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January/February 2021 Vol 29 No 1
Sivili Enjiniereng
Vishal Krishandutt SAICE Fellows, Ethics, technology, Covid-19 and its
SAICE 2021 Honorary Fellow, and and the Fourth impact on travel
President President’s Award Industrial Revolution patterns
2
Credo of the
African Engineer
I am an engineering practitioner and in my profession I take deep pride.
To it I owe solemn obligation.
Since the origins of humanity,
human progress has been spurred by engineering genius.
The engineering profession has made nature’s vast resources
of material and energy usable for humanity’s benefit.
Engineering practitioners have vitalised,
and turned to practical use,
the principles of science and the means of technology.
Were it not for this heritage of accumulated experience,
my efforts would be feeble.
I pledge to practise integrity and fair dealing,
tolerance and respect,
and to uphold devotion to the standards
and the dignity of my profession,
conscious always that my skill carries with it
the obligation to serve humanity by making
the most sustainable use of Earth’s precious resources.
I shall participate in none but honest enterprises.
When needed,
my skill and knowledge shall be given without reservation.
In the performance of duty and in fidelity to my profession,
I shall give the utmost.
(Introduced to SAICE members by our 2011 president, Seetella Makhetha)
Civil Engineering January/February 2021 1
January/February 2021 Vol 29 No 1
Sivili Enjiniereng
Vishal Krishandutt saiCE FEllows, EthiCs, tEChnology, CoVid-19 and its
saiCE 2021 honorary FEllow, and and thE Fourth imPaCt on traVEl
PrEsidEnt PrEsidEnt’s award industrial rEVolution PattErns
oN THE cOVER P8
Sivili Enjiniereng = Sepedi
ON THE COVER
Vishal Krishandutt, SAICE’s 118th president,
hopes to place a greater emphasis on
In keeping with SAICE’s Growing Forward Together strategy, in which diversity and inclusivity are
women and young engineers during his
areas of growth, 2021 SAICE President Vishal Krishandutt would like to get more involved in the
term of office, bolstered by the drafting and advocacy and implementation of best practices
implementation of best practice guidelines
for gender inclusivity in the workplace.
CREDO
Credo of the African Engineer �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
South African
Institution of
Civil Engineering PROFILE OF SAICE 2021 PRESIDENT
January/February 2021 Vol 29 No 1
Vishal Krishandutt – working for inclusivity and diversity �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
The SAICE 2021 Presidential Team ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 7
Sivili Enjiniereng
Published by SAICE
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Pursuing inspirational and transformational leadership in civil engineering������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 8
Vishaal Lutchman PrEng PMP
vishaal@saice.org.za | Tel: +27 11 805 5947/8
Editor
Danielle Petterson
danielle@saice.org.za
CEO’S CORNER
Tel +27 11 805 5947 | Cell +27 83 226 5614
Editorial Panel
Marco van Dijk (chairman), Irvin Luker (vice-chairman),
Vishal Krishandutt (president), Vishaal Lutchman (CEO),
Continue the good fight for South Africa ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12
Andile Gqaji, Jeffrey Mahachi, Avi Menon,
Prisca Mhlongo, Jones Moloisane, Beate Scharfetter,
Danielle Petterson (editor), Verelene de Koker (journal
editor), Barbara Spence (advertising)
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Ethics, technology, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14
Tel +27 11 463 7940 | Cell +27 82 881 3454
Design and reproduction
Marketing Support Services, Ashlea Gardens, Pretoria
The South African Institution of Civil Engineering accepts
no responsibility for any statements made or opinions
expressed in this publication, and all information is
provided without prejudice. Consequently nobody INTERNATIONAL
connected with the publication of the magazine, in
particular the proprietors, the publishers and the editors,
E-learning – the way of the future����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18
will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any
reader as a result of his or her action upon any statement or
opinion published in this magazine.
Addressing sub-Saharan Africa’s inadequate sanitation ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21
ISSN 1021-2000
Protecting our coastlines with vertical seawall structures����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24
Civil Engineering January/February 2021
P24
TRANSPORT
Will the Covid-19 pandemic lead to lasting changes in travel patterns? �������������������������������������������������������������������������26
Is transport planning and implementation failing 75% of our citizens? ��������������������������������������������������������������������������32
Innovative rehabilitation of the P175/1������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 35
Cross-border operations: tapping into opportunities in the DRC ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 37
P21
SAICE AND PROFESSIONAL NEWS
Recognising excellence: SAICE President’s Award and Honorary Fellowship������������������������������������������������������������38
New SAICE Fellows ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40
Fana Marutla takes on new role at PRASA����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������42
SAICE staff announcements ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������43
Obituary: Theo van Robbroeck – Water Engineer Extraordinaire ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 44
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Obituary: In remembrance of Neville Gurry ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 48
Obituary: In memory of Heinrich Pietersen Rauch ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������49
SAICE Training Calendar 2021������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 51
FUN QUIZ
SAICE Know Your Sector Competition������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������56
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Profile of SA I C E 2021 President
Vishal Krishandutt – working
for inclusivity and diversity
Vishal Krishandutt, who was inaugurated as SAICE’s 118th president at an illustrious affair held in Durban on
27 November 2020, hopes to place a greater emphasis on women and young engineers during his term of office.
Vishal hails from the apartheid township leaving Vishal with no choice but to for
of Chatsworth in Durban, KwaZulu- register for a National Diploma in Civil
Natal. Despite being drawn to technical Engineering. The rest is history, and he has
subjects as a schoolboy, Vishal admits never looked back. His only regret was not
that he did not know what civil engi- attending a traditional university due to
neering was when enrolling at M L Sultan lack of funds.
