Blog - Page 164 of 196 - SANRAL Stop Over

Litter trashing our freeways

14Jun2017

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Litter-1 — Fast food wrappers, boxes and soft drink bottles are typical litter that is collected on a regular basis on national roads.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is calling on all South Africans to be considerate to the environment and stop littering.

Cleaning up the mess is expensive and time-consuming, and has become an unfortunate part of what SANRAL has to do right across the country.

Mpati Makoa, SANRAL’s environmental manager, said: “It is just astonishing what and how much people just throw out of their vehicle windows, with little regard on the impact it has.”

Who litters most

SANRAL reported that a total of 80 601 litter bags were collected during the 2016/17 financial year in the Eastern Cape alone. These were along the N2, R62, Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza, R58, N19, N20, R390, R391 and the R396.

Around 10 cubic metres of litter is collected per day per team on days that debris and litter is collected. In some areas, collection is done once a month, while in some, it is twice a month. All litter is disposed of at registered local municipal landfill sites at each town along the routes.

There are some strange items that have been picked up by SANRAL’s routine road maintenance staff. These include plastic bags full of used nappies, bottles with urine and animal carcasses among others.

Fast food wrappers, boxes and soft drink bottles are typical litter that is collected on a regular basis on national roads. Loads of household litter in refuse bags is also picked up on the side of the road totalling about 6 to 10 cubic meters in this area of the Eastern Cape.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the experience is not much different. The 138km stretch of road from Umdloti to Empangeni is split into four sections. An emerging sub-contractor is appointed for each section to conduct routine road maintenance and this includes litter-picking.

On this stretch, litter picking is done once a month at the beginning of each month. On average on each of the four sections, 350 bags of litter are picked up at the beginning of each month. On the whole stretch of road, a total of 1 400 bags are picked up monthly.

Looking at major routes in the both the Western and Northern Cape, approximately 22 000 bags of litter are collected on average, on a monthly basis. Where possible, a sizable portion is diverted away from landfill and used for recycling initiatives, particularly glass and plastic.

Makoa said: “Picking up litter is part of routine road maintenance duties. It takes 10 days to complete the litter pick-up exercise. All the bags of litter are loaded onto vehicles and offloaded at registered landfill sites along the routes. The strangest items the teams have picked up vary from a wedding ring to strange toys that are best not mentioned.”

Below are the statistics of waste removed on average in the last year for routes in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the North West, per cubic meters:

Period	Gauteng	Highveld	S/Kloof Eland	Mbombela	Kanyamazane / Montrose	Moamba	Maputo	Machado – Wonderfontein
Jan 17	68	174	232.5	215	198	148	320.8	85
Feb 17	67	148	286.4	197	210	144.9	310.2	109
Mar 17	78	206.25	291.4	293	200	149.6	306	124
Total	213	528	810.3	705	608	442.5	937	318

Makoa concluded: “If you throw away a piece of litter each day, it can become a veritable mountain of rubbish by the end of the year. Millions of rands are spent just to clean up litter that many people have thoughtlessly tossed out on the streets and other public spaces.

“It also poses a threat to public and ecosystem health as it ends up in water systems and impacting aquatic habitats, clogging our culverts and bridges. This, in turn, increases the frequency and cost of infrastructure maintenance.”

SANRAL plays vital role in developing emerging contractors

13Jun2017

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Concrete-1 — The SMMEs were also taken on short tours of asphalt, bitumen binders and concrete manufacturing plants.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has taken a group of SMMEs to learn about the administrative and business functions of the engineering and road construction industry.

The 11 SMMEs enrolled in SANRAL’s community and training development programme for the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road (N2WCTR) visited Mamlambo Construction in East London.

Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region Manager, said: “SANRAL continuously provides training and support to SMMEs. We remain committed to promoting economic growth, stimulating the expansion of small and medium-sized businesses, reducing unemployment, and building a skilled workforce.”

The SANRAL programmes are part of the community access road upgrading project for the N2 Wild Coast Highway in Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo District Municipalities.

The SANRAL integrated community development programme has 30 business owners of construction SMMEs and new start-ups (CIDB levels 1 – 3) presently enrolled on SAQA and SETA-accredited training programmes (NQF levels 3 -5) at three SANRAL learning centres in Mbizana, Lusikisiki and Port St. Johns.

