Africa Surveyors Jan-Feb digital issue 2021

January - February issue 2021 Volume 3 issue no. 13
Africa Surveyors
Drones: optimize and improve
safety in the mining sector
GIS-Mapping in Africa
XAG optimistic Drones could outsmart Locust Swarms at Night
Softwares-Marine Survey Softwares
In this issue......
The Likoni Pedestrian
Floating Bridge. Kenya's first
floating bridge....pg 16
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
The impact of
COVID-19 on African
infrastructure....pg 14
Test drilling for oil and
gas begins in namibia’s
Okavango region....pg 18
January-February issue l 2021 1

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2 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

Current Issue
How Drones can optimize
and improve safety in the
mining sector & many more
Contents
26
coNteNtS
16
REGULARS
News Briefs 4
Events 8
Innovation 10
Opinion 14
Project review 36
Managing Editor
Francis David
Editor-in-Chief
Augustine Rang’ondi
32
COVER STORY
Drones: How Drones can optimize and improve safety in
the mining sector
14
Editor
Dorcas Kang’ereha
Writer
Violet Ambale
Harriet Mkhaye
Irene Joseph
Innocent Momanyi
Sales Executives
East Africa
Jimmy Mudasia
Lydia Kamonya
Caiser Momanyi
Vincent Murono
Sheila Ing’ayitsa
South Africa
Paul Nyakeri
Sean Masangwanyi
Lisa Brown
Thembisa Ndlovu
Nigeria
Emelda Njomboro
Uche Maxwel
Published by:
Nailex Africa Publishing
Nairobi, Kenya.
Features
GIS: Mapping in Africa
Softwares: Marine Survey Softwares
Agricultural: XAG optimistic Drones could outsmart
Locust Swarms at Night
Engineering: Chubb launches Civil Engineering
Completed Risks insurance in South Africa
Project: New headquarters for Capitec Bank, South
Africa
The Likoni Pedestrian Floating Bridge. Kenya's first floating
bridge
ADVERTISER'S INDEX
C.R.Kennedy Survey Solutions............................................IFC
Bauder.......................................................................................IBC
Position Partners....................................................................OBC
Geoconnect Asia...................................................................pg 9
MacArtney...............................................................................pg 13
Evologics..................................................................................pg 23
Stannah.....................................................................................pg 24
Caroni........................................................................................pg 25
Saab...........................................................................................pg 28
Mirtk..........................................................................................pg 31
20
35
The Editor accepts letter and manuscripts for publication from readers all over the world. Include your name and address as a sign of good faith although you may request your name to
be withheld from publication. We can reserve the right to edit any material submitted. Send your letters to: info@africasurveyorsonline.com
Disclaimer:
Nailex Africa Publishing makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of its publications, but no warranty is made to such accuracy and no responsibility
will be borne by the publisher for the consequences of actions based on information so published. Further, opinions expressed on interviews are not necessarily shared
by Nailex Africa Publisher.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 3

NewS BrIeFS
Fugro multiple offshore geotechnical surveys in Angola
Fugro has been awarded multiple contracts
by Eni Angola to carry out geotechnical and
environmental surveys off the coast of Angola
between now and May. Multipurpose survey vessel
the Fugro Scout, specifically designed for seabed
sampling and in situ testing in water depths up to
3000 m, has embarked on a deepwater environmental
survey to acquire, analyse and interpret sediment
and water samples from Eni Angola’s Agogo field
development. During the survey operations, specialist
marine fauna observers (MFOs) will carefully
monitor the marine mammals, turtles and seabirds.
The study will gather key environmental baseline
data on offshore Angola’s benthic communities,
physicochemical sediment characteristics, and water
Esri Joins Digital Twin Consortium
The global leader in location intelligence,
Esri, today announced it has joined the
Digital Twin Consortium. This authoritative
community of users brings together industry,
government, and academia to drive consistency
in vocabulary, architecture, security, and
interoperability of digital twin technology. Esri
provides ArcGIS software to organizations across
industries, enabling them to connect detailed
building information models (BIM) to their natural
surroundings, as well as connecting to and
collaborating with other networks and systems.
“Business requirements are changing, and this
change is driving innovation and the adoption of
more integrated solutions”
While many organizations have deployed some
version of a digital twin to solve a particular
challenge, they usually do so on an ad hoc basis
without a larger strategy or vision. This has resulted
in many siloed models that are fragmented and
disconnected from other critical information
column productivity.
The resulting Geo-data will characterise the site
stratigraphy for Eni Angola and define the mechanical
and physical properties of the soil for their subsea
facilities. The Fugro Scout will also perform a range
of geotechnical site investigations on the project,
with work due to start early this month.
Jaco Stemmet, Fugro’s Director for Africa, said: “Our
vessels are supporting Eni in Angola and delivering a
range of specialised Geo-data services. These projects
are two great examples of how we unlock insights to
help our clients design, build and operate their assets
in Africa in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.”
Nigeria and Morocco commits to the construction
of a joint gas pipeline
According to a report from the Royal Cabinet
of Morocco, the Heads of State of Nigeria and
Morocco have confirmed their commitment
towards the construction of a joint gas pipeline
which will dramatically expand energy access across
West Africa.
Estimated to cost $25 billion, the pipeline will serve
as an extension of the existing West African Gas
Pipeline currently serving Benin, Togo
and Ghana, as well as connect with
Spain through Cádiz.
The 5,660-km pipeline is the
brainchild of an agreement between
the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) and Morocco’s
National Board of Hydrocarbons and
Mines (ONHYM), and is expected to
improve access to energy across the
West African region while facilitating
gas exports to Europe.
systems.
“We are excited to join the consortium along with
our partners, including Autodesk and Microsoft,
to demonstrate how users can benefit from GIS
when developing digital twins,” said Matt Piper, Esri
global industry director for utilities and AEC. “Esri’s
technology gives customers the ability to visualize,
understand, and analyze geographic information
at a large scale by connecting and interacting with
disparate systems.”
The ArcGIS system is the foundation for digital
twins providing reality capture, GIS and BIM
integration, real-time IoT, advanced AI, and machine
learning.
NNPC and ONHYM presented the pipeline proposal
at a special meeting of the Economic Community of
West African States in August 2019.
Access to an affordable, stable energy supply is
one of the significant barriers to growth for West
African countries and has slowed the development
of sectors including, food production, processing and
downstream industry.
KenGen awarded contract to
drill three geothermal wells in
Djibouti
Kenya Electricity Generating Company
(KenGen) has been awarded yet another
international contract to drill three
geothermal wells in Djibouti. The company has
signed a $6 million contract with Office Djiboutien
De Development De l’energie Geothermique
(Djiboutian Office of Geothermal Energy
Development). The ceremony, in Galla Le Koma,
Djibouti, was attended by Kenya’s Energy Cabinet
Secretary Charles Keter and KenGen Managing
Director & CEO Rebecca Miano.
Speaking during the event, Keter pointed out
African nations shared the common aspiration of
delivering electricity to their people, which, he said,
provided an opportunity to work together to meet
the continent’s energy needs.
“The biggest challenge has remained access (to
electricity) in remote areas, and in sub-Saharan
Africa with 573 million people not having access to
this important commodity. Although energy access
policies have continued to bear fruit, with 2019
data showing tremendous progress, we have seen
the Coronavirus pandemic reverse the gains. We can
only remain optimistic that things will change in
2021,” he said.
While highlighting Kenya’s progress in achieving
universal electricity access, Keter indicated the
country’s National Electrification Strategy (KNES)
which launched in 2018 had played an important
role in helping the nation achieve electrification in
an economically viable manner.
In 2019, Kenya’s power installed capacity was
2,818.9MW. Currently, the country’s energy mix
comprises geothermal (29%), hydro (29%), wind
(12%), solar and others (2%) and thermal (28%).
According to Keter, Kenya’s journey towards
harnessing geothermal energy started in the 1950s
and assured Djibouti of support in enabling it to
realise its geothermal potential. “To date, we have
drilled more than 300 wells within the Olkaria field,
which is the bedrock of Kenya’s geothermal energy
production. As a country, we have a geothermal
energy potential of 10,000MW along the Rift Valley
with the resource being harnessed in 23 sites,” he
said.
4 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

NewS BrIeFS
Kipeto wind farm connects to
Kenya’s power grid
Kipeto Energy Plc (KEP), confirms connection
of the 100MW of Kipeto wind farm to
the Kenya’s national grid. The wind farm
is expected start generating power in the next
comming week.
KEP has connected a 17km (220KV) high voltage
transmission line, linking the facility to the national
grid at the Isinya Substation, and signaling the start
of the go-live process.
Nigeria’s oil installations
under threat
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff
Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has
threatened to shut down oil installations
nationwide over alleged anti-labour practices by an
oil and gas firm, Brittania-U.
PENGASSAN, issued the threat, when it picketed
Brittania-U at its corporate head office in Lagos, with
members carrying placards and chanting solidarity
songs, said that if by Friday the firm refused to meet
its demands, it would mobilise all companies and
affiliates in the sector to shut down all oil and gas
installations across the country.
Acting Chairman of PENGASSAN, Lagos Zone, Eyam
Abeng, alleged that the Brittania-U, an indigenous
company, has exhibited the most notorious antilabour
practice in the oil and gas industry, with an
unsafe workplace. He alleged that the firm frustrates
and terminates the employment of Nigerian workers
who aspire to unionise and identify with labour
unions. Abeng noted that PENGASSAN, which has
been asking Brittania-U since 2017 to resolve labour
issues amicably, had initially given the firm a 14-day
ultimatum, with additional seven days, to redress its
anti-labour practices but to no avail. He listed the
alleged anti-labour practices by the firm as precarious
work environment, flouting of Section 40 of Nigeria’s
constitution on freedom of association, lack of
respect for collective bargaining agreement (CBA),
disobedience of International Labour Organisation
(ILO) No. 87 on the right of workers to establish or
join a trade union, an unjustifiable sack of employees
and non- payment of statutory allowances, among
others. National Treasurer of PENGASSAN, Victor
Ononokpono, who said it was a coincidence that
the picketing happened when the nation is battling
with a shortage of fuel supply. National Public
Pelations Officer of PENGASSAN, Anietie Udoh, said:
“PENGASSAN is not known to be frivolous, we have
exhausted all known means of resolving the issues
amicably”.
The project’s 60 GE 1.7-103 wind turbines, each
capable of producing 1.7MW, will be switched on in
stages as part of a gradual ramp-up process, with
all commercial tests due to be concluded within the
next few months.
Topcon opens service centres in Kenya and South Africa
Located in Kajiado county, Kipeto is Kenya’s
second-largest wind power project. It has a 20-year
Power Purchase Agreement with KPLC, and once it
is at full capacity, Kipeto will generate 100MW of
clean wind energy for the Kenyan people, providing
power to the equivalent of approximately 250,000
households. This will be a significant contribution to
Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Big Four Agenda.
Dr Kenneth Namunje, Chairman and Director of
Kipeto Energy Plc commented: “First and foremost
I would like to thank the local community for their
ongoing support of this project, which has been
paramount from day one. Now, with the assistance
of KPLC and Ketraco, we’re delighted that this final
connection and energisation sees the transmission
line and associated equipment being handed over
this week to KPLC for future care and operation.”
Robert Skjodt, CEO of BioTherm Energy also
commented: “We are proud to have completed
the construction of the Kipeto wind project to the
highest standards with strong support from our
engineering and construction partners from Worley,
China Machinery and Engineering Company and GE,
as well as the local community to maintain strict
safety protocols throughout construction.
We are excited to be contributing to Kenya’s Vision
2030 goals and Big Four Agenda and demonstrating
that solar and wind are cheaper sources of
electricity than traditional fossil fuel-based power
plants with a significant positive impact in the local
communities.”
Topcon Positioning Middle East and Africa FZE
have expanded its CSS network through an
establishment of another Topcon Authorized
Service center at ADCC IEAL Kenya in collaboration
with Worldsview Technologies for the East and
Central African region. The newly opened Topcon
Authorized Service Centre is owned and managed
by ADCC (ADCCIEA Ltd) who are also the authorized
suppliers for Autodesk in Nairobi- Kenya. The service
center is currently operational and repairs and
servicing for old and new Topcon equipment have
started.
Incorporated in 2013, and headquartered in
Nairobi, Kenya, ADCC International East Africa Ltd
is a specialist in Information Technology, GIS &
Engineering services solutions, servicing clients
across a range of corporate and government
segments – power, water, urban transportation,
telecom, Manufacturing, Infra, and others.
In South Africa, the WorldsView Service Centre
is the only Topcon-accredited service centre for
South Africa customers. The Service Centre was
established as a result of the company acquiring
Precision Device Distributors (PDD) in 2020. The
service centre is also in the process of relocating
to WorldsView House in Woodmead, Johannesburg.
Anyone who’d like to make use of their services in
Southern Africa can visit the WorldsView Service
Centre at their new location (WorldsView House,
150 Kelvin Drive, Woodmead, Sandton) from
the 22nd of March. A grand opening for the new
WorldsView Service Centre will take place in early
April this year.
WorldsView Service Centre provides services to a
range of measurement professionals from land and
engineering surveyors to mining, agriculture and
forensic experts. The new location will improve
service capacity, expanding the centre’s service area
through a network of partners around the country,
and allowing instrumentation used across Southern
Africa to be collected and serviced.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 5

