The IMESA-CESA Biennial Project Excellence Awards 2014

The IMESA Biennial Project Excellence Awards in collaboration with Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) is a celebration of the art and science of infrastructure engineering.

At last night’s awards ceremony, sponsored by Iliso Consulting Engineers, the sheer number of entries in each category was only overshadowed by the quality and ingenuity of the projects themselves.

It was a showcase of innovation, ingenuity and originality in solving the problems of communities around the country, and the growing maturity of the partnerships between local government, public utilities and the private sector.

IMIESA magazine congratulates all the entrants this year for defining the high level of excellence achieved the winners.

The IMESA-CESA Excellence Awards winners round-up

Category: Community Upliftment |Winner:Wolwedans human settlement development project | Company:  Aurecon | Client: Mossel Bay Local Municipality

 

Category: Environmental | Winner: Ilembe Biogas Project |Company: Khanyisa Projects | Client: Ilembe District Municipality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Water and Wastewater – Winner | Preekstoel Water Treatment Works |Company: Aurecon | Client: Overstrand Local Municipality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Roads and Stormwater – Winner | BRT Section 5 |Company: Nyeleti Consulting | Client: City of Johannesburg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Structures and Buildings – Winner | Isando pedestrian bridge – the Walking Wonder | Company: SMEC South Africa | Client: The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Upliftment

Project: Wolwedans human settlement development project

Company:  Aurecon | Client: Mossel Bay Local Municipality

The Mossel Bay Local Municipality appointed Aurecon to assist with the design and construction of 675 fully serviced sites with 40 m² houses (two bedrooms complete with bathroom, solar water geyser and electricity). Apart from meeting the challenges posed by the steep slopes of some of the development sites, the project benefited local labour, subcontractors and the local community with employment and training opportunities.

During the construction phase of the top structures of the project, the contractor engaged in a number of community development initiatives, which included training courses for local subcontractors in entrepreneurship, home industry, and home maintenance.

Water and Wastewater

Project: Preekstoel Water Treatment Works

Company: Aurecon | Client: Overstrand Local Municipality

Aurecon was commissioned to design and implement a biological filtration process to treat borehole water at the Preekstoel Water Treatment Works.

The biological filtration process has distinct operational, maintenance, water quality, water loss, and operating and capital cost advantages. The biofiltration process was implemented for the treatment of borehole water in conjunction with conventional processes for the treatment of surface water; a first in South Africa.

The biofilters were designed with the same layout and configuration as a conventional oxidation system, and can function as such if required.

Roads and Stormwater

Project: BRT Section 5

Company: Nyeleti Consulting | Client: City of Johannesburg

The Johannesburg Development Agency appointed the Luntek Consortium, which consisted of UWP Engineers, Nyeleti Consulting and Lonerock Construction, for the detail design and construction of the BRT Section 5.

The entire system is designed to assimilate into the existing infrastructure. New drainage systems such as beanie kerbs were used in the median to cater for stormwater in restricted areas. The retaining wall system had to be designed with reverse footings so as not to encroach upon existing properties.

Clear view fencing was applied over sections of the route to allow for a feeling of open space. The pavement structure was designed to cater for the heavy load of the buses.

Structures and Buildings

Project: Isando pedestrian bridge – the Walking Wonder

Company: SMEC South Africa | Client: The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality appointed SMEC South Africa to redesign the Isando pedestrian bridge.

The new bridge replaces two substandard footbridges from the early 1970s with a 4.5 m wide walkway that accommodates 9 000 commuters crossing each day. With a total length of 446 m, the bridge and its approaches connect Isando rail station with O.R. Tambo International Airport.

A main feature of the bridge is its two un-braced cigar-shaped steel pylons. One leans forwards at 11 degrees and the other backwards, hence the bridge’s name.

Environmental

Project: Ilembe Biogas Project

Company: Khanyisa Projects | Client: Ilembe District Municipality

The Ilembe Biogas Project aims to install biogas digesters in the homes of the rural community of Ndwedwe under Ilembe District Municipality.

The biogas digesters were built from a combination of brick and mortar, and include a fibreglass dome, an LDPE greywater line and composite pipe for the gas line to the kitchen. The 6 m³ digester caters for up to 40 kg of organic material daily and up to 1 000 litres of water via the greywater system. Existing flush toilets were connected to the digester as well.

The system can produce up to 2 m³ of methane gas daily as well as nutrient-rich effluent that can be used for fruit trees and food gardens.