The Earth is unpredictable, and for companies planning new construction this poses a host of challenges. One of the biggest dilemmas is maintaining the earth’s physicalenvironment in conjunction with the development of major public and private projects is becoming increasingly important.

“Sustainable stewardship of our built environment is dependent on our ability to implement effective design solutions to everyday problems. It is a good time to be specialised in ground engineering with increasing demand for this expert service,”said Monique Wainstein, Engineering Geologist at leading consulting engineering firm, GIBB.

“Given the strong need to improve our nation’s infrastructure, there is a large demand for geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists in the workplace as well as a shortage of this skill in the African continent particularly,” she continued.

A sound geotechnical investigation is fundamental to any civil engineering development and there is a need for skilled geotechnicalpractitioners to fill this role.  The role of geotechnical practitionersin the industry has increased dramatically over the past 20 years with professionals now seen as primary contributors to sustainable infrastructure development.

With over ten years of experience, Wainstein specialises in site investigation and foundation design in both soil mechanics and rock engineering. Her key responsibility is to make assessments and recommendations to GIBB engineers regarding founding solutions involved in their projects.

She facilitates the entire life cycle of a project and is currently the technical lead on major ventures both locally and throughout the African continent.

Operating within an effective team, her expertise offer clients one-stop geotechnical services to safely investigate and analyse sites and determine their present and future stability. These projects normally involve major changes to the physical environment and often include, tunnelling, hydro power schemes and the construction of major structures such as dams, power stations, mine infrastructure buildings and bridges.

“GIBB is currently involved in major projects in countries such as Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Lesotho. With its young and varied geology and unpredictable conditions, Africa is a stimulating continent to practice geotechnical engineering. Many unique problems occur here and these present unique challenges that promote innovative and novel solutions,” explains Wainstein.

In a recent review by the Panel of Experts (POE) contracted by the Metolong Authority to provide independent advice, Wainstein was recognised for her great work as the lead geotechnical practitioneroverseeing the construction supervision of the Metolong Dam and Metolong Dam Downstream Conveyance. A notable achievement for this major 83m high, 278m crest length dam, with a reservoir capacity of 63.7 million m³.

Other major projects that Wainstein has been involved in, include the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme where she was responsible for the support and stability monitoring of the machine and transformer halls, slope support design of the inlet and outlet approach channels and portals, tunnel and shaft design for the underground works and the development of a geological model for underground chambers and tunnels.