INterNAtIoNAL
Shell and DJI partner on drone
tech for energy industry
DJI has partnered with Shell Oil Company to
create, test and deploy DJI drone technology
at its Deer Park Manufacturing Complex to
improve efficiency and worker safety during industrial
inspections and emergency incident response.
The Shell Deer Park drone team adopted DJI drones
in 2016 to reduce the need to work at height while
improving safety and cutting the cost of inspections
in the process. As a Solution Development Partner,
Shell will work with DJI to develop and test advanced
drone solutions, like the DJI Matrice 300 RTK, that
allow workers to automate required inspections of
critical infrastructure like flare tips and floating roof
tanks whose condition and activity are difficult to
assess from ground level.
“As one of the world’s largest energy companies, Shell
has provided us with valuable insight into the unique
challenges of conducting aerial inspections at one
of its largest facilities where infrastructure exceeds
the height of 250 feet off the ground,” said Cynthia
Huang, director of business development at DJI.
“Through our collaboration, DJI will receive valuable
first-hand insight into the complexities of deploying
drone technology at a world-class refinery, and
co-develop new product features like AI Spot-Check
that will allow Shell and other innovative energy
companies to use drones to safely and easily conduct
required inspections of critical infrastructure.”
Presentation proposals invited for GIS-Pro 2021 in Baltimore
URISA (Urban and Regional
Information Systems
Association) is pleased
to invite presentation proposals
for GIS-Pro 2021 in Baltimore.
The conference, taking place
October 3-6, 2021, will bring
together GIS professionals to
present, discuss, analyze, and
share their experiences, insights,
and solutions. Help us get the
dialogue going! Showcase your
expertise, collaborate with
peers, and share your stories with an international
community. Presenters at all stages of their
careers are invited to submit. All proposals will be
considered.
Important Note: Of course the health and safety
of URISA members, leaders, and staff remains of
utmost importance. If pandemic health and safety
concerns have been minimized (or eliminated),
we all hope to meet in Baltimore in October
for URISA’s 59th Annual Conference, GIS-Pro
2021. We will certainly pivot to virtual delivery
if the situation demands it. When submitting a
presentation proposal, please indicate on the form
if you are willing to deliver your presentation
virtually if the conference must shift to a virtual
format.
Presentation Topics to Consider
The Conference Planning Committee has provided
the following list to consider with subtopics further
detailed online within each category.
The list is not meant to be restrictive, but is provided
to stimulate ideas. Propose ideas geared to GIS
beginners, mid-career managers, or the leaders in the
field. Discuss your success stories, your challenges,
or even your failures. All proposals received will be
reviewed and considered for the program.
Proposal submissions are due March 31, 2021. For
complete details about guidelines, presentation
formats to consider, a presenter’s schedule, and
online submission forms, visit https://www.urisa.orAll
Usersg/gispro2021call.
Fugro achieves Uk first with Ramms bathymetric Lidar technology
“
Shell Deer Park is excited to
become a Solution Development
Partner with DJI as we continue
to adopt drone technology,” said
Shell Deer Park’s Chief Drone
Pilot John McClain. “Through this
partnership, Shell Deer Park will
have access to some of the most
advanced drone technology from
DJI to help elevate workplace
safety and improve efficiency
across our operations in the
world’s largest industry.”
Fugro has won a contract to capture bathymetric
lidar of Northern Ireland’s coastline as part of
a project from the Department of Agriculture,
Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to create a
detailed 3D elevation model of the coast.
The nearshore survey will acquire satellite-derived
bathymetry (SDB) data and, for the first time in the
UK, Fugro will use their innovative Rapid Airborne
Multibeam Mapping System (RAMMS) to collect lidar
bathymetry data.
Coastal flooding is a global concern due to rising
sea levels and an increase in extreme storm events.
To identify areas most at risk of coastal erosion and
marine flooding, and those that may be under future
threat, DAERA has commissioned a baseline study of
Northern Ireland’s 763 km of coastline. The resulting
3D model will help to inform policy makers, coastal
managers, terrestrial planners, marine planners and
other interested stakeholders.
Huug Haasnoot, Fugro’s Director for Land Asset
Integrity in Europe and Africa, said: “Our remote
sensing solutions are ideal for mapping complex
coastlines and will greatly add to DAERA’s
understanding of coastal erosion and wave action
in Northern Ireland. This project is also a great
opportunity to utilise our RAMMS technology, already
proven throughout North America and the Caribbean,
for the first time in UK to capture high-resolution
bathymetry data.”
6 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

INterNAtIoNAL
Sandvik invests in leading AI-powered manufacturing
software provider Oqton
Sandvik has acquired a
minority stake in the privately
owned American software
company Oqton, a leading provider
of AI-powered manufacturing
solutions that allows manufacturers
to manage, optimize, and automate
their manufacturing workflows.
“This investment is in line with our
strategic agenda to broaden our
offering in digital manufacturing.
We are looking forward to working
with Oqton and finding ways to expand our offering
for increased customer productivity by creating new
products that take advantage of Sandvik’s extensive
know-how about manufacturing processes and
Oqton’s AI-powered manufacturing solutions”, says
Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik.
Oqton provides a secure end-to-end cloud-based
manufacturing platform that links data across the
complete manufacturing ecosystem, from design
to production, to logistics. Their open and agnostic
cloud-based platform enables manufacturers to
operate agile factories and manage complex product
mixes, with lower inventory and a simplified supply
chain.
“Oqton’s solution targets inefficiencies and waste
in the manufacturing workflow. We believe that
our relationship with Oqton will give us further
opportunities to define and reduce waste throughout
the entire manufacturing process. We share the
same desire to automate workflows and make our
customers more efficient”, says Mathias Johansson,
President of the Design & Planning Automation
division in Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions.
Founded in 2017, Oqton has 60 employees, the
corporate base in San Francisco, USA, and three R&D
centers located in Belgium, Denmark and China.
The relationship with Oqton will be managed by
Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions’ division Design
& Planning Automation, within the business area
Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions. The
amount of the investment was not disclosed.
Oxbotica raises $47 million to deploy autonomous mining
software platform around the world
Tensing recognized as Esri
Utility Network Specialist
As one of the first Esri partners in Europe,
Tensing has officially been awarded the Esri
Utility Network Specialty. This recognition is
given to partners who have proven expertise in the
field of utilities, the new Utility Network data model,
and the implementation of services using the
ArcGIS Utility Network Management Extension.
With the Utility Network, Esri offers a GIS
environment specifically designed for the Utility
Industry. The platform offers future-proof asset
management with all necessary functionality
for network modeling, editing and analysis. The
Utility Network allows users to create, manage
and share network data from one single platform,
visualized on any device, at any time. Geographic
data in particular is valuable here, because it
enables location-driven support for critical business
processes. This allows users to visualize the status
of the network and ensures quick and appropriate
responses to emergencies and efficient construction
or maintenance processes can take place.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ESRI UTILITY SPECIALTY
As a GIS and Data Integration partner, we have
gained specific knowledge and valuable experience
within the utility market over the years. Our
consultants have supported various large and
smaller gas, electricity and water companies in
Europe with successful implementations of the Esri
Utility Network. Think for example of the French
company GRTGaz and the Belgian company Pidpa. In
this way we help these organizations to effectively
and sustainably ensure the security of supply,
continuity and quality of the network.
This expertise is now recognized with the receipt
of the Specialty. It should be noted that the Utility
Network Specialty is not just awarded based on
years of experience and the amount of Utility
Network implementations which a partner has
made. To qualify for the award, we had to undergo a
thorough audit by Esri which tested our knowledge,
technical skills, and experience.
Oxbotica, a global leader in autonomous
vehicle software, has announced the
completion of a $47 million Series B
investment with partners across the globe led by bp
ventures.
The funding will accelerate Oxbotica’s commercial
deployment of its world-class autonomy software
platform across multiple industries and key markets.
The news is an endorsement of Oxbotica’s go-tomarket
strategy, deploying its autonomy software in
industrial use cases in advance of rolling out in urban
passenger transportation applications in the future.
High-calibre global investors in the round include
BGF, bp ventures, Halma, HostPlus, IP Group,Tencent,
Venture Science, and funds advised by Doxa Partners.
With financial and strategic investors in Australia,
China, UK and the USA, Oxbotica is placed at the
centre of a global autonomy ecosystem.
Oxbotica was founded in 2014 by Oxford University
professors, Paul Newman and Ingmar Posner. Since
then, the company has grown from a UK robotics
start-up to one of the world’s leading autonomy
companies.
Oxbotica’s product is a software platform providing
Universal Autonomy. It is fast to deploy, low energy,
hassle free, hardware agnostic autonomy and
applicable to a vast array of vehicle types both on
and off road. The advanced technology supports
Oxbotica’s unique horizontal B2B model providing
operators, integrators and manufacturers the
autonomy functionality and flexibility they need – be
that a full stack or on a component-by-component
basis.
“We are honoured to receive the specialty
award, and to be a part of the select group of
recognized utility specialists worldwide” notes
Otto Huisman, International Business Director of
Tensing. “While there is increasing awareness of
the great benefits of the Utility Network, finding
the right implementation partner is paramount
to a successful implementation and transition.
The Utility Network Specialty is here to help
organizations find an experienced implementation
partner. It’s like Esri’s seal of approval for
knowledge and reliability around the Utility
Network.”
The switch to the Utility Network offers many
advantages, but is also an extensive project.
Guidance by an experienced consultancy and
implementation partner is therefore critical. Without
external help and the knowledge of a specialist,
the chances of a successful implementation and
transition to the new system become slim.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 7

