Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (ETDs)
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Item Revival Through Empo[women]t: Designing Safer Public Spaces in Post-Apartheid Communities that Promote Community Cohesion(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kanjee, Sanam D.This study investigates how architecture can transform and renew existing public realms in Downshops, Laudium. The space contains strong patriarchal culture, along with poor maintenance, dilapitated infrastructure, dark thresholds and polluted spaces. These factors have made the space very unwelcoming, uncomfortable and unsafe for women. Despite this, it contains multi-layered complexities of Post-Apartheid narratives regarding socio-economic status, religion, culture, race, gender, and languages that de昀椀ne the space. This study aims to revive underutilized infrastructure and increase female participation through environments that facilitate skills, knowledge, and economic opportunities for women. Architectural theories and themes guide the study by challenging conventional design norms, through inclusive design, safety methods, and materiality seen through the lens of women, that enhance women’s spatial experiences. Proposed design interventions celebrate women’s role in public spheres by including clean facilities, spaces of activity, a tea garden, daycare facilities, learning rooms, skills and craft markets, and a women’s market. A drop-o昀昀/pick-up zone and waiting area for taxis is also proposed. By re-imagining Downshops through a gender-sensitive approach, the study envisions clean, safe and welcoming environments that encourage women to be active participants in public spaces to promote empowerment and cohesive community living.Item Bridging the gap: public space as an anchor for social-infrastructure and community integration in Braamfontein(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kistan, Nicole; Bahmann, DirkBridging the Gap is about creating a new shared space within Braamfontein, that seeks to provide a space that alleviates the interpreted apprehension felt towards shared spaces in the city. This tension that stems from the inaccessibility of space, infrastructure and amenities are due to the exclusionary nature of socio-economic hierarchies. The approach redefines the perceptions and physical role public space holds by investigating its history. Shared space, which is becoming increasingly scarce, is placed as a new gateway to the city to create a new and improved way of life. The design intervention combines architectural, urban, and social concerns by reinterpreting shared spaces as a social platform, which introduces a pedestrian street on ground level on which the architecture manifests as a flexible modular typology. The proposal aims to create an integrated and sustainable future in Braamfontein by engaging users, space and the city to create an urban fabricItem Project Reality - Imagining the symbiotic relationship between virtual reality and the human narrative(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Peneda, MichaelWith virtual reality technology being ever more integrated in our daily lives, through the accessibility to technology such as smartphones, personal computers, the internet, and social media. The potential possibilities for exploration, education, historical preservation, spatial exploration and how we define reality are endless. With the Newtown precinct having historical, educational, and recreational facilities within the heart of Johannesburg yet not functioning as a true representation of a cultural precinct. It provides the perfect catalyst for a virtual reality centre that enables the public to access this technology and explore its vast potential whilst reviving and transforming Newtown into a functional cultural precinct. Whilst being supported by the surrounding public infrastructure as well as creating a new pillar to support the precinct. This virtual reality centre provides the ability for users to explore both the virtual realm and the physical, while being able to easily transition from one to the other. With new ways of engaging with spatial exploration, immersive education, and new representations of historical narratives. With the building functioning as an amalgamation of new representations of classical typologies such as museums, exhibition spaces, galleries, research development and education facilities. By housing the functionalities of these typologies within the centre yet representing them in new ways with unique ways of engaging with them.Item Looking through the activation lens :Exploring urban renewal in Lenasia through an activism centre(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Bawa, Mariam; Francis, LialeSouth Africa’s history of trauma has created traumatic spaces. As we search for a post-apartheid identity, South Africa finds itself in a healing place. This research project looks at addressing traumas of the past while understanding the healing of the present. Lenasia has undergone traumas of segregation and forced removals of diasporic groups. What is trauma? How does it affect people and places? Life comes with a lot of challenges, some greater than others. Exposure to events beyond our everyday human experience can create trauma within us. It is beyond human experience to have one’s home bulldozed and torn down by an oppressive government. Being segregated is not an ordinary human experience. Being dislocated from a community, jobs, and so much more are all traits that cause trauma. All of these factors have deeply affected communities in South Africa, especially those that are marginalised. Poverty, inequality, healthcare, unemployment, racism, and childcare create layers of extraordinary experiences resulting in trauma. The increase in unemployment and decay of government-provided amenities continue to affect us today. My thesis addresses these traumas through understanding the history of Lenasia and activism around the apartheid system. It also addresses urban decay using urban theory, phenomenology, placemaking, identity, and activism theories of change. The research will lead to an architectural intervention that addresses trauma and provides a platform for people to voice their