Construction World October 2021

CIVIL ENGINEERING

Finding solutions to momentous social, economic and environmental challenges in South Africa today demands – more than ever – the expertise of consulting engineers, but can the sector remain up to the task? FUTURE UNCERTAIN AS CONSULTING ENGINEERS STAND READY TO SERVE

T he question is a real one, according to Vis Reddy, Managing Director of SRK Consulting (SA), as Consulting Engineering stands at a vital inflection point leading either to progress or deterioration. “Our sector has been pivotal to the country’s development on various levels, leveraging the specialised skills of many scientific and engineering professions,” said Reddy. “The position now, though, is that the demands on us are growing at the same time that the sector’s capacity could erode.” Years of infrastructural decline in the country, for instance, have occurred alongside slow economic growth, social instability and policy uncertainty that has deterred foreign direct investment. This depressed situation has been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. While dealing with these challenges, South Africa is facing the impacts of climate change – and is also under pressure to adapt to a lower- carbon future. “The current demands of our economy and society are huge, if we are to achieve the equitable and prosperous future that we have all worked towards in recent decades,” he said. “In our modern world, the solutions include highly technical interventions which call for specialised and innovative skill-sets. This is really where consulting engineers play their

most significant role in facilitating the national development process.” He highlighted the increasingly intricate work being done in fields such as infrastructural development, water management, energy generation, environmental protection and social engagement. “The growing complexity of the world’s regulatory and ethical framework is demanding a more wide-ranging consideration of project requirements and risks in industry,” he said. “These dynamics have called for a new breed of engineers and scientists who recognise traditionally ‘non- engineering’ factors like environmental and social impacts, as well as health and safety. South Africa is no exception, and we have a growing awareness among clients that all projects require a focus of sustainability.” develop policy on which sustainable development can be pursued. SRK’s recent work within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), for instance, has included developing sector mainstreaming guidelines on disaster management. This important resource benefits fields as wide-ranging as agriculture, food security, gender, education, infrastructure, water and sanitation. “Our current concern is that the Beyond their technical input, consulting engineers also help

“Consulting firms like SRK also proactively nurture and mentor young engineers and scientists – both within our local offices and our global network.”

Vis Reddy, Managing Director of SRK Consulting (SA).

28 CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2021