Technikon (now Durban University of Vishal was raised chiefly by his
Technology). This was due to a lack of mother, who worked as a seamstress in
career guidance at school, and Vishal a clothing factory, after losing his father
originally intended to study electrical as a young boy. He suffered a great loss
engineering – one of the few engineering during his first year at Technikon when
professions he had been exposed to. his mom passed away when he was just
However, the demand to study 19. Vishal credits his brothers and sister
electrical, mechanical, for supporting him during the difficult
and chemical ordeal and helping to ensure that he
engineering was finished his studies.
so high that
there was only CAREER OVERVIEW
space in civil Vishal started his career at WBHO
engineering, Ovcon in 1994 as a trainee and junior
site engineer.
Vishal Krishandutt, He went on to join
SAICE President 2021 the University of
Durban-Westville
(now University Vishal in Grade 12 at Welbedene Secondary
of KwaZulu- School
Natal (UKZN)) as a Laboratory Manager
in 1996, a position which he held for seven
years. In 2003, Vishal was promoted to lec-
turer, undertaking lectures in engineering
courses from 1st year to 4th year level.
He later joined the Coastal, Storm
water and Catchment Management
Department in the Engineering Unit at
eThekwini Municipality, where he served
from 2007 to 2014 as chief technologist
and area project engineer in the North
Central region.
Finally, Vishal joined Nyeleti Consul
ting where he is currently employed as a
technical director.
4 January/February 2021 Civil Engineering
Vishal at Loveland Pass en route
to Green Mountain Reservoir
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Vishal’s first career highlight was
being chosen by the SA-US Binational
Commission to visit the Materials and
Engineering Research Laboratory in
Denver Colorado, in the USA. This was
part of the programme funded by the
then Vice Presidents of South Africa and
the USA, Thabo Mbeki and Al Gore. As
part of the Concrete Durability Research
Group at University of Durban-Westville,
Vishal attended various workshops and
seminars hosted by the US Department
of Interior. The workshops and seminars
were based on concrete durability and
included a site visit to Green Mountain
Dam as well as Loveland Pass on the
continental divide.
One of Vishal’s most memorable
career highlights was being chosen by
UKZN to participate in a course of study
in Sustainable Watershed Management, Laboratory work at the Bren School
as well Fate and Transport of Pollutants of Environmental Science, UCSB
at The Donald Bren School of Environ
mental Science and Management, based
at the University of California, Santa
Barbara (UCSB), in the USA. There he
conducted research on water resources
engineering, as well as laboratory simula-
tions on the fate and transport of pollut-
ants in the San Francisco Bay.
“This was very memorable as it al-
lowed me to experience the university as
well as the American culture, and I spent
three months in California. I also got to
visit the Hoover Dam in Nevada, as well
as the majestic Grand Canyon in Arizona
by helicopter,” says Vishal.
One of his most proud achieve-
ments was being awarded the SAICE
Technologist of the Year in 2014, as well
as the SAICE Durban Branch, which he
was chairing, being awarded the Branch Vishal with his SAICE Technologist of
of the Year for the second time in a row. the Year and Branch of the Year awards
Civil Engineering January/February 2021 5
SAICE Durban Branch’s 2014 annual He stresses the importance of mentor-
bridge building competition ship and cautions older engineers not to
forget what it was like to be a young engi-
neer and to remember that there are also
opportunities to learn from the younger
generation. His message to mentors is
simple: mentor wholeheartedly and build
a future mentor for someone else.
Vishal believes that SAICE is heading
in the right direction as the institution
already has some new young and dynamic
members who are champions of key areas
of the Growing Forward Together strategy.
“The enthusiasm we see from the various
branches and divisions bodes well for
the sustainability of SAICE and we are
confident that we will survive the effects
of the pandemic and will see an upturn in
the membership of SAICE,” he says.
Vishal is also very passionate about
“I was very proud of these achievements colleagues. This led to him resigning from gender inclusivity and diversity and hopes
as it was a recognition by my peers in the two of his jobs and saddens him as he be- to contribute to the drafting and imple-
profession,” he says. lieves that it showed that some individuals mentation of best practice guidelines for
Vishal does not highlight the high- were not amenable to change and that gender inclusivity in the workplace. This,
value projects he has worked on. Instead, they felt a sense of entitlement. he says, is a daunting task as it requires
he stresses the importance of small, the co-operation of various stakeholders
simple projects that have a direct impact MAKING AN IMPACT and changing of mindsets of individuals
on people’s lives. “It’s not about the project Vishal finds inspiration in his fellow col- who have been set in their ways for many
value, it’s about making a direct impact.” leagues who, like him, have managed to years, and who perhaps are not amenable
He recalls the words of his former find success despite facing many challenges to change.
Deputy Head at eThekwini Municipality, in their careers. “I look up to many high-
Randeer Kasserchun, who always encour- profile individuals and it inspires me daily FAMILY LIFE
aged staff with the phrase, “Make every to work hard to follow in their footsteps.” SAICE’s new president identifies as a
excuse to get the job done.” His passion lies in developing the family man and enjoys spending time with
younger generation of engineering profes- his immediate and extended family.
CHALLENGES sionals. “I see them as future leaders as Vishal and his wife Ashmal recently
While Vishal faced many challenges in well as the future of SAICE and I make celebrated their 25th anniversary and
his life, none was worse than the racism every effort to mentor, advise, and create have two children together. Their
he experienced both early on and later in opportunities for our young members to daughter Adharta is 23 and a civil
his career and the hands of managers and achieve success,” he says. engineer, while their son Raúl has just
Vishal, with his children Adharta and Raúl in Ashmal, Raúl, Adharta and Vishal
front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
6 January/February 2021 Civil Engineering
completed his matric and hopes to
pursue a career in IT. As a family they
enjoy going out to dinners, movies and
travelling.
