RACA Journal October 2020 | Page 29

Personality Profile Sponsored by : CAMERON CLARK: THE FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT 4IR, IOT AND IMPROVING CONTROLS By Benjamin Brits Born and raised in Fourways, Johannesburg, Cameron Clark was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to study abroad where he qualified with an Honours degree in BSc Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. Cameron Clark Clark currently works at C3 Engineers in the Mechanical Engineering division of the company, where his main responsibilities include heat load calculations, system design, tender documentation, cost estimates, attending site and client meetings, as well as managing the contractors to the projects. GETTING INTO THE HVACR SECTOR Clark started at C3 Engineers as part of his practical experience programme and enjoyed it so much, as well as working at the company, that he stayed after graduating. “I enjoyed the mix of technical application and seeing a project come together and materialise. There is also a lot of opportunity in the HVAC sector to innovate and find the efficiencies in design for both energy usage and cost reduction,” he says. Cameron Clark is not only a mechanical engineer, but is also tech-savvy. PASSIONS FOR, AND OUTSIDE OF WORK Clark’s passions lie primarily with obtaining new skills and expanding his knowledge foundations. Recently, he collaborated with some of the industry’s building management system (BMS) and control suppliers to modernise the BMSs installed by the company. “I learnt python [coding software], and electronic hardware design to allow us to fully leverage and modify the existing hardware and controllers we use to take better advantage of their functionality. I was also able to use these new skills to overhaul the BMS interfaces and make them more user-friendly”, he continues. BEST PROJECT SO FAR Clark’s best project to-date has definitely been the Sandton Gate development and he feels that it is always a privilege to work on such prominent buildings. The Sandton Gate project was one of the first in implementing the new thermal storage system delivered by C3, and the project team he worked with made the entire project an absolute pleasure. “This project had its fair share of design and coordination challenges, which provided the further opportunity for professional growth,” he adds. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Clark is working towards obtaining his Pr Eng registration and continuing to grow his knowledge in the HVAC sector. Further he is looking forward to implementing new technologies to further the advancement in the efficiencies of HVAC systems. “Energy efficiency is definitely the most in-demand advancement for the HVAC sector; technologies such as thermal energy storage and variable air volume diffusers are steps towards this. However, I believe that utilising the fourth industrial revolution and IoT to improve control on existing technologies is going to be where we will see the biggest improvements for the future of the industry and this is where I will be focusing my efforts,” he concludes. RACA www.hvacronline.co.za RACA Journal I October 2020 27