Opinion: Tech Can Boost Infrastructure Recovery
To Build|Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
As COVID-19 and financial constraints hinder South Africa’s plans for infrastructure development, there is likely to be greater reliance on applying innovative technologies. TO BUILD invited Consulting Partner and Principal Engineering Technologist for SRK, Steve Bartels, to share his views.
Steve Bartels
Opinion: Tech Can Boost Infrastructure Recovery

Bartels argues that the country’s infrastructure recovery could make valuable use of a growing range of datagathering, analysis, communication and data-sharing technologies: “While most of these technologies were available before – such as virtual private networks to facilitate the sharing of documents and information – not everyone was using them effectively. Now they will become vital for continued efficiency,” he says.

Bartels noted that high-definition photography and photogrammetry, as well as the technologies such as drones and remote sensing to deploy these tools, will become particularly useful. Technology related to geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) will continue to grow in their applications, helping to accurately geolocate data points for various scientific and engineering applications.

“For instance, drones today come in all shapes and sizes – some so tiny they can almost fit in your pocket while others are the size of a small aeroplane,” he says. “Multicopters or fixed-wing craft for aerial applications require either a launching system and landing strip, while the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require only a very small area to take off and land.”

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021 من To Build.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021 من To Build.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من TO BUILD مشاهدة الكل
Work Surfaces — An International Case Study
To Build

Work Surfaces — An International Case Study

Nestled in the foothills of North Tustin, California, is the beautiful home of a well known interior designer, Hilary Hale. Amongst the well-appointed and stylish rooms, the kitchen received a visually striking counter-island to serve as the centrepiece.

time-read
3 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Opinion: Tech Can Boost Infrastructure Recovery
To Build

Opinion: Tech Can Boost Infrastructure Recovery

As COVID-19 and financial constraints hinder South Africa’s plans for infrastructure development, there is likely to be greater reliance on applying innovative technologies. TO BUILD invited Consulting Partner and Principal Engineering Technologist for SRK, Steve Bartels, to share his views.

time-read
3 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Engineering Project Provides Traffic Flow Relief
To Build

Engineering Project Provides Traffic Flow Relief

Finally handed back to the City of Cape Town by the contractors mid-last year, the Kommetjie Road upgrade in the city’s far southern suburbs took four years to complete.

time-read
5 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Key ‘People In Construction' Issues
To Build

Key ‘People In Construction' Issues

Key ‘people in construction’ issues The Conseil International du Bâtiment (CIB), which is known as the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction, is a worldwide network of more than 3 000 experts from 300 member organisations focused on all aspects of research and innovation in building and construction. CIB members are institutes, companies, and other types of organisations involved in research, or in the transfer or application of research results. Member organisations appoint experts to participate in CIB working commissions (WCs) and task groups (TGs).

time-read
3 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Future Of Home Design Post-Pandemic
To Build

Future Of Home Design Post-Pandemic

We present an opinion by the principal architect of an established New-Delhi firm of architects, which points to the direction that residential design could take post-pandemic.

time-read
4 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Container Village Provides A Safe Haven For Impoverished Kids
To Build

Container Village Provides A Safe Haven For Impoverished Kids

The Jabulani Feeding Scheme, in Parkwood Estate, Cape Town, sits in an official Zone of Poverty declared by the Department of Social Development. The centre is built on reclaimed land that used to be a dumpsite, so any structure erected must be removable.

time-read
2 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Office space: a view of the future
To Build

Office space: a view of the future

TO BUILD asked partners of a large South African architectural firm what their views were on the future of office space and whether the concept of dedicated office parks could survive in the next decade, especially in a post-pandemic world.

time-read
4 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Country chic – stylish and sustainable
To Build

Country chic – stylish and sustainable

Our much loved South African country areas do not have to stand back for the city places when it comes to decor and refurbishment. Proof of this comes by way of an amazing refurbishment done at the Sanddrif holiday resort and working farm. Situated in the central Cederberg area of the Western Cape, the farm is a comfortable 4 hours’ drive from Cape Town, during which time you climb to 1 036 metres above sea level.

time-read
6 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
Unlawful occupation of property and the stay of eviction proceedings
To Build

Unlawful occupation of property and the stay of eviction proceedings

Implications for property owners and developers: the unlawful occupation of property.

time-read
3 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021
An architect's view
To Build

An architect's view

According to historians, New Year’s Day has been celebrated for over four millennia. But this time, we had to dig really deep to find the good that came from 2020. On the other hand, we could talk for hours about what went wrong. However, to have this conversation is senseless; because it is clear that nobody was left unaffected by the absolute devastation that 2020 brought to this planet. Like a tsunami, the COVID-19 virus hit every shore, on every continent, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

time-read
5 mins  |
Volume 11 / Issue 1 - March 2021