eveNtS
Advisory Board Set for Geo Week February 6-8, 2022 in Denver, CO
is so much overlap in technology, processes, and
knowledge. Bringing these three events together is a
great opportunity for us all to learn from each other
and share the tools and processes each industry is
excelling at applying.”
Organizers of Geo Week, the single
powerhouse event that brings together
AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference,
International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D
Expo & Conference, have announced an impressive
list of influential leaders within the geospatial and
built world industries who will be participating
on the 2022 event’s Advisory Board. The Advisory
Board is responsible for recommending conference
topics and speakers, reviewing submitted abstracts,
consulting on the program, and acting as a resource
to develop different aspects of the event. The 2022
event will take place February 6-8, 2022 in Denver,
Colorado.
In addition to Diversified Communications’ technology
events coming together, powerful partnership events
will also take place at Geo Week, including the
ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and
Remote Sensing) Annual Conference and USIBD’s
(U.S. Institute of Building Documentation) Annual
Symposium.
“The Geo Week Advisory Board is comprised of
industry leaders who will help craft programming,
recommend speakers, and deliver critical insights
to geospatial and built world professionals at the
launch of the highly anticipated event in 2022,”
said Lee Corkhill, Group Director at Diversified
Communications, organizer of the event., “The Board
represents a mix of key market vertical players, top
vendors, and regulatory experts to address the most
pressing issues facing the geospatial, 3D and built
world environments today. Board members are at the
top of their fields and they are ready to bring their
connections and commitment to delivering the best
conference and expo the geospatial and built markets
have ever seen.”
Members of the 2022 Geo Week Advisory Board
include:
• Qassim Abdullah, Vice President & Chief
Scientist, Woolpert, Inc.
• Kelly Cone, Vice President of Industry Strategy,
ClearEdge3D
• Kevin Dowling, CEO, Kaarta
• Danielle Dy Buncio, Co-Founder & CEO,
VIATechnik
• Martin Flood, Vice President, Special Projects,
GeoCue Group Inc.
• Birgitta Foster, Program Lead, Asset
Management, Sandia National Laboratories
• Thomas Haun, Chief Operating Officer, Turner
Mining Group
• Kourosh Langari, BIM Manager, Caltrans
• Robert Mankowski, Senior Vice President,
Digital Cities, Bentley Systems, Inc.
• Amar Nayegandhi, Senior Vice President,
Dewberry Engineers, Inc.
• Cody Nowak, Founder, CUBE
• Scott Simmons, Chief Standards Officer, OGC
• Jason Stoker, Physical Scientist, USGS
• Dan Stonecipher, Senior Director of Innovation,
PROCON, Inc.
• Stewart Walker, Managing Editor, LIDAR
Magazine
• Geoff Zeiss, Principal, Between the Poles
The coming together of AEC Next Technology Expo
& Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum,
and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference to form Geo Week
reflects the increased integration between the
built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial
technologies, and commercial 3D technologies. Geo
Week is at the forefront of this integration, providing
education, technology, and resources for professionals
in industries including AEC, Asset & Facility
Management, Disaster & Emergency Response,
Earth Observation & Satellite Applications, Energy
& Utilities, Infrastructure & Transportation, Land &
Natural Resource Management, Mining & Aggregates,
Surveying & Mapping, and Urban Planning/Smart
Cities.
Bentley Systems’ Senior Vice President of Digital
Cities and Advisory Board Member, Robert Mankowski,
had this to say: “AEC Next, ILMF, and SPAR 3D coming
together to the Geo Week 2022 event reflects what
we see happening in the infrastructure industry. As
owner-operators and engineering project delivery
firms strive to improve the performance of their
assets and projects, they are turning to digital twins,
which require, among other things, the convergence
of reality modeling, GIS, BIM, and engineering models.
Geo Week 2022 is set to provide infrastructure
professionals with visibility into the core
technologies, best practices, and real-world examples
of how digital twins are driving better outcomes.”
Said Advisory Board member Kelly Cone, Vice
President of Industry Strategy, ClearEdge3D, “While
I’m looking forward to ANY event I can actually
attend in person; I’m particularly excited about the
conjunction of SPAR 3D, AEC Next, ILMF into a single
event for 2022! Far too often we silo ourselves into
an industry, but this is precisely why innovations are
slow to migrate from one industry to another. The
geospatial industry is responsible for the information
the built world is constructed upon; and there
According to Corkhill, there will be content that
addresses the built environment, advanced airborne/
terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D
technologies independently of one another and
attendees will have access across all conference
sessions. “The event represents a continuum, with
individuals and organizations from all corners of
industry at differing levels of adoption. Geo Week
will support a future vision, in which professionals
and organizations that understand the full spectrum
of data needs, work processes, software integration,
and standards in both geospatial and BIM will be
tomorrow’s technology leaders,” said Corkhill.
The event will feature multiple tracks with content
clearly identified as relevant to one or more of
the audience groups feeding into Geo Week. The
International Lidar Mapping Forum (ILMF) audience
has historically been comprised of precision
measurement professionals in surveying and mapping
who use airborne and terrestrial lidar and related
remote sensing technologies. The AEC Next audience
has historically been comprised of professionals in
architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) that
use technologies such as reality capture, automation,
AI and XR to bid and manage projects and improve
workflows. The SPAR 3D audience has historically
been comprised of professionals who use 3D capture,
scanning, visualization and modeling technologies
across a variety of verticals.
Geo Week takes place February 6-8, 2022, with
conference programming and exhibits Sunday,
February 6 through Tuesday, February 8. Additional
features of the programming are vendor-delivered
Product Previews, Exhibition Theaters, workshops,
and conference programming hosted by ASPRS and
USIBD.
About Geo Week
Geo Week is part of a network of events and media
for the global geospatial and built markets organized
by Diversified Communications, a leading organizer
of conferences, trade shows, and online media
with 15 years in the technology arena. Geo Week,
taking place February 6-8, 2022, is the new brand
name of previously stand-alone events AEC Next
Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar
Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference,
and reflects the increased integration between the
built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial
technologies, and commercial 3D technologies.
Powerful partnership events will also take place
at Geo Week, including ASPRS (American Society
for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing) and
USIBD (US Institute of Building Documentation).
Diversified Communications also produces Geo Week
ENewsletter, SPAR 3D ENewsletter, AEC ENewsletter,
GeoBusiness Show (UK), Commercial UAV Expo
Americas, Commercial UAV Europe and Commercial
UAV News. For more information, visit www.geoweek.com.
8 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

®
OGC
Making location count.
DIGITAL
CONSTRUCTION
UAV
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 9

INNovAtIoN
Trimble announces Rugged, Lightweight Field Data Controller for
Land and Construction Surveying
Trimble has introduced the Trimble® TSC5
Controller, a new rugged-yet-lightweight field
solution that continues Trimble’s legacy of
creating high-quality controllers for land and civil
construction surveyors. Built for practical, everyday
tasks, the Trimble TSC5 combines high performance
and dependability so professionals can complete
tasks efficiently and accurately.
The Trimble TSC5 features a 5-inch screen, keypad
and all-day battery for reliable field data collection.
Its ergonomic design is lightweight, easy to grip and
ideal for rugged environments. The TSC5 is resistant
to shock, dust and water. A brightly lit, anti-glare
screen and backlit alphanumeric keypad enable fast,
efficient operation in tough conditions, even while
wearing gloves. The controller’s battery provides
all-day power on a single charge, with the optional
external battery nearly doubling the power for
extended use.
Featuring an Android 10 operating system, the
Trimble TSC5 is fully integrated with Trimble’s land
and construction surveying instruments and software
packages, including Trimble Access 2021 Field
Software, Trimble Siteworks Software. In addition,
the controller can be used with Trimble Forensics
Capture. The TSC5 is also compatible with the Trimble
EMPOWER Module system, which includes the ability
to add the EM100 (GNSS), EM11X family (RFID/
Barcode) and EM120 (Long Range Radio) modules.
“Surveyors expect to encounter challenging
environments and must rely on their equipment to
perform as expected in harsh conditions,” said Ron
Bisio, senior vice president, Trimble Geospatial. “The
TSC5 controller is a high-value, reliable solution that
land surveyors can leverage for field data collection
tasks performed all day, every day.”
“Civil construction surveyors trust Trimble to provide
rugged, reliable hardware that connects them to
the Trimble Connected Construction ecosystem,”
said Scott Crozier, vice president, Trimble Civil
Construction. “The TSC5 is a great addition to our
family of connected controllers, giving contractors
the ability to choose the solution that best fits their
needs and budget.”
Availability
The Trimble TSC5 Controller running the Trimble
Access field software is now available through
Trimble’s Geospatial distribution partners. For more
information, visit: geospatial.trimble.com/trimbletsc5.
The Trimble TSC5 Controller and Trimble Siteworks
Software are available now through the global
SITECH® distribution channel.
Esri releases ArcGIS Velocity for Analysis of
Real-Time IoT Data
Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced the
release of ArcGIS Velocity. Previously known as ArcGIS Analytics for
IoT, Velocity is a new cloud-native capability for ingestion, processing,
visualization, and analysis of real-time and high-volume geospatial data on
the fly. It complements existing systems with geographic information system
(GIS) technology by spatially enabling Internet of Things (IoT) data from
current providers and simplifying real-time data analysis.
Velocity enables users to capture information from sensors, moving objects, or
anything that changes over time, and then automatically flag patterns, trends,
and anomalies. This will allow deployed personnel to access time-critical
information the moment they need it.
“This new capability will help organizations take advantage of the insights
made possible by the Internet of Things with up-to-the-second data and
improved situational awareness,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and
president. “Organizations will now be able to easily connect to the increasingly
real-time world.”
ArcGIS Velocity is also now available in two additional license levels—
Standard and Advanced. These new licenses offer different storage
and compute capabilities and will make Velocity more accessible for
customers across industries such as commercial, natural resources, utilities,
transportation, national government, water and wastewater, and public safety.
“Being able to have real-time insight into vehicle travel across the state
has always seemed like a pipe-dream, but ArcGIS Velocity makes it not only
a reality, but an easy-to-achieve reality,” said Roger Cleaves, GIS Specialist,
California Department of Toxic Substances Control. “Since it’s all hosted on the cloud,
setup couldn’t have been easier, allowing us to start answering important questions
regarding hazardous waste instantaneously. The potential is endless, from real-time
notifications to capacity planning, and even environmental impact modeling.”
Organizations across industries can improve their operations by better leveraging
IoT data produced by devices and sensors. Remote monitoring of assets, predictive
maintenance, and process optimization are a few of the benefits that can be gained
from IoT data. ArcGIS Velocity lets users incorporate geospatial analysis into their
decision-making as well as share results in the form of a map, feature, or stream
service that can be used in other ArcGIS applications.
10 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

INNovAtIoN
NextBillion AI Partners with Google Cloud To Deploy
Data Pipelines
NextBillion AI, an industry-leading startup in
mapping platforms that provides softwareas-a-service
(SaaS) for enterprises, partners
with Google Cloud to improve time-to-market
for hyperlocal AI solutions by running datasets
and algorithms on Cloud Storage and Cloud SQL
to minimize operational overheads with Google
Kubernetes Engine.
The lack of local language content can isolate
customers further when located in remote areas.
Rather than offering a homogeneous mobile app
developed for urban cities, companies can attract
rural customers with a location-based experience
that adapts to their local needs, from last-mile
delivery to native language support.
“We built a nimble AI platform on Google Cloud that
allows clients to choose plug-and-play modules,
depending on their use-cases, Ajay Bulusu Co-founder
of NextBillion AI stated. “While some clients want
to detect road names from street-level imagery
to improve delivery accuracy, others may want to
annotate a politician’s name to uncover public
sentiment from news articles and forums.”
With the help of Google Cloud partner Searce,
NextBillion AI ran a two-week proof of concept to
evaluate cloud service providers based on feature
richness, support effectiveness, and its ability to
follow latest updates. Now, Google Kubernetes
Engine (GKE) provides native support for Kubernetes,
keeping clusters up-to-date with the latest versions.
NextBillion AI deploys its data pipelines on Google
Kubernetes Engine to ensure high uptime for clients
and minimize maintenance with auto-updates. The
company stores client datasets in Cloud Storage and
uses Cloud SQL to run real-time queries.
“Building an AI solution is a big commitment, from
recruiting AI talent to investing in the infrastructure.
Some companies may develop AI in-house for one
or two critical business functions, but it’s hard to
invest at the same level for non-core tasks,” states
Gaurav Bubna, Co-founder of NextBillion AI. “That’s
where we add value as a third party with the people,
process, and AI capabilities on Google Cloud to take
on non-core tasks such as mapping in a cost-effective
manner.”
NextBillion AI helps companies connect to users with
hyperlocal AI solutions. NextBillion AI Maps offer
custom map solutions through a range of APIs such
as routing and navigation that integrate with the
customer’s mobile or web app.
DIALOG Focuses on Collaborative Design and Planning Process
Ideate Software, an Autodesk® AEC Industry Partner and
Autodesk® Authorized Developer, is pleased to announce
its collaboration with DIALOG, a Canadian firm that provides
architecture, electrical engineering, interior design, landscape
architecture, mechanical engineering, planning and urban design, and
structural engineering services.
To help their multi-disciplinary teams leverage their diverse
perspectives to tackle complex challenges together, DIALOG uses top
technology tools, including five Revit applications developed by Ideate
Software.
When talking about Ideate Software products, Ross Salikhov,
Technologist, Mechanical Engineering, DIALOG, said, “I mainly use
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer, and both are a must for me as a serious Revit user.” He
continued:
“Ideate BIMLink is irreplaceable for finding/reviewing/revising parameters. It has saved me
days if not weeks of work.”
“I use Ideate Explorer as a more sophisticated Revit filter, because the native Revit filter is
very limited.”
“Like DIALOG, many of our customers are realizing that subscribing to all our projects
puts solutions to common Revit challenges at their fingertips,” said Glynnis Patterson.
“Streamlining workflows, even those performed only occasionally, means more time available
for more valuable and more interesting activities.”
January-February issue l 2021 11