“We have been lucky as we were
recently able to visit the USA as a family
and enjoy the sights and sounds of this
beautiful country. We have previously
visited Europe, Dubai and Australia as a
family and have enjoyed every minute of
it,” reports Vishal.
LEADING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Like previous SAICE president Fana
Marutla, Covid-19 has proved a disruption
to Vishal’s term of office.
The dangers of the virus are well-
known to Vishal, whose entire family
tested positive for Covid-19 at the
beginning of January this year. While his
children were asymptomatic, both Vishal Vishal and his family at the Kennedy Space
and Ashmal were admitted to hospital Center Visitor Complex in Florida, USA
and placed on oxygen.
“We were lucky to recover, so I take be delayed until the pandemic is under the year I will be able to travel more and
this pandemic very seriously and as control,” he says. meet with our members at the different
much as I would have liked to travel Vishal will still reach out to members corners of the country, however it will
to the branches and host many of the through webinars and live streaming be a wait and see approach. Rest assured
SAICE events in person, this will have to events. “I hope that by the second half of there will be some engagement.”
THE SAICE 2021 PRESIDENTIAL TEAM
Vishal Krishandutt
President Prof Marianne Vanderschuren
Technical Director and KZN Regional President-Elect
Office Manager Department of Civil Engineering
Nyeleti Consulting (Pty) Ltd University of Cape Town
vkrishandutt@nyeleti.co.za marianne.vanderschuren@uct.ac.za
Andrew Clothier Josh Padayachee
Vice-President Vice-President
Executive Associate Director: Bridges and Buildings
JG Afrika (Pty) Ltd Naidu Consulting
clothiera@jgafrika.com josh.padayachee@naiduconsulting.com
Prof Chris Roth
Vice-President
Growing
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Pretoria
Forward
chris.roth@up.ac.za Together
Civil Engineering January/February 2021 7
Presidential address
Pursuing inspirational and transformational
leadership in civil engineering
Adharta and son Raúl for their support, as of inspirational and transformational
well as being my motivation for success. leadership thereon.
I would also like to pay tribute to In keeping with SAICE’s Growing
my father and mother who passed away Forward Together strategy, in which diver-
in 1980 and 1993 respectively, and to sity and inclusivity is one of the areas of
acknowledge that their absence has moti- growth, I see myself getting more involved
vated me to overcome the many obstacles in the advocacy and implementation of
that I have encountered in my life. I would best practices during my term of office. I
further like to pay special tribute to my will discuss this further on, but for now I
mom, who, despite being a widow for many would like for you to remember a phrase
years, toiled hard as a clothing factory that I have coined for my presidency
worker to provide us with a decent living which many of you may be able to identify
and a quality education. The biggest lesson with, irrespective of gender: “Gender
that I learnt from her is to practice forgive- inclusivity is not about being accepted; it
ness and to treat everyone with respect is about being respected”.
and dignity, especially those who are less
fortunate. I live by these principles daily, as THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19
they ensure lasting and good relations with The year 2020 will forever be remembered
almost everyone with whom I interact. in the chronicles of history as the year
A hearty thanks to my late brother that totally changed our outlook on life
Asish, my brother Sashi, as well as my because of the coronavirus. The current
Vishal Krishandutt sister Shabnam, and their spouses, all Covid-19 pandemic has claimed more
SAICE President 2021 of whom who have supported me and than 2.2 million lives worldwide and
encouraged me in my pursuit of education infected over 110 million people*. This
A WORD OF THANKS and achieving my goals. My gratitude number is rising daily, mainly due to
Having been born and raised in the also goes to the SAICE Durban Branch the second wave hitting the continents
sprawling apartheid township of Chats where I served in various portfolios of Europe and the Americas, and now
worth, Durban, in the province of and as chairman in 2013 and 2014. The South Africa.
KwaZulu Natal, and orphaned at the age experience that I gained there laid the In South Africa alone, more than
of nineteen, I would never have imagined foundation for my nomination to council, 48 000 people have died due to the virus,
myself being inaugurated as the 118th executive board, vice-president and now out of the more than 1.4 million confirmed
president of SAICE. as president of SAICE for 2021. cases*. We as South Africans need to be
It is indeed an honour and a privilege Finally, I would like to express my most very vigilant as we experience a massive
to mark this very special milestone in my sincere gratitude to my employer, Nyeleti surge of cases during this second wave. It
career, and for this I would like to express Consulting, for their unwavering support is going to be some time before we have a
my gratitude to SAICE’s Executive Board of this presidency. In particular I would like full recovery from the effects of the virus,
for providing me with the opportunity to thank my previous CEO Dr Pine Pienaar, even with a vaccine which is expected to be
to serve as the president of this esteemed my current CEO Sundran Naicker, and the released within the next few months.
organisation for 2021. I feel extremely board of Nyeleti for their support of my I want to take this opportunity to
honoured to be a part of SAICE’s history. involvement with SAICE. thank the frontline medical staff who con-
They say that behind every successful tinue to risk their lives to treat and save
man is a strong woman, however I am very 2021 PRESIDENTIAL THEME those infected with the virus. I would also
proud to say that I have had a very strong When considering my presidential theme like to show gratitude to the individuals
woman, who has always been beside me. for 2021, there were many topics that who work in the supply and value chains
It gives me great pleasure to express my came to mind, as we have been influenced as well as cashiers and supermarket
overwhelming gratitude to my beautiful by so much in the past year. However, I employees. These are the unsung heroes
wife of 25 years, Ashmal, for her support have for many years been very passionate who rose up to the challenge when they
and encouragement throughout my career. about the advancement of gender inclu- were called to duty to serve the nation.
