Architectural engineering

The CSIR aims to contribute to better social infrastructure and in particular, health and education facilities in South Africa. An interdisciplinary approach is used to work across the planning, design and operation of social infrastructure to achieve innovative and optimal solutions. Science and engineering methodologies are applied to tackle social infrastructure research questions and develop evidence-based solutions that inform current policy and practice. Context-based solutions, which reflect international best practice and technological developments, are developed to support government’s development objectives and to the benefit of industry and civil society.

Contact person: Peta de Jager: Research group leader; Email: pdejager@csir.co.za; Tel: 012 841 3007
 

Construction industry and innovation

The CSIR undertakes research, development and implementation of innovative building technologies (IBTs) that seeks to fundamentally transform the way we construct buildings. Researchers employ principles of green building and sustainability to design, construct, operate and maintain buildings. The advantages of IBTs entail faster construction cycles, lower life-cycle cost of buildings, improved product quality and worker safety. The research explores the use of innovative materials such as green bricks, structural insulated panels, light steel frame and natural fibre composites. The CSIR also assists in developing the management and administrative systems underpinning the green building sector, including development of skills for small and medium enterprises and workers, as well as in building capacity for public sector officials who are involved in green building.

Contact person: Sihle Dlungwana: Research group leader; Email: sdlungwana@csir.co.za; Tel: 012 841 2382
 

Construction materials

The CSIR seeks to address the problem of slow and costly delivery of housing in South Africa, reduce the high embodied energy and high carbon footprint of building materials in a sustainable way, reduce the high life cycle energy consumption of housing and enable the use of natural fibres to reinforce cement-based and geo-polymer-based composite building materials. The use of natural fibres for reinforcement, rather than steel, increases sustainability, creates jobs down-stream by promoting agricultural production of natural fibres and results in the production of greener building materials.

The group also looks at developing materials for use in industrialised or advanced construction that uses panels or modules made from cheaper and smarter materials to reduce building delivery lead times, life cycle cost and environmental impact of buildings (including lower embodied energy, lower carbon footprint and greater sustainability); eliminate building waste; improve quality, thermal and acoustic performance and reduce energy consumption of the buildings.

Contact person: Dr Joe Mapiravana: Research group leader; Email: jmapiravana@csir.co.za; Tel: 012 841 3095