eNGINeerING
Chubb launches Civil Engineering
Completed Risks insurance in South Africa
Chubb a multinational Insurance company has
launched its Civil Engineering Completed
Risks (CECR) insurance service in the South
Africa. The CECR is aimed at medium-sized and large
organisations operating in all areas of infrastructure.
“Given the nature of this type of risk and the higher
insured values often amounting to billions of
dollars, they tend to require substantial facultative
reinsurance in international markets. With the roll-out
of CECR to the South African market, we are making
available local capacity to assist with the placement
of these complex exposures,” says Chubb South Africa
tech lines and distribution head Tirelo Tsheoga.
Chubb has a dedicated specialist unit that
understands the complexities of the industry,
including local and international exposures, and a
global network of employees and partners, which
means it is well placed to service and deliver
multinational programme solutions for South African
businesses.
The preferred risk classes under this cover include
roads, motorways, railroads, tunnels, bridges and
harbours, along with commuter rail systems and
subways. Additional risks, such as rolling stock, earth
and rock-fill dams, locks, piers, breakwaters and jetties
are also included, while additional cover includes
accidental damage, riots, strikes, civil commotion and
malicious damage.
“The fact that Chubb can provide CECR in South
Africa means we are able to offer coverage through
the construction period to the fully operational risk –
ensuring no gaps for the client.”
Policy exclusions include damage or loss caused, or
aggravated by, latent or inherent defect, wear and
tear, corrosion and erosion, normal settlements, war
and/or civil war, terrorism, willful acts or negligence,
communicable disease, nuclear and cyber risks,
concludes Tsheoga.
12 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

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opINIoN
The impact of COVID-19 on
African infrastructure
The novel coronavirus pandemic has had a
devastating global impact on public health and
economies. The worst global recession since
World War II and the effects of large-scale shutdowns
of all non-essential businesses worldwide, cutting off
international and regional supply chains and halting
all non-essential travel, have also rippled across
Africa. The International Monetary Fund is forecasting
a 1.6% contraction in the continent’s GDP, and the
outlook is expected to worsen when revised later in
the year.
The continent has a less well-resourced health-care
sector and much lower fiscal capacity to support
businesses and people negatively affected, but it is
worth noting that Africa’s mortality and contagion
rates have so far been significantly lower than
initially feared. COVID-19 spread later to Africa,
enabling many countries to learn vital lessons
from other parts of the world. It is also important
to recognize there have been drastically different
government interventions from each of Africa’s
54 nations, some introducing quick and draconian
lockdowns, while others imposed curfews or made
minimal changes to daily activity.
Author: Standard Bank corporate and investment banking CE Kenny Fihla
We expect to see a marked economic slowdown
through this year and into 2021. In the context of
lower oil prices, commodity exporting countries such
as Nigeria and Angola will be more severely impacted
from a fiscal perspective. However, ultimately the rate
of Africa’s economic recovery will depend on each
country’s response.
We do not expect to see a V-shaped recovery but
being later into lockdown and early out of it could
mean African countries will begin to recover sooner
— cautious optimism that has been boosted by China,
a key supplier, reopening and easing pressures on
supply chains.
For infrastructure projects under construction, most
countries have restricted the movement of people
rather than goods, allowing for instance, power
and renewable energy projects to continue on-site
activity, with South Africa as the exception, even
during the height of the outbreaks.
“
”
For large-scale infrastructure, institutional investors’
main area of focus has been on the power sector,
where projects have invariably been deemed to
be “essential services” by African governments,
allowing them to remain operational throughout
the lockdowns — a position that has resulted in
continued revenue generation and has underlined
the resilient nature of these assets. For infrastructure
projects under construction, most countries have
restricted the movement of people rather than goods,
allowing for instance, power and renewable energy
projects to continue on-site activity, with South
Africa as the exception, even during the height of the
outbreaks.
Given the less developed supply chains, African
projects typically hold more equipment on site than
in other parts of the world and have time buffers
14 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

opINIoN
factored into plans due to lower unpredictability
of the operating environments. The impact on
project construction has been more nuanced. For
example, delays arising out of the limited movement
of personnel with specialist skills required in the
construction and commissioning process.
Insulation from other impacts
In Africa, strategically important assets with strong
defensive characteristics have continued to display
robust revenue and returns for investors even while
the COVID-19 crisis raged. In the past three years, an
average of 68% of African infrastructure transactions
have been into thermal power and renewable
projects, the majority of which are contracted assets.
The projects also have hard currency-linked revenues,
given almost 60% of projects are financed in U.S.
dollars, which offers protection to investors.
In projects where cashflows are in local currency,
risk is often managed by utilizing local currency
debt facilities and applying lower gearing — a small
proportion of debt to equity — as well as building in
conservative currency devaluation assumptions.
GDP-linked assets in Africa have been the most
exposed, and across the transportation sector,
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
toll roads, ports and airports have been the most
significantly affected by the abrupt shutdown of
international travel and subsequent local and
regional restrictions. African airlines operating in an
already fragile market, and with heavy reliance on
intercontinental traffic, will be hard hit. Unlike Europe
and U.S. markets, where domestic flights account for
85% of seat capacity, overseas flights account for
55% of African airlines’ market share.
The most resilient African airports are in capital cities
that are critical transport hubs, holding strategic
importance for sustainable economic growth.
During the virus outbreaks, some airport investees
have invoked economic equilibrium clauses built into
their contracts to secure ‘holidays’ in concessionaire
fees while COVID-19 restrictions were at their height,
thus protecting the business.
Some sectors, like digital infrastructure, will come
out of the pandemic stronger due to increases in data
usage as people seek to remain connected remotely,
making their operations more sustainable and more
attractive for future private investment.
Availability of public funding for infrastructure is
under more strain than it has been in the past so a
slowdown in new public-private partnership deals is
to be expected. Private-sector investment is critical
with the African Development Bank estimating
that pre-COVID-19, there was already an annual
infrastructure investment gap of around $62.5 billion.
There is evidence to suggest a wider interest in
emerging market infrastructure from private investors
looking to diversify their portfolios beyond their
traditional markets. We are likely to see greater
engagement in countries traditionally less open to
private-sector investment with these countries easing
regulations to become more investor-friendly. We
are seeing this trend develop across sectors with a
number of African sovereign wealth funds looking to
partner with the private sector to build agriculture
capacity in countries like Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria
and help bolster domestic food security in line with
their strategic investment priorities.
These are the types of trends we expect to see
across the board in post-COVID Africa — accelerated
conversations around how public-sector entities
can partner with private financing to deliver critical
infrastructure projects.
January-February issue l 2021 15

FeAtUre
GIS Mapping in Africa
Technology has made a significant impact in
the surveying world. Geographic information
systems (GIS) are a sophisticated form of mapping
software that enables users to visually display input
data associated with a designated project. GIS helps
users create interactive smart maps that visualize spatial
information and help make better and wiser business
decisions that are important for the organization of work.
GIS benefits organizations of all sizes and in almost
every industry. In fact, there is a growing interest of the
economic and strategic value of GIS of more standardsbased
technology and a greater awareness of the benefits
demonstrated by the GIS users. Sometimes you can’t read
your data and visualize it at the same time. GIS is the
right solution to help you achieve that ultimate goal, and
communicate something raw data isn’t able to do.
“GIS is critical to the functioning of almost every aspect
of society, from governments to private companies to
NGOs. It allows one to see and plan and manage anything
in its real-world spatial context,” says Gavin Fleming, Joint
MD at Kartoza.
On the other hand, according to Geomaps Africa Executive
Chairman, Hon. Lenny Kivuti, With Geographic Information
System (GIS) as one of the information systems, there is
increasing demand for geospatial information and tools,
which has brought GIS into the daily lives of people. GIS
is critical to various organizations and businesses today
and the use of geospatial technology tools is widening
due to their capability to improve development and
planning of nations. Various GIS applications have
been providing the frameworks and processes for
enabling achievement of sustainable development
goals across the world. With over 36 years of
experience in GIS industry, Geomaps Africa has
proven the value of geospatial data in achieving
growth and digital transformation.
Geomaps Aerial Photography and LiDAR Mapping Resources
16 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

GIS MAppING IN AFrIcA
“
InaSAFE FBA flood summary report. Image | Kartoza
“Digital data information has today turned out to
be the basis on which national governments, county
governments, industries and organizations make
their decisions. They use geospatial data in a wide
variety of areas, including legislative and policy
development, allocation and management of natural
resources, defense and public safety purposes and
spatial planning among others,” says Hon. Kivuti. “In
Geomaps Africa ,we prioritized geospatial data as
a critical asset for decision making, the reason we
have strategically invested in the state-of-the-art
equipment, tools and methodologies that are used
to collect, manage and analyze the most accurate
geospatial data,” he adds.
The future of GIS
mapping in Africa
With the ability to make maps that communicate,
perform analysis, share information, and solve
complex spatial problems, GIS has made our lives
easier and can significantly reduce operational and
administrative costs.
“It’s a growth industry, like it is in the rest of the
world. African countries could reduce the expense of
GIS implementation and reduce their dependency on
foreign aid by adopting FOSS GIS, building local FOSS
GIS skills and local FOSS GIS solutions, which will all
benefit their local economies,” asserts Fleming.
Conferring with Hon. Kivuti, he is certain that,
the future of GIS mapping is promising due to
the demand for geospatial data for development
and national planning. Currently, many African
organizations are investing millions of dollars on
GIS technology to ensure it lives to expectations in
order to serve the need of the people around. This
is evident by growing rate of African geospatial
companies e.g. Geomaps Africa since establishment.
Geomaps Africa founder, Hon. Lenny Kivuti started
Geomaps Africa 37 years ago, with a single idea that
Africa was ready for Geospatial services paralleling
the first world, and observing that the continent was
being left behind as new Geospatial technology was
breaking out. Since then, Geomaps has grown to a
major player in geospatial technology and today, it’s
a large multinational consultancy spanning across
Africa and beyond.
“On the other hand, geospatial professional have
drastically increased in Africa and today, there are
many Universities across Africa who are teaching and
training students on various geospatial disciplines.
These and many more example in African countries
are evident that the future of GIS in Africa has no
limit,” Says Hon. Kivuti.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was developed
by Dr. Roger Tomlinson in 1960 in Ottawa by
the Canadian Department of Forestry and Rural
Development. it was called the Canada Geographic
Information System (CGIS) and was used to store,
analyze, and manipulate data collected for the
Canada Land Inventory, an effort to determine
the land capability for rural Canada by mapping
information about soils, agriculture, recreation,
wildlife, waterfowl, forestry and land use.
Today, GIS has revolutionized our ability to
communicate the full scope of our work accurately,
openly, comprehensively and in compelling visual
manner. Entrenched in the science of geography,
GIS analyses spatial location and organizes layers
of information into visualizations using maps and
3D scenes. With no doubt GIS is a powerful tool that
can be successfully implemented to help address a
number of significant decision-making processes.
Aerial camera & LiDAR scanner
The Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (FBIS). visualising and sharing freshwater biodiversity information for South
African rivers. image | Kartoza
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 17

