of the City of Tshwane, anyone – at a relatively cheap rate. neglect of planning and investment in only highlighted ICT under the This communication and information- the rural areas. Blue IQ initiatives in the Rosslyn sharing power is enhanced by apps, Automotive Cluster (industrial estate), images, video footage, music and In the same way, according to Innovation Hub (research, innovation internet information. planning strategies such as the and technology) and Dinokeng Municipal Spatial Development Nature Reserve (tourism node). The ICTs and related e-technologies Framework, the City of Tshwane even framework made very little reference produce information at high speeds. created a Consolidated Infrastructure to “infostructure” (intrastructure In addition, technological change Fund to support new transport based on data and information takes place very quickly, which results infrastructure that would be linked produced by ICTs). in the circulation of information also to modern ICTs, for example, the Bus taking place at a high speed. In short, Rapid Transport (BRT) system and ICT and city development the way information moves in space, activity spines. as well as the pace and speed at which From the abovementioned attempt it moves, has had a major impact on According to the City’s 2013/14 Built to define what is meant by a “smart people and their social spaces. Environment Performance Plan, it city”, it is evident that technology has These technologies can shape and was mentioned that, for the past five become a very strong determinant of control cities and the urban form. years (2007/08–2012/13), most of the the urban space network. The nature of e-tools, such as City’s capital budget expenditure was computers, smart phones and the invested in network development According to some authors, internet, has made ICT very powerful. and the upgrading of infrastructure. technology actually triggers the Smart phones and the internet In addition, in a separate planning- emergence of new patterns and have created opportunities such as related framework, the Medium-term formations in urban space. For linking people globally to the urban Revenue and Expenditure Framework example, technology can differentiate space. ICT has become an integral 2013–2014, the City intentionally between mechanical transport, such part of people’s lives and spaces. put in place the Movement System as a train, and natural transport, When considering the role of ICT in Programme, which invested in such as pedestrian movement. sustainable development, one would corridor developments. It was Other authors argue that technology consider how ICT connects people also noted that lines or paths that is indeed one of the many tools to new knowledge, entertainment, promote the use of motorised and that human beings have used to relationships and capital. non-motorised transport were solve problems. The application of prioritised for development, which technology increasingly improves It is clear that ICT has had and will included extension, expansion and and directs the functionalities of the continue to have a major impact maintenance. Another example network structure of cities. on people, human conduct and was the City-wide Densification emotions, as well as on the way in Programme, which ensured that During the last three decades, which people communicate. ICT the City of Tshwane would be technology (as we knew it in the has also become associated with geared towards the growth of urban 1900s and even prior to that) has the City Beautiful Movement, and in nodes and increase the quality of transformed into a new construct, particular the Smart City Movement. infrastructure lines. mainly shaped and informed by ICT and related e-economies have the evolution of computers and also influenced the larger urban The impact of ICT on planning the informational revolution. The space economy. Furthermore, in in the City Tshwane was also construct of ICT became so powerful recent years, ICT has started to have a visible on 5 February 2014 when that, in many ways, it started to control major impact on urban planning and the Tshwane Rapid Transit (TRT) urban space activities, businesses, planners, as well as the way in which Spatial Development Policy was economies, industries, institutions, cities are planned and managed. developed with an emphasis on people, the aerospace industry and densification and intensification satellites, among other things. It Upon conclusion of her study, around the transport corridors and actually became so powerful that it Mirembe realised that the urban TRT stations. The intention was to now controls and powers the whole space is changing. There is an improve connectivity, residential world economy. Imagine a global emergence of dialogues happening densification, suburban densification, shut down or “power failure” and the between people, time, power, culture, transit/transport-oriented impact this would have on society. identity, governance, economy, developments, building orientation urban space and ICT. Consequently, and infrastructure for non-motorised Apart from the inherent power of there is a need for cities to become transport (pedestrians and bicycles). ICTs, the computer, smart phones smarter and to find new ways of and the internet also spawned new accommodating r apid changes in ICTs However, the Metropolitan Spatial communication powers, which and their impact on space, people, the Development Framework, which enabled people to communicate economy and urban planning.

69 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Collaborative research is the key to building smart, resilient, sustainable cities

The Department of Architecture This seminar was the result of recent positive change also occurs. Positive formal cooperation agreements change must be informed by rigorous is a key role-player in enhancing between Delft University of and targeted collaborative research Technology, UP and the CSIR. The that can be readily and rapidly the University’s international seminar was attended by built applied to counter climate change research profile in the field of environment researchers and and develop more sustainable built professionals, as well as government, environments. smart cities and transportation. business and non-governmental organisations that had an interest The papers at the seminar A number of research projects in smart and sustainable built characterised this positive approach have been conducted recently in environments. The main purpose from different spheres of interest of the seminar was to further and perspectives. They covered a collaboration with the Council of boost the collaboration between wide range of subjects reflecting South African and Dutch parties the various research interests and Scientific and Industrial Research working on similar themes of the pressing topics of the day, and sustainable (re)development of cities. introduced the id eas, tools and (CSIR) and the Delft University In particular, the aim of the seminar plans needed for smarter and more of Technology, The Netherlands. was to help the cities of Tshwane resilient and regenerative urban and Amsterdam, and their respective environments. This research was showcased at knowledge institutes, to collaborate and learn from each other in their The papers presented at the the Smart Sustainable Cities and endeavours to become smart, conference included the work of Transport Seminar, held at the resilient and sustainable. several of the researchers in the Department of Architecture, including CSIR from 12 to 14 July 2017. According to Prof Chrisna du Plessis, Gert van der Merwe, Carin Combrinck, Head of the University’s Department Johan Swart and Jan Hugo. of Architecture, we are living in a rapidly changing world. The effects of climate change and the weakening of critical ecosystem services are beginning to impact on every aspect of our lives. Big Data, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities for the more effective management of cities, as well as new challenges and threats. A range of new economic and governance models are emerging that make use of distributed networks for effective stakeholder The seminar engagement. All of these changes come together in our cities, which boosted further themselves are rapidly changing in form, nature and extent. collaboration

Given this situation, it is not only between the valuable to understand these changes and their impact on the South African physical and cultural heritage of our cities and the standard practices of and Dutch producing our built environment. It is equally important that high-impact, researchers.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 70 Positive change must be informed by rigorous and targeted collaborative research.

Participant action research strategies through art that seek to in university graduates, as well as unlock underutilised land and drive participating interest groups. Local and Van der Merwe’s paper dealt with urban regeneration. His research was international literature points to the research on participant action extracted directly from engagement pitfalls of university-led initiatives that research: developing a framework with the TAU, and many of the are lacking in critical scholarship and for inner-city regeneration through theories underpinned the conceptual are resistant to deep transformation. the arts and creative cultures. In foundation of the TAU. It thus an attempt to stimulate urban served as an example of the broad At the same time, discourse concerned renewal, South African cities have considerations when investigating with urbanism in the Global South increasingly turned to private sector the relationship between a real-world points to a dire need to redefine developments, which attract artists project and the gentrification impacts the way professionals interact with and other creatives to the urban it might have. communities facing the challenges of core. He discussed the relative contested spatial legacies. The work success of these strategies and Embedding a culture of presented was situated in the honours outlined several issues surrounding participation programme of the University’s gentrification through literature and Department of Architecture and precedent. These considerations then Combrinck’s paper reflected on included contributions by the informed the ongoing theoretical the value of embedding a culture Entrepreneurship section of the and organisational developments of participation across various Department of Business Management of the Tshwane Arts Union (TAU), an disciplines towards collaborative in the Faculty of Economic and artist-established civil organisation urban citizenship. The question Management Sciences, as well as the aimed at working with the various underpinning this investigation was Department of Family Medicine in the institutions housed in Tshwane. how the integration and coordination Faculty of Health Sciences. of engagement modules in academic His investigation set out a guiding curricula could contribute towards the Building on an institutional history framework for urban renewal establishment of an urban citizenship of community engagement, a pilot

71 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 study was initiated in partnership from a critical engagement with the As outcome, the study hoped with a network of five early complexity of cultural history. to highlight the adaptation and childhood development centres mitigation potential within South (ECDCs) in Mamelodi East in the City The aim of the paper was to prove African cities, and proposed a novel of Tshwane. Participatory action the benefits of reading urban data process framework to retrofitting research informed the development culturally and contextually in relation these spaces. of business models for the ECDCs as to complex and context-specific well as urban visions for the study scenarios, and as a reflection of Overcoming data challenges area. Critical reflection on the work diverse and ongoing urban narratives. for waste management provided insight into the difficulties and opportunities experienced, Furthermore, case studies illustrated Elias Willemse of the University’s eventually proposing an argument how engaging data within such a Department of Industrial Engineering for the vertical curricular streaming critical framework could lead to more also presented a paper at the of sustained participatory processes, sustainable urban development seminar. He considered the topic as well as horizontal collaboration proposals where change was of overcoming data challenges for across disciplinary boundaries. considered in response to underlying waste management in developing urban tensions (solving problems cities. Smart design in the complex inclusively), with reference to culturally city specific dialogues (ensuring synergy The safe disposal of waste is one and ownership), and cognisant of of the primary services that cities Swart’s paper elaborated on smart ongoing appropriation of resources provide to their citizens. The service design in the complex city: critical (to ensure long-term benefit). is also transport-intensive, making engagements with context and it the most expensive component of history. Cities are continuously Improving the urban climate waste management in developing evolving cultural systems, and the resilience of cities countries. Waste collection also elements that make up the city can be has ill side-effects for cities, such seen as cultural residue continuously Hugo’s paper (presented together as contributing to road congestion manifested by historical processes. with Du Plessis) described a process and vehicle emission pollution. The present layers of the city, both framework to improve the urban It is therefore crucial to optimise tangible and intangible, contain a climate resilience of cities through collection operations to minimise field of residual elements that can be the collective retrofitting of their their negative side-effects and make read as data, interpreted culturally interstitial spaces. Globally, the rapid the service more sustainable. and altered through intervention. This urbanisation that we are experiencing view of the city implicates a multitude has caused extensive negative Much research has been devoted to of disciplines bound together by impacts on already vulnerable optimising this function, but a key their attempts to understand the regions. While many people have assumption is that the data needed complexities of the city, to engage in highlighted the adaptation and for better collection planning is critical discussion about its past and mitigation potential of cities, the readily available. This assumption future and to develop strategies for need to realign the developmental rarely holds in developing countries. meaningful change. trajectory of cities is crucial in curbing The key challenge is then for its contribution to climate change. developing cities to inexpensively The basis of this paper was that source waste collection data to architecture and its content Premised on ecological resilience improve their planning. To address was based on the development thinking, this study explored the this challenge, he showed how and outcomes of an ongoing potential of architecture to improve existing data sources could be postgraduate design studio focused the climate change resilience of cities. combined to create detailed waste on urban conservation. From this It explored the use of interstitial spaces collection statistics on a sub- perspective, the contribution towards within existing urban environments, suburban scale. The data sources a broader discussion of smart and and used urban acupuncture methods used were GPS records of waste sustainable urbanism was twofold. to radically transform these cities. collection vehicles, regional census Firstly, visual and conceptual Highlighting various ecological and data, collection service areas and reasoning was utilised in an attempt climate change resilience theories, schedules, and the locations of to provide schematic descriptions of along with a discussion on the use of landfills and intermediate facilities. the city where aspects of the evolving green infrastructure and ecosystem The presentation focused on how urban environment could be read services within the Gauteng Cities the combined data could be used as interrelated informants within a Region, the study synthesised those to generate collection statistics, spatio-temporal matrix. Secondly, considerations into a preliminary including the cost and time required spatial design intervention was framework to enable the revisioning to service sub-suburban areas. used as a platform to discuss how and adaptive use of the various Finally, the presentation illustrated strategies of urban transformation undervalued spaces within the urban how the information could be used to on various scales could benefit environment. improve waste collection planning.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 72 New engineering facilities increase research capacity

In the current scenario in South On 28 June 2016, Prof Cheryl landscape in general. More engineers de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and who are skilled in transport Africa, where there is a shortage Principal of UP, Mr Nazir Alli, CEO of engineering will qualify and the SANRAL and Dr Rachel Chikwamba, qualification standard of transport of civil engineering and other Executive Director of the CSIR, engineers, technologists and transport engineering skills, it is signed a collaborative agreement. technicians will be improved. These This agreement will lead to the skilled professionals will contribute to vital to ensure that critical mass establishment of an Integrated cost savings through improvements Education, National Certification, in design, construction, maintenance in these areas is developed and National Reference and Research and transport infrastructure maintained. This can be achieved Laboratories Facility, as well as management. The country will also SANRAL national test tracks. New benefit from better-performing by optimising the utilisation laboratories and equipment, together transport infrastructure and the with existing facilities, will conduct associated reduction in user operating of current facilities and staff academic and industry research, as costs. Transport infrastructure well as certification functions. construction will also have a reduced available at the University of impact on the environment. Pretoria and the Council for UP’s strategic plan for the period 2012 to 2025 focuses on problems Envisaged new facilities Industrial and Scientific Research of national and/or regional concern in order to simultaneously maximise The new laboratories will be (CSIR) through a managed local impact, while enhancing its constructed on the University’s partnership with the South academic stature and visibility in Experimental Farm in Hatfield. This a highly competitive international location was selected as it lies in a African National Roads Agency world. To this end, UP has been buffer zone adjacent to the N1/N4 fostering relationships with SANRAL, highway. A multi-storey building will SOC Limited (SANRAL). the CSIR and other research entities be constructed to which access can in the interest of producing quality be gained from the south, while the engineers and research. In terms of the private sector, there has also been good cooperation with industry associations such as South African Bitumen Association (SABITA), which has funded several research projects and has been actively pursuing innovation, knowledge transfer and training activities.

