Page 12 - DPSA_SDR Vol 12 No.2 2019

SERVICE DELIVERY TECHNOLOGY

Gauteng government enlist

drones in infrastructure

delivery

A partnership between the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) and the University of
Johannesburg (UJ) explores the deployment of drone technology to map out and monitor infrastructure projects.

Technically speaking, a drone is a computerised its spread of 340 projects valued at billions of rand, the stakes
flying robot that can be remotely controlled to are indeed high.
perform specific tasks. Also known as UAVs According to Gauteng Member of the Executive Council
(unmanned aerial vehicles) or RPAS (remotely (MEC) for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, the
piloted aerial systems), drones are historically built environment sector has in the main not caught up with
associated with the military, but their uses have advances in technology. A constant bug-bear of the sector
over the years gained popularity in the civilian, relates to the delivering infrastructure on time, within budget,
with the desired quality and devoid of corruption. The MEC is
commercial and public sectors. acutely aware that in past projects claim of activities on site
were not reflected in reality as very little, if any, work was taking
Eyes in the sky place on the ground. Using smart technology, the department
is tracking progress made fortnightly to ensure that targets
are reached. The use of this technology is no doubt aligned
In Gauteng, these eyes in the sky are fast emerging as tools to the National Development Plan’s (NDP) outcome 6, which
for changing the way government procures and manages envisages an efficient, competitive and responsive economic
its vast infrastructure development mandate. Recently infrastructure network. This infrastructure, it notes, efficiently
drone technology became a very real part of the lives of the delivers essentials like electricity, water and sanitation.
province’s citizens, through a partnership formed between the
provincial Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) Launched in May 2018, the drone deployment programme is
and the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The partnership aims one of many efforts to lift public sector infrastructure provision
to enhance the construction process of critical infrastructure into the 21st Century. These UAVs, which boast top drone
such as schools, clinics, hospitals and libraries by deploying technology, will largely be used to remotely monitor work at
drone technology. infrastructure construction sites. A single drone will make
it possible for officials to have a bird’s eye view of work in
Head of DID Bethuel Netshiswinzhe believes that by using progress, without leaving the comfort of their offices, while
drones, government is leveraging the use of technology to opportunities for harvesting project-specific and other data
deliver infrastructure in a smart and efficient manner. With a are infinite.

10 SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 12 No.2 of 2019