driLLing
Test drilling for oil and gas begins
in Namibia’s Okavango region
The search for oil and gas in the watershed
of the world-famous, wildlife-rich Okavango
Delta moved one step closer to reality when
a multimillion-dollar drilling rig from Houston, Texas,
broke ground on the first test well in Namibia on
January 11.
The rig, retrofitted for drilling in the desert, had
arrived in December on the 600-foot-long transport
ship Yellowstone, also laden with at least 23 massive
trucks for pulling loads, bundles of drill pipe, and
seismic testing systems on trucks with off-road
tractor tires.
Because of the pandemic, Walvis Bay was eerily quiet
at the time. Instead of the usual bustling of beachgoing
visitors, the only activity was the din around
the Yellowstone as workers in reflective overalls
helped offload equipment being lowered to the
ground by dockside cranes.
Licenses allow for oil and gas exploration in Namibia
and Botswana. ReconAfrica believes that a formation
known as the Kavango Basin holds significant
amounts of oil and gas. The company’s licensed
region, which covers more than 13,200 square miles,
is home to some 200,000 people and abundant
wildlife and includes important migratory routes for
the world’s largest remaining elephant population.
Within the week, ReconAfrica’s rig had been trucked
680 miles north to a drilling site in the bed of the
seasonal Omatako River, about 160 miles upstream
of the Okavango Delta, one of the world’s largest
protected wetlands. Several weeks later, workers
began drilling the first test well. ReconAfrica, formally
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd., is an oil and gas
exploration company listed on Canadian and German
stock exchanges whose drilling program is run by
Nick Steinsberger, an American fracking expert. The
company has licensed more than 13,200 square miles
of land in Namibia and Botswana to explore for oil
and gas.
As National Geographic previously reported, the
company’s 3,200-square-mile license area in Namibia
and Botswana encompasses the Kavango-Zambezi
Transfrontier Conservation Area and, originally,
the Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
Botswana. Following the National Geographic story
in October, Tsodilo Hills was excluded from the
license. The license area supports various endangered
species, such as African wild dogs, white-backed
vultures, and Temminck’s ground pangolins. Africa’s
largest remaining herd of savanna elephants moves
through it. In Namibia, the license area is home to
more than 200,000 people and six locally managed
wildlife reserves, or conservancies.
On December 4, Namibian activists staged a protest
in Windhoek, the country’s capital, against the arrival
of the rig. Holding a “no to fracking” banner Reinhold
Mangundu, an environmental activist and master’s
student in sustainable development at South Africa’s
Stellenbosch University, who was visibly upset, said,
“I am angry at ReconAfrica for coming all this way to
risk our prestigious ecosystem!”
Africa’s largest remaining herd of savanna elephants
moves through ReconAfrica’s license area. The
company plans to conduct a seismic survey, which
biologists say could disrupt the sensitive animals.
In October 2020, ReconAfrica spokesperson Claire
Preece told National Geographic that the company
“will ensure that there is no environmental impact
from these wells.” She said that fracking wasn’t
applicable to the company’s exploration license
and that ReconAfrica was focused on “hydrocarbons
in conventional reservoirs” that don’t need to be
fracked. The Namibian government has not granted
permission to frack, but a ReconAfrica research
report and podcast interview given by CEO Scot
Evans discuss “unconventional opportunities,”
and a company investor presentation refers to
the possibility of using “modern frac simulations”
(fracking), if exploratory drilling proves promising.
ReconAfrica did not respond to questions or requests
for comment for this report, but instead sent a letter
from a Namibian attorney threatening legal action
against National Geographic if its previous story was
not amended or retracted.
18 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

Test drilling begins
Spotted and oddly striped zebras may be a warning
for species’ future
Drilling in the Omatako River, the site of the first
test well, is risky for local communities, says Surina
Esterhuyse, a geohydrologist from South Africa’s
University of the Free State, in Bloemfontein. Surface
water is hard to find in this arid region, so people rely
on groundwater, which can easily be contaminated
when the water table is shallow, as it is here.
Preece told National Geographic in October 2020
that the company plans to dig new water wells for
communities near drill sites and that potentially toxic
drill cuttings from the oil test wells “will be managed
in lined pits, cleaned, and disposed of offsite as per
company and regulatory requirements.”
Another concern Esterhuyse notes is that because
the Omatako feeds into the Okavango Delta, a nearly
7,000-square-mile oasis of biodiversity that has no
outlet, toxic chemicals “from oil and gas extraction
operations may become permanent long-term
pollutants.”
In tweets on November 27, 2020, Namibia’s Minister
of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle
Schlettwein, said his ministry wasn’t consulted about
the decision to grant a drilling license. “We however
stand ready to discuss relevant water and agricultural
issues,” he wrote.
Preece said that the test drill area “is not situated
in a sensitive area at all and all the exploration
activities are highly localised.” She further noted
that “ReconAfrica follows Namibian regulations and
policies as well as international best practices.”
Elephant rumblings
In addition to drilling test wells, ReconAfrica said
in an October 2020 news release that it plans to
undertake a seismic survey in early 2021 to confirm
the presence and size of oil and gas deposits. Seismic
surveys send sound waves into the Earth that, like
x-rays in a human body, provide a rough picture
thousands of feet below the surface. To create the
waves, specialized trucks thump the ground with
powerful, low-frequency vibrations.
Before ReconAfrica can begin the seismic survey, it
must carry out an environmental impact assessment,
according to Namibian law, as it had to do to get
permission to drill test wells.
Namibian environmental assessment practitioner
Sindila Mwiya—who completed the analysis, in
June 2019, for the test well phase of the project—is
undertaking the new assessment for the seismic
survey. On January 7, he published a notice in the
Namibian press inviting public consultations in
writing or at scheduled in-person meetings.
Recon Africa’s map of the planned seismic survey
shows that part of it will run along the entire western
border of the George Mukoya Conservancy. Jacob
Hamutenya is the conservancy’s chairman. He says
he had heard nothing about the seismic testing plan
and fears for his community and the elephants that
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
attract tourists to his area.
“It is not good for us to not hear anything about this
program of testing; that is totally unfair,” Hamutenya
says. He’s concerned that ReconAfrica’s seismic survey
may harm “our environment, our wildlife and our
trees, even our domestic animals.”
Mwiya’s previous environmental impact assessment,
for ReconAfrica’s test drilling, noted that it would
be done in an elephant migration corridor between
two national parks, which is also where the company
plans to carry out its seismic survey. (Coincidentally,
on December 2, 2020, Namibia announced that it
would hold an auction to sell 90 elephants that live
in the vicinity of ReconAfrica’s test wells.)
Biologists are concerned about how the seismic
survey’s sound waves will affect elephants, which
communicate with low-frequency seismic waves
“heard” through their sensitive feet. These vibrations
provide information about other herds, water sources,
and potential danger.
“Recent studies have demonstrated that elephants
were sensitive to seismic signals produced by
thunderstorms a hundred miles away,” says elephant
biologist Audrey Delsink, the wildlife director of
Humane Society International, in Africa. “So we know
that elephants are extremely sensitive to, and primed
for, seismic vibrations.”
ReconAfrica did not respond to a request from
National Geographic as to whether the environmental
impact assessment would include information on the
effects on elephants of seismic testing in the area.
Growing opposition
ReconAfrica has promoted the oil and gas project
as being an important source of jobs for locals and
of community development. But after examining
ReconAfrica’s agreement with the Namibian
government for its oil exploration license, Nikki
Reisch, director of the Center for International
Environmental Law’s Climate and Energy Program,
said in an email that the project “seems engineered
more to fast-track the production of oil than to
promote the development of the communities
affected most.”
On October 7, 2020, the international “hacktivist”
group Anonymous shut down websites of numerous
Namibian government ministries, including the
president’s office, in protest against the test drilling.
A Twitter user calling himself Paladin said it was in
opposition to “greed and allowing the destruction of
environment and wildlife.” The sites remained offline
for at least two days. A month later, on November 6,
Paladin again reported that government websites had
been taken down.
Namibians expressed anger during a livestreamed
event in November hosted by the American
Petroleum Institute for ReconAfrica to promote the
project to potential investors. “We on the ground
are against this project,” a Namibian commenter
named Veruschka Pate wrote in the live chat. “We feel
betrayed by our government and this company.”
On December 18, Q7 Beckett, an indigenous Khoe
oiL And gAs
and San youth leader in nearby South Africa, posted
a video on Facebook announcing a protest walk to
the Namibian consulate in Cape Town starting on
February 1 to “defend his people’s homelands” by
protesting the oil exploration. “We have nowhere to
take our people. Our people cannot live there if you
are drilling,” he said in the video.
Part of the anger many Namibians hold stems from
the sense, they say, that they were left out of the
initial environmental assessment process, which
paved the way for ReconAfrica to get a permit to drill
test wells.
When reached for comment, Pate (whose real name
is Veruschka Dumeni) said, “We only heard about this
project in September [2020] in the press.” Dumeni
said it was frustrating because, she claims, “only when
the commencement of the project was near, when the
company had raised financing, built investor interest,
and already obtained the rights, only then did the
nation and affected communities come to know of it.”
Mwiya’s company, Risk-Based Solutions, held public
meetings in March and May 2019, and public notices
in English ran in local media in May 2019 inviting
written feedback on the plans to drill test wells
by the end of the month. Although English is the
country’s official language, most Namibians don’t
speak or understand it. An email address and phone
number were provided, but some 85 percent of
the people living in the license area don’t use the
internet regularly or have no online access to enable
them to submit written feedback, as the notice
requested.
Opponents of the project worry about the potential
for fracking. Extinction Rebellion, a decentralized
global movement pressing governments to address
climate change, Fridays For Future, and celebrity
anti-frackers such as U.S. film director Josh Fox—
who wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated
documentary Gasland, about the effects of fracking in
the U.S.—all are supporting an ongoing campaign on
Twitter and Facebook under the banner of the group
Frack Free Namibia and Botswana.
UNESCO too is “following with attention and concern”
ReconAfrica’s oil and gas exploration ambitions in
the region, it said in a strongly worded statement
on December 21. The organization had requested
more information and hosted an online meeting
with representatives from Namibia and Botswana;
one outcome was that the Botswana government
said it would change the licensed area to “exclude
the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site, which was
previously erroneously included.”
"We’ve “always taken a strong position that oil
and gas exploration or exploitation activities are
incompatible with World Heritage status,” Mechtild
Rössler, director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre,
said in the statement, which also emphasized that
local communities and Indigenous peoples need to
be part of management and decision making.
Meanwhile, public opposition keeps growing. An
online petition by the group Rainforest Rescue to
stop the test drilling now has more than 112,000
signatures.
January-February issue l 2021 19