The new facility’s vision is to provide an internationally renowned platform The vision of for academic and vocational training support in transport infrastructure the new facility materials testing, a national transport materials reference testing platform, is to provide an as well as high-quality research facilities and skilled staff. This will internationally enhance the quality and quantity of the outputs and avoid the costly renowned platform duplication of laboratory facilities. for academic and Not only will the new facility benefit the three partner institutions, but vocational training it will also contribute to the South African pavement engineering support.

73 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 the facility will play the role of an independent facility for the certification of material testers. This will enable an environment where such testers can conduct an independent trade test to verify their competency in the required tests and enable industry to trust the certification process, as it is being done independently. As an outcome of the independent verification of materials testers’ competency, the facility will also maintain a national register of certified materials testers for reference purposes.

In addition, there is a need for the national training and certification of road and bridge visual inspectors. This certification consists of a one- week theoretical and practical course with an associated examination. Each authority independently administers these examinations, which results in a duplication of effort. A facility like  Overall layout of the Experimental Farm indicating the space to be utilised. this will be able to ensure better data consistency and reduce duplication. northern façade will be designed day-to-day management. The to be aesthetically pleasing when staff complement will consist of National Reference Laboratory viewed from the highway, while individuals from UP, CSIR and the playing a noise-abating role. Gauteng Department of Roads and The National Reference Laboratory Transport (Gautrans). aims to participate in international The development will comprise proficiency schemes and conduct facilities to host the Department This new laboratory will host standard reference testing for of Civil Engineering’s academic a standard suite of transport SANRAL and other authorities in the and technical staff, as well as infrastructure materials testing northern parts of South Africa. This practical and discussion teaching equipment for the training of large laboratory will be fully accredited facilities for senior undergraduate groups of UP students, students by the South African National and postgraduate students in the from universities of technology and Accreditation System (SANAS). It Department, and visiting scholars. industry. will be responsible for operating The building will also house a the National Laboratory Proficiency collection of laboratories for other SABITA developed a curriculum for Scheme. As with the Academic departments at UP. materials testers that is endorsed and Training Laboratory, UP will by the Roads Pavement Forum be responsible for the day-to-day The University will be responsible for (RPF). This is proposed as the management. CSIR laboratory staff the design, construction and operation official curriculum for materials and possibly staff from Gautrans of the new facilities. The CSIR will testers in South Africa and requires will also be part of the team. This procure equipment and operate the such testers to be trained in the laboratory will focus on industry’s existing facilities on its premises, full complement of transport needs. SANRAL will purchase the which forms part of the agreement, infrastructure materials tests, in initial equipment, and reference while SANRAL will fund the project and accordance with relevant South testing on projects will recover coordinate the facilities. African National Standard (SANS) and costs. The CSIR, UP and SANRAL will industry test methods. In order for be responsible for the laboratory’s Academic and Training the facility to play an independent planning and scheduling. Existing Laboratory and vital role in the training and equipment from the CSIR will also monitoring of materials testers in be used. The Academic and Training South Africa, it is important to align Laboratory will provide materials activities to this curriculum. A national proficiency scheme for testing training courses and laboratories allows the accreditation independent certification. UP will As part of the activities of the of competent laboratories and staff be responsible for the laboratory’s Academic and Training Laboratory, to ensure the formal recognition of

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 74 The research laboratories will conduct advanced testing for all research applications.

such laboratories, and that staff are of duplicate samples from road research applications. The aim is to competent to carry out specific tasks construction projects in the use the current facilities available at in terms of the Accreditation for northern parts of South Africa. It is the CSIR and UP, and to complement Conformity Assessment, Calibration important to ensure that test results these with new facilities and/or and Good Laboratory Practice Act, obtained from commercial and site equipment where necessary. UP Act No. 19 of 2006. The intention is laboratories that are all connected will manage the concrete laboratory that the facility will be involved in to the major road construction and the new laboratories, while the management of this scheme to consultants and/or contractors can the CSIR will manage the existing ensure that all relevant aspects of be continually verified and that the bitumen and asphalt laboratory. quality control and certification are quality of all public infrastructure These laboratories are to be used managed by a central facility. can be guaranteed. It serves a major by postgraduate students and auditing role in ensuring that all researchers. The laboratories will Proficiency testing refers to test data from road construction, be funded by SANRAL, the CSIR and any activity undertaken by a maintenance and rehabilitation industry. laboratory in order to provide projects in the country are objective evidence that it is independently audited and verified. A research laboratory steering proficient or competent to perform committee will conduct the planning measurements. The term applies The laboratory will also be and scheduling, with the primary to all laboratories, whether they responsible for the annual national focus on approved academic and perform measurements for certification of road surface profilers bona fide research plans. UP’s calibrating instruments or for and falling weight deflectometers existing specialised concrete test the purpose of testing products. that are used for asset data equipment, the CSIR’s existing Proficiency testing is a requirement collection. These certifications are specialised soil, bitumen and asphalt of a SANAS-accredited laboratory. currently being conducted by several test equipment and new international The National Laboratory Association separate authorities, which results in specialised test equipment that is not of South Africa (NLA-SA) has a duplication of effort. Such a facility currently available at UP or the CSIR embarked on a project to make will also be able to ensure better data will be used in these laboratories. proficiency testing schemes consistency and reduce unnecessary that meet all the ISO/IEC 17025 duplication. The new concrete laboratory will requirements available to the host current specialised concrete test laboratory community. Research facilities equipment from UP for postgraduate and industry research. Competent A further role of the laboratory is The research laboratories aim to technicians will be available to train to perform independent testing conduct advanced testing for all and support students.

75 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 A new, separate UP civil engineering laboratory is also being planned for the Experimental Farm site, although it will function separately from the envisaged integrated laboratories. This includes current UP laboratories, as well as structural, timber, water and railway research facilities. The site will also house UP’s geotechnical centrifuge. Research in some of these laboratories will support and complement the research being conducted in the concrete and asphalt laboratories, where applicable. A dedicated transport  The potential location of real traffic test tracks. laboratory space will be provided to enable undergraduate thesis limitations in research that would not recently constructed next to two students to conduct experiments be visible in a laboratory environment. existing rail track structures. The that do not fit into the available CSIR PY Slab Track borrows its name from research laboratory due to the large the heavy haul concrete sleeper, number of final-year undergraduate Test tracks are a more recent as it has the same cross-sectional students. development, where actual traffic is allowed to use a test section that profile as that of the PY sleeper. It is envisaged that the laboratories will is instrumented and monitored for It is a ballastless track structure be supported by metal and electronic various performance and behavioural that the Passenger Rail Agency of workshops to support the construction parameters. Currently, there are South Africa (PRASA) currently uses of equipment and models, as well as approximately five well-known on the Metrorail lines that carry general sensor and instrumentation international test tracks used for the passengers. development. Existing facilities on evaluation of road infrastructure, and both the CSIR and UP campuses will again, the results from such tests are The railway engineering research be used where applicable. vital to show the response of road infrastructure to real high-speed will be conducted on this structure to evaluate the performance of the Test tracks and full-scale accelerated traffic. Conceptually, test tracks and track structure components, which pavement testing (APT) facilities APT facilities fill the gap between will include three different types of are traditionally used to scale up the single material testing of small rails, rail pads and concrete slab, as the research findings that were samples in a laboratory environment well as the constructed formation obtained in laboratory testing to and the full-scale implementation of layers below the track slab. The real-world scale and conditions. This the research results. PY Slab Track is a South African is a requirement for implementation design by Henry de Wet of of the research, as the majority As part of the new developments, an RCE Consultants, a former Transnet of laboratory-based research APT track will be used for the in situ employee. Stefanutti Stocks Civils, focuses on material-specific testing of experimental pavements Aveng and iKusasa Rail sponsored properties and behaviour, and at an accelerated pace using an the track’s construction. real road infrastructure consists APT device. The facility will be used of a combination of materials and to support the SANRAL research Conclusion layers to which stresses and strains programme. A real traffic diversion are applied that are sometimes track from the current N1/N4 located Given the shortage of transport magnitudes larger than that which adjacent to the Experimental Farm is engineering skills, UP, the CSIR can be simulated in a normal planned as part of a future full-scale and SANRAL aim to address the laboratory environment. real traffic test area. This is similar national need for education and the to current developments in Virginia, development of new technological South Africa is a leader in the Minnesota and Texas in the USA, solutions for the transport industry development and use of full-scale APT, where actual traffic is allowed access in South Africa. with the two major systems currently to the test track at designated times. available internationally both being The intention is to split road sections These three institutions will be developed locally. Over the past using New Jersey concrete barriers into jointly responsible for the new 25 years, this type of technology has a traffic and test lane with test sections engineering development at UP’s proved itself to be vital for the final constructed in the road reserve. Experimental Farm, which will go a link between the laboratory-based long way in ensuring that competent results and full-scale implementation In addition to the APT tracks, a graduates and meaningful research of research findings, often highlighting 30-meter-long PY Slab Track was outputs are produced.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 76 Collaborating towards railway safety

The importance of rail safety in UP partners with the Railway the University will gain first-hand Safety Regulator knowledge on what skills are South Africa has never been more needed in the railway industry to Safety on rail, like all other public fully equip its students and ensure prominent than today. Transnet’s services and infrastructure that they are ready to make a objectives and government development, is the number-one difference in the world as soon as priority, and railway engineers have they graduate. The MoU includes infrastructure investment much work to do to ensure that the the development of a Railway Safety users of rail transport in South Africa Inspector Qualification, which support this notion. Skills arrive safely at their destinations. To will be a combination of formal transfer, teaching and continuing achieve this goal, Prof Cheryl de la training and practical workplace Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of experience with a multi-disciplined education are the keys to the University of Pretoria, Nkululeko focus. Development courses Poya, Chief Executive Officer of the to address deficiencies in the unlocking the potential required Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and training of technical staff will also be implemented. A further two to achieve short- and long-term Prof Sunil Maharaj, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Built courses, Technical Auditing and goals in the rail industry. It is a Environment and Information Report Writing and Train Movement Technology, signed a Memorandum Authorisation Systems, will also be fact that investment in research of Understanding (MoU) for the developed and presented. RSR Chair in Railway Safety on and development will increase 14 November 2016. This agreement Prof Hannes Gräbe, the incumbent the competitive edge that rail has was signed for a period of five years of the Chair in Railway Safety in the from 2016 to 2021. Department of Civil Engineering, over other modes of transport. believes that the cost associated This collaborative effort between UP with rail incidents warrants To this end, the University of and the RSR is an example of how investment into the training of rail Pretoria has entered into two academics and industry can partner safety inspectors. “We are excited to meet the greater needs of society. about the opportunities that this partnerships. The benefit for both parties has far- partnership will create. In addition to reaching consequences. The RSR will the training, research projects will be have the opportunity to articulate its initiated to address burning issues in training, research and development the field of railway safety. We trust needs to the University, while that this partnership will last for many years and that the fruit of our efforts will notably benefit railways in South Africa,” he says.

In addition to the Chair in Railway Safety, the Department of Civil Engineering also holds the Transnet Freight Rail Chair in Railway Engineering, which was established more than 20 years ago. The Chair, of which Prof Gräbe is also the incumbent, annually presents more Railway safety than 20 short courses to industry and is responsible for technical is an important support and problem-solving, as well as research and development priority in the in the different railway disciplines. The Chair’s activities feed into the development of rail University of Pretoria’s numerous infrastructure. postgraduate programmes in railway engineering.

77 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  Postgraduate students are involved in a number of programmes in railway engineering.

