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Natural road construction materials of Southern Africa
(CSIR, 1980) Weinert, HH
Naturally occurring materials, such as rock and soil, constitute a significant portion of the materials content and cost of a road. Most textbooks dealing with road construction materials, however, are mainly concerned with the manufactured materials used in such structures, such as bitumen and cement. Furthermore, where reference is made to natural materials in such publications it applies mainly to overseas countries. Since 1957 the author and other researchers in the National Institute for Transport and Road Research have devoted much effort to understanding the properties and performance of natural road construction materials in the variable Southern African conditions. It has been found that different types of rock perform differently in the various layers of a pavement and that these differences are greater in rocks than in soils. It has also been found that environmental conditions, such as climate and topography, play an important role in the performance of such materials in roads. Consequently the durability of natural materials is an important factor in their selection for use in roads.
The CSIR - the first 40 years
(Scientia Printers, CSIR, 1990) Kingwill, DG
This story of the first 40 years of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is presented in three parts. The first includes the events leading up to its establishment in 1945 and discusses the need for such a body in South Africa as seen against the background of world events, notably the impact of two world wars and the emergence in other countries of organizations with specific responsibilities for co-ordinating and developing scientific research. It continues as a chronological narrative of events which unavoidably is studded with names and dates. The second part focuses on the role of the CSIR as a national research council in promoting and supporting university, medical and industrial research, fostering international scientific co-operation and in providing scientific and technical information services. The development, organization and activities of the CSIR research laboratories, institutes and units, operating in this context as a 'contract research organization', are described in the third part.
Atmospheric corrosion testing in southern Africa: results of a twenty year national exposure programme
(Scientia Publishers, 1991) Callaghan, BG
Atmospheric corrosion is one of the most widespread causes of metal and alloy degradation known. We only have to look at the corrosion of structural steelwook in buildings, bridges and other forms of construction to recognise the enormous wastage of materials, manpower and economic resources. The aim of this book is to provide an adequate insight into aspects of the corrosion mechanisms and of the climatic factors that have significant impact of atmospheric corrosion in Southern Africa.
Passage to Progress, The CSIR's Journey of Change, 1945-95
(Jonathan Ball Publishers, 1996) Basson, N
Passage to Progress was written to commemorate the CSIR's fiftieth anniversary celebrated in October 1995. The book takes a brief look at the dawn of technology in Africa, its subsequent progress, and the CSIR's role in its development. The main focus is on the past 15 years, with an in-depth look at the transformation processes embarked upon within the CSIR; the learning experience associated with radical change; the effects of this change in policy in terms of the organisation and its people, and the way the CSIR is fulfilling its role in a rapidly changing environment, both locally and internationally.
The National Metrology Laboratory of South Africa: the first 50 years (1947-1997)
(CSIR, 1997) McDowell, M
This book provides a history of the establishment of National Metrology Laboratory (NML). It focuses on the scientific measurements and measurements in the early days of South Africa. Since its inception in 1947 the National Physical Research Laboratory in Pretoria has been steadily building up standardisation facilities. The task is never-ending, new developments in physics constantly make greater precision possible and at the same time demand not only better, but also entirely new standards. The origins of the NML date back to Dr Sir Basil Schonland’s sage vision for a National Physical Laboratory to form an integral part of proposed new CSIR.
Guidelines for human settlement planning and design: The red book
(CSIR Building and Construction Technology, 2000) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR
This document provides performance-based guidelines for informed decision-making. The purpose is essentially to indicate the qualities that should be sought in South African settlements, and to provide practical guidance on how these qualities can be achieved. The document is therefore intended to be educative, providing ideas and useful information, and not as a substitute for innovative planning and engineering practice. The purpose of this document is not merely to assist professionals in producing efficiently serviced 'townships', but rather to create sustainable and vibrant human settlements. In this context, a 'human settlement' is regarded as any built environment where people live, work and play, with the provision that only residential areas, and other developments associated therewith, are considered in this book.
