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OPINION: Built Environment Professionals' participation in upcoming national elections is vital

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Mlondi Cele, a Built Environment Professional, emphasizes the significance of the upcoming national elections for the construction and built sectors. He encourages stakeholders to actively participate and articulate their expectations to influence economic policies and attract investments. Cele believes that the involvement of industry professionals and stakeholders in the elections can positively impact the industry's future and create favorable outcomes for all. The South African elections are of paramount importance to the construction and built sectors, as they have the potential to significantly influence their future trajectories. Economic, policy, and regulatory changes stemming from the elections can either catalyze growth or present novel challenges. Consequently, it is a pivotal juncture for stakeholders in these industries to actively participate in the electoral process and advocate for their interests. The construction and built environment industry plays a central rol
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NEWS: Scientists can now build structures with swarms of flying drones

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Researchers say technology could be used to erect or repair buildings in difficult spots like disaster zones or in the upper reaches of skyscrapers.



They say the technology could be used to erect or repair buildings in difficult spots like disaster zones or in the upper reaches of skyscrapers. The drones cooperate to deposit layers of material guided by a digital design, adapting their movements as they go. They are fully autonomous while flying but are monitored by a human controller.

“We’ve proved that drones can work autonomously and in tandem to construct and repair buildings, at least in the lab,” said research leader Prof. Mirko Kovac. “Our solution is scalable and could help us to construct and repair buildings in difficult-to-reach areas in the future.” The fleet consists of “BuilDrones”, which deposit materials during flight, and quality-controlling “ScanDrones” that measure their output and help control them.

Throughout the build, the drones assess the printed geometry and adapt their behaviour to meet the specifications to within five millimetres. 


A BuilDrone and a ScanDrone built this 2m-high tower of fast-curing foam (University College London/BRE)


Researchers had the fleet build a 2m-high cylinder made up of 72 layers of a polyurethane-based foam, and an 18cm cylinder composed 28 layers of a bespoke cementitious material.

Co-investigators include Robert Stuart-Smith, Stefan Leutenegger, Vijay Pawar, Richard Ball, Chris Williams and Paul Shepherd, and their research teams at University College London, the University of Bath, the University of Pennsylvania, Queen Mary University of London, and the Technical University of Münich).

The project is supported by Swedish contractor Skanska and UK consulting engineer Buro Happold, as well as UK research organisation BRE.

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