Railway Occurrence The aim of the programme is Railway Safety Inspector Qualification Investigation Programme to provide TFR rail occurrence that is currently being developed by investigators a detailed Enterprises UP, the RSR and other Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and the understanding of all the major stakeholders. The Engineering Council Department of Civil Engineering at aspects of railways (infrastructure, of South Africa (ECSA) accredits the University of Pretoria have jointly operations and rolling stock), as all modules, which are therefore developed the Railway Occurrence well as their interrelationships and eligible for continued professional Investigation Programme (ROIP) to interdependencies in the railway development (CPD) points. address the escalating, repetitive undertaking. nature of incidents through proper The ROIP is just one of many ways to investigation. The ROIP was developed as eight achieve a state of “no occurrences” individual modules that are in the railway industry. By reducing Railway incidents, such as presented as short courses over incidents, starting with derailments derailments and collisions, annually a 12-month period. At the end of and collisions, the industry can save cost the operators approximately the formal training, occurrence millions of rands and ensure the R570 million in addition to the investigators will be subjected to safety of its users and operators. unquantifiable loss of life. According a summative assessment on the to the State of Safety Report of content of the programme. In collaboration with all rail 2015/16, some 665 people were stakeholders, the University of injured and a further 20 lost their The curriculum content of the ROIP Pretoria has the technical expertise lives as a result of derailments and is aligned with the theoretical and and facilities to be a leader in railway collisions. practical course content of the safety in Africa.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 78 Real-time monitoring of the extended road network by utilising telematics technology Illeze Wessels and Prof Wynand Steyn

Continuous, real-time Telematics technology continuously wheelpaths of a road. Measuring evolves and is currently used in the the road surface profile is one of the monitoring of the road network market to monitor and manage most direct methods of quantifying vehicle fleets, retrieve hijacked or the variations in surface elevation. can assist in prioritising when stolen vehicles and monitor driver The International Roughness behaviour for insurance companies. Index (IRI) roughness parameter is roads should be maintained Most telematics units incorporate determined from the road profile or rehabilitated. The timeous a global positioning system (GPS), measured in a specific wheelpath. acceleration and gyroscope sensors. Most modern profilometers maintenance or rehabilitation of Leading telematics companies have the capability of measuring generally have large databases and the profile of the road in both roads improves road safety and complex algorithms to store this wheelpaths simultaneously. A more type of information. theoretically accurate assessment comfort. This type of monitoring of roughness can be attained if the In this study, different statistical roughness index is calculated in can be used to assist in investing analysis techniques were applied both wheelpaths, using the Halfcar to the existing telematics data Roughness Index (HRI). the available funds and and the most promising outcome resources more intelligently. was utilised to show that this The IRI produces a controlled technology contains additional measurement for a number of A study conducted by the potential in terms of monitoring roads under numerous conditions the condition of the extended road from a variety of instruments and Department of Civil Engineering network on a continuous, real-time methods. It is defined as the ratio of basis. Although road roughness is the accumulated suspension motion explores the practicality of currently measured with dedicated of a vehicle, divided by the total Class 1 profilometers, when distance travelled by the vehicle, adopting telematics technology effective calibration techniques and has units of slope (m/km). An IRI are applied to the data harvested interpretation scale was developed to monitor the condition of the from telematics units, a reasonably by Sayers, Gillespie and Paterson extended road network on a accurate representation of the road (Sayers et al., 1986), and generally condition can be produced. This is indicates the IRI ranges for different continuous, real-time basis. shown by sampling data from a few paved and unpaved road sections, local passenger vehicles fitted with as well as recommended safe telematics devices and doing the operating speeds. necessary analysis and calibration techniques on the vertical (up/down) Various instruments monitor road acceleration to produce data roughness and can be broadly that can provide a cost-effective divided into two main categories: indication of the condition of the the profilometric methods and extended road network in real time. the response-type road roughness measuring system (RTRRMS). Road roughness and condition monitoring

Road roughness describes the relative degree of comfort or discomfort road users experience. Monitoring road roughness is vital, since it has a direct influence on the user experience of a specific road. An uncomfortable ride is generally associated with variations in the surface elevation along the  The IRI interpretation scale.

79 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  Road section used for analysis.

Measuring a road profile allows a measurements. Most RTRRMSs are companies are able to continuously continuous representation of a road affected by variations in the physical communicate with the monitoring to be evaluated to identify local properties of vehicles. Many of centre to increase frequency in the defects, or to be processed to yield these variations originate either event of an emergency. a roughness numeric. Profilometric due to the initial design or due to methods include manual, quasi- the degradation or replacement of If the road pavement roughness static and high-speed profilometers. various components. decreases, road users tend to drive faster. An increase in speed might For an RTRRMS, a vehicle is fitted Numerous smartphone applications offset the benefits to be gained with an instrument such as a road have recently been developed to from reduced rolling resistance, meter. The road meter produces a evaluate and detect road conditions. which is associated with reduced roughness measurement that results These applications use different pavement roughness. A linear from the motion of the vehicle as sensors of mobile smartphones. regression model was generated it traverses the road at a constant Although smartphones have several to estimate the free-flow speed speed. The RTRRMS depends on the advantages of measuring the on freeways in California. The vehicle type and the dynamics of its road condition, limitations include variables considered included lane ride tuning. The performance of the the manual orientation of the number, total number of lanes, day RTRRMS is therefore not consistent smartphones, placing and keeping of the week, region, fuel price and with time and may change abruptly them in a fixed position in a vehicle pavement roughness. with a turnover in fleet vehicles and physically exercising human or due to travelling at different effort to understand and run the The data used to create the model speeds. Primary calibration of the applications correctly. was obtained from the freeway RTRRMS includes obtaining standard network of California in the USA roughness measurements for actual Modern telematics devices in between 2000 and 2011. Results roads by simulating the reference vehicles adopt GPS technology, confirmed that roughness has a very RTRRMS on the profiles that were which is capable of locating a vehicle small impact on free-flow speed measured by the profilometer. within a circular error probability with regard to wider and smoother (CEP) of approximately 2.5 m. road sections. However, a strong If calibrated correctly, an RTRRMS is The position of the vehicle is thus relationship was produced between capable of producing measurements communicated to a monitoring riding quality and the speeds in standard units to an accuracy of centre via Global System for Mobile attained for narrower and rougher approximately 10% for individual (GSM) technology. Telematics road sections.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 80 or smartphone applications. The roughness of the road section will be continuously calculated as identified consenting customers travel on different roads on the network. The deterioration rate of the road can also be monitored by comparing the estimated road roughness, which was calculated previously, with the estimated road roughness after a specific period has elapsed. This can provide an indication of rapid road deterioration and the resultant need for more in-depth investigation  Average vertical acceleration for 10 m segments, indicating an area of high of the road structure. The actual road roughness. measured HRI from the Class 1 profilometer and the estimated HRI Statistical analysis have various built-in components, from the telematics device data were such as a three-axis accelerometer, plotted to illustrate the means of The study investigated different three-axis gyroscope and data visual portrayal and correlation. statistical techniques to find a storage facilities. The devices method that could be used to also have a GPS that is capable of Conclusion link the data harvested from the locating a vehicle within a CEP of Telematics technology can telematics devices in the field to a approximately 2.5 m. potentially be utilised to estimate road condition index that could be the road condition. With appropriate used and distributed to road users The section length selected for calibration techniques and on a continuous, real-time basis analysis depended on the storage continuous progress, the data throughout the road network. capacity of the telematics devices. The calibration by correlation harvested from a large sample of telematics devices installed in the A road section with various occurred over segments of 10 m. field can produce information. This defects and different degrees of The overall length of the section information can be valuable to all roughness was identified in the used to generate the linear road users, as it improves road safety development of a model that regression model was 2 km. The and assists with the implementation could be used to estimate the average vertical acceleration of better road maintenance road condition by utilising the data generated for the different vehicles prioritisation. Telematics technology harvested from telematics devices. that travelled at the different speeds holds the potential of various To generate a preliminary model, for 10-m segments of the 2-km road prospective future applications, such three passenger vehicles (a small section were calculated and plotted. as the following: hatchback, a large hatchback, and a large sports utility vehicle (SUV)) In order to produce a road profile Calibrating the sensors to detect were driven at 40 km/h, 60 km/h, from the raw data generated, road anomalies such as potholes, 80 km/h and varying speed over different statistical analysis speed bumps and untrue bridge a continuous road section 2 km techniques were investigated. deck joints on a larger network long. The constant speeds were level through pattern recognition achieved with the vehicles’ cruise Results algorithms. control systems. The varying speed Deterioration rate monitoring of was achieved when the driver The ultimate purpose of the analysis roads on a network level. randomly varied the speed over was to generate reliable data that Proposals for safe operating the length of road. To ensure that could be visually portrayed to all speeds in relation to road the data was calibrated for all the road users so that they were aware roughness. different variabilities, the telematics of the road condition and could Vehicle operating cost models, devices were also installed in drive accordingly if they knew the which link the fuel cost to the different locations on each vehicle. condition beforehand. This would estimated calculated road Calibration by correlation involved assist with the awareness factors of roughness. calibrating the telematics device’s road users and improve road safety. profile data with the actual road References profile as measured with a Class 1 The continuous, real-time road profilometer. The latest-generation roughness of the extended road Sayers, M.S., Gillespie, T.D., and Paterson, W.D.O. 1986. Guidelines for conducting and telematics devices manufactured by network can be computed, displayed calibrating road roughness measurements. the tracking company were used in and distributed to all road users via World Bank Technical Paper 46. this study. These telematics devices portable navigation devices (PNDs) Washington, DC: The World Bank.

81 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 The effects of road conditions and packaging types on transported tomatoes

Prof Wynand Steyn and CJ Pretorius

A study conducted in the Tomatoes is one of the most popular According to the sixth State of Logistics crops in the world. Unfortunately, Survey, conducted by the CSIR in 2009, University of Pretoria’s a considerable amount of freshly which focused specifically on the cost harvested tomatoes never reaches of bad roads to the economy, there Department of Civil Engineering the consumer due to bruising during is a strong relationship between road transportation and handling. When condition and the vibrations that a looked at two crucial aspects considering the quality of fresh truck experiences when travelling on of transport logistics in the tomatoes, consumers are primarily the road. This affects the transported concerned with the firmness and cargo, and vibration-induced damage tomato-farming industry. It appearance of the product, which could be a result of poor road includes colour and freedom from conditions. considered the influence of imperfections. Tomato quality also deteriorates as the tomato matures It is expected that roads with higher road conditions and different during its shelf life. The effect of roughness values could cause temperature and humidity on the packing types on the shelf-life of premature deterioration in the quality ripening time of tomatoes cannot be of tomatoes. To evaluate this theory, a underestimated. Other factors such tomatoes. study was conducted at three tomato as road conditions, acceleration and farms in Limpopo, which are owned by packaging all have an effect on the ZZ2. Trucks travel from the farms via a cargo. gravel road, after which they travel on a provincial road and a section of the Road transport is one of the most national road to the central packaging efficient ways of moving produce house at Mooketsi. Trucks also travel from origin to destination because of from this packaging house on the shorter travel times and the ability for national road via Gauteng until they it to reach more inland destinations reach the market in Pietermaritzburg. than any other mode of transport. Although the flexibility of road The roads travelled on are shown transport is an advantage, previous in Figure 1. The average distance studies have indicated that fruit and travelled from the farms to the fresh vegetables suffer mechanical damage produce market is roughly 1 000 km. due to in-transit vibrations. The maximum speed that the trucks are allowed to travel is 80 km/h. It The condition of roads in South therefore takes them between 12 and Africa varies significantly depending 15 hours to complete the trip. Trucks on the responsible authorities. The leave the central packaging house in national road network is under the the afternoon at around 17:00 and jurisdiction of the South African reach the market at around 06:30 the National Roads Agency SOC Limited next morning. These trucks drive on a (SANRAL) and each road in this variety of roads, including unsurfaced network is paved. The provincial roads, where higher roughness road networks are 25% paved values are probable, along with more and under the jurisdiction of the produce damage. provincial authorities. Municipalities maintain the remainder of the roads, but approximately 140 000 km of The trucks travelled on three gravel road is not maintained by any different road sections, which authorities. The primary network is consisted of a gravel or unsurfaced mostly in an acceptable condition, but road, the provincial road and the the secondary and tertiary networks national highway (red, green and have deteriorated in condition. blue respectively in Figure 1).

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 82 sections and container types were compared. Parameters such as the temperature and humidity were also monitored during the experiment. Food technologists will use these in a complementary study to evaluate the specific effect of these parameters on the tomato deterioration.

Accelerometers were installed on the truck and tomato packaging for data collection. Two different types of packaging were considered. The first type was a half-bin, which was used for the shipment of the tomatoes between the farms and the central packaging house. A half- bin can have eight to ten layers of tomatoes. The second packaging type considered was the standard boxes that can hold up to three layers of tomatoes. As a control measure, accelerometers were installed on the body of the truck. To  Figure 1: Road sections travelled during field experiment. determine the forces that act on the tomatoes during transport, pressure sensors were installed in between There is a fundamental link between components are exposed and the layers of fruit. sustainable economic growth and in-transit pressures applied to the the logistics costs of a country. tomatoes. The PaveProf profilometer The second phase of the project Transport is one of the largest monitored and collected road involved an experimental set-up components of logistics costs and roughness measurements every in the laboratory. The frequencies cost-saving in this regard has a huge 10 metres. The road roughness, at which the testing had to be impact on overall logistics costs. location and cumulative distance conducted was determined from Vehicle-pavement interaction (V-PI) were recorded, and this information field experiment accelerometer is an important factor to consider was used to determine the locations analysis. A vibration table was during logistical cost optimisation of good, average and poor road used to simulate and monitor for the agricultural sector. Fresh sections. The effect the maturity the in-transit conditions to which produce, such as tomatoes, are of tomatoes has on the amount the tomatoes are subjected. The susceptible to mechanical damage of damage and the role that two locations of impact were monitored during transport, lowering the profit different packaging types played as for colour changes. Different margin for the grower and the a method to contain produce during situations were assessed, including retailer. The amount of damage to shipment were also considered. the effect of the number of layers produce is directly influenced by the of tomatoes, as well as tomato road condition. With deteriorating In order to assess the effect of road maturity. road conditions, the vibrations roughness, accelerometers were increase and so does the damage positioned on the truck, half-bins and To ensure that the tomatoes for to tomatoes. By considering the small boxes containing tomatoes. The laboratory testing do not get roughness values of roads used and measured accelerations can thus be damaged during transportation, the speed of the vehicle during the compared for different locations with layers of bubble wrap were placed transport of tomatoes, the estimated different degrees of road roughness. in between the tomatoes, and each damage to the tomatoes can be One-kilometre road sections of tomato was inspected for damage calculated. good, average and poor quality were prior to testing. selected for the gravel and provincial The study aimed to investigate roads. A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) To simulate the in-transit conditions the relationship between road analysis was done for each of the of the boxes and half-bins, three roughness and tomato damage. accelerometers that were placed on experimental containers with two, It comprised two phases. The first the truck, boxes and half-bins for the four and six layers of tomatoes were phase included the measurement one-kilometre section to determine tested. The pressure sensors were of road roughness, vertical the dominant frequencies. The installed between the bottom two accelerations to which the system dominant frequencies of the different layers.