CoVer sTorY
How Drones can optimize and
improve safety in the mining sector
With the rise of drone manufacturing,
mining companies are gradually
turning to drones to help them improve
operations and streamline site operations in a better
and safe way. Drones are being used in mining
to capture raw visual data. The data can then be
converted into several different outputs, such as
detailed photos, videos, 3D maps, and orthomosaics.
However, one of the biggest benefits drones provide
to mining industry is improved safety.
Improving safety in mining sector
Companies aren’t only looking for new ways to
improve the safety around their own employees,
but also leveraging the latest technologies to help
improve their equipment safety in high-risk areas.
Drones are one of the few tools that can perform
multiple jobs at the same time. For instance, drones
can be deployed to quickly assess a mine and identify
any existing or potential hazards in remote areas.
Drones can also eliminate the need for helicopters
to monitor the area before workers begin service.
Project managers are now able to evaluate the
project’s needs in advance before organizing the
necessary equipment.
According to Microdrones Sales Manager in Africa,
Hanno Truter, drones allow you to survey parts of the
mine or quarry that are normally difficult to access
with traditional surveying equipment. This eliminates
the hazards employees typically face while walking
through dangerous zones, navigating active sites or
climbing onto stockpiles. All this without disrupting
the flow of operations and movement of machinery.
Hanno Further says that, as human workers are
now being trained to operate drones from a safe
location, rather than enter mines themselves
to conduct resource estimates, which leads
to survey operations becoming significantly
safer.
“Using drones eliminates employees’
exposure to potential dangers, especially
when compared to the old conventional
survey methods,” he concludes.
Staffs are no longer at risk, as nearly
everything can be overseen by a drone and the
information can be reported back to management,
where they will be able to make further decisions
without staff having to get involved and perform
these tasks themselves.
“Drones are widely used to decrease the risk of
people getting harmed. Geodesists, mineral surveyors
and other specialist have no need to be physically
present at survey sites, which can be dangerous. Also,
the same amount of work can be done faster and
more effectively, saving manpower for other tasks.
20 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

drones in mining
Geoscan Gemini
Demolition works can be controlled remotely as well,”
comments Ilya Demko of Geoscan.
With reference to Amit Thokal of ideaforge , droneled
surveying, mapping, surveillance and inspections
can help improve the overall safety standards within
and around the mining site. Drone-led surveying is
about 80% faster and cheaper than manual surveying.
Also, the spatiotemporal accuracy of drone-led
surveys and maps is a good 80% better than manual
surveys.
This means that the surveyors can spot errors/
anomalies faster and better using drones. Anything
from hotspots across coal stockpiles or faults in
key machinery can be quickly spotted with the
drone’s high-resolution visual and thermal imaging.
These errors can be corrected before they turn into
bottlenecks or disasters.
“Drone-led surveying is helpful with blast planning.
This helps safeguard many human lives. Similarly,
the drones help with tailing dam planning, haul
road planning, safe volumetric estimations, and
asset inspections. The drones also ensure secure the
perimeter with automated and frequent surveillance,”
says Amit.
Additionally, Terence Thiel, Channel Sales Manager
EMEA at Wingtra points out areas in mining sector
where drones play a major safety role.
Haul Roads:
Haul roads must meet certain requirements, including
height, or mine owners face regulatory fines. As a
mine’s shape can typically change anytime from a
couple of weeks to three to six months, so crews must
constantly build new ways into the pit and move
stockpiles, meaning haul roads need to be adjusted
and optimized to make sure that they are not only
efficient but safer as well. A lot of the sites operating
in the region face heavy rains as well and therefore
need to have updated analysis and overview of the
roads as well, meaning the drones allow you to do
this on demand.
Drones help create a digital twin of the site for the
mining engineers to use for future development and
planning as well as ensuring that the current state of
the site meets regulatory standards.
Blasting:
Drone data also can create 2D and 3D models of the
mine before and after blasting. Currently, without a
drone, there’s no way for surveyors to go onto the
side of a pit’s walls for an accurate reading of their
height and angle. Any shift on a wall indicates it’s
more likely to fail than others, a huge safety risk.
Stockpiles/Berm Walls:
This is also a key aspect where drones help monitor
and create plans for the mine expansion on the
walls and stockpiles of the pits. For example,
with Stockpiles, you would currently need to stop
operations or fit them into an active site in order to
get accurate data. Berm walls are always changing
and due to the current technology, it’s very reliant
on the experience of the surveyor to recognize these
things without having the more extensive data to
back it up. The Berm Walls can now be monitored on
an on-demand basis as well and the teams can focus
on areas of concern. This empowers teams on the
ground to make up to date and informed decisions.
Lastly, as the push continues for mines to become
more environmentally friendly and as drones
consistently prove their value, adoption will increase.
That’s already happening in places like Africa where
regulations are laxer, with Thiel estimating that 95
percent of sites there already have a drone, whether
fixed-wing or quadcopter and probably half of them
have two.
Mining optimization using drones
Mining is one of the most essential industries across
Africa. Proper drone-led optimization could see a
bump of about 3-5% in productivity (or more). Drones
help optimize everything in mining, right from the
initial block surveying and planning. Authorities can
make accurate estimations of the expected output
through drone-enabled 3D Digital Elevation Models,
Contour Profiles, Soil-Analysis, etc. They can plan
for future construction of facilities, stockyards and
haul-roads. All this, when done with precision, can
save millions in the long run, this is according to Amit
Thokal.
“During the mining, efficient operations management
using drones can help quick volumetric estimations,
better loading-unloading tracking, and thorough
asset inspections (with better maintenance).
Furthermore, all survey, mapping and inspections can
be done remotely. The engineers and management
can view secure live feedback from the on-site
drones. This helps with quick and learned decision
making,” Says Amit.
“Overall, the main advice for mining optimization is
to look at all the operations as a whole. Something
as minute as a 1% increase in the rolling resistance
of the haul roads can reduce the speed of the trucks
by 18-26%. This impacts the haulage costs and
production turnover. Drones would help check and
contain all these contingencies. These small droneenabled
benefits would add-up eventually for higher
output and smoother operations,” he adds.
In Ilya’s opinion, the use of drones is
already what helps optimize and
improve mining. Training people is
what can really help. New technologies
appear rapidly and personnel needs to be
trained. The lack of educated people who
can operate drones as well as specialized
automatic services, hampers companies
implement drones in their work.
However, on the other hand, Terence Thiel believes
that, the main points to focus on are the; ease of
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 21

FeAtUre
Mining is one area where the use of drones is
increasingly being establishing as an integral part of
the overall operations. Today, Mining sites in Africa
are portraying substantial penetration of drones
in supporting their mining applications increase
operational efficiency and develop new services
and business models, from exploration, surveying
and mapping to maintaining safety and enhancing
security. Hence, making the mine sites more efficient,
profitable and safer for employees, contractors
and visitors. Undoubtedly, drones can significantly
improve the operational efficiency of mines through
improving commodity resourcing and replacing
outdated and time-consuming processes.
use, reliability and durability, accuracy, and how it
integrates into the current workflow. “If you keep
those points in mind when deciding to go with
Drones you will ensure that you are aware of your
capabilities, the insights that you will gain, and
empower the teams on the ground,” he insists.
“From exploration, surveying and mapping to
maintaining safety and enhancing security, mining
companies are coming up with many new ways of
using drones within the industry,” states Hanno. “The
unlimited aerial data that can be collected with drone
technology means engineers can record and track
more information in less time, allowing them to focus
on analysis and interpretation,” he adds.
In his perspective, Hanno talks of five key trends for
drones in mining -
1. Monitoring and inspection
Mining is among the most dangerous industries for
workers, especially those working deep underground.
Workers can be subjected to hazards such as rock
falls, humid conditions, gas leaks, dust explosions,
and floods.
Addressing this, mining companies have used
drones in such mines to monitor and inspect deep
shafts. Drones are also being employed to inspect
mining equipment, which is an expensive and
time-consuming process requiring a highly-skilled
workforce.
2. Automatic surveying and
mapping
Surveying and mapping of mineral landscapes is
typically a time-consuming process. By employing
drones and a drone pilot, instead of a piloted plane,
a mine can save around 90% of the cost-per-hour
and collect unlimited aerial data. This includes fine
measurements by simultaneously capturing high-end
ortho-images.
3. Stockpile management
One of the biggest challenges any mining company
faces while managing stockpiles is the extreme
height and area covered, which tends to change
frequently. Drones can enable mining companies
to generate aerial terrain models of their inventory
and ensure companies can effectively keep track of
stockpile movement.
4. Haulage road optimization
The haul road network has a significant impact on
the efficiency of mining activities. To achieve safe and
uniform transit, road conditions must be constantly
monitored. Drones can facilitate this process by
collecting a large amount of aerial data, covering
wider areas more precisely, which can then be used
by engineers for planning, designing, construction
and maintenance activities.
5. Tailings dam management
The use of drones to measure tailings dams could
eliminate the risk of manual surveying. There is no
need for manual interference within the proximity of
the dump when drones are available. By analysing
the captured data on a digital platform, mining
companies can maintain the structural integrity of the
tailings dam to help prevent failure.
Geoscan Gemini
22 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

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www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 23

FEATURE
Marine survey software
Over 70% of the planet earth is covered with
water and on the water bodies are ships that
travel over the surface of the oceans and
seas. It is however, important to obtain data of the
travelling vessels as well as the data of the seabed
and bathymetry. Vessel surveys can be achieved
through a detailed inspection of a boat in order to
determine its condition and seaworthiness. On the
other hand, seabed and bathymetry can be obtained
through the study of the contortions and elevations
of the ocean floor, i.e the water depth, topographic
features, tide measurement etc.
Vessel Surveys
Marine survey software has increased in popularity
because it allows marine surveyors to access and
complete marine survey report accurately with
minimum time waste. The software is also helpful in
preparing charts. In order to fully take advantage of
this capability, one must be familiar with the various
types of software. The software can be purchased on
the internet or downloaded at a fee. This will depend
on the specific software that is purchased.
Marine Surveyor Softwares provides numerous
benefits and practicality. The softwares are essential
for reporting vessels conditions and features
description. Through the data reporting it can assure
that safety standards are met and cost effectiveness
is achieved. Marine survey reporting also include
surveillance of structure, equipment, machinery,
as well as the condition of a vessel. This provides
detailed audit trails and a log of safety measures to
abide by set safety regulations. Maritime Software
Suite includes three separate applications, for
draught surveys, lashing calculations and marine
navigation. All three applications can be installed
at the same time, with the same setup file and it
should not take more than a minute to complete the
procedure.
“Marine surveyor software industry has been mostly
stagnant. InspectX report writing software is new and
brings a modern twist to rejuvenate this industry. The
benefits of using this system have been spreading
amongst the surveying community and this software
is clearly positioned to improve the future of marine
survey report writing,” says Craig D. Norton, President
of InspectX, Inc.
Marine Software programs are designed to make
drawing a chart on the water easier for marine
surveyors. The software has a wide variety of
features that can be adjusted depending on report
requirements. The user can make changes on the
legend, colors and dimensions on the chart. Some
charts have the ability to download data directly to
the computers. This makes it very easy to keep track
of different points on the chart at once. Most chart
makers allow for multiple versions of the charts.
Each version has a different dock location, depth of
the water, direction of the wind and other relevant
data. The software has the ability to add notes that
are made by the user on the charts. Chart design
programs are used for more specialized types of
charts. Many marine software companies produce
charts for certain types of vessels. One type of
chart is the Marine GPS Chart. These charts are very
detailed, usually with dozens of data fields. Another
type of chart that can be made using some marine
survey software programs is the electronic Nautical
Chart. This is similar to a world map with detailed
street, water and altitude labels and it usually has
more than twenty data fields.
Most marine survey software programs come with
a chart maker program. The chart maker allows
surveyors to choose and insert their own data
fields. They can also select from a number of preprogrammed
measurements that the chart can use.
Once the data fields have been selected, the software
will automatically load them into the chart. Some
chart maker applications require the user to enter
a specific format for the measurements to appear
in the chart. A chart maker also has the ability to
enter formulas onto the chart. These formulas allow
the chart to automatically calculate values. These
formulas can make the values of the variables more
accurate. In addition, the chart maker can hide or
highlight items when the user wants to see them.
Nonetheless, one can utilize the trial periods or trial
versions of any software that one may be interested
in. All software has a learning curve, and each
surveyor should spend some time becoming familiar
with a product of interest. “It takes some time to save
time, and the benefits are paid back exponentially
when working as efficiently as possible,” adds Craig.
Water-column, Sub-surface
and bathymetry surveys
Measurements of biology, water depth, habitat,
and bathymetry require sufficient information
and results to meet the needs of engineering site
selection, design, and construction. The study using
a software enables a surveyor to reflect the seabed
terrain, geomorphic features, such as submarine
ups and downs, ditches, troughs, scarps, sand waves,
26 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

mArine sUrVeY
sand ridges, etc. Surveys for fish Stock Assessment,
behaviour and ecology are also crucial understanding
to our oceans, and helping with the development of
sustainable practises.
According to Tim Chalke, Sales Manager at
Echoview, investment in the scientific research and
management of rivers and oceans around the world
is encouraging. Software and software development
needs to be agile to keep abreast of technology. “We
are excited to see great forward-looking research in
ecosystem, mesopelagics, robotics, novel/unmanned
platforms and more. The science community is
encouraged to share knowledge with others of their
methods, techniques and workflows using a variety of
software packages.” He adds.
“It is a very exciting time to be involved in so many
novel platforms and investment in research vessels
to collect data,” Tim continues. “Software is needed
more and more as the amount of data being collected
increases due to an ever-increasing investment in
a variety of data collecting platforms. Data is also
being used in a variety of ways and merged with
datasets from other sources. Machine learning, AI and
automation are all factors in the future which will
provide further solutions,” he observes.
Think about your needs now and into the future.
Although the details and specifics are important,
have a broader discussion as well. Suppliers get to
see a variety of projects around the world and they
can help you solve problems in multiple ways. Work
with the suppliers to ensure you get the right product
for your projects and budget and plan on how to
ensure long term access to support with the software.
If your budget cycles are not annual, think about
whether a perpetual license is preferable rather than
subscription. Read the license agreements and make
sure the terms fit with your project requirements. As
well as getting information and working with the
suppliers, research what others are using in the field.
Citations, annual publications, councils/committee
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
guidelines and reports are all great sources of
information. This is according to Tim.
“Training is crucial to maximize your investment in
hardware, the data collection, and the software,” he
emphasizes.
“Look for reputable software providers who
demonstrate a commitment to quality, reliability and
transparency, and who provide helpful and up-to-date
documentation, technical support, and educational
material (such as training services). Check how often
the software is updated, and how much is provided
in each update. Ensure that avenues are available
for you to suggest additions or value your own
time. Specialist scientist’s time is often better spent
analysing data than
writing software,
and commercial
software is an
investment into
getting right to
the science. Work
with software
providers so that
they can provide
what you need. Be
upfront and ask,”
he advices.
January-February issue l 2021 27