Strategic environmental assessment: Integrated environmental management
(Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2004) Audouin, Michelle A; Govender, K
This document has been written for a wide audience. Its objective is to serve as an initial reference text. The aim is to provide an introductory information source to government authorities, environmental practitioners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), industry, project proponents, academics, students and other interested and affected parties (I&APs). This document focuses on concepts, principles and the general characteristics of SEA. In Section 3, the benefits of SEA are presented. Thereafter, certain milestones in the evolution of SEA internationally, and in South Africa, are briefly described. In Section 5, examples of principles and performance criteria for SEA are listed and in Section 6 key characteristics of selected SEA approaches are summarised. Recommendations for best practice are listed in Section 7. This document does not prescribe or recommend specific methods, but rather provides an overview of the nature of SEA.
Strategic Environmental Assessment: Integrated environmental management
(Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2004) Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, DEAT
This document has been written for a wide audience. Its objective is to serve as an initial reference text. The aim is to provide an introductory information source to government authorities, environmental practitioners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), industry, project proponents, academics, students and other interested and affected parties (I&APs). This document focuses on concepts, principles and the general characteristics of SEA. In Section 3, the benefits of SEA are presented. Thereafter, certain milestones in the evolution of SEA internationally, and in South Africa, are briefly described. In Section 5, examples of principles and performance criteria for SEA are listed and in Section 6 key characteristics of selected SEA approaches are summarised. Recommendations for best practice are listed in Section 7. This document does not prescribe or recommend specific methods, but rather provides an overview of the nature of SEA.
Elephant management: a scientific assessment of South Africa
(Wits University Press, 2008) Scholes, RJ; Mennell, K
As a conse quence of the rising number of elephants in protected areas in South Africa, the ecosystems that contain elephants and the people that live adjacent to elephant populations are perceived to be coming under increasing threat. The control of elephant populations by culling has been under a moratorium since the mid-1990s. Attempts to resolve differences of opinion between the authorities responsible for elephant management in the country, private elephant owners, animal rights and biodiversity conservation organisations in South Africa and abroad, and representatives of local communities, have to date not led to a widely agreed future course of action. In 2006, the Minister for Environment Affairs and Tourism convened a Science Round Table to advise on the issue. The Round Table recommended that a Scientific Assessment of Elephant Management be undertaken. This book is the result of that Assessment, undertaken during 2007, on the authority of the Minister. The Assessment is the first activity in a proposed elephant research programme, which aims to reduce the uncertainties regarding the consequences of various elephant management strategies. The Assessment of South African Elephant Management focuses on the interactions between elephants, humans and the ecosystems in which they occur and, in particular, on the possible way elephants could be managed based on their ecology, biology and social significance.
SPEAR: sustainable options for people catchment and aquatic resources
(Institute of Marine Research, 2008) Ferreira, GJ; Andersson, HC; Corner, RA; Desmit, X; Fang, Q; De Goede, ED; Groom, SB; Gu, H; Gustafsson, BG; Hawkins, AJS; Hutson, R; Jiao, H; Lan, D; Lencart-Silva, J; Li, R; Liu, X; Luo, Q; Musango, JK; Nobre, AM; Nunes, JP; Pascoe, PL; Smits, JGC; Stigebrandt, A; Telfer, TC; De Wit, MP; Yan, X; Zhang, XL; Zhang, Z; Zhu, MY; Zhu, CB; Bricker, SB; Xiao, Y; Xu, S; Nauen, CE; Scalet, M
This book describes the approach and main result obtained in the Sustainable options for People, Catchment and Aquatic Resources (SPEAR) Project, together with complementary case studies focusing on realted work in China and in the United States. Each chapter in this book is designed to be readable by itself and contains enough information for the reader to understand both the methodologies applied and the key outcomes. Wherever possible, those outcomes have been developed into products, with the objective of leveraging their usability as a legacy of SPEAR
Fifth annual state of logistics survey for South Africa: logistics value and cost drivers from a macro and micro-economic perspective
(Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and Imperial Logistics, 2008) Ittmann, HW; King, D
The theme for 2007’s survey was logistics for regional growth and development and the leading role South Africa plays in the southern African region in terms of economic and logistics development. 2008’s theme is somewhat more inward-looking and is titled ‘Logistics value and cost drivers from a macro and micro-economic perspective’. The survey focuses on internal and external logistics value and cost drivers that influence South Africa’s global competitiveness.