83 RESEARCH FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 A colour and condition monitoring process was used to determine the marketability and shelf life of the tomatoes. There are only two methods for consumers to assess whether they would be willing to purchase tomatoes from a retail shelf. These are the physical appearance and firmness of the tomatoes, and the presence of soft spots. Consumers’ perspectives of marketability were also considered, and a focus group was asked whether they would buy the tomatoes or not.

This study indicated that, as the roughness of the road increased,  Installation of accelerometers on the half- so did the damage to the transported tomatoes, irrespective of the bins. maturity of the fruit and its position within the package.

Three different stages of tomato maturity were investigated during the analysis. Tomato maturity was based on the colour of the skin (defined as red, pink and green). The effect of maturity should be considered jointly with the position in the package, which influences the contact time and pressure of loading during shipment.

On well-maintained roads with average roughness values, red tomatoes in the top layers tend to display greater damage with an increase in time, compared to tomatoes in the lower layers. Green and pink tomatoes are more resistant to damage in the top layers  Installation of accelerometers on the small boxes. than red tomatoes. On all accounts, irrespective of the maturity of the fruit, the highest loss in shelf life was visible in the upper layers. For different combinations of frequencies and amplitudes, fruit can experience vibrations approaching 1.0 g. This can cause rotation, rubbing, skin discolouration and breakdown of the surface tissue.

Dominant frequencies for one-kilometre road sections with different road roughness values were calculated for accelerometers placed on the trucks used for transport, half-bins and small boxes. Two main groups of dominant frequencies were apparent from the evaluation. These are body bounce, with a frequency range between 0.1 Hz and 5.0 Hz, and axle hop, with a frequency range between 5.0 Hz and  Installation of the pressure sensors in the 20.0 Hz. half-bins. When considering the small boxes, it was observed that they mostly experience axle hop frequencies and absorb a large amount of energy. The half-bins, by comparison, experienced both axle hop and body bounce frequencies, but less energy is absorbed by the system because of the mass of the unit. There is, however, not conclusive evidence to imply that a half-bin is a better form of packaging for transport. The bottom layer of the half-bins has at least six to eight layers of tomatoes on top of it, whereas the small boxes only have two layers. Although the frequency of vertical acceleration is higher for the small boxes, the contact stress and time between the tomatoes are expected to be much less than the  Installation of the pressure sensors in the contact stress and time in the half-bins. small boxes.

Fruit with different maturities has different factors that affect bruise susceptibility. When developing a holistic damage model, these factors should also be considered. In the latest research, models have been developed relating road roughness to tomato shelf-life, and these models are currently being evaluated in field studies.

This study could serve as the basis for the development of damage models for other fruits and vegetables. With this knowledge, growers can consider different route options to optimise and  Boxes with the two- and four-layer set-ups. balance financial and time inputs for the best solution.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . RESEARCH FOCUS 84 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS

Sustaining world-class teaching and learning outcomes

Prof Alta van der Merwe, Deputy The University’s five strategic goals Special interventions will be are as follows: developed for seven modules Dean: Teaching and Learning, that have been identified as being Enhance access and successful particularly problematic. These has developed a progressive student learning through excellent include inviting students for a teaching and relevant curricula. meeting with the head of department strategy for the Faculty of Strengthen the University’s if they are enrolled for the second research and international profile. Engineering, Built Environment time and fail the semester test. Such Strengthen the University’s social students will also be directed to responsiveness and impact on and Information Technology additional help, such as the Faculty society. Student Advisors (FSAs), as needed. with the objective of enabling it Foster and sustain a diverse, inclusive and equitable University All high-risk first-year students will to rank among the world leaders community. be invited to attend a workshop Optimise the University’s presented by the FSAs, which will with respect to the University’s resources and enhance focus on student-related matters institutional sustainability. such as time management and study five identified strategic goals. methods. Enhancing access and Through research excellence, successful student learning Increasing minimum-time-completion innovation and resilience, the A Teaching and Learning Committee rates has been constituted in the Faculty, Faculty aims to sustain its which aims to address a number of A significant increase in throughput key priorities over the next five years. after four years has been identified progress within the context These priorities include the following: from the 2001 cohort (first-year enrolments) to the 2012 cohort. of the current South African Increasing overall module success However, the University strives rates and significantly decreasing to increase this throughput even higher education landscape modules with low success rates more, and is therefore committed to and, as an outcome, improve its introducing interventions to assist A number of modules in the Faculty students to complete their studies in international rankings. have been identified as high- the prescribed period of time. impact modules, where student numbers are high and throughput Several priority areas have been is low. Interventions to improve identified. The FSAs constitute an student success in these modules important component of the FLY@UP include focusing on success factors project (launched to encourage and putting strategies in place, students to complete their in consultation with heads of programmes in the minimum time). department and course coordinators, Furthermore, the entry requirements to increase throughput to above 70%. for programmes in the Faculty will It is imperative that tutor and assistant be revisited. An audit of the Faculty’s lecturer support should be adequate summer and winter schools will to support students with content- also be conducted to determine the related problems during their studies. success rate of students who are

85 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 involved in these opportunities. The Improving the Faculty’s international Department for Education Innovation ranking through teaching and will use a cluster analysis tool to learning practices, innovation and determine higher-level success factors success and investigate interventions to support students. The University is evaluated every year not only on its research The Data Science Institute in the outputs, but also on the high quality Department of Computer Science of the graduates it produces. It is will develop an institutional analytics therefore imperative that the Faculty research group to study student Through research should continuously improve on its progress. Topics of interest might excellence, teaching and learning practices. The include student management establishment of a Teaching and analytics, learning analytics, faculty innovation and Learning Committee in accordance performance analytics and degree with guidelines set by Senate to completion analytics. It is envisaged resilience, the monitor the relevance and academic that patterns might emerge from standard of the Faculty’s programmes the data sets gathered across the Faculty aims is an important initiative in this regard. student life cycle (from the moment The purpose of such a committee is the student applies at the University to sustain its to consider, on behalf of the Faculty until the student graduates), which Board, the relevance and standard of can provide information that can progress in the academic programmes, to exercise be applied to develop strategies to higher education quality control over teaching and improve student success. learning, and to have an oversight of teaching and learning initiatives. Transformation of and through the landscape. curriculum The Faculty will also seek opportunities Faculty plans to develop a strategy to use TuksNovation as an incubator The extent to which the Faculty’s on specific transformation aspects of new ideas by organising innovation programmes contribute to or serve that can contribute to entering more competitions focusing on mobile as an obstacle to transformation successful undergraduate students applications, presenting the Mad will be assessed, and curriculum into postgraduate programmes, such Challenge, a series of workshops to transformation plans developed as black female students. high school learners where mobile accordingly. application development is taught and Systematic monitoring of the where the activities of the School of Several priority areas have been implementation of the hybrid Information Technology are marketed, identified. A transformation plan will model of teaching and learning, and and engaging with industry on be finalised and tools identified to providing support where needed support the audit process of all the collaborative projects where students modules. The focus will be on an audit The Faculty has a very high uptake in might benefit from the innovation by that investigates the current state, the use of the University’s learning taking their ideas to market. the future state, and action plans to management system, ClickUP, with reach the future state. As part of the 95% of the modules using some A learning environment will be Faculty’s transformation awareness form of web-based support. The established in the Faculty for students with lecturers, it will involve students Faculty’s focus is to retain and with innovative projects, which will in annual teaching and learning improve this uptake, and ensure that keep students’ degrees relevant dialogue sessions. The purpose of all undergraduate modules have a and internationally competitive. these sessions will be to create an presence on ClickUP. Such initiatives include the Building awareness of the circumstances faced Sciences Living Laboratory in the by students when studying at UP. Staff members in the Faculty are Department of Architecture, which will continuously experimenting with enable the Department to shift into a As part of the Brown Bag series of the use of electronic support. Some digital space and create a community lectures that will be launched in the of these projects include enhancing design hub as part of its strategic Faculty, it is investigating ways to the use of video material and initiatives, and the development by interact with staff on topics related to discussion forums as interactive the Department of Informatics of transformation, such as opportunities tools, the integration of online a multidisciplinary undergraduate for dialogue. The possibility of content using additional electronic Information Systems (Data Analytics) translating course material into material through Wiley Plus, the use programme, as part of the Data Sepedi is also being investigated, of gamification and virtual reality to Science Institute, in collaboration as well as a research project to enhance student engagement, and with the departments of Computer measure the impact of the use of a including projects using 3D printing Science, Statistics and Financial Sepedi assistant lecturer. Finally, the to visualise designs. Management.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 86 Developing a hybrid learning model

Prof Alta van der Merwe

One of the University’s priorities According to its Implementation Plan What is hybrid learning? of 2015, one of the key interventions to increase the desired speed of that focus on hybrid learning states A hybrid teaching model is that the University will be involved characterised by different modes of change to meet and exceed its in implementing a system-wide delivery in combination or separately. hybrid delivery model that includes Blended learning involves face-to- teaching and learning targets face-to-face teaching, learning and face teaching and learning enhanced is to transform the current assessment in a blended mode, by appropriate technology to support traditional distance education and student engagement outside the teaching model into a more online programmes. contact sessions. Some programmes use a combination of block contact hybrid model, with a focus on This will be done by means of the and distance education (paper-based following interventions: or online). Fully online programmes online and blended learning would be part of the hybrid model, Piloting and further developing, as would be full distance education methodologies. based on rigorous, ongoing using a paper-based approach where research, the various components it could be motivated in terms of of a system-wide hybrid system. national need. Distance education Strengthening initiatives to could also be a blend of paper-based, transform the teaching and limited contact and some online learning approach towards an communication. inquiry-based orientation. Extending its suite of fully The replacement of more than 25% online postgraduate courses to 30% of in-class time with online (professional master’s and out-of-class work differentiates programmes will be prioritised). “hybrid courses” from “web-enhanced Extending the online educational courses”, which continue to meet resources programme that is during the normal class hours and use already implemented in the the online component to supplement Faculty of Veterinary Science to face-to-face time. other faculties, as applicable. Extending in-class technologies to The changing higher education enhance students’ engagement landscape in class, including the expanded use of clickers within a flipped Over the past decade, the country classroom paradigm. has seen increased tuition costs, new technologies, a struggling job market A hybrid delivery and economy, online degree options, massive open online courses, funding model includes model changes, flipped classrooms, an increased focus on learning face-to-face analytics and the more frequent admission of non-traditional learners. teaching, learning These elements have played a role in the changing face of the higher and assessment in education landscape.

a blended mode, Today’s students expect technology to help them with nearly everything traditional distance in their day-to-day lives. They expect to receive a push notification if a class education and becomes available. They expect to get a text or email if there is a problem online programmes. with their account. They expect to

87 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  The Faculty’s Mining Industry Study Centre is equipped to support students in the hybrid learning environment through its provision of workstations and computers for all engineering students.

learn about campus events through Environment and Information specialist education consultants notifications on their handheld devices. Technology, certain elements need in the Department for Education to be considered when developing a Innovation. In addition to these technology strategy for hybrid learning. Monitor progress and measure expectations, students are not as success: It is only possible to prepared for University as they once Lecturers in this Faculty are monitor and measure success were. Study and time management pragmatic by nature and mostly if one has clear goals. A skills are low and many lack the need a pragmatic approach when situation analysis is therefore degree of “university knowledge” that they are introduced to concepts such necessary to clearly define the institutions traditionally expect – like as hybrid learning. This approach intervention to be introduced. knowing the financial and academic comprises the following elements: An ideal measurement structure consequences of withdrawing should include more than one from a class, knowing what credit measurement of success, such Create awareness: Lecturers need hours versus credits completed or as interviews and focus groups to realise the benefits of hybrid attempted are, or knowing that they in addition to student feedback learning, as well as the necessity should appreciate a professor’s forms. feedback, even in the face of a low of adopting a hybrid approach to grade. learning. Show the benefits: Lecturers need By systematically monitoring the A hybrid learning strategy for to perceive the benefits of hybrid implementation of the hybrid a technologically advanced learning by hearing success model of teaching and learning, and faculty stories. providing support where needed, Provide assistance in specific the Faculty can make optimal use of In a faculty such as the University’s targeted modules: Such this learning intervention to improve Faculty of Engineering, Built assistance is provided by student success.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 88 Empowering the innovation generation

A number of modules in the

Faculty of Engineering, Built

Environment and Information

Technology (EBIT) have been

identified as high-impact

modules, where student

numbers are high and

throughput is low. One of

the interventions to support

the students who experience

problems academically is the  The EBIT Faculty Student Advisors in front of Loeloeraai. From left: Caitlin Barford, Madeleine van Meyeren and Rumaine Naidoo. EBIT Faculty Student Advisor