The programme will also train an additional 330 individuals with civil engineering skills to help create a local skilled and semi-skilled labour force for the N2WCTR.

What the training entails

As part of their practical training, the business owners will be responsible for the upgrade and construction of community access roads. Upon completion of their theoretical training this year, each SMME will have an opportunity to tender for construction work on the community access roads. These road upgrades are strategic projects linked to the N2WCTR with the aim to improve road safety.

Mamlambo Construction is a SANRAL service provider and currently working on the Lusikisiki Community Development project for SANRAL. The project started in July 2016 and is expected to complete in July 2018.

The training at Mamlambo offices included:

How to form a bank account for a joint venture
CIDB requirements
The importance of registering for VAT
Paying tax, UIF and workman’s compensation
The importance of using a bookkeeper or accountant
Getting the right insurance, and
Paying wages

The SMMEs were also taken on short tours of asphalt, bitumen binders and concrete manufacturing plants.

Craig Shearar, Mamlambo’s CEO, said: “The goal of the day was to upskill, train and mentor emerging contractors. This project is very close to our hearts. We believe we need to be relevant in our community and participate where we can.”

In Lusikisiki, Mamlambo is providing the 11 SMME owners with NQF Level 4 training and their 11 supervisors with NQF Level 2 training on road construction.

Shearar said: “We want the SMMEs to understand there is more to running a business than to just building a road. We want them to see how a business fits together. It is important to expose the SMMEs to as much as possible in our industry for them to know where the products come from.

“It is important for a business owner to know their industry intimately. This way they can grow and become sustainable.”

What the owners thought of the programme

Sipelele Msindwana, co-owner of Nkungu Investments, said that while working on the SANRAL programme they have learned how to manage a business professionally.

“We now know how to follow the law in conducting our business. We’ve recently completed our theoretical training. Thereafter, [we] attended tendering workshops in preparation for contracts that will be awarded. The whole process has been useful, as it turns out we thought we knew a lot but we learned more about the processes that must be followed. This week we set out a 280m road aside for practical training. This road will be incorporated into the actual roads we will work on.”

Wandile Mngeni owner of WM Construction Projects registered his company in 2015 and admits to not knowing about road construction.

“I have learned theoretically a lot about the paper work and calculations needed for the company,” he said.

Lindiwe Nokele, owner of Gandundu Trading, said as an SMME she has grown through the “intensive training” provided.

“Our training focused on SARS, documentation, how to discipline staff and the importance of having a bookkeeper. As an SMME I now know a lot more [on] what to do.”

Siyanda Mredlana owner of Khululaka Trading Enterprise said: “I have learnt a lot from this visit today. It is helpful to know what materials are used to build roads. I believe that the information provided during the training will help me win tenders.”

Andiswa Joyi owner of Eyamanjilo Trading said the site visit to Mamlambo has given her a deeper insight into how a construction business operates.

“This was a valuable part of the training programme. Seeing how everything operates on site, has given me a deeper insight into how business works. I am passionate to become the next big contractor,” Joyi said.

How N2 improvements will affect you

9Jun2017

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N2-article — Undulating hills, jagged cliffs, wild beaches, indigenous cultures and a diverse array of fauna and flora make the Wild Coast a place renowned for its rich heritage and natural beauty.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) continues to improve the safety of all road users with its projects along the N2 between Dutywa and Mthatha.

One such improvement project stretches from the village of Tetyana to Sitebe Komkulu and will take approximately 30 months to complete.

The project includes the construction of a pedestrian bridge and four agricultural underpasses – both of which would provide safer passage for both pedestrians and cattle – the upgrading of numerous intersections and the construction of access roads from villages to formal settlements.

Nearly half of the deaths that occur on South African roads involve pedestrians. Years of road-infrastructure disinvestment, along with the introduction of more road users, has made the former Transkei a high-incident region.

The preliminary festive season report for December 2015 and January 2016 showed that fatalities in the Eastern Cape increased by roughly 22%, from 227 to 278.

Added time on trips

Controlled rock-cutting explosions will widen the road, smooth out the curves and improve sight distance – all major contributors to road safety. Controlled blasting takes place on Tuesday and Thursdays, between Dutywa and Mthatha in the Ntentu cuttings.

The road will be closed for a maximum period of two hours during blasting.