stories. The intervention will take the form of a Youth Activist Centre that enriches the community by mobilising youth to participate in the community while allowing for a space of leisureItem [T]read Between the Lines Unraveling and Upskilling Hidden Communities in Orange Grove and Norwood(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Moshe, Khumo; Francis, LialeThis research explores the historical tension and socio-economic differences between Orange Grove and Norwood, which are neighbouring suburbs characterized by a diverse culture and a mixed-income profile. These tensions lie between and along major arterial nodes Louis Botha Avenue and Grant Avenue, which serve communities. Louis Botha Avenue is a transit route and Grant Avenue, is a local retail high street. The study investigates the potential of Patterson Park, located between Louis Botha and Grant Avenue, as a mediating space for these neighbourhoods. The park offers the opportunity for connection between these neighbourhoods through urban principles that create safe and comfortable public connections. The proposed intervention neighbours Paterson Park and is driven by the imitiate human interactions. It aims to establish a maker’s guild and trade training centre, providing opportunities and possibilities for marginalized individuals, local entrepreneurs, businesses, and the community. The facility will impart essential urban principles for successful neighbourhoods and emphasize the significance of public art, craft in construction, along with facilitating better contractor-client relationships.Item Fuelling change: Harnessing water hyacinth for Bio-Fuel, a catalyst for changein Hartbeespoort(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Shippon, Angelique; Goncalves, KevinThe Hartbeespoort community has long grappled with the invasive water hyacinth, a menace causing ecological and economic harm to the man-made Hartbeespoort Dam since the 1970s. After research and interviews, it’s clear that trapped pollution is the core issue, rendering conventional control methods insufficient. In response, this architectural thesis presents Fuelling Change, an innovative solution merging agro-industry, natural water purification, and tourism through 5 sub-programs. The primary objective is to transform the water hyacinth challenge into a self- sustaining ecosystem that both generates income for management and enhances water quality. This involves a digester plant to control hyacinth growth through utilization, collaborating with local farmers to establish a closed-loop nutrient cycle, and rejuvenating the social fabric with a promising Waterfront initiative. Employing an Emancipatory research approach empowers the community, while integrating critical regionalism and biophilic design ensures authenticity and alignment with the area’s identity. The proposed design converts an ecological crisis into a catalyst for positive change, fostering socio-economic regeneration in Hartbeespoort. Agro-industry: industry connected with agriculture. Emancipatory research: define & add to list [ ii ] ABSTRACTItem A Review of the Stope Support System at Impala Bafokeng North Shaft Owing to Stope Closure at Shallow Mining Depths(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Walsh, Trevor; Stacey, ThomasImpala Bafokeng’s North Shaft is a shallow platinum mine on the western limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex. Shallow mines experience very little horizontal stress which leads to a support issue of the tensile zone. North Shaft relies heavily on mine pole support due to the requirements for a stiff support system. Elongate support failure in the deeper parts of the mine have occurred due to a change in the loading environment. The support failure has resulted in inadequate support resistance in the back areas and some large falls of ground. In this research report the Hybrid Section stope closure rate was measured. The closure does not appear to be linked to a detachment of a hangingwall parting. The ground penetrating radar scans and borehole data correlate with the observations. The falls of ground are structure related and occur in the back areas of the panel after the elongate support had failed. The footwall material is weaker than the hangingwall material and the pillar punches into the footwall. The footwall fractures and tensile cracks in the panel footwall indicate that the stresses are forced to move horizontally due to the footwall 4 parting plane. The footwall thrusts into the panel causing the high closure observed. The combination of a shorter panel length and pencil sticks would provide adequate support for the high closure rates observed.Item Large-Scale Mining and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Partnerships for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in Zimbabwe(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Tsoriyo, Vincent; Mutemeri, NelliaThe study focuses on the partnership between Large-Scale Mining (LSM) and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) as a pathway to address the challenges of informal ASM in mineral-rich communities. It highlights the collaboration between Pickstone-Peerless Mine (PPGM) and ASM operators under the Bluestreak Mining Cooperative (BMC) in the Chegutu district of Zimbabwe, with the goal of formalizing ASM activities to benefit local communities and the broader economy. The research seeks to provide empirical evidence and a practical model for such partnerships, which are lacking in documentation, particularly in the context of Zimbabwe. The partnership model is proposed to increase the socio- economic impact of ASM and allow the government to efficiently harness economic gains from mineral resources. