Research
The Department of Civil Engineering Science is actively engaged in scientific research, supported by advanced facilities, laboratories and software. The department has established research groups, including Structural and Materials Engineering, Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering. Detailed information on the current specific areas of research focus can be found on the webpages of individual academic staff members.
All research groups within the department strive to enhance knowledge in their respective fields, aiming to address current civil engineering problems. Collaboration between research groups often generates new ideas and interdisciplinary breakthroughs, further contributing to the department’s reputation in the scientific community.
Structural/ Materials Engineering
The Structural and Materials Engineering Group consists of experts with diverse and specialised knowledge in structural and materials engineering. Prof. M. Dundu brings extensive experience in structural steel, cold-formed steel, composite steel beams, sandwich panels, bonded steel sections, and buckling interactions, contributing to the development of robust and effective structural designs. Mr. Y. Essopjee is an authority on the interaction between steel tubing and high-strength concrete, rib and block slab systems, and steel compression, with a focus on optimizing material performance and structural integrity. Mr. Van Tonder specialises in smart concrete, nanomaterials, AI modelling, general structures, and the effects of CO2 loading on concrete, integrating innovative materials with advanced computational approaches.
Dr. Keoagile Kerileng serves as a Senior Visiting Researcher, focusing on the analysis, design, and optimisation of structures to enhance their safety, durability, and performance under various loads and environmental conditions. Through his research, Dr. Kerileng contributes to the development of innovative engineering solutions that promote the resilience and sustainability of infrastructure. This team addresses a diverse array of engineering challenges, encompassing material design and structural durability, thereby making substantial contributions to the engineering discipline
Geotechnical Engineering and Pavement Design
The Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering group brings together diverse expertise to address infrastructure development and sustainability complexities. The Geotechnical group, led by Prof. F. Okonta, prioritises advanced research in geotechnical modelling, focusing on areas such as marginal and cemented soils, soil-structure interaction, and the geotechnics of highways, landfills, and mine tailings. Additionally, forensic site investigation for foundation failure is a key component of this research group.
Transportation Engineering and Planning
In transportation engineering, students are equipped with essential transdisciplinary skills and knowledge.
Dr Quainoo conducts research in sustainable pavement design, transport demand modelling, and integrated transport studies, including traffic analysis, highway capacity, parking, accident investigation, and intermodal freight transport. Their collective expertise contributes to developing robust and efficient transportation networks and geotechnical solutions.
Mr. J. Moselakgomo, as a transport planner and professional engineer, possesses a broad skill set encompassing research into travel behaviour, the design of choice-making instruments, the development of public transport policy, the evaluation of policy impacts, and land use-transport modelling in transport planning. He also regularly conducts sessions on Public Transport, Spatial Transformation, and Integrated Public Transport Networks (IPTN) at the Annual Southern African Transport Conference.
Water Resources Engineering
The water resource engineering group comprises a multidisciplinary team of researchers from various fields collaborating to advance sustainable water management and innovation. Dr. Sophia Rwanga focuses on groundwater and surface water modelling, with additional expertise in GIS and remote sensing technologies, pollution, and climate change. Her technical expertise includes the use of advanced modelling software such as Modflow, WetSpass, and Farsite, and she incorporates Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT) and fibre optic technology, to monitor water quality and reduce non-revenue water losses. Prof. Megersa Olumana Dinka possesses extensive experience in hydrology and irrigation water management. His research emphasizes improving irrigation performance, managing canal siltation, and optimizing crop productivity. He specializes in hydrologic modelling, water supply systems, water quality, and pollution control.
Prof Dinka employs a holistic approach to watershed management, land suitability analysis, flood and erosion control, and reservoir optimization, utilizing GIS and remote sensing technologies to assess and mitigate the impacts of climate change on water systems. Other group members further enhance their capabilities. Dr. Rebecca Alowo provides technical consulting in groundwater management, hydrologic systems, and WASH projects (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and explores artificial intelligence applications in water engineering. An esteemed visiting professor, Miklas Scholz, contributes global expertise in pollution management, stormwater management, wastewater management, and sustainable flood retention systems. Mr. Thabang Mafokoane’s areas of expertise include open channel flow, leak detection, computational fluid dynamics, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in water engineering. Together with Technical Manager Samantha Jonquil Miller, a water and sanitation expert, the team is at the forefront of developing innovative, integrated solutions for water resource challenges.