Motorists travelling east, towards Mthatha, may consider either exiting the N2 at Ndabakazi on the R408 towards Ngqamakwe/Tsomo, or via the R409 at Dutywa towards Ngcobo, as alternatives. Both routes link to the R61 and then rejoin the N2 in Mthatha.

Motorists travelling west, towards East London, may consider using the R61 when leaving Mthatha and then linking back to the N2 via either the R408 after Ngcobo or the R409 towards Tsomo.

The alternative route is 60km longer and may add approximately 40 minutes to your trip between East London and Mthatha.

Musina ring road to improve safety

8Jun2017

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The Mayor of the Musina Municipality has sung The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited’s (SANRAL) praises for the Musina Ring Road project.

Mayor Mihloti Muhlope was assessing the project’s progress together with the Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, and the MEC for Transport and Public Safety, Nandi Ndalane.

Muhlope said the project will improve road safety and decrease the damage to vital infrastructure in town.

The R625-million Ring Road project will divert traffic from the CBD towards the border post.

She said the project came as a huge relief to the municipality as traffic was heavily congested in town because heavy-duty vehicles must share the narrow roads with other road users and pedestrians.

“The Ring Road will ease congestion and it will also save travel time for the road users and reduce vehicle operating costs. We are also happy with the fact that the project has played a major role in job creation and business opportunities for the local people,” said Muhlope.

Chikunga said that the country was doing its best to have safe, long-lasting and reliable road facilities.

“We are making sure that our roads provide flexibility, easier mobility and community safety at all times. As government, we are also pleased by the progress and high-quality work of the Musina Ring Road project, and we have no doubt that the contractors will meet their deadline. Community involvement and providing jobs for local people are also very important for us. This is empowerment at its best,” she said.

Baldwin Luvhengo is a previously unemployed general worker who is now benefitting from the project.

“It feels great to work again and now I am able to look after my family and put food on the table. I am saving some money to get a certificate in the construction field when the project is complete,” he said.

SANRAL cameras monitor road safety during severe winter storm

8Jun2017

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control-1 — The Transport Management Centre (TMC) located in Goodwood is the hub of the rapid response to the Cape Town freeway network.

Coordinated action between SANRAL, the Provincial and City road authorities and traffic authorities in the Western Cape is contributing to effective responses to road crashes and the clearing of emergency scenes during the current heavy downpours.

By noon on Wednesday (7 June) its emergency teams had already responded to three multi-vehicle crashes and assisted 13 stranded vehicles during one of the most severe storms ever to hit the Cape Peninsula.

Randall Cable, SANRAL’s Engineering Manager: Operations, said there are 239 CCTV cameras monitoring more than 160km of the busiest freeways around Cape Town. The monitor screens are observed by trained operators on a 24/7 basis and four road maintenance crews are on standby to clean up spots where flooding is detected or crashes occurred.

The Transport Management Centre (TMC) located in Goodwood is the hub of the rapid response to the Cape Town freeway network. Representatives from all regional safety and security services – Cape Town traffic and law enforcement, the Metro Police, Provincial traffic and SAPS – are present at the TMC to monitor the electronic images and activate their respective responses where required.

“All emergency services have real-time access to all SANRAL’s technology,” said Cable. “This results in effective communication, the sharing of resource and quicker responses to incidents on the roads.”

In the first 18 hours after the storm arrived in Cape Town the SANRAL system have observed and managed the following incidents:

Three multi-vehicle crashes – at Mew Way, N2/Jan Smuts and M5 North;
13 vehicles that got stuck on the road during the downpour;
A fallen tree on the N1 outbound near the toll plaza; and
Flooding on the N2 outbound near Robert Sobukwe Road in Bonteheuwel.

Cable said SANRAL has 10 weather stations on the national road network in Cape Town. These stations provide accurate measurements for temperature, wind speeds, wind direction and overall visibility.

This information is relayed back to the road user through variable message signs on the freeways, social media and the I-Traffic website. Safety and security services are also given advance warnings about possible severe weather that may have an impact on safe road conditions.

Road users are advised to consult the i-traffic website at https://www.i-traffic.co.za/.

Top line-up of local and international speakers secured for transport conference

7Jun2017

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macozoma-1

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited’s CEO, Skhumbuzo Macozoma, is set to give the keynote address at The Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) this July.

During this address, Macozoma will unpack the various challenges associated with the improvement, management, and maintenance of the national road network.