I would also like to thank my daughter sivity in the workplace and the influence We salute you!
8 January/February 2021 Civil EngineeringThe impact of the pandemic has been and malfeasance would overshadow the platforms. At SAICE we take this very se-
felt far and wide, and most countries good work that is proposed in the imple- riously and dealing with gender inclusivity
around the world have entered a reces- mentation of these projects, or whether is a top priority in line with our Growing
sion, experiencing an economic decline government has learnt from the ills of Forward Together strategy.
not seen in recent times. the past, for example, in dealing with the The United Nations (UN) Sustainable
In South Africa this has been one of Covid-19 corruption scandals. Another Development Goal 5 deals with achieving
the steepest declines in the economy since concern was whether government would gender equality and the empowerment
1990. Sharp drops in production were seen ensure that adequate checks and balances of all women and girls. The belief is that
across all the country’s main sectors, and are put in place to eradicate any wilful acts gender equality is not only a fundamental
the construction sector in particular has of corruption, nepotism and unethical human right but a necessary foundation
suffered immensely. The sector saw a drop behaviour by politicians, government for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable
of around 76% in the second quarter of officials and those in the private sector world. It is further supported by António
2020 compared to a drop of around 5% in who normally facilitate this criminality. Guterres, Secretary General of the UN,
the first quarter, which is quite staggering. Only time will tell, but as SAICE we cannot who said: “Gender equality is a question
Pursuant to the lack of growth in the stand back and be complacent. of power, power that has been jealously
last quarter of 2019, which the sector Our industry has been decimated. The guarded by men for millennia. It is about an
was still recovering from, the effects of lack of projects has all but destroyed the abuse of power that is damaging our com-
Covid-19 have certainly compounded the construction industry, and consulting munities, our economies, our environment,
negative economic effect on the country engineering firms have retrenched hun- our relationships and our health.”
and the sector, and it is going to take a dreds of professionals. Many companies He further notes that, “we must
remarkable effort to recover from the un- have either shut down, gone into business urgently transform and redistribute power
derlying effects of an ailing economy and rescue, or had to look at turnaround if we are to safeguard our future and our
the coronavirus pandemic. The fact that strategies to survive during the pandemic. planet. That is why all men should sup-
both Moody’s and Fitch have downgraded The only positive point we can take from port women’s rights and gender equality.”
our economy further into junk status does here is that with hard work and commit- On a more positive note, and ac-
not bode well if we want to resuscitate ment from all sectors of the economy, the cording to the UN’s report on gender
our economy. situation can only improve. equality, there has indeed been progress
over the last few decades, with more
TOWARDS RECOVERY GENDER INCLUSIVITY women serving in senior parliamentary
In October 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa The important topic of gender inclusivity and leadership positions. Furthermore,
unveiled the Economic Reconstruction and is being widely discussed and debated in discriminatory laws, processes and
Recovery Plan, which will be supported public forums, private and governmental policies are constantly being changed or
by a R1 trillion investment in critical organisations as well as on social media abolished to advance gender equality.
infrastructure over the next four years. This
plan is centred around the need to restore Vishal Krishandutt delivering his
fiscal sustainability, together with economic presidential address at his inauguration
growth, through massive spending on in-
frastructure, economic reforms, removal of
regulatory barriers, and securing a sustain-
able energy supply.
With this plan the president foresees
creating almost 800 000 employment op-
portunities to circumvent the 2.2 million
jobs that were lost between April and
June when the economy shrunk due to the
hard lockdown.
SAICE, as a professional voluntary
association and a learned society, needs
to engage with the Investment and
Infrastructure Office in The Presidency
and other relevant government depart-
ments to provide professional and
technical guidance on the implementation
of critical infrastructure projects and
maintenance programmes that are of
paramount importance.
I am sure that when the investment
values were announced by the president,
many of us were asking whether corruption
Civil Engineering January/February 2021 9Vishal with his wife Ashmal, daughter Adharta, and son Raúl
The report also notes that the battle old stigmas in this male-dominated the saying that “gender inclusivity is
involvement of women in tertiary industry, despite being in managerial posi- not about being accepted; it is about
education has been rising significantly. tions, where they must put in the extra being respected.”
Not only is enrolment increasing faster effort to prove that they can do their jobs. To my male counterparts: we men
for women than for men, but women in In 2019 I conducted research for my should not have the perception that we
tertiary education currently outnumber master’s dissertation on the effects of have the authority or right over women to
men. However, it is common knowledge the glass ceiling on woman engineers in accept them into our work environment.
that women continue to be grossly consulting firms in South Africa. A total As human beings and as professionals
underrepresented in the science, tech- of 140 female engineering professionals we should respect the presence of women
nology, engineering, and mathematics responded to the survey. The results in our profession without the need
(STEM) fields, representing just over 35% showed the following: for acceptance. For far too long, many
of the world’s STEM graduates. QQ 85% agreed that assertiveness by female engineers have been relegated to
By pursuing the Success Through woman engineers was viewed as the sidelines due to the opinion of some
Academic Readiness or STAR pro- a negative characteristic in their male engineers that they did not ‘fit the
gramme, SAICE must continue to look organisations. narrative’. This mindset must change, as
at addressing this imbalance and I hope QQ 74% believed that vital decisions it constrains the development of woman
to add value to this programme during are made by men outside of formal engineers, thereby contributing to the
my presidential year. My hope is for meetings. scarcity of skilled woman engineers in
SAICE to make further inroads into QQ 63% believed that “old boys clubs” in our industry.