Hub, where three Faculty The EBIT FSA Hub is situated in the a few follow-up sessions to address all Loeloeraai Building at the Prospect/ their academic needs. When extensive Student Advisors (FSAs) provide Festival Street entrance to the emotional counselling is required, Hatfield Campus. The academic students are referred to UP’s student ongoing assistance with study support rendered at these dedicated counsellors, while the FSAs continue facilities aims to equip students to the academic support. and examination skills, time make the correct career choices, management and other handle academic stress better and be The FSAs guide students through equipped to succeed academically. It the various challenges they might co-curricular issues. has an open-door policy. experience and show them how these factors influence their academic Students who struggle academically performance. Students see the benefit due to various reasons, be they of addressing emotional factors once emotional problems or trauma, or they understand the detrimental even problems with time management influence emotional distress can and study methods, can make an have on their academic performance. appointment to consult an FSA. Even Because the FSAs have a professional students who are doing well, but want qualification in counselling and to optimise their performance, find psychology, they can identify any these services useful. The aim of the issues and refer the students to the EBIT FSA Hub is to empower students correct support structures where by teaching them life skills through necessary. powerful interventions that develop them holistically and empower FSAs assess the situation to see why them to be successful, well-rounded students’ stress responses might individuals, employers or employees, be activated. Common causes of and responsible citizens. stress include studying for too many hours at a time, using the wrong Each student’s case is unique and is study method or emotional factors treated as such. Some students might that come into play. Students who only need a little guidance on time are overwhelmed might not be able management, while others might need to implement the advice they are

89 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017  Rumaine Naidoo in consultation with a student.

given immediately, and need a few academic support given at the Hub. The significance of working as a multi- accademic support consultations to The FSAs are in a unique position disciplinary team can be witnessed succeed. Students are mainly assisted to identify teaching and learning during their monthly meetings with through face-to-face sessions. problems within the Faculty and Prof Alta van der Merwe, Deputy Depending on the need, the hub to make suggestions. This includes Dean: Teaching and Learning. presents 50-minute seminars several problems with the way lecturers times a week to address topics such engage with the module content At these meetings, feedback is as time management, study methods or the way in which information provided on progress made with their and exam preparation. Separate is communicated via ClickUP, activities, any challenges they are seminars on life skills and how to the University’s official learning experiencing are discussed and they cultivate lifelong resilience are also management system. plan their actions for the next month. offered. These will give a prospective candidate the edge when applying Adriana Botha, the Faculty’s Education The impact and results of this for employment, as emotional Consultant, advises the EBIT FSAs working culture, which was created intelligence is highly beneficial for where required for ClickUP and by Prof van der Merwe, eliminates them to overcome current challenges, ensures that the content, format and any unnecessary duplication of work, and to negotiate the transition and standards of all the seminars are in and enables the early identification of challenges they face in the workplace. alignment with the outcomes to be gaps in critical high-impact practices. According to Madeleine van Meyeren, achieved. Among other things, Botha Senior FSA, problems specifically is responsible for tutor training in The true power of innovation relating to course content mostly arise the Faculty. She and her colleague, lies in the partnership these as a result of the student’s approach instructional designer Alastair Smart, professionals portray, each being to the material. Some students do not are designing an e-Tutor training individually responsible for their own understand the underlying theory of programme for tutors and teaching contribution to student success. As a a specific concept and thus struggle assistants to meet the growing team, they strive towards providing to apply it to specific scenarios. With demand for support to assist students a holistic support service to students some guidance on the correct way in the online environment. and lecturers in the Faculty. to approach the academic material, most of these students see improved Smart also provides just-in-time The change to higher education can be results. Only a few students end up ClickUP support to all the FSAs. a challenging experience for students. requiring more extensive tutoring or The EI team engages with students Some may only experience challenges consultations with lecturers. during focus groups for high-impact later on in their studies. Regardless modules, performs class visits and has of the level of support required, the The support provided by the follow-up meetings with lecturers to EBIT FSA Hub provides students with Department for Education Innovation support them with interventions to the best possible guidance in their (EI) goes hand in hand with the improve teaching practice. respective situations.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 90 Preparing software engineering students for industry Vreda Pieterse, Fritz Solms and Stacey Omeleze

A software engineering course The Department of Computer patterns of each team, as well as Science in the Faculty of Engineering, the individual team members, should not only provide Built Environment and Information throughout the semester’s projects. Technology focuses on teaching its This helps to ensure that each students with a theoretical software engineering students both member of the team is prepared for the technical and workplace skills the challenges that await them in the knowledge of software required to thrive in the software work environment. engineering practices and tools, engineering industry. Its third-year software engineering module focuses Following the class project, the but also equip them to apply on teaching students the essentials of remainder of the module is dedicated software engineering processes and to industry-based capstone projects, these in the industry. Creating their complexities, exposes them to a where students participate in self- variety of methodologies for tackling selected teams of five members. multiple opportunities for different stages of the software Each team has to develop a large, life cycle, creates awareness of the authentic, open-ended software students to develop a range of latest trends in software engineering system for a client in industry. and support tools to assist in the They are required to liaise with this employability skills is therefore implementation and control of client and present progress reports an essential component of a projects under development, and of their work at regular intervals. facilitates the execution of a team The main goal of this project is to software engineering course project in order to introduce students deliver a high-quality, cost-effective to the responsibilities associated software project to the client, while that seeks to produce industry- with a variety of roles in a teamwork simultaneously mastering technical scenario. The motivation behind this software engineering skills and ready graduates. approach is that students will benefit applying cutting-edge technologies to largely from the practical skills that a practical problem. they have developed when entering the workplace. The technical skills that students enrolled for the software To succeed in its goal, the software engineering module need to master engineering module partners with through their projects include the industry role-players to give students following: the opportunity to experience the intricacies of working on a real project. Configuration management and issue tracking During the first eight to ten weeks of the module, the students work Students are required to manage on a class project consisting of a documents and code that are series of micro-projects in which collectively owned by the members different teams work collaboratively of the team through configuration to design and implement a modular management tools that track code system. The students are assigned changes, and to facilitate a team of to new teams for each micro-project people to work concurrently on the to create maximal opportunities for same artefacts, resolving conflicts them to develop their employability as needed. These tools support skills of communication, manage- base-lining, rolling back to previous ment and planning, teamwork and versions and branching. Branching collaboration, interpersonal relations enables developers to develop new and problem solving. To avoid free- features and fix bugs in a separate riding, much effort is devoted to branch that is merged back into the ensuring that the lecturers in the main trunk only after having passed module understand the working both unit and integration testing.

91 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Buisman and Van Eekelen (2014) and challenges, and students must observe that students are reluctant learn to deal with these. to perform atomic commits with short clear commit messages and to Because the capstone projects are create branches rather than pushing sourced from industry partners, their to master. This degrades the quality authenticity increases. This typically of the work and diminishes the increases the student’s motivation. depth of the learning that takes It also enables the Department place. For this reason, the lecturers to monitor changing trends and of the software engineering module Through technologies in the industry, as well evaluate how the students use their as assess any gaps between the skills configuration management tools participation in developed through the software on a regular basis. When forced engineering course and those to comply with the criteria for the the industry-based required by industry. proper use of these tools, students get acquainted with them and project, students Industry projects are vetted for gradually grow into appreciating appropriate scope and complexity, their value. acquire valuable as well as the potential to capture the interest of the students before Unit and integration testing technical, as well as they are presented to the industry client. The teams are then required The module emphasises the employability skills. to submit tenders for the three need for formal software testing projects in which they are most throughout the development interested. Industry clients express process. Through unit testing, the pattern, which is widely used in their preference for the teams based students learn that, although the industry to achieve loose coupling on the strength of their tenders, after different modules developed by the by having concrete components which partnerships are established. different teams are dependent upon for required dependencies injected The teaching team assigns projects one another, each sub-system can into the dependent component. to teams giving first preference be tested in isolation. Thereafter, This facilitates unit testing against to the choice of client and second integration testing ensures that each mock objects, integration testing preference to the choice of team, component works within its actual against actual components, as thereby rewarding teams that deployment environment. well as deployment into different formulated strong tenders. environments where different Through this process, industry Component-based design and concrete components may be clients become educational partners decoupling available to provide the required in the training of the students and functionality. Modern reference receive the opportunity to work with The module requires technology- architectures and frameworks like potential future employees. neutral component-based modelling, Java-EE, Spring, Django, node-js facilitating the mapping of and Microsoft.Net all provide The course culminates in an end- component contract specifications IoC containers to implement this of-year project exhibition, through into interfaces and unit tests, as software engineering technique. which the students have to contend well as data structure specifications with the prospect that their efforts into entities and activity diagrams Build tools and integration will be laid bare for public exposure, into method bodies. This introduces as would be the case in a real-world students to component-based Modern software systems scenario. The exhibits are judged by development based on interface are commonly complex, and staff members, as well as industry control diagrams, but does not require sourcing dependencies, representatives, who contribute require component contract configuration, compiling, testing, towards prizes in various categories. specifications and full decoupling via linking and packaging, distribution These can include innovation, dependency injection. In contracts- and the deployment of a variety software engineering excellence, based developing, one codes against of components, which may algorithmic innovation, architectural contracts for the dependencies themselves be developed in awareness, user experience and and not against the concrete different technologies. It is standard environmental impact. components. Contracts include practice in industry to use platform- the specification of the required independent build tools that References functionality with the pre- and automate this process. There are post-conditions for each method, many examples of these tools. The Buisman, A.L.D. and Van Eekelen, M.C.J.D. 2014. service or function. Dependency integration of such modules into a Gamification in educational software development. Proceedings of the Computer injection is an implementation cohesive system is often subject to Science Education Research Conference 14, of the Inversion of Control (IoC) a range of unforeseen complexities 9–20, New York, NY: ACM.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 92 Producing well-rounded graduates one project at a time

The ability of students in the The aim of this eight-credit module is the implementation of a community service project to make a positive impact on a chosen section of society. The Faculty of Engineering, Built ideal scenario is where students engage with a section of society that is different from the students’ own social background. This module also aims to develop Environment and Information an awareness of personal social and cultural values, as well as multidisciplinary and life skills, such as communication, interpersonal and leadership skills. The Technology to operate in module requires the students to dedicate 40 hours of their time to a project that complex and multicultural they plan and execute, after which they make a YouTube video of the project.

environments is strengthened Keep that Gold Shining by their participation in the A recent project was the collaboration between Keep That Gold Shining, compulsory undergraduate a student society that supports school learners, and JCP students. The project involved tutoring learners in Mathematics during the July 2017 Community-based Project school holidays. The students offered lessons structured as a Mathematics competition. The learners write a pre- and post-test and are tutored Module (JCP). The establishment between the tests. The schools that received tutoring include Grade 10 and Grade 11 learners from Soshanguve (eMakhosini Combined Secondary of this module in February 2005 School, Botse-Botse Secondary School and Soshanguve Secondary School), Bela Bela (Raeleng Secondary School, Moape Secondary School was a milestone for the Faculty. and Bela Bela Secondary School). A community-based project in Bela Bela, #100KidsToVarsity, helped Keep That Gold Shining to facilitate the mathematics competition in some of these schools.

Some 37 JCP students and 10 volunteers tutored 239 learners in Soshanguve. In Polokwane, one JCP student and five volunteers facilitated the mathematics competition for 39 Grade 12 leaners of Sehlaku Technical High School. At eMakhosini Secondary School, eight JCP students helped approximately 13 Grade 12 learners who required assistance.

The project concluded with an award ceremony for the top achievers. The awards, catering and transport for the event were sponsored by JuniorTukkie, EBIT Faculty House, Investec and Metal Bad.

Collaboration with University Illinois Urbana-Champaign

During the July recess in 2016, six engineering students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign collaborated with JCP students on projects in Pretoria. They spent the first week at Bester Birds and Animal Zoo Park and the Susan Strydom Retirement Home. During the second week, they assisted with a brick-making course at Stanza Bopape Community Centre in Mamelodi. They also renovated various parts of His Grace and Mercy Day Care in Sunnyside and assisted with the vegetable garden at Bekekayo Farm School.

The July recess in 2017 also saw three engineering students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign working with some of the JCP students. During the first week, students built various platforms for visitors to sit on in the dog enclosures at Wollies Animal Shelter in Pretoria North and upgraded the area where visitors can walk the dogs. One of the students assisted with the Faculty’s career guidance project.

During the following week, three students worked with a group of JCP students at Lory Park Animal Zoo Park in Midrand. The students created a herb garden in the zoo and helped with other maintenance projects.

93 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Engineers Without Opkyk Pathways Borders

Another project took place in August 2017 at Opkyk Pathways near  Hartbeespoortdam, where one of the learners suffers from drop attacks Paul Ssali at the Gradstar Awards Ceremony. and cannot walk. This means that he could faint at any given moment. He has the ability to crawl. However, this type of movement exposes his The UP Chapter of Engineers Without face and causes severe injuries to his facial area when he suffers a drop Borders (EWB-UP) won the first attack. He can also use a kicking bike, but his plastic kicking bike, which was actually designed for younger children, was not durable enough Empowering Communities through to support his weight. The JCP students, Danielle Coetzee (chemical Engineering Excellence Award, engineering), Cherise Horn (metallurgical engineering), Franco Janse van presented by EWB-SA in 2015, for Rensburg (mechanical engineering), and Handri Steenkamp (metallurgical its projects at Kutumela Molefi Farm engineering) decided to design and build a tricycle for him. School. EWB-UP is headed by Paul Ssali, a JCP alumnus and mechanical The students reflected afterwards on how one small thing could make engineering student in the Faculty, a difference in someone’s life and how enriching and fulfilling this experience was. The JCP students always learn and benefit from teaching who serves as chairperson and community members basic skills. project coordinator and was ranked among the top ten students in South One of the students said, “JCP was a great learning experience Africa during the Gradstar Awards for us. The key skills we learnt from doing the project were time Ceremony. The Gradstar competition management, teaching, teamwork, working with people, problem- recognises students who show solving, critical thinking and communication. The community project potential as South Africa’s future gave us an opportunity to apply our academic knowledge and teach it to other people. We now believe that doing community work is of leaders. One of the special projects utmost importance to a young demographic, as it increases a sense of that Paul initiated was the Litre of responsibility and Ubuntu.” Light project. This is the design of a lamp made through the use of recycled two-litre bottles and zinc to create a solar bulb for shacks in an JCP in Mexico informal settlement in Mamelodi.