The SATC is the continent’s premier transportation event. This year’s gathering, to be held from 10 to 13 July at the CSIR International Convention Centre,Pretoria, has an impressive line-up of international and local transport experts as speakers.

Solutions for South Africa

A combination of an academic and a practitioner conference, SATC is supported by both the South African Department of Transport (NDoT) and the US-based Transportation Research Board (TRB).

Now in its 36th year, SATC’s conference theme is “South African solutions to public transport challenges”.

Over 600 delegates are set to attend three days of plenary and breakaway seminars, where peer-reviewed research papers covering infrastructure, urban and rural transport planning, transport regulations, and multimodal networks, will be presented.

Also on the agenda are plenary sessions presented by Professor Yongli Xie, the dean of School of Highways, Chang’an University in Xi” An, China, and Nigel Hardy, who is the performance manager of Transport for London.

Professor James Maina, chairman of the SATC organising committee, said: “Transport forms the backbone of Africa’s economy as it connects nations and unites countries. Without sustainable solutions to move people and freight, economies stagnate which in turn adversely affects the entire continent.

“The conference aims to provide valuable insights into transport challenges so that we can begin to proactively address them.”

The conference has also served as a forum for discussion on the implementation of transport policy, strategy and technology applications for all aspects and modes of transportation.

Delegates for the SATC can register at www.satc.org.za and are currently eligible for the ‘Early Bird Special’, which ends Saturday, 10 June 2017.

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities at the event, please visit www.satc.org.za

A safer walk to school

2Jun2017

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school-children-1 — About a third of all schools in the country are located within 5km of the 22 203km national road network managed by SANRAL.

With pedestrians being the most vulnerable of road users in South Africa, the national roads agency has embarked on reducing the number of accidents involving pedestrians walking next to national roads.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is taking steps to curb the risk for at least 12.4-million pedestrians under the age of 24-years who walk to school daily and are at risk of being in an accident.

Randall Cable, SANRAL’s engineering manager for the Western Cape Region, said the number of pedestrian fatalities (approximately 40% of all road deaths in South Africa) are being addressed through a combination of activities by the agency:

Safer roads and the provision of infrastructure such as pedestrian bridges and sidewalks.
Greater awareness among other road users about the possible presence of pedestrians on or close to roads.
Education programmes in schools to make children mindful about road safety at an early age.

About a third of all schools in the country are located within 5km of the 22 203km national road network managed by SANRAL.

Train the trainers

The agency’s aim is to educate the 6.3-million learners who use these roads before and after school. Scientifically developed material will make them aware of dangers and how to avoid them.

Working closely with education authorities, SANRAL aims to “train the trainers” – getting the information to teachers and mobilising their support to impart the correct messages to their learners.

The material is incorporated into regular subjects at school – whether it is life skills or maths – and the educators have access to flip cards, posters and other teaching aids.

The behavioural research informs the content development based on the latest available research.

This initiative has already reached 1 940 schools and more than 14 000 teachers have received training and learning materials. The programme will continue to expand to benefit an increasing number of learners living in close proximity to the major highways.

Cable said: “Our primary goal is that this awareness leads to changed behaviour and our future efforts will increasingly be geared toward achieving this goal.”

The roads agency’s programme fits into the Safe Systems approach advocated by the United Nations (UN). South Africa is making a great contribution to the UN’s global Decade of Action on Road Safety, by sharing its research and experience in the field of education.

Infrastructure, awareness key to curbing fatalities on national roads

31May2017

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Infrastructure-1 — Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi believes more education and awareness is key to changing road-user behaviour and negative attitudes towards road safety.

Education and awareness campaigns play an important role in road safety but Transport Minister, Joe Maswanganyi, believes road safety should be every citizen’s responsibility.

Speaking at a panel discussion organised in partnership with radio station Power FM and other transport entities, minister Maswanganyi said statistics on the death toll on our roads during the most recent holiday season do not bode well for the country.

Infrastructure-3 — A panel of experts from the Department of Transport and civil society engaging on road safety at the at the Power FM road safety dialogue.

He said: “Because of that, we have taken a decision that road safety awareness programmes should not be seasonal.”

The minister added that as a participant of the United Nations’ Decade of Action, South Africa has endorsed the global undertaking to save up to five million lives and contribute to the prevention of up to 50-million serious injuries by 2020.