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MINerALS
Weir Minerals Africa provides tailings
management flexibility with mobile
pumphouses
Weir Minerals Africa says its mobile
pumphouse is ideally equipped for the
needs of mine tailings operations. As the
company explains, pumping slurry to tailings facilities
requires a solution that can move as the dam
expands to allocate room for additional tailings.
Weir Minerals Africa Pumps Product Manager, Marnus
Koorts, says a mobile pumphouse completely avoids
the cost of any civil engineering for permanent
on-site pump buildings. “Instead, it is designed
to be moved as required across the site, using its
own specifically engineered, skid and jack-and-roll
elements,” he said.
Koorts says the offering is part of Weir Minerals
Africa’s engineered-to-order solutions, which also
reduces the long-term total cost of ownership. The
three-point Warman® Multiflo® pump mounting
system allows the base and skid to act independently.
This minimises the risk of misalignment between
the pump and motor shaft during operation and
relocation. The unit incorporates an integral gland
water supply system and a separate electronic house
for power control and remote communication.
Koorts highlights that as a mine’s process plant
matures, the tailings line grows with new tailings
dams being created, often using Linatex hoses and
Isogate valves. It is a significant advantage to be
able to move the pumphouse, and to add pumps to
the tailings line if the increased distance requires
more pressure. It is also an important contributor to
reducing initial capital costs.
The design of the mobile pumphouse, he emphasises,
sets a new standard for tailings management
applications, providing the customer with the tools
and equipment to rapidly reconfigure their pumping
network, with the ability to move it to other sections
of the tailings pond.
Weir Minerals solutions include Multiflo pump
barges and floating pontoons mounted with Warman
SHW submersible slurry pumps for extracting the
fluid tailings. Its Warman slurry pumps are ideal for
boosting recovered tails from the pond, to drive the
new tailings treatment process plant, the company
says.
Koorts emphasises that, with increased scrutiny and
pressure to improve the management of tailings,
it is more important than ever to look at different
methods that are innovative and fit-for-purpose.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 29

AGrIcULtUrAL
XAG optimistic Drones could outsmart
Locust Swarms at Night
The UN warned that East Africa remains
under the threat of desert locust invasions,
due to the prevailing favourable breeding
conditions which enable new swarms to form and
increase. As African countries are getting prepared
for the imminent locust crisis, the smart agtech
company XAG has proposed that agricultural drones,
through more targeted night spraying application,
can strongly support the current ground and aerial
control measures. smart agriculture solutions
specifically developed by XAG for agriculture can
be used to combat the ravenous pests that have
wreaked havoc on food crops and placed millions of
people into hunger.
Drones to Ease the Burden
The unusually rapid spreading of locusts in Africa
is largely the result of erratic weather associated
with climate change. Prolonged rains lead to moist,
humid desert lands and flourishing vegetation, which
creates a conducive environment for locust swarms
to breed freely.
According to the FAO Desert Locust situation updated
on 22 January, the Greater Horn of Africa, including
Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, is the most-affected
region witnessing the arrival of more immature
swarms. The estimated above-the-average rainfalls
brought by Cyclone Gati cause the swarms to
complete maturation and lay eggs. This will give rise
to multiple generations to be born during February
and March, again putting food security and the
livelihoods of rural households in danger since the
last upsurge turned calm in July 2020.
Finding versatile, easy-to-use new tools to tackle
these notorious locusts becomes more urgent
when local farmers and response teams have been
struggling to contain them. In times of this crisis,
drones provide an innovative complementary solution
to the more expensive manned aircraft or the less
effective manual spraying method. They can be used
to conduct ultra-low-volume (ULV) precision spraying
of chemical or biological pesticides to kill the
locusts, especially in the impacted areas otherwise
inaccessible for ground vehicles and aeroplanes.
When the locust swarms are unscrupulously flying
and densely-packed during day, it is suggested unsafe
and ineffective for drones to carry out spraying
operations. However, XAG’s agricultural drones with
night-operation mode are able to join the locust “air
force” under certain circumstances. They can either
target the wingless nymphs and hopper bands at
the early stage, or launch an attack when the flying
adults settle down after sunset.
The use of unmanned devices is also expected
to help lessen the strain on supplies and human
resources that are needed to suppress the locust
outbreaks in the poverty-stricken regions of Africa.
Fitted with four rotary atomisers, XAG’s agricultural
drones can operate fully autonomous on a
predetermined path and deliver uniform sprays three
metres above the targeted locust swarms. This means
that less sophisticated skills of the field operators are
required, while reducing the quantities of pesticides
used to minimum level. Such unmanned technology
therefore shows strengths to fight a locust invasion
amid travelling restrictions and social distancing
imposed due to COVID-19.
The Night Guard to Protect
Livelihoods
In a recent demonstration of drone spraying, Sunagri
Investment Zambia Limited, as XAG’s global partner
in Africa, has put forward the new ideas of nighttime
locust control to the Ministry of Agriculture and
Zambia Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit
(DMMU). It is now on track to get its XAG gear ready
for possible locust outbreak during the upcoming dry
season. Sunagri offers precision crop-spraying service
with XAG’s agricultural drones in Zambia, Uganda
and Tanzania, helping farmers sustainably treat pest
diseases and reap the benefits of improved yields. In
2019, XAG has worked with Sunagri to provide drone
interventions that yielded success to manage the
crop-devouring fall armyworm.
Fraser Zhang, the owner of Sunagri Zambia, explained
the solution on how to apply drones more effectively
to support the locust control operations. The first step
is to survey and map the fields before sunset in which
locust swarms are identified. Then drones can be
deployed at night to concentrate their spraying forces
against swarms which become inactive and rest on
trees or on the ground after sunset.
“During daytime, the locust swarms spread out over
an extremely large area and stay mobile in the air for
long periods. Their dynamic movement makes them
much more difficult to be contained. But at night,
what we would aim for are static objects which can
be accurately sprayed,” said Zhang.
The Desert locusts are one of the species of shorthorned
grasshoppers, which have been considered
the world’s most destructive migratory pest. They
usually form into a swarm whose density can reach
up to a whopping 80 million per square kilometre,
eating massive amounts of crops and vegetations and
leaving people inflicted with food losses. The locusts
can reproduce exponentially, and if left unchecked,
a group of its population would multiply 20-fold in
only three months and grow 400 times in half a year.
According to the United Nation, since January 2020,
the hungry desert locusts have swept across dozens
of countries in Africa and Southwest Asia, some of
which reported the worst locust upsurge in decades.
The Greater Horn of Africa and Yemen are the
epicentre of crisis, with over 48 million people facing
acute food insecurity.
Zambia also experienced a similar infestation on
300,000 hectares of land in 2020, but by a different
species called African Migratory Locusts (AML).
“The Western Province of Zambia is worst-hit by the
locusts. It is anticipated that the mature swarms have
already laid eggs at this point, which will hatch and
lead to a new wave of invasions in coming months,”
said Fraser Zhang.
With more extreme weather events making frequent
occurrences, the locust crisis is not likely to fade away
very soon. We should be racing to test new tools and
technologies such as agricultural drones which would
help better respond to any outbreaks now and in the
future.
30 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

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project revIew
The Likoni Pedestrian Floating Bridge
Kenya's first floating bridge
Images couresy State House Kenya
on 10th December, 2020, President Uhuru
Kenyatta launched the Shs 1.9 billion
Liwatoni Pedestrian Floating Bridge in
Mombasa County. The 1.2 kilometer stretches from
Liwatoni in Mombasa Island to Ras Bofu (Peleleza)
in Likoni. The Liwatoni Pedestrian Floating Bridge is
the first of its kind in the region and is designed to
ease pressure on the Likoni ferry crossing by taking
up most of the foot traffic, leaving the ferries to serve
vehicular and cargo crossing between Mombasa
Island and the South Coast.
The Liwatoni floating bridge is about 840 metres
long and about six metres wide with a barrier at
the centre to separate those moving in opposite
directions. The bridge also has a 150-metre movable
section mid-ocean, to allow for opening and closing
and ease the movement of ships in and out of the
port.
“The largest ship has a width of 50 metres “and so we
have left enough space of 150 metres to allow all the
large ships to pass,” said Transport CS James Macharia.
The bridge will be operated by Kenya Ports Authority,
whose tag boats will be deployed to open and close
the movable part one hour before a ship passes. This
will also provide sufficient time for withdrawing
undersea gravity anchors. Pedestrians will have to
wait for about an hour before crossing should there
be a ship about to pass.
President Uhur Kenyatta unveiling the plaque at
the Likoni Floating Bridge at Liwatoni.
“This means by the time the ship passes, there will
be about 45-60 minutes that will have passed before
the bridge closes again for pedestrian to cross,” one
of the operators said.
“The bridge is now complete, but we have agreed
with the engineers that they use up to the end of
this month to ensure that all the safety measures are
Aerial Shot of the Likoni
Floating Bridge at Liwatoni.
32 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

LIKoNI FLoAtING BrIDGe LIKoNI-KeNYA
President Uhur Kenyatta among Coast leaders
inspecting the Likoni Floating Bridge at Liwatoni.
addressed and therefore from January 1 citizens will
start crossing, the delay would allow engineers to
finalise the project,” said President Kenyatta who was
accompanied by Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and
other county leaders.
The Likoni channel ferries an estimated 300,000
passengers and over 6,000 cars daily. However, it is
always not smooth with the Kenya Ferry Services
vessels which break down frequently. The bridge will
provide a relief for the more than 300, 000 people
who have been using the channel daily and forced to
face the coronavirus threat.
Kenyans will now cross the bridge without any
limitation on time or being forced to queue for hours
before crossing.
“We saw the difficulties that our people have been
forced to endure and more specifically during this
pandemic. The people were going through a rough
time because of queuing before using those ferries.
That’s why I decided we should be fair to these
people by giving them this bridge,” said President
Kenyatta.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
“In just 10 minutes you will have crossed from either
side of this channel. There will be no more stress.
You will be able to move from this side to Likoni
without anyone asking you to queue anywhere,” Adds
President Kenyatta.
“The bridge is strictly for pedestrians and only
wheelchairs and ambulances, in emergency cases,
will be allowed to pass,’ stressed Coast regional
coordinator John Elungata.
The construction works
The construction works involved the establishment
of pile foundations and a bailey type bridge — a
type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. A pile
foundation is formed by long, slender, columnar
elements typically made from steel or reinforced
concrete. A foundation is described as ‘piled’ when
its depth is more than three times its breadth. The
approaches on either side of the channel are fixed
steel structures anchored on pile foundations. Pins
and hinges link the floating suspension bridge, and
guard rails are mounted on either side of the deck
to ensure the safety of the pedestrians. It also has
a discrete-continuous structural system with boats
backed by 35 No. double body, and 2 No. end boats
with twin springboards mounted to form the floating
deck bridge. The upper section comprises of lattice
steel designed from prefabricated parts with a
movable main steel structure.
The $17 million bridge built by the China Road and
Bridge Corporation (CRBC) can last for over 50 years.
However, it is currently used temporarily as a way
to address social distancing at the channel due to
passengers’ overcrowding and will be dismantled
in five years’ time once the Mombasa Gate Bridge
is complete which is currently at design stage and
estimated to cost $1.8 billion. The Mombasa Gate
Bridge is a permanent solution to the Likoni crossing
channel woes and construction will start early in
2021 and will take about four years to complete.
January-February issue l 2021 33

