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Architecture and the science of buildings: Themba provide the expertise and experience required for the analysis and control of the physical phenomena affecting buildings and architecture. This encompasses the detailed analysis of building geometry, applied loads, materials and building envelope systems and includes environmental control, fire protection, sound control, and day lighting.

Buildings design is a response to naturally occurring physical phenomenon such as: the weather (sun, wind, rain, temperature, and humidity), subterranean conditions, the characteristics of human physiology (comfort, sensory reaction, sensitivity etc.), energy consumption, environmental control, building maintenance considerations, longevity/sustainability, and occupant comfort and health.

An adequate supply of safe, fresh water is a basic human need. Clean water is of course equally essential to plant and animal life, which in turn affects human life. Furthermore, its provision and maintenance is also a necessity in certain industries. It is thus a resource that must be continuously provided, nurtured and protected. Such protection includes the proper collection and treatment of all forms of wastewater.

In general, humankind harnesses water for its own use and after such use, disposes of it into the same water courses from where it was originally sourced. The more mature the water course, the greater the use to which the water has previously been put. It is essential, therefore, that the full water cycle is well managed.

The implementation of an Integrated Waste Management Planning system is intended to optimise waste management by:

• maximising efficiency in management, and
• minimising the associated:
  • environmental impacts and
  • financial costs of waste

Development Objective

The objective is reduced generation of all forms of waste, so that socio-economic development, health and the quality of environmental resources are not adversely affected by uncontrolled and uncoordinated waste activities.

Waste Management Planning

Waste management has generally been undertaken on an ad hoc basis to meet immediate needs. The siting of landfills was generally haphazard, without adequate planning and design, with their management and operation being, in some cases poor, with inadequate control of waste types disposed at the landfills.

Neither sufficient funding, nor adequate staff training, was generally provided to effectively plan and execute proper waste management functions.

Waste management planning has generally been primarily focused on waste disposal. Occasionally, waste management planning has provided for shared regional landfill sites, together with transfer stations and local landfill sites.

Concept

• Projects, be they buildings or infrastructure, reach points in their life cycles when they are in need of revitalisation.
• In the case of buildings, the works to be carried out generally amount to a facelift, with particular regard to finishes, but occasionally involve more robust measures being taken.
• In the case of infrastructure, the interventions are frequently very significant.
• Measures that are typically taken on an urban development and upgrade project are described below.
• They result in an environment that is safe and attractive to the people who frequent the area, with convenient access, that is conducive to service-related business.

Urban Upgrade Process

• Revitalising formal public transport services
• Providing inter-modal transport facilities
• Minimising private vehicular through traffic
• Widening and beautifying sidewalks, thus encouraging pedestrian traffic, non-motorised transport and related business activity
• Installing Closed Circuit Television Surveillance (CCTV) systems, assisting in crime prevention
• Providing benches, refuse collection and ablution facilities, points of rest and points of interest
• Where appropriate, modifying vehicular traffic flow patterns.