Monitoring global change: a selection of examples
(CSIR, 2008-02) CSIR, Natural Resources and Environment
The reality of global change (including climate change) has gripped the imaginations of movie moguls, graced the agendas of international organisations such as the United Nations, and now also receives prominent attention from the international research community. Global change extends across environmental, cultural, political and demographical spheres. As more interaction between socio-economic and environmental factors occurs, the vulnerability of nations to human-induced environmental hazards also increases. Global climate change is, therefore, more and more perceived as a development problem as variations in the weather resulting in, for example, drought or flooding, have adverse consequences for sustained economic growth. Although forecasts of changes in weather patterns over the next few days have reached a high level of skill, predictions of climatic fluctuations over several months and of global climate changes over several decades are difficult due to the very complex interaction of various factors that determine weather and climate. Among other interventions, monitoring and observation programmes form an essential part in acquiring the data necessary for comprehensive situation analysis and ultimately, longterm predictable climatic behaviour. The following material gives a brief overview of some of the research activities conducted by the CSIR (and in partnership with other stakeholders) in the pursuit of understanding the processes and drivers associated with global climate change
Practical guide for defending the rights of refugee children and refugee unaccompanied minors in South Africa: policy review, processes, procedures & practical experience
(Refugee Children's Project (RCP), 2008-06) Shabangu, T; Mbecke, ZP
This handbook aims to improve knowledge of international and domestic legal framework regarding the treatment of refugee children and unaccompanied minor refugee children in South Africa. It is the first of many handbooks that the Refugee Children Project will compile to update users of changes and/or amendments of policies affecting all kinds of refugee children.
Natural, low cost road construction materials: their occurrence and stabilization
(2009-02-20T10:13:49Z) Clauss, KA
The book brings together the results of research spread over a number of reports and papers during the past 27 years and to create a guide for soil stabilization work. Its aim is to provide sufficient knowledge of soil/lime reactions to make stabilization design less of an art and more of a technical process. The chapters that follow discuss the occurrence of materials deposits, observe how materials may react upon stabilization, consider suitable test methods and give guidance on their application in stabilization work.
Catchment2Coast: A systems approach to coupled river-coastal ecosystem science and management
(The Authors and IOS Press, Netherlands, 2009-07) Monteiro, Pedro MS; Marchand, M
Catchment2Coast was an interdisciplinary research and modelling project that aimed to improve understanding of the linkages between coastal ecosystems and the adjacent river catchments. The project involved nine partner organizations from three European and three southern African countries, including Mozambique, where the project was conducted. Catchment2Coast has tackled a problem which is at the interface of many different domains: between river and the sea, between bay and ocean, between water and soil, but also between ecology and economy. It used a variety of tools and methods, ranging from continuous hydrodynamic monitoring and biochemistry flux measurements to remote sensing and mathematical modelling techniques. But perhaps even more important was the integration of disciplines that took place during the project, which consisted of experts from different countries both from Europe and Southern Africa. The knowledge gained through this research provides a sound basis for the setting of environmental flow requirements for the Maputo, Incomati and similar river systems in sub-Saharan Africa. And what is more, it may serve as an example and stimulus for continued cooperation between experts from different disciplinary and cultural backgrounds.