Dr Martina Jordaan and two JCP alumni attended the Talloires Network Leadership Conference (TNLC) at the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico from 21 to 23 June 2017. The TNLC called for institutions to nominate two students who show exceptional leadership qualities to attend. Altus  Dr Martina Jordaan. Bisschoff managed three JCP projects in 2016 and Manchala Sithole mentored 55 students in 2015, as well as 70 students in 2017. Their attendance resulted in international exposure for the JCP The JCP module is module, the Faculty and the University. The Talloires Network is an international association an essential part of of institutions committed to strengthening the civic roles and social responsibilities of higher the curriculum of education.  Manchala Sithole. all undergraduate The theme of this year’s conference was “Social responsibility and human dignity in higher programmes in education engagement”. During the TNLC, Dr Jordaan reflected on what the JCP module had the Faculty, as it accomplished as a result of its University Education for Transformative Leadership in Africa (UETLA) accommodates the Faculty Support Grant. The module used the grant to launch several projects at the Stanza Bopape need for community  Altus Bisschoff. Community Centre in Mamelodi. service and service- learning projects in Involving students in community service gives them the opportunity to learn social responsibility as critical citizens and encourages them to use a higher education their knowledge and skills to improve the communities they serve. environment.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 94 Honouring exceptional achievement

The UP Academic Achiever Exceptional Academic Achiever Award

Awards has become an annual The Exceptional Academic Achiever Award is made annually to senior academics who have already achieved the status of professor, are regarded gala event to pay tribute highly by their peers and have consistently excelled in the areas of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning, research, community to academic staff members service and administration over a period of time. Any academic who has been awarded an A-rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in the who have excelled in their year under consideration automatically qualifies as an Exceptional Academic Achiever for as long as he or she remains an A-rated researcher. contribution to the University’s

mission. This year’s awards have Prof Ian Craig is a professor and Section Head: Control Systems in the Department a special significance as 2016 was of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, a position that he has held a particularly challenging year since 1995. His research interests include the modelling and control of process systems, for South African universities. with a particular focus on mineral and metal processing and utilities in the petrochemical Student protests across the industry, the economic performance assessment of process control and higher education sector meant automation, and the modelling and control of that academics had to show disease networks.

exceptional resilience and Prof Josua Meyer is a professor, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical innovation to ensure that Engineering and Chairperson of the School of Engineering. He established and leads the students could complete their Clean Energy Research Unit, which has a broad focus on thermal sciences and fluid flow, academic year, while continuity and a narrower focus on heat exchangers. in research and community His heat exchanger research focuses on the fundamental work of flow in the transitional service was maintained. A flow regime, nanofluids and condensation.

number of researchers in the

Faculty of Engineering, Built Exceptional Young Achiever Award The Exceptional Young Achiever Award is given to exceptional young Environment and Information achievers in the field of research, as seen against the University’s strategic Technology were recognised at goals of achieving academic excellence, international competitiveness and local relevance. Any person who has been evaluated by the NRF as a P-rated the annual Academic Achiever researcher automatically enjoys Exceptional Young Researcher status.

Awards on 10 May 2017. Prof Reza Malekian is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. Having 12 years’ experience in teaching and research in both the university and industry sectors, he has maintained an active research programme and provided supervision and mentorship to several master’s and doctoral students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, under industry and government funding. Prof Malekian’s research focuses on the Internet of Things, sensors and smart cities.

95 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Researchers in the Faculty enhance the University of Pretoria’s profile as a leading research-intensive university.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 96 NRF-rated researchers B-rating A B-rating is awarded to a researcher who enjoys considerable international recognition by his or her peers for the high quality and impact of his or her recent research outputs.

Prof Attahiru Alfa is the incumbent of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Advanced Sensor Networks in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. His main area of research is the mathematical modelling of communication systems, with specific emphasis on wireless sensor networks, cognitive radio networks and the Internet of Things. He received a B2-rating from the NRF.

Prof Stephan Heyns is a professor and Director of the Centre for Asset Integrity Management (C-AIM) in the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. C-AIM focuses on the structural integrity of critical physical assets. Prof Heyns’s personal research focuses on machine and structural health monitoring using vibration measurement and analysis, and the use of machine learning and statistical analysis techniques. He received a B3-rating from the NRF.

C-rating

A C-rating is awarded to a researcher with a sustained recent record of productivity in the field, and who is recognised by his or her peers as having produced a body of quality work, the core of which has coherence and attests to ongoing engagement with the field, and has demonstrated the ability to conceptualise problems and apply research methods to investigating them.

Dr Ida Breed is a senior lecturer in the Department of Architecture. Her research is concerned with open space design and how it relates to natural and cultural contextual issues and identity. Her research demonstrates the importance of landscape design as part of green infrastructure, urban ecology and social-ecological resilience. Dr Breed is one of only two landscape architects in South Africa with an NRF-rating and has a C3-rating.

Prof Carina de Villiers is a professor and Head of the Department of Informatics. Her main research area is the teaching of information systems, particularly the use of different theories in pure information systems research that can be applied in research on the teaching of information systems. Her second area of research is information and communication technology (ICT) for development. She has been an NRF-rated researcher since 2000, and has received her third C2 re-rating.

Prof Johan W Joubert is an associate professor heading the Optimisation Group in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He is also affiliated with the Centre for Transport Development. His research focuses on the development of models that support government and industry decision-making under uncertainty, especially related to inequality of access and spending on transport infrastructure. He received a C2-rating from the NRF.

Prof Andrie Garbers-Craig is a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering. She holds the Anglo American Chair in Pyrometallurgy. Her research covers the fields of pyrometallurgy, refractory materials and iron ore agglomeration, where she focuses on industry-related questions and process developments. She received a C1-rating from the NRF.

Prof Jan Malherbe received a C3-rating from the NRF. Since his retirement in 2005 as Emeritus Vice-Principal of the University of Pretoria, Prof Malherbe has been a professor in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.

97 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Prof Mohsen Sharifpur is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. His research area includes thermal fluid behaviour and the stability of nanofluids, the improvement of heat transfer by nanofluids, convective multiphase flow and computational fluid dynamics. He received a C2-rating from the NRF.

Prof Waldo Stumpf is a professor of physical metallurgy in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering. He has spent the 16 years since his appointment pursuing his passion for postgraduate teaching and research on microstructural development and phase changes in hot working and heat treatments of carbon steels, low-alloy steels and stainless steels, and how these relate to their physical and mechanical properties. Prof Stumpf holds a C2-rating from the NRF.

Prof Joe Amadi-Echendu is a professor of Engineering and Technology Management. His teaching and research activities focus on engineering asset management and the commercialisation of technology. His involvement in community development, as well as his professional and scholarly activities, has been recognised through various local, national and international awards for best paper, distinguished service, excellence and leadership. He received a C2-rating from the NRF.

Prof Evans Chirwa is a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Since 2014, he has been the holder of the Sedibeng Water Chair in Water Utilisation Engineering. His most recent work on the characterisation of biosurfactants produced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-degrading bacteria produced 12 articles in high-impact journals in 2016. He received a C2 rating from the NRF.

Y-rating

Young researchers (normally younger than 35 years of age) who have held the doctorate or equivalent qualification for less than five years at the time of application, and who are recognised as having the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a five-year period after evaluation, based on their performance and productivity as researchers during their doctoral studies and/or early postdoctoral careers, are awarded a Y-rating.

Dr Heinrich Badenhorst is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering. His work focuses on developing novel materials for energy applications. This includes the development of high thermal conductivity graphite nanoplatelets and aerogels. These materials allow rapid energy storage and retrieval from phase change materials that hold promise for continuous energy supply from solar resources. He received a Y2-rating from the NRF.

Dr Jacomine Grobler is a senior lecturer in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Her main fields of expertise are multi-method optimisation algorithms, multi- objective and supply chain optimisation, swarm intelligence and scheduling. She received a Y2-rating from the NRF.

Dr Willem le Roux is a senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. His research focuses on solar energy conversion where the subjects of thermodynamics and thermal engineering are mostly applied. He received a Y2-rating from the NRF.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 98 Lecturer recognised for excellence in teaching and learning

Prof Tania Hanekom is a Her journey in teaching and learning the development of a unique started when she was appointed programmatic electronic grading professor in the Department at UP in 1999. In 2005, she was system to support the teaching put in charge of the third-year and learning of assembly language, of Electrical, Electronic and Microcontrollers module. a computerised tutoring system based on this e-grading system, Computer Engineering. She With the explosive growth in the introduction, development and received the Chancellor’s Award embedded technology over the presentation of the annual Robot Car past decades, she recognised the Race Day, which is both an academic for Teaching and Learning at the need to equip students with more extension of the microcontrollers than just a theoretical knowledge of teaching and learning strategy and University of Pretoria’s Academic microcontroller systems. a widely published marketing event that promotes engineering as a Achiever Awards on 10 May 2017. She developed a teaching and career option. The event is strongly learning strategy that cultivates a supported by local and international hands-on practical knowledge of industry partners. microcontroller systems, supported by a firm theoretical foundation. Her efforts in teaching and learning Innovations include, among others, culminated in several awards in 2015,

 Participants at this year’s Robot Car Race Day preparing to demonstrate what their cars can do.

99 TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS . INNOVATE 12 2017 such as a Laureate Award as part of the UP Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Awards, the EBIT Faculty Teaching Award and the Council on Higher Education (CHE)/ Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of South Africa (HELTASA) National Teaching Award. She was appointed as the function head for undergraduate studies in the Department in February 2015.

She is a member of the Faculty’s Teaching and Learning Committee and served on the UP2025 task team for teaching and learning. Prof Hanekom is also an internationally recognised researcher in biomedical engineering, specifically the computational physiology of peripheral auditory neural excitation in cochlear implants. Her work focuses on the translation of computational models of cochlear implants to clinical tools, such as model-based diagnostics to address complications such as facial nerve stimulation, and high-resolution, model-based visualisation of the cochleae of specific users based on low-resolution clinical computed tomography images.

She has supervised and co- supervised numerous postgraduate students on master’s and doctoral degree level. She is the author or co- author of more than 25 international journal and conference publications in biomedical engineering.

She is registered as a professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and holds a C2-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). She is also a member of the Institute of Electrical en Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a senior member of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) and a member of the South African Cochlear Implant Group (SACIG).

2017 INNOVATE 12 . TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS 100 NEWS

Enhancing research excellence, innovation and resilience

With the appointment of Prof  Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning, Alta van der Merwe as Deputy Prof Alta van der Merwe. Dean: Teaching and Learning in

the Faculty of Engineering, Built

Environment and Information

Technology on 1 August 2016, the

Faculty embarked on a journey

to enhance research excellence,

innovation and resilience with

the objective of enabling the

Faculty to be ranked among

the world leaders in higher

education. In this position,

she will endeavour to enhance

access and successful student Prof Van der Merwe is the teaching and research for the past learning in the Faculty. former head of the Department 29 years, including the design of an of Informatics in the School of Enterprise Architecture (EA) course Information Technology at the for honours students at Unisa. University of Pretoria. She had She is co-chair of the Institute of previously held leadership positions Electrical and Electronics Engineers as professor at the University of (IEEE) Enterprise Architecture South Africa (Unisa) and was a Technical Committee and is acting principal researcher at the Meraka in her second term as president Institute of the Council for Scientific of the South African Institute of and Industrial Research (CSIR). Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT). She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the University She holds a C3-rating from the of Johannesburg and completed National Research Foundation her honours and master’s degrees (NRF), and has supervised a number in Computer Science at North- of master’s and doctoral degree West University. She obtained students. She has published articles in her PhD in Computer Science at peer-reviewed journals, conferences Unisa. She has been involved in and several book chapters.

