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Welcome to ResearchSpace, the institutional repository of the CSIR. ResearchSpace is an open access electronic archive collecting, preserving and distributing scholarly digital materials created by the CSIR.

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Sorghurm Beer Unit
The Sorghum Beer Unit is housed in the National Food Research Institute which is one of the institutes making up the CSIR. Unit is also administered by the N Food R I, The The Unit, as with other bodies in the CSIR, is subject to the general rules and regula tions of the CSIR which include the scrutiny of accounts by the Government Auditors. At the present time, the head of the SBU is also director of the N Food R I. The Unit has two divisionsThe N Food R I has Brewing Technology and Cereal Biochemistry, divisions for food chemistry, food technology, fermentation technology, biological evaluation, microbiology, and techno-economics. All divisions, whether within the Food Research or in the SBU, couraged to help and advise one another. are enAny institute within the CSIR, say Food Research, can consult another laboratory or institute, e.g. the N Chem Research Laboratory. Since the great majority of the institutes and laboratories are housed on one site, (Meiring Naude Road, Pretoria), consultation and collaboration i viz. "Scientia" IS easy.

Recent Submissions

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Streamlining Store Separation Analysis with Missile Datcom and Aerodynamic Store Segmentation

(2024-07) Ndlovu, Hlamulo P; Jamison, Kevin A; Mthembu, Ndumiso M; Ndebele, Bright B; Zwane, Lindokuhle

The focus of the presentation is to describe the process taken in developing a methodology for subsonic flow store separation to quicky generate extensive segmented lookup tables using Missile Datcom to support the fast store trajectory calculation using an inhouse six-degree-of-freedom (6-dof) solver called ARUV.

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Assessing tools for detecting AI-generated content in higher education

(2025-01) Baloyi, Errol; Siphambili, Nokuthaba; Mahlasela, Oyena N

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed the world, particularly following the introduction of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) on November 30, 2022. This innovation has sparked a surge of interest in AI, leading to significant investments and attention in both the private and public sectors. AI applications are now widespread, ranging from smart farming to automated cyber threat detection. In higher education, AI has emerged as a potential game changer, enhancing learning experiences and expanding educational access to diverse communities. For example, some institutions have utilized AI to reduce dropout rates, while others have employed AI for student assistance. Research has also shown that students primarily use AI tools like ChatGPT for academic tasks, such as writing assignments and conducting research projects. In South Africa, a recent survey of educational leaders highlighted a growing push to integrate new AI tools, like ChatGPT, into the educational system. However, the use of AI has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding plagiarism. For instance, some students at the University of South Africa (UNISA) faced disciplinary action after it was discovered that they had used AI tools inappropriately. A gap exists in the ethical use of AI in higher education, although some universities, such as the University of Cape Town (UCT), are making progress. UCT has published student guidelines on the ethical use of AI tools, which include ensuring that any final product is the student’s own work and not simply copied from an AI generator. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to evaluate free AI detection tools that can help students check their work and ensure they are not unknowingly submitting AI-generated content. This will also ensure that, if students do use AI, they properly acknowledge it, as another key clause in the UCT guidelines and similar policies requires individuals to acknowledge any use of AI in their work. Each tool was assessed based on its features, performance, usability, and support.

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Bridging the digital divide in the Republic of South Africa: The emergence of low earth orbit networks

(2025-11) Makondo, Ntshuxeko; Kobo, Hlabishi I; Mboweni, Lawrence S; Mathonsi, TE

Overcoming the digital divide in rural and remote areas of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) has been a challenging and daunting. This is because of the country's vast geographically landscape. As of 2023, only 70% of South Africans had reliable internet access. The COVID‑19 pandemic has further worsened this gap, as education, business, government services were conducted online. The need for internet has risen significantly as the country is embracing the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a stepping stone to economic and social development. However, the traditional way of deploying broadband is limited by the prohibitively expensive nature of extending high‑capacity fibre and microwave backhaul to remote districts, making many business cases unviable for terrestrial operators. As a result, this paper examines the role of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) specifically Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in bridging this digital divide. Furthermore, this paper examines two promising LEO satellite-based solutions. The first solution leverages LEO constellations as a backhaul for current 5G terrestrial networks. The other solution leverages direct-to-direct (D2D) LEO services to provide low-latency Internet access in remote and underserved areas. This paper further presents the challenges that are slowing down the adoption of LEO, including the regulatory barriers and high deployment costs. The recommendations to expedite LEO adoption and integration into 5G networks are also highlighted. Integrating 5G infrastructure sharing with LEO satellite networks reduces deployment costs, improves rural broadband coverage, and guides policy reforms that promote equitable access and efficient spectrum use in South Africa. This study enhances technical understanding of LEO deployment and provides a strategic reference for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders working to bridge the rural digital divide.

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South African country study on climate change. Vulnerability and adaptation assessment for plantation forestry

(CSIR, 1999) Fairbanks, DHK; Scholes, Robert J

The South African forestry industry is sensitive to climate, for better or for worse. Only 1.5% of the country is suitable for tree crops under the current climate. Much of this area is relatively marginal. The relatively long period between planting and harvest makes tree plantations vulnerable to environmental change. Shifts in the optimum tree-growing location can have a big impact on the profitability of fixed capital investments, such as sawlog and pulp mills. The results of forest growth models suggest that if the climate changes to the degree predicted, and if no action is taken to select and plant heat tolerant cultivars, there will be substantial loss of production in the core area of current forestry, particularly in Pinus patula and Pinus radiata plantations.

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A model-based systems engineering framework for technology roadmaps (MBSE-TRM): Application to electronic warfare systems

(2026-02) Reddy, Reeshen; Sinha, S

Technology-intensive industries face accelerating change driven by disruptive innovations, geopolitical shifts, and the dynamics of Industry 4.0. In this environment, managers require strategic tools that can align markets, products, and technologies over time while retaining adaptability. Technology roadmaps (TRMs) are widely used for this purpose; however, current practice remains largely qualitative, workshop-led, and reliant on subject matter expertise. This constrains their utility in dynamic environments. This paper develops a Model-Based Systems Engineering framework for Technology Roadmaps (MBSE-TRM) to address these limitations. The research advances theory by introducing a conceptual metamodel that captures the ontology of TRM, formalizing its structure and lifecycle using SysML, and demonstrating how tacit practitioner logic can be represented explicitly. Validation is undertaken in the domain of Electronic Warfare (EW) against radar, a technology-intensive field characterized by rapid innovation cycles and strategic importance. The findings show that MBSE-TRM enables improved transparency, traceability, and adaptability, supporting managers and engineers in steering innovation strategies under conditions of volatility. By bridging systems engineering principles with technology strategy, MBSE-TRM provides a structured yet flexible framework for aligning strategic intent with evolving technology options in Industry 4.0 and beyond.