attracting more talented females into the their organisations limited women’s Furthermore, when building a gender-
civil engineering profession, particularly opportunities to advance to manage- inclusive workplace, the strategy should
those from rural areas and low-income ment positions. not be based on the premise that, by
households who would not ordinarily get QQ 66% were of the view that their com- employing more female engineers and
the opportunity. pany’s structure and culture favoured reducing the pay disparity, gender inclu-
male engineers. sivity and equity will be achieved. The
BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING Of the women who had stayed in their strategy must be based on the eradication
A very concerning aspect of gender organisations for between 6 and 10 years, of a systemic problem that needs to be
inclusivity is the fact that many woman 72% supported the fact that women had dealt with on a much deeper level, where a
engineering professionals are leaving to outperform their male counterparts to culture of support and inclusivity lays the
the profession. Recent statistics from the be promoted to the same position in their foundation for marginalised voices to be
Engineering Council of South Africa show organisations. heard and for their contribution to their
that 70% of the women who graduated For many of us these results are organisations to be valued.
with engineering degrees left the sector not surprising. Women are leaving
after starting their careers because they the industry because they feel highly LEADERSHIP
felt isolated in their jobs. Many South undervalued in their organisations, and Inspirational and transformational leader-
African female engineers continue to that it is why we need to fully embrace ship can be a driving force in achieving
10 January/February 2021 Civil Engineeringgender inclusivity. Driven by passion and FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION and an institution with 15 000 members
commitment, inspirational leadership is My address would not be complete if I did is indeed an honour. I am confident that
one of the most important traits of any not make mention of the Fourth Industrial with the support of the SAICE national
leader and has been held by many of the Revolution (4IR) and its influence on our office and CEO we will be able to achieve
world’s greatest leaders. profession. In this information era, we many of SAICE’s short-term goals and lay
It is for this reason that I want to are only held back by how young we are down the foundation for a very sustain-
explore how inspirational leadership can mentally and whether we can adapt to able future.
shape and transform our industry and digital transformation. I pledge to take on every task with the
profession during my presidential year. Millennials’ and Zoomers’ thirst for passion and commitment expected of any
By our actions as leaders, we must be an knowledge, information and innovation president, and to ensure that I lead from
inspiration to all our members so that far surpasses that of the older generation, the front. I certainly hope that the year
they can achieve their goals. And these and this further frustrates the younger 2021 will afford me the opportunity to go
are goals which can also be accomplished generations as they perceive that their out and meet with our members around
by being involved in SAICE. careers are being stagnated by outdated the country and provide some assurances
I am an example of this, as my involve- technology, old policies and processes, that, despite the effects of the pandemic
ment with the institution was inspired by and ageing superiors. and the economy, SAICE will endeavour
past SAICE leaders and has influenced Over the past decade, digital progress to engage with strategic partners to deter-
me to continue improving myself in order has transformed entire industries, mine how we can contribute to reviving
to achieve my goals. More so, we want ushering in a new technological era. our industry to an acceptable level.
inspirational leaders to influence gender Innovation has improved companies’ We need to capitalise on the infra-
equality and inclusivity to ensure that productivity and sustainability, and rede- structure and development plans from
more female engineering professionals fined the skills and competencies needed government, as well as those from the
reach the top and fewer leave the profes- to thrive. However, over the same period, private sector, and to look at how this
sion. This can be achieved by growing the the construction industry has continued can create an economic upturn in the
number of female leaders in our profes- to operate as it has done for the past 50 value chain that will be beneficial to all
sion who, in turn, can inspire both young years. It still relies heavily on manual stakeholders in the industry.
and experienced woman engineers to labour, mechanical technology, and es- Gender inclusivity will be high on my
overcome the barriers that prevent them tablished operating and business models. agenda, and my intention is to engage
from achieving top leadership positions. As a result, productivity stagnates, and more strategically with individuals and
I am incredibly inspired by the many profitability drops. organisations who advocate the need
woman engineers in South Africa who Only recently have digital technologies for a more gender-inclusive working
have achieved CEO and other leadership begun to enter the industry, gradually environment. At the end of my presidency,
roles in the civil engineering profession changing how infrastructure, property I would like to have contributed to the
in the recent past. I am proud of their and other built assets are designed, development of best practice guidelines
achievements which show that we are on a constructed, operated, and maintained. for gender inclusivity in the workplace,
very positive path. Virtual and augmented reality applica- with the defining attributes being talent
Furthermore, at this present moment tions are already being utilised in design acquisition, organisational culture, and
in time, we are witnessing one of the most offices and on construction sites to transformation. It is going to be a very
significant milestones in woman leader- provide employees with visual images of challenging but rewarding task, knowing
ship as for the first time in US political what completed tasks should look like. that this will help to positively influence
history a woman of African American and Drones are also being utilised increasingly the lives of many of our female engi-
Indian descent was elected to be the vice- to enable off-site management of projects, neering professionals.
president of the United States of America. as well as safer surveying of construction I would like to once again thank
This is truly inspirational, as it paves the sites and surroundings. everyone who attended my inauguration
way for transforming a male-dominated The world is advancing at a very rapid as well as those who have supported me
position that has been in existence for rate in embracing 4IR, and in South from far and wide. Being a son of the Zulu
over 200 years. Africa we need to bridge the gap with our Kingdom, I would like to acknowledge
In her address to the American public international counterparts in this digital the isiZulu phrase “Umuntu Ngumuntu
as well as to the world, US Vice-President space. The economic and social impact Ngabantu” which translates to “a person is
Kamala Harris reminded all women that thereof can be substantial given the fact a person through other persons”.