101 NEWS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Elevating research and innovation to a new level in the Faculty

The new strategic plan of the

Faculty of Engineering, Built

Environment and Information

Technology included the development of the position of Deputy Dean: Research and

Postgraduate Studies. Prof Jan

Eloff was appointed to this position on 1 August 2016, and has since developed a  Deputy Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies, Prof Jan Eloff. progressive research strategy for Prof Eloff is a professor of Computer positions as Research Director the Faculty. Science (Cyber-security) in the for SAP Research in Africa School of Information Science at the (until June 2015), Chairperson of the University. His main career focus is School for Information Technology on leading research and innovation and Head of the Department of projects in cyber-security. Computer Science at the University of Pretoria (from 2002 to 2009). He His expertise focuses on cyber- was also a member of the Steering security, innovation leadership and Committee of the IT CoachLab at The management, research leadership Innovation Hub. and management in industry, the academic environment and He obtained a BSc in Computer education. Science and Mathematics, and completed his honours, master’s He enjoys working in a and doctoral degrees in Computer multidisciplinary environment, Science at the Rand Afrikaans supported by cross-cutting University (now the University of application domains. Most of the Johannesburg). projects in which he engages are focused on the improvement of His main focus is on research, economic and social conditions innovation and productisation. He in the developing world and, in is associate editor of Computers & particular, South Africa. Security and serves on the editorial panel for the Computer Fraud & Under his research and leadership, Security Bulletin. a number of innovative software prototypes have been developed for He has supervised a number of industry. He is the co-inventor of a master’s and doctoral degree number of patents registered in the students. USA, and holds a B-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). He has published extensively, producing both book chapters and Prior to his appointment to this articles in peer-reviewed journals, position, he had held leadership nationally and internationally.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . NEWS 102 Celebrating 10 years of information ethics in Africa Rachel Fischer

Many academics, especially The 5th ANIE International a partnership established with Conference on Information Ethics the South African Department of in library and information took place in Pretoria, South Africa Telecommunications and Postal from 21 to 23 February 2017. This Services. This was achieved in sciences, have been involved event hosted 45 participants from 2012 when the African Centre of Australia, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Excellence for Information Ethics in information ethics since the Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, (ACEIE) was established in the 1990s. Their dedication to the Sudan, Tanzania, The Netherlands, Department. Uganda, the USA and Zimbabwe, and field culminated in the first local coincided with the tenth anniversary In terms of a Memorandum of of formal structures and research Agreement signed in 2012, its African Network of Information projects in the field of information objectives were to conduct research ethics in Africa. The event was also on information ethics, design a Ethics (ANIE) Conference, which known as the ANIEversary. tertiary curriculum on information ethics to be implemented at took place in Pretoria in 2007. Establishment of ANIE universities across Africa, and present workshops across South Since 2007, the Department Africa and Africa targeted at Information Science has been government officials, academics and actively involved in the creation community members. and growth of the ANIE through Since then, 24 African countries have joined the network, which now comprises over 700 participants at more than 130 institutions. A second Memorandum of Agreement was signed in 2015, which builds on the achievements of the ACEIE through ongoing research on digital wellness, cultural diversity and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

ANIE’s partnership The ACEIE ensures regular communication with network with government members from all over the globe. Subsequently, the ACEIE has has resulted organised ANIE conferences in Botswana (2010), South Africa in a renewed (2012) and Uganda (2014), as well as commitment to workshops across the Southern and Eastern African regions. The initial cyber-safety, target of 12 African countries and institutions was met. cyber-security and Due to the success of the ACEIE and digital literacy from the ANIE, further collaboration has taken place with Intel Education, all role-players the South African Department of Basic Education, the United Nations in the context of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and its information ethics. Information for All Programme, as

103 NEWS . INNOVATE 12 2017 24 African countries have joined the network ACEIE, which now comprises over 700 participants at more than 130 institutions.

well as representative offices of the The ANIEversary also illuminated The ACEIE is also the only African Brazil, Russia, India, China and South the global and African endeavours representative working on Africa (BRICS) collaboration. towards emphasising the Ethically aligned design: a vision importance of research relating for prioritising human wellbeing In addition to the 5th ANIE to the knowledge society and with artificial intelligence and International Conference on information ethics. Platforms autonomous systems, which is Information Ethics, highlights for were created where the academic published by the Global Initiative 2017 included the National Cultural community highlighted research. for Ethical Considerations Diversity Conference in Mthatha and During the gala dinner, Jared in Artificial Intelligence and the eLearning Africa Conference, Bielby and Matthew Kelly launched Autonomous Systems of the during which International Day on Information cultures in the Digital Institute of Electrical and Electronics Universal Access to Information Age: a Festschrift in honour of Rafael Engineers (IEEE). This project (IDUAI) was celebrated. Both these Capurro. They were the editors of brings together technologists, events were held in September. this publication. ethicists, philosophers and computer scientists who seek to ANIEversary This seminal work brings together prioritise ethical considerations in original research from both the light of artificial intelligence and The ANIEversary expresses the pioneers and the younger generation autonomous systems. South African government’s of information ethics academics in a commitment to cyber-safety, cyber- joint effort to express and promote The ACEIE and ANIE will continue to security and digital literacy. The Rafael Capurro’s contributions to conduct research and collaborate Minister of Telecommunications information research. on projects relating to information and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga ethics and digital wellness. Cyprian Cwele, and former Deputy The Festschrift addressed the Minister of Telecommunications crossroads of information and The ANIE will retain its core and Postal Services, Prof Hlengiwe communication technologies, objectives of research, developing Buhle Mkhize, who addressed the intercultural dialogue and partnerships and raising awareness delegates during the international philosophy, bringing to light new in facilitating the World Summit conference and gala dinner, attested directions in information culture on the Information Society (WSIS) to this commitment, and showed that inspire a wider consideration of Action Line C10, which deals with their support for the projects of both issues than those first introduced by the ethical dimension of information the ACEIE and ANIE. Capurro in the 1970s. societies.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . NEWS 104 A new era for the Department of Architecture

The Boukunde Building has been Some of the items under construction the preparations for its birthday include the addition of a lift in order celebrations, the Department hosted home to the Department of to make the building accessible to a fundraising event and alumni disabled persons, gender-neutral open day in the newly evacuated Architecture at the University of bathrooms, a new air-conditioning building on 22 July 2017. The vertical system, as well smoke detection and studio programme for 2017 was Pretoria since 1951. In July 2017, ventilation systems. integrated into the celebratory event, the building was evacuated for with students across various years The aim is to use the planned and programmes collaborating to renovations for the first time upgrade of the Boukunde Building contribute to the exhibition. to establish a living laboratory and since the major renovations pedagogical space that will inspire Guests were treated to a typical research-led design and enable day of architectural play, including of 1973. Thomashoff + Partner international collaboration within the a timeline of the Department of research theme of Smart Cities and Architecture’s past, present and Architects are behind the design Transportation. The building provides future, a digital exhibition entitled an excellent case study of a green “Graphic residues”, a story collection of the renovations. retrofit of academic buildings that of the Department’s interesting also provides opportunity for ongoing past, present and future characters, research on occupant wellbeing, the story of the “new” Boukunde including indoor air quality, lighting Building, the traditional Kitsch Cake and acoustics. Because the building competition and other wonderful includes both naturally ventilated installations by current students. spaces and a range of mechanically ventilated and conditioned spaces The Department strives to build that mimic open-plan office a great future, but it does so in environments, it provides an acknowledgement of its proud past. excellent test bed for interventions After the Transvaal University College that do not require transformation became the University of Pretoria of the building envelope. The in 1930, a course in Architecture renovations are scheduled for was instituted in 1931, taught in completion by mid-2018. collaboration with the University of the Witwatersrand. The Department Anniversary celebrations of Architecture at the University of Pretoria became an independent The completion of the new building institution in 1943 when a young will coincide with the Department’s (at the time), dynamic staff 75th anniversary. To kickstart complement was appointed.

 The project team responsible for building a better Boukunde: Wim Joubert, Radon Projects (contractor), Prof Schalk Claassen, Project Manager, Prof Chrisna du Plessis, Head of the Department of Architecture, Karlien Thomashoff (architect) and Ferdie van der Merwe, GROZ Consulting (quantity surveyor).

105 NEWS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Creating a learning space that inspires discovery through design.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . NEWS 106 Lecturer elected as SANIRE president

Jannie Maritz, a senior lecturer

in the Department of Mining

Engineering, was elected as the

president of the South African

Institute of Rock Engineering

(SANIRE) for the term 1 July 2017

to 31 June 2019. He had served as

vice-president from 2015 to 2017.

 Jannie Maritz, president of the South African Institute of Rock Engineering.

After graduating from the practicing rock mechanics and Department of Mining Engineering strata control on mines. This at the University of Pretoria, Maritz new qualification will be a full joined a major gold-producing Quality Council for Trades and company where he obtained all his Occupations (QCTO) Level 6 National industry certificates in mining and Qualifications Framework (NQF) rock engineering before joining a qualification and will align the South consulting firm where he acted as African rock engineering training to a mining engineering consultant on the international market. It will be various national and international rolled out in the near future. projects. He then established his own rock engineering consulting Under Maritz’s presidency, SANIRE firm, which he still owns. He will largely focus on membership subsequently joined the University growth and development. The as a senior lecturer in rock focus will be on an individual engineering and mine design. He is level, as well as the number of particularly interested in numerical members associated with the body. modelling and pillar design as a This means that SANIRE will build technical expert. However, through confidence in the next generation his involvement at the University, through coaching and mentoring, he also developed an interest in the while learning from past mistakes. career development of individuals. SANIRE also aims to build on its good relationships with current role On the SANIRE Council, he is actively players. involved in the Future Education portfolio and was an examiner for At its recent strategy meeting for the Chamber of Mines Certificate the incoming council under Maritz’s in Rock Engineering: Paper 1. As tenure, the SANIRE Council identified the Chamber certificates are being the need for transformation. It will phased out, he serves as part of the put strategies in place to address community of expert practitioners, this issue with the much-needed which was tasked to develop a attention it deserves. new replacement qualification for the current Rock Engineering In short, Maritz’s leadership will competency certificates, which is drive SANIRE’s vision to actively being developed under the Mine promote the South African rock Health and Safety Act, Act No. 29 engineering profession in all mining of 1996, a legal requirement for and geotechnical areas.

107 NEWS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Two new textbooks from the pen of Prof Ramesh Bansal

Prof Ramesh Bansal, Head of the Power and Energy

Systems Research Group at the Department of Electrical,

Electronic and Computer

Engineering, has published two new books.

 Prof RameshBansal with his new titles.

Thermal power plants: modelling, real time, including boiler, turbine, control and efficiency improvement and generator systems. The book explains how to solve highly provides downloadable source complex industry problems codes for use in CORBA C++, regarding identification, control and MATLAB®, Simulink®, VisSim, optimisation through the integration Comsol, ANSYS and ANSYS Fluent of conventional technologies, such modelling software. as modern control technology, computational intelligence-based Handbook of distributed generation, multi-objective identification and of which Prof Bansal is the editor, optimisation, distributed computing, features extensive coverage of and cloud computing with all distributed energy-generation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technologies, highlighting the technology. The book introduces technical, environmental and innovative methods that are utilised economic aspects of distributed in industrial applications, explored resource integration, such as line- in scientific research, and taught loss reduction, protection, control, at leading academic universities. It storage, power electronics, reliability also discusses thermal power plant improvement and voltage profile processes and process modelling, optimisation. energy conservation, performance audits, efficiency improvement Prof Bansal’s research interests modelling, and efficiency include reactive power control optimisation, supported by high- analysis, artificial intelligence performance computing, integrated techniques in power systems, the with cloud computing. Readers analysis and control of induction can read more about stimulating generators and renewable energy power plant fossil fuel processes in systems.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . NEWS 108 Collaboration with the Clay Brick Association of South Africa

Over the last few years, the Clay The study was performed under Prof Piet Vosloo’s leadership using Brick Association (CBA) of South specific production data from 86 of the 102 clay brick production sites in Africa and Swisscontact have South Africa that are members of the CBA. commissioned a detailed analysis

of the environmental impacts The analysis was conducted in accordance with the ISO 14040 and  Prof Piet Vosloo presenting the reports of clay brick production and ISO 14044 standards with an external to Nico Mienie, CBA CEO and Musa review to achieve the highest quality Shangase, Chairman of the utilisation in South Africa. The standards. A second parallel study CBA Board. compared the thermal performance of the findings of the reports among National Research Foundation of the six most-often-used wall members of the CBA and stakeholders construction methods over three without expertise in environmental (NRF) and the Department of building typologies and over the six assessment, Swisscontact contracted South African climatic regions. In Architecture conducted the Quantis to extract, in collaboration accordance with the ISO 14040 and with UP, the most relevant results ISO 14044 standards, the University analysis. from the main report and consolidate summarised the results in two these in a separate document. extensive reports. These reports were tailored for environmental The project resulted in two papers experts and describe the detailed presented at international conferences, methodology, data base and all the the conferring of an honours and MSc assumptions used in the study. In degree on a research assistant, as well order to facilitate the dissemination as three research reports.

Brickmaking entrepreneur

Elijah Djan is a third-year Elijah’s curiosity drives him to dream big and to develop his ideas. He was BEng (Industrial Engineering) keen on inventions from an early age and already made bricks from waste student who believes that paper In Grade 5. He called these Nubrix. Subsequently, he has done entrepreneurship is the answer much research around this invention to innovating our tomorrow. and has subjected his bricks to rain and compression tests. He also He feels compelled to make a built a Nubrix wall, which has been standing for a year now. Elijah wants positive change wherever he to contribute to the innovation of sustainable and affordable housing, travels. which is much needed in Africa. He presented his invention during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Sandton, the World Economic Forum in Africa, which was held in Durban and at USAID’s TechCon Innovation Marketplace Competition, where he represented Africa in America through the Resilient African  Elijah Djan presenting one of his bricks. Network.