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study assesses stakeholder perspectives and the partnership's socio-economic significance, advocating for LSM-ASM partnerships to formalize ASM operations and citing benefits like improved control, coexistence, and mutual advantages. While the PPGM-BMC collaboration has made progress in formalizing ASM and enhancing environmental and social responsibilities, further enhancements are needed for sustained community impact. Recommendations include alternative extraction methods, rehabilitation plans, and long-term sustainability plans, with future research directions exploring economic models for low-free-gold ores and LSM-ASM partnerships' role in transitioning away from mercury use, ultimately promoting sustainable mining practices and improving ASM community livelihoods.Item Support Design for Wide Stoping Heights Resulting from Footwall Lifting of Previously Mined Merensky Panels(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Tati, Buntu BantuThis research report is based on project work conducted at Impala Platinum Mine No. 20 Shaft. The purpose of the project was to provide suitable support and an extraction sequence to mine a mineralized zone in the footwall of previously mined Merensky Reef stopes. An estimated 1.4 kt of ore was available at an average grade of 1.75 g/t (68 000 ounces) at this shaft. A geotechnical investigation was done to gain an understanding of the footwall Pegmatoid mineralization as well as the structural characteristics of the rockmass. A footwall lifting method needed to be developed that incorporated a support system that was based on sound design principles. A tendon and cement pack support system was determined through both a deterministic and a probabilistic key block approach. The support design was limited to local pane support and did not include pillar behaviour. Cable anchors were the selected replacement units for timber elongates removed by the footwall extraction method. A cable anchor length greater than the anticipated fall- out height of 1.77 m was required. The analysis showed that the support length had a much smaller effect on rock fall-out results than the support spacing. Cable anchors spaced 1.5 m x 2.0 m with a length of 2.5 m were determined to be the optimal support configuration for stability. Despite this finding, only 3.5 m long cable anchors were readily available at the No 20 Shaft and were subsequently used in the trial. The Trench and Retreat Mining Method was used in the trial over three months. During this period, a proof of concept was developed for the support and extraction method. Various recommendations are provided in this report to enhance the methods and better optimise extraction in the long term.Item The relationship between human factors and technology adoption at Sishen Mine(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Seabela, Mogaleadi; Twala, PontshoMining of raw materials and minerals started centuries ago in South Africa. Mining methods, then, were very primitive and labour-intensive with the use of slaves in some instances. With industrial revolution came the development of other industries and supply chain process between industries which gave rise to human civilization and improvement of people’s livelihoods. The mining industry progressed as an adopter of technology with operations moving from mechanisation to digitisation. People however remained an integral part of the industry and in the case of South Africa, that is going to be the case for the foreseeable future. South Africa has a high unemployment rate and the mining industry employs approximately half a million people and Sishen Mine employs about 10 000 people. Given the role of mining in the country, it is important that adoption of technology and digital revolution take into consideration human factors in order to be successful. Some of the challenges the mining industry is faced with that requires the adoption of technology, include safety of employees, depleting orebodies and declining commodity qualities, rising input costs, supply chain constraints and macro-economic factors such as competitive commodity markets. To address some of these challenges, the mining industry is adopting technology and there has been significant benefits realised in the safety of mines. Sishen Mine strives towards zero harm and achievement of hundred percent overall equipment efficiency in order to remain sustainable. With technology, there has been some progress in reducing fatalities but there are still significant safety incidents taking place even in areas where technology was implemented to prevent such incidents. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of human factors on the adoption of technology at Sishen Mine. The objectives of the research were to identify benefits and challenges to adoption of technology and investigate factors that support and/or hinder technology adoption. Another objective was to establish the gaps in the implementation of technology in consideration of the impact human factors have on adoption of technology. Literature studies on mining technology, human factors and how they affect adoption of technology was conducted and found that human factors play a crucial role in the success of technology adoption. Several technologies employed at Sishen Mine were studied and their OEMs interviewed to share the benefits of these technologies and how they performed at Sishen Mine. Mine employees were also interviewed to share their personal experiences of technology in their work. It was found that human factors do have an impact on technology adoption. Key findings were that the benefits of technology were fairly understood and some of the challenges to adoption of technology at Sishen Mine related to human factors. The results showed that there were gaps in the capability of the technologies under study and the benefits realised in Sishen Mine. Some of the gaps included lack of understanding of how the technology worked and inadequate buy-in from end-users due to fear of job losses and inadequate engagement of all stakeholders. It is recommended that human factors are considered during technology implementation for successful technology adoption. This must be supported by adopting the design thinking approach to problem-solving wherein all stakeholders will be engaged on the technology solution before it is implemented. This will drive buy-in and address the human factors that may hinder the adoption of technology. Another recommendation is that a thorough management of change process be employed to cover technology implementation and adoption from the start of the process to the support provided by OEMs post installation, in order to ensure full adoption and integration into the operating model.