as much as she was the first female vice that the construction industry accounts I am here today because of the many
president, she was not going to be the last. for 6% of global GDP. individuals who have shown faith and
There are so many intelligent and trust in me over the years. These indi-
talented women who have overcome nu- CONCLUSION viduals saw my passion and commitment
merous barriers in their careers to achieve I must admit that being the president of and supported me in my endeavours. My
success and they must be celebrated so SAICE comes with many rewards as well time as president of SAICE will be no dif-
that woman engineers and women of all as numerous challenges, as many of my ferent. The flag of SAICE will fly high and
professions become inspired to ask the predecessors will acknowledge. Being able proudly, and I will truly aim to represent
question, “why can’t I?” to represent an honourable profession our members with distinction.
Civil Engineering January/February 2021 11C E O ’s Corner
Continue the good fight
for South Africa
This article, my first for the new year, hope. Positivity is enhanced by adopting the society we serve daily? The concept
was an especially difficult one to frame. a concerted effort in adjusting towards of change must be embraced with the
My intention is always to make a positive positive thoughts and language when we knowledge that we are to respond to
difference in our lives and existence, as gather in our spaces. change. Such knowledge makes the dif-
well as create an overall positive purpose As for many of our existing para- ference to our sense of hope as it applies
in our existence. Such positivity is all the digms and frames of reference, perspec- to our families, society, and country.
more necessary in the midst of extreme tives on issues including our realities The success of our goals will be deter-
adversity to enable us to shift towards remain in flux. The associated implica- mined by our concerted effort, extreme
greater prosperity. I believe a positive tions of having to deal with uncertainty focus, and dedication in our response
perspective assists with seeking out will change how we engage within our to the many tasks we have at hand. We
opportunities to grow, adds value, and families, communities, workplaces, and must acknowledge that our cultures have
reinforces a belief that we will rise. If we in public generally. Upon reflection, I changed in the last year on the back of
exude a positive mindset now, we will recommend adopting a hardened sense the historical changes related to the pan-
extend our capacity to deal with more of patriotism, even if it may be blind. It demic. We must strive for greater levels
challenges down the line. has the potential to bring a sense of op- of commitment and perfection across all
timism while asking the question: ‘How that we do, while accepting that we must
EMBRACING CHANGE can I contribute positively in a space, always lend a helping hand to another. In
We must remember that, like all things, perhaps, occupied by negative rhetoric?’ so doing we can reconnect purposefully
Covid-19 is temporary and will pass. An Civil engineers may find it easier to be with our fellow South Africans and de-
intense focus on what we have and can patriotic as we find our joy in serving velop shared humanity while progressing
control, versus what we don’t have and mankind and the value of our work is our quest for a fair and just society.
cannot control, broadly affects how we very visible and has longevity. As civil engineers, we have a huge
see and experience the task at hand – the country is looking
world. A short time SOCIETY FIRST at us for the solutions. This fact may
spent reflecting So how do we respond to what is not appear to be clearly evident, but I
can assist in becoming a new world order? How do can assure you civil society is! We have
developing re- we make an improved difference in to deliver our value as effectively and
newed thinking ourselves that leads to improvement in efficiently as possible. In times of need,
patterns that
create a sense of As civil engineers, we have a huge task at hand – the country is looking
at us for the solutions. This fact may not appear to be clearly evident, but
I can assure you civil society is! We have to deliver our value as
effectively and efficiently as possible. In times of need, we may
need to go the extra mile, as many of us have been doing in the
last few years. It may appear unfair when we look around, but
remaining steadfast and convicted in the belief of our value
proposition will make the much-needed impact we
require to improve the quality of life in our country.
12 January/February 2021 Civil EngineeringOne of the most significant opportunities available to SAICE, integration (transdisciplinary approach);
good communication with government
whose primary focus is building engineering capacity and and suppliers (procurement); and govern-
ance which talks to the securitisation and
expanding knowledge, is that it is placed to assist with establishing
management of public funds.
greater capability in the domain of project owners. One of the most significant opportu-
nities available to SAICE, whose primary
we may need to go the extra mile, as International Federation of Consulting focus is building engineering capacity
many of us have been doing in the last Engineers, which require that engineers and expanding knowledge, is that it is
few years. It may appear unfair when we identify with their role in the socio- placed to assist with establishing greater
look around, but remaining steadfast economic development of mankind. capability in the domain of project
and convicted in the belief of our value A new prioritisation of the social owners.
proposition will make the much-needed component of development, segued with The Construction 2.0 and Project 13
impact we require to improve the quality economics, technology, and politics, case studies validate the shared need to
of life in our country. assists with an integrated approach to a address procurement, capacity, digital
I have postulated insights into our new guideline for integrated planning, innovation, education, governance,
individual and collective responses to the for example. integrated planning, and technology
new world order. As we try to understand A global scan of countries that to ensure a balanced value proposition
the new world, we must make changes to are more egalitarian may prove to be for key stakeholders. It seems to point
our worldviews that enable us to engage insightful as it applies to infrastructure us in the direction of professional-
with it with meaning and purpose. In within the greater socio-economic ising the public sector – an initiative
keeping with the need to change, SAICE development context. The Construction currently held by the Public Sector
will be embarking on initiatives that will 2.0 report published by KPMG for Hong Commission and the objectives of
support our members, businesses, and Kong, which examines the challenges District Development Model held by the
the industry in a constructive manner. within the local construction industry, Minister of Cooperative Governance and
highlights the problems of large develop- Traditional Affairs.
TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH ment plans, high costs, unsatisfactory While SAICE assesses the feasibility
In my last two articles, I have indicated success of megaprojects, unsatisfactory of a similar homegrown approach, we do
a new approach to solving old problems, safety on sites, declining productivity, acknowledge that multiple stakeholders
namely the adoption of a transdiscipli- and a lack of creativity and innovation. are required to make good on such initia-
nary methodology. The basic motivation Responses to such challenges relate to tives. In keeping with the recommenda-
proposed that, only if we integrate key innovation, professionalism, and revitali- tion that we need to change how we look
ideologies from multiple disciplines, will sation. Similarly, the Project 13 report at the world, we will also need to change
we have a chance at reducing inequality. published by the Institution of Civil how we engage with the world. Such
As SAICE looks to validate such a Engineers in the UK found that high change will be determined by engineers’
methodology, through future deep dives performing infrastructure requires a efforts to transform their thinking in
into current industry-specific processes capable owner, governance, organisation, order to bring value to a developmental
and activities, we see an opportunity integration, and digital transformation. state. Our destiny awaits!
to reinvent and make new the way in Admittedly, the Construction 2.0 and I take this opportunity to reaffirm
which we implement build programmes Project 13 studies were carried out that SAICE will continue to advocate for
going forward. Some of our strategic within different cultural contexts, but change for the benefit of our members,
interventions will relate to the integrated the base objectives are the same, namely, corporates, and the industry overall. To
planning of infrastructure, procurement, to improve infrastructure delivery in this extent I invite members to actively
training and development, infrastructure their respective geographies. engage with SAICE to grow, network,
design, and new methodologies for The challenges faced in these geogra- lead, and create value for the society we
project execution. phies are similar and relevant to the South serve. SAICE is indeed yours to make
Integrating the above with existing African context. We could argue that and shape you, your business, and your
and new government initiatives and South Africa could do with a greater level communities alike.
the global expectations of our country, of professionalism. This talks to capacity
as it applies to becoming a good global and education (SDG 4) in our industry; Vishaal Lutchman Pr Eng, PMP
citizen, is among the current discussion incorporation of innovation, technology,
vishaal@saice.org.za
points within many institutions. The and greater digitisation (SDG 9);
proposed transdisciplinary methodology
supports, for example, UNESCO’s In keeping with the recommendation that we need to change how we look
Engineering Report, in partnership with
the World Federation of Engineering at the world, we will also need to change how we engage with the world.
Organisations, the International
Such change will be determined by engineers’ efforts to transform their
Council of Academies of Engineering
and Technological Sciences, and the thinking in order to bring value to a developmental state. Our destiny awaits!
Civil Engineering January/February 2021 13E thics
SAICE’s Growing Forward Together strategy comprises eleven different activities grouped into seven
areas. The second of these activities is Ethics and Professionalism, which focuses on the promotion
of professionalism and integrity in the civil engineering industry. To increase awareness of the issue,
Civil Engineering features short articles on relevant topics around the subject from time to time.
Ethics, technology, and the
Fourth Industrial Revolution
“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the
Gregory Skeen Pr Eng same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”
SAICE Growing Forward Ethics Champion
ethics@saice.org.za – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
As information technology infuses every
part of our industry and our lives, engi- 1
neering practitioners, as the custodians of Ethics, 2
the industry, need to think about how and Diversity and
why we integrate new technology into our Inclusivity
day-to-day project work. There is always Getting to
a danger of adopting new technologies know your
because they are shiny and novel, SAICE
perceived as a silver bullet solution, Knowledge
or because they promise to improve Trailblazer
the bottom line, even at the expense The Voice –
of ethical, social, or environmental Advocacy
goals. There exists a danger of 7
progressing on a path of technology
adoption for technology’s sake. 3
When it comes to the ethics of tech-
nology adoption, the issues are often Grow SAICE
more subtle than simple dishonesty,
fraud, or corruption and must be con- SAICE STAR
sidered by engineering practitioners. Success Through
Academic Readiness
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
Programme
is closely tied to information technology,
and more specifically the integration of
SAICE SOS
Support Our
information technology in industry. It Assist-a-University Students
will lead to a radical change in industry as 5–6 Grow-a-Graduate
information technology infuses the day-to- Grow-an-Expert 4
day workings of the primary (agriculture
and resources), secondary (manufacturing,
engineering, construction), and tertiary
(financial) sectors. It is the result of the Now, on the cusp of the Fourth affect engineering practitioners in their
horizontal expansion of information tech- Industrial Revolution, we can expect a day-to-day work.
nology. This means that 4IR is essentially fundamental change in the way we live, The architecture-engineering-con-
a creative linking between technology and work, and relate to each other. This change struction (AEC) industry is already feeling
the market in every industry grounded in is expected to be unlike any before it in the effects of 4IR through the adoption
information technology1. its scale, scope, and complexity2 and will of simulation and modelling systems and
14 January/February 2021 Civil Engineeringincluding practical guidelines that consider
the interests of clients, staff, and end-users.
People have become accustomed to the
devaluation of the word “revolutionary”. It
is frequently used to promote consumer
products and advance political agendas.