Investing in road infrastructure

Randall Cable, the engineering manager for operations at the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL), said countries that invest more in their road infrastructure have reduced fatalities on their national roads.

“South Africa has a good road infrastructure, and through the National Road Safety Strategy, that is yet to be approved by Cabinet, the country will be able to pull its resources together in curbing carnage on its national roads,” said Cable. “As SANRAL, through our mandate of maintaining and managing the national road network, we have demonstrated that infrastructure reduces the risk of serious injury when an accident happens on our highways.”

Touching on pedestrian safety, Cable said that infrastructure such as sidewalks can drastically reduce fatalities on freeways, which make up to 40% of deaths on the road.

SANRAL has also introduced road safety audits, making it mandatory for road authorities to be conscious about road safety on national roads.

The National Road Safety Strategy embodies the principles of the Safe Systems approach and the five pillars of the global plan, which are a guiding framework to improve road safety.

In accordance with the Decade of Action, these pillars remain consistent in the National Road Safety Strategy, namely road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users and post-crash response.

SANRAL grooms next generation of civil engineers

30May2017

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Bloem-1 — Gcina Sentletse, SANRAL Project Manager: Scholarships, said the scholarship becomes a channel to the university bursary programme for civil engineering.

The South African National Road Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) introduced the next generation of civil engineers to the world of engineering at the road agency’s schools induction programme in Bloemfontein.

Twenty learners from various secondary schools around the city were awarded SANRAL scholarships aimed at providing a pipeline of engineering skills that will be needed by the roads agency in the future.

The scholarship programme is for learners from grades 10 to 12 who perform specifically well in maths and science.

A channel to bursary programme

Gcina Sentletse, SANRAL’s project manager of scholarships, said the programme focuses on learners who perform in these specific subjects because it becomes a channel to the SANRAL university bursary programme for civil engineering. “We provide a full scholarship in terms of tuition, boarding, stationery, school uniforms and sports uniforms.

“We believe there are other aspects to a learner, not just academics, and some of them excel in sport too. The programme also provides money for extra lessons, especially with subjects like maths and science. We really want to help learners to uphold their high grades.”

Sentletse added that SANRAL was passionate about the youth and when the agency invested in training of young minds, it was not just for SANRAL, but also for South Africa.

More women

Rhona Erasmus, SANRAL’s project manager for bursaries, said they have seen more women taking part in the programme over the last few years, especially on a post-graduate level.

“The Eastern Region which includes the Free State, currently has 20 civil engineering students at graduate level of which seven are female. We are increasingly seeing young women getting interested in the field of civil engineering.”

Ntando Ngidi, SANRAL’s human resources professional, referred to Logashri Sewnarain, the Eastern Region’s regional manager, as one of the many SANRAL employees who had come through the bursary programme.

Karabo Utloa, a recipient of a SANRAL bursary, said she first came to know about the SANRAL bursary programme when her life orientation teacher handed out application forms in 2011.

“I went on to study engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand. For the next five years, I studied civil engineering without having to worry about any finances. My SANRAL bursary covered all my expenses.

“Last year was my final year. I am now following SANRAL’s Graduate Programme as a candidate civil engineer at SANRAL in North West. After four or five years in the Graduate Programme I will hopefully get registered as a professional engineer.”

Utloa said many students were aware of the financial demands of studying at university but with her SANRAL bursary she didn’t need to worry about anything. She said the bursary also gave her access to people in the industry who she could approach for mentorship.

“The mentorship gave my studies a kind of realism. SANRAL helped me organise some vacation work where I could get a real feel for the industry.

“They let you go on site and this gives you opportunities to speak to any of the consulting engineers. That helps you to get the actual picture of what engineering looks like.”

Fostering passion for engineering

Lizmary Alfirs, a traffic engineer specialising in geometrics at SMEC, spoke about how her passion for engineering came from her father.

“My father is a mechanical engineer. Hence I grew up in a house where my father was really into science and he also had a love for maths.

“He taught me a lot and cultivated the passion in me. When I had to choose a career, I thought engineering would make good use of subjects like maths and science which I like so much and could also be used in implementing infrastructure and improving people’s lives.”

Alfirs is currently working on a SANRAL project outside Bloemfontein, between Zandkraal and Winburg. She said the project involved the upgrading of 46km of an existing road to a dual carriageway. She is also working on SANRAL’s upgrade of the R75 in Port Elizabeth, where they are transforming an existing interchange to become a divergent diamond interchange.