109 NEWS . INNOVATE 12 2017 Female students excel in science, engineering and technology

Two of the Faculty’s female addressed the attendees, saying: “The Women in Science Awards is students have been recognised a celebration of the achievements of women in science, and it is a for their contribution to science, reminder that the full scientific potential of our country will only be engineering and technology. realised when all our young women Marilize Everts is a PhD student are able to enjoy access to the best facilities and education.” in the Department of Mechanical Marilize's research focuses on the and Aeronautical Engineering, single-phase mixed convection of  Marilize Everts with her award. developing flow in the laminar, who was recently honoured at Marilize Everts also received the transitional, low-Reynolds-number the Women in Science Awards for TATA Africa Scholarship for Women in end and turbulent flow regimes. This Science, Engineering and Technology work is fundamental to addressing the the second time in three years. in recognition of her outstanding gap between laminar and turbulent academic and research performance. flow, as well as to understanding the Shruti Lall is a master’s student She also received this award in 2015. fundamentals of mixed convection. The research will enable engineers in Electronic Engineering, who At the Woman in Science Awards to optimise heat transfer equipment ceremony, Minister of Science and used in the generation of energy, received the Bronze Medal of the Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor, which is a major crisis in South Africa. Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science (S2A3).

The S2A3 Bronze Medal is awarded annually to the most outstanding master’s degree research student in a scientific subject graduating at each South African university

(since 1981) and university of technology (since 2001).  Shruti Lall (centre) with Prof Sunil Maharaj (left), Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, and Prof Stephanie Burton, Vice-Principal: Research and Postgraduate Education.

Shruti Lall received the award from In her research, Shruti investigated the Prof Walter Meyer, a representative of optimal placement and power allocation S2A3.. He noted that this prize-giving of protective jammers in wireless was made even more auspicious networks involving the development of by the fact that Shruti’s mother, security-comprising protective jammers, Prof Namrita Lall, had received which were optimally placed to afford the same award. Shruti completed wireless networks protection against her master's degree in Electronic malicious devices seeking to obtain Engineering, specialising in wireless confidential information. Shruti, who is network security, supervised by Prof also a Fullbright Scholarship recipient, Sunil Maharaj, Dean of the Faculty of is currently pursuing her PhD at the Engineering, Built Environment and Georgia Institute of Technology in the Information Technology. USA.

2017 INNOVATE 12 . NEWS 110 Built for speed

Jonathan Wing is a second-year

Mechanical Engineering student

who loves speed. Whether he is

canoeing, flying or winning the

World HandiKart Championship

– the sky is the limit. He is

driven to do well and he wants

to be proud of anything he

attaches his name to.

At the age of six, Jonathan lost his foot Championships in Moscow and in Paralympic canoeist from Africa to when he fell off the back of a small Milan, and also qualified for the qualify for the Olympic Games in tractor lawnmower and the doctor C-final when he was 17. On national Tokyo in 2020. Graham Paul was the advised his parents to amputate. level, he is currently the only rower first.” However, setbacks do not faze competing in the category for people him. Jonathan matriculated from with prosthetic limbs. Jonathan says that he is disciplined Hilton College in KwaZulu-Natal and about managing his time and doing obtained his pilot’s licence in his Grade “My challenge is to stay fit and to well in his studies. He says that he 12 year. He also took up paddling in improve my upper body strength. attends all the lectures and makes Grade 10, and received professional I have a healthy and disciplined notes in every class. His motto is: training from Grade 11 onwards. lifestyle, which includes a lot of gym “Don’t leave what you can do today, work and, on Saturday afternoons, I for tomorrow.” The Faculty is excited As a rower, Jonathan represented paddle for two hours at Roodeplaat to be backing Jonathan when he South Africa at the Para World Dam. I hope to become the second competes in Tokyo in 2020.

Akani Simbine is a South African UP track champion sprinter who competed in the 100 m event at the 2013 World graduates from Faculty Championships in Athletics and

the 2016 Summer Olympics. He Akani obtained a scholarship from the University after his first year graduated with a Bachelor of and was later assisted by the South Information Science on African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). His 8 September 2017. He says that academic journey has also enabled him to improve his performance on completing this degree has the track. He says that “my degree in provided him with a pathway the IT field has taught me that, due to this field constantly being in a state outside of the sports arena, of change and advancement, one has to be open to change, be prepared to and that this is something he grow and be in the loop of these new encourages all professional developments in order to be on top  Akani Simbine at his graduation of your game.” He has also adopted sportspeople to consider. ceremony. this mindset in his athletics.

111 NEWS . INNOVATE 12 2017 The roots of industrial LAST WORD engineering

Compiled by Paul Kruger

The Concise Oxford The Bernoullis The Bernoullis were a Swiss family Dictionary defines “dynasty” of remarkable achievements in Mathematics, Statistics, Physics as a succession of leaders and Science. The original family, mainly importers and traders of in any field. History has “dry goods”, such as spices, was produced several families from Antwerp, but they moved to Frankfurt and most of them later that may claim to be a settled in the free city of Basel. The Bernoulli clan shared the same dynasty in the worlds of era, namely the mid-17th to the mid-18th centuries, with some politics, music and business. of the great mathematicians like Isaac Newton, Gottfried Wilhelm These families include the Leibniz, Blaise Pascal, Leonard Rothchilds, Nehru-Gandhis, Euler, Joseph-Louis Lagrange, René Descartes and Pierre de Fermat.  Jacob Bernoulli, Medicis, Vanderbilts, Some of the Bernoullis were of the eldest son of Nicolaus. same mathematical calibre as these Rockefellers, and certainly illustrious mathematicians, and with time. The refusal of his three most good reason. the Bachs. In the field of gifted sons to join the family business may have been the start of the Nicolaus (1623–1706) was the mathematics and science, acrimonious family relations. founding father of the Bernoullis and produced several famous children. the most famous and best- The belligerent brothers The members of the remarkable The strife between the brothers, Bernoulli family achieved eminence known family is probably Jacob and Johann, is well known not only in mathematics, but also and documented since much of it the Bernoullis, although the in several other disciplines, such as was conducted over many years science, astronomy, law, medicine, and in public. It may have started Curies - with five Nobel prizes philosophy, economics, business when Johann claimed that he had and administration. The family even to their credit - may be in the coined the word “integrate” and not included an artist and alderman. his brother. Johann, while at the same league. Nicolaus was an apothecarian, University of Groningen, was jealous but inherited a lucrative spice- of his older brother’s status at the trading business and was a wealthy University of Basel and coveted businessman. He expected his sons his brother’s position, which he to join the family business, but eventually attained after Jacob’s only Hieronymus, who is not often death. The personal relationship mentioned, did so and managed the between the brothers (Jacob and business very successfully. Jacob, Johann) was marred by fierce public Johann and Nicolaus refused to join strife, consisting mainly of disputes the family business and, against their about priority in the discovery of father’s wishes, eventually gravitated scientific results. The brothers would to mathematics and the arts. criticise each other severely in letters Nicolaus tried to convince his eldest to each other and notably to Leibniz, son, Jacob, to study theology, but he l’Hôpital and Euler, often without refused. As a businessman, Nicolaus reasonable cause. Furthermore, was not pleased; after all, the salary they would publish a spiteful and of a priest was about double that of malicious attack on each other’s a professor of mathematics at the work under the guise of a legitimate

2017 INNOVATE 12 . LAST WORD 112 Daniel won a prize from the French Academy of Sciences for his work on planetary orbits. Johann coveted the prize for himself and promptly threw his son out of the paternal home, never to return.

When Daniel published his famous book, Hydrodynamica, his father immediately claimed that it was his work and stolen by his son. Johann produced some unpublished papers, which may have been plagiarised from Daniel’s book, and by predating them, endeavoured to establish precedence over his son. Jacob’s attempt at fraud was exposed and it caused a rift between father and  Johann Bernoulli,  Daniel Bernoulli, son that was never mended. Johann brother of Jacob. son of Johann also suffered the effects of plagiarism comment, which started a new round for the development of calculus, the when his student, l’Hôpital, published of conflict. The brothers had different two brothers took an active part, with a book consisting almost entirely of personalities and approaches to Jacob supporting Newton and Johann Johann’s lectures, including the now their work. Jacob was a meticulous supporting Leibniz. The brothers had famous l’Hôpital’s Rule. and brilliant mathematician. On the habit of posing a mathematical the other hand, Johann possessed problem in one of the journals. The Although the personal lives and a natural and instinctive talent other brother would then provide a interpersonal relationships of some for mathematics, but he could be solution in the same journal, upon of the members of the Bernoulli impetuous and rash. However, they which the brother who posed the family may remind one of a soap collectively produced some of the problem would criticise and ridicule opera, their combined contributions most significant contributions in the the solution, often resulting in a and achievements are with little history of mathematics. Given their protracted public altercation. In doubt one of the most significant respective personalities, conflict was later years, this was the only way experienced by the world of inevitable. of communication between the Mathematics and Statistics. Over brothers. Jacob was an admirer of the course of three generations, Johann considered himself a self- the logarithmic spiral, to the extent the Bernoullis produced eight taught mathematician and at least that he requested that it should be mathematically gifted academics the equal of his brother, while Jacob depicted on his gravestone. who, among them, contributed always considered his much younger significantly to the foundations brother as his inferior student. For However, the engraver placed the of Applied Mathematics, Physics example, after Johann launched much less interesting Archimedean and Mathematical Statistics. The a particular vitriolic attack on his spiral on the stone. This may have abbreviated and annotated family brother, Jacob responded by calling been an honest mistake, but it was tree in Figure 1 shows this. Johann a naïve parrot that was only rumoured that the engraver did capable of “repeating what he has this on the instruction of Johann in Most of the worse squabbles learnt from his master”. a last attempt to get even with his and public confrontations in the brother. After Jacob’s death, Johann Bernoulli family occurred between transferred his tendency to be the brothers Jacob and Johann, and The mathematical and academic jealous to his son Daniel. between Johann and his son Daniel. community tried on several occasions to convince the brothers to stop their bitter and public bickering, but “I recognise the lion by his claw.” to no avail. Both brothers had been admitted to the French Academy of Sciences, on the explicit condition - Johann Bernoulli that they put an end to their hostilities, but soon afterwards they (after reading an anonymous continued unabatedly and with more intensity. During the much-vaunted solution to a problem that he Leibniz-Newton controversy over who should be granted precedence realised was Newton’s work)

113 LAST WORD . INNOVATE 12 2017 Jacob (1654–1705) Nicolaus (1662–1717) Also known as James or Jacques. Portrait painter University of Basel. Master’s degree Johann (1667–1748) Alderman of Basel in Law and Licentiate in Theology. Also known as Jean or John. Mathematician, statistician and teacher. University of Groningen, Jar of pebbles and moral certainty, law of University of Basel. large numbers, Bernoulli numbers and Doctorate in Medicine. Physician, Nicolaus I (1687–1759) equation, infinitesimal calculus, irrational mathematician and teacher. University of Basel, University of numbers, separable differential equations, Infinitesimal calculus, calculus Padua. Statistician, mathematician permutations and combinations, probability of variation, Leibniz–Newton and teacher. Probability theory, theory, compound interest, Leibniz–Newton calculus controversy. differential equations, geometry, calculus controversy. St Petersburg paradox. Author of Ars Conjectandi. Editor of Ars Conjectandi.

Daniel (1700–1782) Nicolaus II (1695–1726) Johann II (1710–1790) University of St Petersburg, University University of Padua. Law professor at Also known as Jean. of Basel. Doctorate in Medicine. the Berner Oberen Schule, St Petersburg University of Gronigen, Mathematician , statistician, physicist Academy. Mathematician statistician and University of Basel. and teacher. Bernoulli’s principle, teacher. Differential calculus, probability, Doctorate in Jurisprudence. St Petersburg paradox, utility theory, St Petersburg paradox, Bernoulli trials, Mathematician, physicist and expected and marginal utility, kinetic Bernoulli distribution. teacher. theory of gases. Leibniz-Newton calculus controversy. Author of Hydrodynamica.

Johann III (1744–1807) University of Basel. Child prodigy, Jacob II (1759–1789) mathematician and Lawyer, mathematician astronomer. and physicist. Doctorate in Philosophy at the age of 13.

 Figure 1: Three generations of Bernoulli mathematicians and the title pages of Ars Conjectandi and Hydrodynamica.

Ironically, these three members of on their work and the development References the Bernoulli family are at the same of Mathematics. However, the time often considered to be the resultant atmosphere of jealousy and Bernstein P.L. 1996. Against the gods: the remarkable story of risk, John Wiley & Sons. most famous and mathematically competition may have contributed Stigler S.M. 1990. The history of Statistics: the to their achievements, since they accomplished. measurement of uncertainty before 1900, constantly challenged and spurred Harvard University Press. Conclusion each other on. Fienberg S.E. 1992. A brief history of Statistics in The Bernoullis collectively changed three and one-half chapters: a review essay, Statistical Science 7. Mathematical Statistics from It is fair to say that the Bernoulli Peiffer J. 2006. Jacob Bernoulli, teacher and rival a mathematical curiosity, only family is to mathematics, science and of his brother Johann. Electronic Journal for applicable to games of chance, to engineering what the Bach family History of Probability and Statistics 2. a powerful tool for analysis and is to music. In the long history of O’Connor J.J. and Robertson E.F. 2017. MacTutor decision making in almost all spheres mathematics, from Archimedes and history of Mathematics archive. Available at: http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/ of engineering, business, economics Euclid, via Euler, Newton, Leibniz, history/Biographies/. Last accessed May 2017. and finance. Gauss and Fermat to John von Mastin L. 2010. The story of Mathematics, 18th- Neumann, Andrew Wiles and all century Mathematics: Bernoulli brothers. It has been debated whether the other modern mathematicians, Available at: http://www.storyofmathematics. com/18th_bernoulli.html. Last accessed the jealousy and envy among the Bernoullis, individually and May 2017. the members of the family had a collectively, deserved a special place detrimental or positive influence in the history of mathematics.

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