Technology
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP TO MITIGATE NATURAL DISASTERS
By Bongani Dladla
The devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal should focus renewed attention on the contribution that the construction and engineering sectors can make to provide sustainable shelter for marginalised communities .
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Build back better ” has become a core theme of government ’ s efforts to reshape South Africa ’ s socioeconomic landscape in the wake of the revelations about state capture , the sharp economic downturn , and the ravaging impact of a global pandemic .
The phrase takes on a deeper meaning in a wake of natural disaster that wreaked havoc on low-income communities , claimed the lives of hundreds of people , destroyed infrastructure , and will cause untold hardship in the region for months to come .
The South African construction and engineering sectors should come forward to contribute to the rebuilding efforts and to offer their expertise to decision-makers on how future calamities can be mitigated .
This can be achieved by both large and established companies within the sector as well as emerging enterprises who are often rooted within communities and have extensive knowledge and expertise about practical solutions that can be implemented to ensure higher levels of sustainability .
The Construction Industry Development Board – cidb – can play a pivotal role through our actions to promote effective and efficient infrastructure delivery using our extensive database of research material on construction and engineering in a developing economy .
In recent months the cidb has become an important clearing house for research on the benefits that can be derived from 4 th industrial revolution trends and the application of green technologies in the building industry . Such research complements our primary mission to transform the construction sector through inclusivity , high ethical standards and championing the participation of emerging contractors .
Sadly , the urban profile that has developed over decades in the flood-afflicted areas around eThekwini has become a feature of many cities on the African continent and in the rest of the developing
Hans Braxmeier | Pixabay www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I July 2022 47