Use and interpretation of the dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) test
(CSIR, 2009-09) Paige-Green, P; Du Plessis, L
During the early 1930's the California Bearing Ratio test (CBR) was developed for the testing of material strength in the laboratory for the design of pavements. The test involves the compaction of a potential road-building material into a standard mould under a standard compaction effort at predetermined moisture content, soaking the mould for 4 days and then penetration with a standard plunger at a fixed rate. The loads required to penetrate to selected depths are then compared with those necessary to penetrate a standard material and a CBR value is obtained. The procedures for the determination of the Maximum Dry Density (MDD), Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) and CBR are given in TMH11. In the test, all stones greater than 19 mm diameter are removed (sometimes replacement fines are added), the material is compacted under a dynamic impact load and the material is then soaked. In the field the coarse aggregate remains, the material is normally compacted under a vibrating force and the material seldom becomes soaked. The test results are thus really incomparable with the actual conditions, which are likely to prevail in the field. The CBR test has been adapted for the field using a portable CBR but it is difficult and time consuming and is seldom done because of the equipment needed and the fact that the moisture content changes with time.
Assessing the Sustainability of Bioenergy Projects in Developing Countries: A Framework for Policy Evaluation
(Newcastle University, 2010) Amezaga, JM; Von Maltitz, Graham P; Boyes, S
Fulfilling the promise of sustainable development has become a major concern for proponents ofmodern bioenergy projects. The global land area dedicated to feedstock production, be it for liquid biofuels, solid biomass or biogas, has expanded greatly over the past decades; increasingly so indeveloping countries. Current first generation bioenergy feedstocks, particularly for commercial scale production, demand large areas of land and in many cases have extensive labour requirements. Where marginal or degraded lands are not used, feedstock production could compete with food crops for land or labour, may impact negatively on biodiversity and alter local hydrology, or create a multitude of other direct or secondary social and environmental impacts. The expanding global demand for bioenergy products provides many opportunities for socio-economic benefits and rural development in developing countries; however there are also numerous tradeoffs and potential negative impacts that must be taken into account. The need to assess and find a balance between both positive and negative impacts of bioenergy production and use is therefore apparent. Whilst some existing initiatives are proving to be robust and effective from a western, market-oriented perspective, a concern is that the assessments are limited in scope and often only conducted after projects are designed and initiated. A strong need has been identified for approaches with a developing country perspective which assess impacts both in a locally oriented, context specific way as well considering how they might relate to wider national or international agendas. This volume provides an introduction to a selection of suitable approaches that can be used to assess individual aspects of bioenergy production, based on up to date knowledge, and worked out examples from a developing country perspective.
Biodiversity Scenarios: Projections of 21st century change in biodiversity and associated ecosystem services
(Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010) Scholes, B
This synthesis focuses on estimates of biodiversity change as projected for the 21st century by models or extrapolations based on experiments and observed trends. The term ‘biodiversity’ is used in a broad sense as it is defined in the Convention on Biological Diversity to mean the abundance and distributions of and interactions between genotypes, species, communities, ecosystems and biomes. This synthesis pays particular attention to the interactions between biodiversity and ecosystem services and to critical ‘tipping points’ that could lead to large, rapid and potentially irreversible changes. Comparisons between models are used to estimate the range of projections and to identify sources of uncertainty. Experiments and observed trends are used to check the plausibility of these projections. In addition possible actions have been identified at the local, national and international levels that can be taken to conserve biodiversity. A wide range of scientists participated in this synthesis, with the objective to provide decision makers with messages that reflect the consensus of the scientific community and that will aid in the development of policy and management strategies that are ambitious, forward looking and proactive.
6th Annual state of logistics survey for South Africa 2009
(CSIR, Stellenbosch University, IMPERIAL Logistics, University of Pretoria & Cardiff University, 2010-03) Ittman, H; Schoeman, C; King, D; Bean, W; Viljoen, N
The 2009 theme for the state of logistics’ survey is ‘Logistics Value and Costs – Driving Macro and Micro-economic Change towards Global Competitiveness and Sustainability’. For South Africa to become and stay competitive internationally the logistics and supply chain sector will need to step up and improve its overall performance whilst taking into account the issue of continual sustainability. In the end the value that logistics adds to the country should be greater than the costs.
Architecture, landscape architecture and interior- Hons B 2009
(2010-03) Osman, A
Within this research field, projects focus on community needs, skills and extant built environments, specifically conservation-worthy environments and heritage resources as opportunity for creating sustainable communities and living environments.

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