However, the first three industrial revolu-
tions were truly revolutionary, reaching
1st 2nd 3rd 4th into all aspects of daily life and changing
them forever. Many of those changes were
Mechanisation, Mass production, Computer and Cyber Physical positive, including increases in the general
water power and assembly line automation Systems standard of living, increases in the earning
steam power and electricity
power of women, and the broadening of
trade. Negative effects included abusive la-
Figure 1 The Four Industrial Revolutions3 bour practices, environmental degradation,
the increased deadliness of war, and the
digitisation/visualisation technology, as that insufficient attention has been paid growth of urban slums. This should warn
well as modularisation/prefabrication to approaching 4IR in the AEC industry engineering practitioners to remember the
systems which can be produced by from an ethical standpoint5. potential negative effects of 4IR.
smart factories. Industry 4.0 is poised Consideration of the social and ethical The broad reach of 4IR leads us to
to transform the AEC industry from a implications of 4IR is not an abstract or consider the AEC industry encompassing
project-based industry to a market-based academic pursuit. A 2019 study by Deloitte the wider built environment. The
industrialised process4. showed that successful organisations were prevailing narrative is that 4IR is going
more likely to have a higher proportion of to deliver the AEC industry from low
ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK? staff concerned about the ethics behind productivity, unpredictable and risky
Engineering practitioners should ask technology decisions6 compared to less projects, and poor quality. It is expected
whether our industry is on the right successful organisations. Effective AEC to improve the design, engineering, plan-
ethical path as it accelerates the integra- organisations should develop a strategy ning, construction, and maintenance of
tion of technology. Research has shown for the ethical adoption of technology, built environment assets.
Civil Engineering January/February 2021 15Benefits
QQ Cost savings
Automation QQ Time savings
QQ On-time and on-budget delivery
Smart factory Modularisation, Prefabrication QQ Improving quality
QQ Improving collaboration and communication:
Product-Lifecycle-Management (PLM) QQ Improving customer relationship
QQ Enhancing safety
Simualtion tools, Simulation models QQ Improving the image of the industry
QQ Improving sustainability
Simulation and Building Information Modeling (BIM)
modeling Challenges
QQ Hesitation to adopt
Augmented Reality (AR),
QQ High implementation cost
Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR)
QQ Organisational and process change
QQ Need for enhanced skills
Cloud Computing QQ Knowledge management
QQ Acceptance:
Digitisation and Mobile Computing QQ Lack of standards and reference architectures
visualisation QQ Higher requirements for computing equipment
Social Media
QQ Data security and data protection
QQ Enhancement of existing communication networks
Digitisation
QQ Regulatory compliance
QQ Legal and contractual uncertainty
Figure 2 B
enefits and challenges of adopting Industry 4.0 technology7
Some engineers and technologists several ethical issues are expected to arise. In addition, the people aspect of new
expect 4IR to unlock a technological These can impact the day-to-day project technology adoption needs consideration.
transformation at the scale of the First and business environment as well as For example, would it be ethical for drones
Industrial Revolution of the 19th century8. society. An example of this is data privacy, or other equipment (part of the Internet
From our current vantage point, the posi- which is a recurring issue in the financial of Things) to record site works’ progress
tive and negative consequences of 4IR in and government sectors where end-users if it means you are regularly recording the
the AEC industry may not all be evident. are concerned about how their personal activities of staff without their consent?
For example, how will rapid technological data is captured, stored, and used. As (currently South African law prohibits the
change affect the number of jobs available engineers adopt new technologies, are we video recording of people in a situation of
as many are replaced by technological aware of the potential for data breach and indirect communication without their con-
innovation? How will engineering prac- careful with the collected data? sent). The longer term social and ethical
titioners decide whether to adopt new Another example is algorithmic bias, effects of 4IR in the AEC industry, as well
technology which threatens livelihoods? where wrong assumptions or tainted as day-to-day infringements on dignity
To understand the potential for long- data gives rise to incorrect recommenda- and human rights, need to be taken into
term negative social impact, one only has tions – a case of “garbage in garbage out”. consideration by engineering practitioners.
to consider the First Industrial Revolution How much are we as engineers relying on The most obvious place to identify
(the transition to new manufacturing pro- systems and processes without verifying potential ethical problems is under the
cesses in Europe and the United States, in and checking the outcomes? ‘challenges’ column in Figure 2. Issues such
the period from about 1760 to sometime Another relevant example is lack of as the rate and impact of adoption, accep-
between 1820 and 1840) and the human inclusivity in design processes leading tance of new technology, lack of standards,
suffering which resulted, despite the to project outcomes which are not fit for security and data protection, and legal and
economic gains for a few. Recent studies purpose10. As built environment profes- contractual uncertainty all require thor-
reveal that during the First Industrial sionals, do engineers apply new technology ough analysis and clear planning to avoid
Revolution, the real income of the average considering all stakeholders at all stages ethical failures in the long term.
British working-class family improved of development, including construction,
by less than 15% between the 1780s and operation, and maintenance? REMAINING RELEVANT
1850s9, an average of only 0.2% per year. AND SUSTAINABLE
Horrific working and living conditions There is a school of thought While some believe technology itself is
were the norm. An industrial revolution that believes that 4IR and its neutral, others believe the lack of morality
is not a guarantee of economic prosperity comprehensive transformation will embedded in technology brings a sinister
for all. potentially merely consolidate power aspect which has the potential for severe
asymmetries, and increase disparities, negative consequences12. We cannot
ETHICAL ISSUES as it promotes technologies that do ignore the vested political and economic
As the AEC industry embarks on the not exemplify human-centered moral interests which will drive the deployment
journey to fully exploit the potential of 4IR, values and are devoid of ethicality11. of technology in the AEC industry. The
16 January/February 2021 Civil EngineeringYou can also read