The next generation

Louis James, a grade 12 learner from Grey College said he enjoyed accounting, maths and science.

“I am very interested in engineering and enjoy solving problems. I would be honoured to study civil or industrial engineering next year. Maybe one day I’ll work for a company like SANRAL.”

An inspired Lian Beyers, a grade 12 learner from Sentraal High School, said his favourite subjects are maths, science and IT.

“At this stage I hope to study either medicine or civil engineering at the North West University in Potchefstroom. The SANRAL bursary programme sounds most appealing, especially since I am interested in perhaps pursuing a career in engineering.”

Rele Tsoai, a grade 11 learner from Grey College said he was inspired by the various speakers and he will definitely consider civil engineering as a career after school.

Seipati Dlamini’s son, Thato, could not attend the induction programme so she attended on his behalf. Thato was already busy representing his school, St Joseph’s Christian Brothers’ College, in a bridge building competition.

She said before Thato found out about the SANRAL scholarship programme, he was talking about becoming a doctor. However, after reading up about engineering and educating himself on the programme and what SANRAL does, Thato now wants to become a civil engineer.

Bloem-4 — Judah Prins from St Andrew’s School said he loved maths and science and found the induction programme very inspiring.

Zané Prins from St Michaels School for Girls and her brother, Judah, from St Andrew’s School, are both taking part in the programme. Zané, who is in grade 11, said they both love maths and science and found the induction programme very inspiring.

Bloem-3 — Johan van Eck, a grade 12 pupil from Grey College, said: “After today’s talks I am even more convinced that I want to become a civil engineer.”

Johan van Eck, a grade 12 pupil from Grey College, said: “I am really interested in engineering and I have had the opportunity to shadow engineers on sites just to get a better feel for what civil engineering is all about.

“After today’s talks I am even more convinced that I want to become a civil engineer.”

Drought affects construction

26May2017

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droughts-1 — The present water crisis in South Africa, and the possibility that it may be a long-term situation, has meant that new and innovative ways have to be found to build roads.

The Department of Water and Sanitation warned on 16 May 2017 that water levels are continuing to drop gradually despite the good rains that fell in some parts of the country. It urged all South Africans to use water sparingly.

The present water crisis in South Africa, and the possibility that it may be a long-term situation, has meant that new and innovative ways have to be found to build roads.

Water scarcity leads to delays in road construction and maintenance programmes.

Water-wise construction

To address this problem, the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is turning to water-wise construction, which means that the roads agency has to conserve water as well as use it efficiently.

Pierre Roux, engineering geologist at SANRAL, shares three ways in which this can be done:

The first is through water augmentation. South Africa is an arid country which has sufficient groundwater recharge from reasonable rainfall at certain times. Water sources, other than surface and ground water, need to be developed which includes, acid mine water, seawater desalination, groundwater augmentation, deep-seated shale gas fracking water, and deep-seated geothermal water.

Groundwater augmentation entails adding excess water into the ground using recharge boreholes. This water reaches the water table and is added to the groundwater reservoir. Groundwater is a renewable yet limited resource with a storage capacity that provides a large and extensive distribution of water supply.

Another method is to modify the components used in construction so that it uses minimal amounts of water. Some of these “problem materials” form holes when combined and used with other materials to construct roads. These holes allow water to fall through which results in wastage of the resource.

Through nanotechnology, it is possible to modify these problem materials by covering them with “mini rain coats” i.e. a layer of coating that allows these elements to be combined successfully. This ensures that these minerals will not form holes when used to construct roads.

Finally, there is desalination of seawater. “Osmosis” is defined as the natural process by which a high concentrated solution migrates towards a low concentrated solution. “Reverse osmosis” means taking the lower concentrated solution and concentrate it into a more concentrated solution.

The reverse osmosis cooling (ROC) process entails removing elements such as salts from seawater and AMD. The salt is removed using a semi-permeable membrane (a screen door that allows certain minerals to pass through while blocking others) using a high-pressure pump and electricity which removes 90% to 95% of the dissolved salts and leaves water safe for human consumption.

It can be successfully implemented in old mining and coastal areas with limited or no water for construction. It will ensure sustainable economic development, in risk metros and local municipalities, as well as feasible villages.