I K H A Y A
Capitec Bank
New headquarters,
Stellenbosch,
South Africa.

project review
New headquarters for
Capitec Bank, South Africa
Photographs by Adam Letch
“
Capitec is a renowned South African
brand that highlights values of simplicity,
innovativeness and collaboration.
” dhk Architects
IKhaya means ‘home’ in Xhosa and Capitec
Bank have built its new ‘home’ headquarters in
Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. The bank
is known as one of the largest and most progressive
banks in Africa. Designed by multidisciplinary studio,
dhk Architects, the three-storey curvilinear building
is defined by its dynamic interior architecture, which
embodies the company’s progressive outlook and
embraces the concept of agile working. Striking
and otherworldly, dhk’s holistic architectural
approach considers both the exterior and interior to
optimise corporate expenditure, internal flow and
sustainability - demonstrating that commercial offices
can be innovative and cost-effective while driving
operational efficiencies.
Capitec’s success and growth over time meant that
the company came to occupy numerous offices. These
offices were geographically dispersed, resulting
in departments becoming increasingly isolated
from one another with the need to move between
buildings to meet face-to-face. Consequently, Capitec
opted to consolidate its staff and facilities into one
operationally efficient headquarters. Located in the
scenic Cape Winelands in South Africa, a key driver
of the design concept involved capturing panoramic
vistas and drawing the landscape within.
shape and forms a central triple-volume atrium - an
internal ‘social spine’ at the heart of the building.
Contributing to the contemporary appearance, white
aluminium panels clad the building’s sinuous form
which is further accentuated with continuous ribbons
of fenestration.
Interior design
Internally, the interior design resonates with the
company’s progressive outlook - ensuring guests
and staff unequivocally feels the spirit of the brand
throughout the building. Once at reception, visitors
are greeted by a generous triple-volume space
that immediately showcases the sophistication and
simplicity of the interior architecture. Wide openplan
floorplates loop around the periphery of the
atrium which are connected by a series of dramatic
bridges and staircases. This was an intentional
design element which inter-connects the various
departments, creating opportunities for chance
collaborative encounters and personal interactions.
The design concept for the building’s interior was
based on the value of simplicity and brand colours
which were only used in the reception and external
meeting rooms, to reflect their values. Each core
The building form optimises the shape and size of
the site while referencing the brand’s distinctive
curved logo. The three-storey superstructure wraps
around itself, which creates a unique ‘doughnut’
The building form optimises the shape and size of the site while referencing the brand’s distinctive curved logo
www.africasurveyorsonline.com January-February issue | 2021 36

project revIew
or ‘hub’ within the building was given an identity
by assigning a colour to both the core and the
surrounding furniture, in order for staff to orientate
themselves while moving throughout the building.
Signage plays an integral part in the interior design
with brand signs appearing in the morning and
disappearing in the evening when the signage
lighting is switched on/off, leaving a smooth polished
white finish. Artworks in the form of large format
acoustic panels were used in the meeting rooms and
furniture was upholstered in vibrant colours to offset
the white modern interior.
Lighting design
Reinforcing Capitec’s brand identity, the company
logo is embossed into the ceiling above reception.
Overhead, clerestory windows and large roof lights
ensure plentiful natural light and further facilitate
the connection to the outside world. Meanwhile,
touches of timber have been added throughout the
office to introduce a feeling of warmth. Natural light
is optimised via clerestory glazing, roof lights and
internal courtyard windows, while artificial lighting is
zoned and activated by sensors.
A 1,4 km versatile linear system from Province
Lighting was used to provide the perfect combination
of light and architectural enhancement to the
building. The company developed a custom lighting
solution to flow with dhk Architect’s curved building
design and sufficiently illuminate the space. Sirius
down lights were also added to general circulation
areas of the building.
“The first requirement in terms of lighting was to
meet the SANS requirements, and secondly to be
efficient. The curvilinear geometry of the interiors did
present a challenge, however. We wanted to ‘scribe’
the shape of the atrium form in accent lighting and
traditional details and LEDs proved unsatisfactory,”
explains Peter Stokes, partner at dhk and lead
architect on the iKhaya project. “A new lighting
product became available during the course of the
building’s design that allowed us to simplify the
bulkhead/cove detail and simplify construction,” he
adds.
Stokes notes that the lighting is purposefully
restrained. External lighting to highlight the building
was discouraged by the client, and due to the
sensitivity and prominence of the site, minimising
light pollution for neighboring developments was
a key consideration. “Therefore, minimal artificial
lighting to accent the building was allowed and
natural light was optimised to illuminate the atrium
space.” Elsewhere, lighting solutions were specific to
particular activity areas, including open plan resident
desk areas, meeting rooms, collaboration spaces,
pause areas, kitchenettes, and back-of-house
areas.
Steel solution – Complexity in
design
In January 2019 Macsteel partnered with
AECOM & LRJ steel for the design and
development of Capitec Bank’s new head
office and adjoining parking structure.
Succeeding the consultation with the
architect, the understanding was to design
and build a contemporary, open office
that allowed a fluid and collaborative
work environment. From the start of the
project, the team used Building Information
Models (BIM), which represented the actual
construction, allowing all partners involved
to fully understand the configuration of the
planned structure, ensuring a collaborative
vision of how the various components
interacted.
The design solution was predominantly
a concrete framed structure, however,
structural and composite steel and concrete
construction were used in a complimentary
way. Additionally, bridge links and the floor
over the mail entrance required light, long
span structures with limited headroom
implications. The parking structure required
the use of a solution that would be
removable in the long term conversion of the
building for a different use.
Optimising internal flow
The new headquarters by dhk fosters a
company culture of creativity, innovation and
collaboration with a large emphasis placed
on optimising internal flow and departmental
interaction. The first and second floors,
containing the office’s open-plan work areas,
are largely void of hierarchal structure
and closed-off cubicles. Embracing the
concept of agile working, a raised access
floor throughout the building facilitates
maintenance and future upgrades to services.
On each level, a total of four ‘cores’, containing
centralized amenities such as kitchenettes,
meeting rooms, breakout areas, lockers,
bathrooms and fire escapes, serve to augment
the floorplates into departmental zones.
Throughout the building’s ‘social spine’ there
are a variety of breakaway areas; from a large
ground-floor lounge at reception for guests
to await meetings and co-workers to engage,
36 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

to pause areas on bridges, and an internal landscaped
courtyard for staff to rest. These spaces fuel creativity
and innovation by allowing employees to slip away
from their resident desks to enjoy a moment of
solitude, conduct a private meeting or brainstorm
ideas in small groups.
Not only do these breakout areas increase job
satisfaction, but they boost staff productivity and
efficiency. Furthermore, there is a full-service kitchen
and canteen area with ample seating, a small satellite
café, and a grand multifunctional stadium staircase/
seating area for company presentations and talks.
Other useful facilities include a recording studio,
Capitec Bank branch and an ATM lab facility.
Comfort solution
Capitec has championed environmental sustainability
and employee well-being throughout the building
particularly where it made sense and value could
be demonstrated. Even the air conditioning system
is based on these values. To enhance the energy
efficiency of the building while maintaining internal
comfort all year round.
Since a large part of the building features large openplan
spaces for the training rooms and offices, these
areas were fed with air-handling units located at the
roof plant. A requirement was that the meeting rooms
should be noise sensitive.
In general, the building has been zoned by similar
usage spaces, Internal seating zones as well as
external perimeter zones. The benefit of the zoning
feature is that the building can be either heated or
cooled simultaneously.
Bonding Solution
Glazing of the glass on the Capitec building was one
of the final finishes required, and that task went to
Sika. The glass is a beautiful feature that enhances
the entire look of the building so a range of Sika
products were used to ensure stability and security
of the glass. Sikasil® IG-25 Structural Secondary
Seal was used in manufacturing the double-glazed
insulated glass. Sikasil® SG -500, a 2-part structural
silicone, bonded the insulated glass units to the
façade frame. Sikahyflex- 305 AP Weather Sealant and
the surface preparation primer, Activator- 205 Cleaner
for Aluminium, were both used to weather seal the
bonded insulated glass units on the facade. A total of
3,850m2 of glass was used on this building project
and the value of the products used on the glazing of
the glass is estimated at R1.58 million.
Major challenges of this project were to meet
daily insulation and manufacturing targets, whilst
managing the transportation and handling of panels.
Despite the difficulties, one of Sika’s reliable technical
consultants, Chris Sharpe, ensured that damaged
panels were replaced and new installations effected
smoothly. No doubt the technical training and
support afforded the contractors by Sika, contributed
greatly to the success of the project.
“The Capitec Headquarters is one of the most
architecturally beautiful corporate buildings in the
country. The ability to accommodate all the business
branches in one building enables an effective and
efficient working unit. Looking at the result, most
would agree it was definitely a necessary and
worthwhile project. Bank on it!,” says Sika.
Sustainable measures
Environmental performance modelling directly
influenced the articulation of the façade. The design
applied a climate- and site-responsive approach to
the fenestration layout. Excess heat from the sun was
reduced by varying the simple ribbon of fenestration
in response to the ever-changing orientation of
different parts of the building. The process informed
areas of fenestration, glazing specification, glare
control measures and solar shading. Performance
modeling also informed the primary ordering of the
internal layouts. For example, a circulation zone was
provided along the external perimeter of the building
to distance resident desks from sources of radiant
heat.
The thermal mass of the concrete building
superstructure is exposed in various areas and the
cApItec BANK, SoUtH AFrIcA
basement is naturally ventilated. Other sustainability
measures include ice storage to offset peak electrical
demands, a greywater system, water-saving fittings,
building management system for extensive metering
and monitoring, double glazing throughout, use of
good quality and low maintenance materials, locally
sourced materials, water-efficient heat rejection, zero
ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) refrigerants, use
of low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) finishes,
borehole and rainwater harvesting for irrigation,
water-wise planting and refuse management to
encourage separation of waste and recyclables.
To promote employee well-being, the building is
purposefully limited to only two passenger lifts
for its workforce of approximately 2,000. This is
supplemented by a variety of generous feature stairs
to encourage walking and limit the use of confined
lift spaces. As such, the fire escape stairs were
designed for dual functionality; where the quality of
finishes were upgraded, they serve as ‘communication’
stairs.
Further promoting employee well-being and to
ensure that the needs of universal access were
met, Capitec engaged with a disability consultant
and an acoustic specialist early on in the design
process. The recommendations of both specialists
were incorporated into the building. For example,
sound-absorbing materials and acoustic separation
between meeting rooms were included throughout
the building to achieve a specified performance in
terms of decibel reduction.
Additionally, and beyond the requirements of the
regulations, consideration of car parking locations,
emergency evacuation, ablutions and vertical
circulation, are all examples of how the spirit of
universal and inclusive access have been addressed.
Capitec rehabilitated a neighbouring area of public
open space to be used by staff and the broader
community as a recreational area for activities such
as walking and running. Fittingly, the building also
provides cyclist facilities and purpose-designed
showers.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
January-February issue l 2021 37

cApItec BANK, SoUtH AFrIcA
Looking to the future, the development incorporates
a car parking structure on an adjacent site that
follows iKhaya’s core principles, designed for future
adaptation into an office should there be a modal
shift towards public transportation and less reliance
on private cars.
Peter Stokes, a partner at dhk and lead architect on
the iKhaya project says, “Capitec is a renowned South
African brand that highlights values of simplicity,
innovativeness and collaboration. dhk sought to
create an extraordinary, world-class office that is
progressive and relevant in the South African context
- designed to be agile, drive productivity, increase
operational efficiencies and ultimately reduce
company operational expenditure”
38 January-February issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

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