Consulting firm Zimile Consulting Engineers is further entrenching its position as a leading engineering and project management organisation, having deployed its expertise for the completion of the Great Summerfield Abstraction Works and Water Treatment Works (WTW) project earlier this year.

The Great Summerfield Abstraction Works and WTW project comprises the refurbishment of abandoned infrastructure to ensure structural reinforcement, replacing important pipeline components and valves, and essentially creating “environmentally sensitive” dams, explains Zimile senior water technologist Nomfundo Maphanga.

“The project also included the construction of the abstraction works at the river intake,” adds Maphanga.

Given the challenges faced during the project’s completion – such as the management of resources and infrastructure, structural deficits and environmental risks – the use of drones proved to be substantially beneficial and a value-add for design and implementation of the entire project, she comments.

Drones enabled the Zimile team to conduct real-time progress tracking, accurately inspect various task locations and improve documentation processes, all because of the provision of high-resolution mapping and imaging solutions, which can supplement technical drawings and contribute to “as-built” data.

“Drones can help with safety audits, environmental-impact assessments and remote surveying in difficult-to-reach areas, greatly improving operational and planning efficiency,” she continues, adding that drones will play an important role in future projects that require effective project management implementation.

Drones also enabled Zimile to minimise environmental impacts and facilitate resource optimisation for meeting project timelines by ensuring effective project management solutions, which, in turn, enabled the team to complete the project within budget.

Sustainability Considerations

One of the significant sustainability achievements of the Greater Summerfield project was the decision to reuse abandoned infrastructure and employ other sustainable practices.

“Zimile guaranteed long-term asset resilience, cost savings and ecological compatibility by renovating existing facilities and using environment-friendly construction techniques, all of which aligned with sustainability objectives.”

She says the project is testament to the company’s vast project management and engineering consulting capabilities and believes that it is the start of many projects in South Africa.

“This is one of the projects that President Cyril Ramaphosa visited in November 2023. It put Zimile on the map, and we are proud of it, as it showcases the brilliant work that we do as a consulting company in the engineering and project management space,” she enthuses.