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Aug 19, 2019 | 02:37 am
Jacques Esterhuizen is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate from South Africa, who earned his 52810WA - Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering in 2017. However, he has wanted to be an engineer ever since he was a child.“I was always interested in engineering from a very young age. I would disassemble and assemble equipment all the time. My father was an electrician, a superintendent and building contractor — he was the one to expose me to the industry.”After completing high school, Jacques went on to the University of Stellenbosch and completed a four-year Bachelor of Engineering (with Honors) in Electronic Engineering in 1992. Soon after, he began working in the water industry and was exposed to the automation technology involved.“I installed and maintained SCADA, telemetry, PLC, and automation systems. I integrated and interfaced to pumps, valves, blowers, disinfection units, dosing, compressors, and instrumentation to provide monitoring and control solutions to[…]
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Aug 13, 2019 | 07:21 am
Gaston Kausa is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate from Zambia who earned his 52724WA - Advanced Diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering. He felt an instant connection to engineering when in high school he was introduced to the technical drawing subject.“I fell in love with the subject,” he said. “From then on, my mind was made up that my career was going to be in the engineering industry.What followed was a lifetime of acquiring skills and qualifications to validate his love for engineering and transform him into the professional he is today. Today, he is a member of the Engineering Institute of Zambia.Gaston’s working life began with a job as a surveyor at Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines in 1985.Throughout his career, he has worked as Chief Surveyor at many infrastructure projects in Zambia and Namibia.Since 1990, he has worked on a total of 15 separate projects filling roles such[…]
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Aug 12, 2019 | 06:45 am
Fortune Chipeta was born and raised in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He earned his Advanced Diploma in Industrial Automation with the Engineering Institute of Technology between 2014 and 2015. The Advanced Diploma is now one of many qualifications Fortune has amassed across his engineering career. Fortune loves the world of engineering, particularly in the electrical realm. However, he was quick to discover that automation was revolutionizing the industry he had always adored. He is now working towards that dream of being an engineer in the exact cross-section where electrical engineering and automation meet. He says:“I love making and implementing practical solutions to everyday problems and electricity and technology fascinates me.” After graduating from high school, he enrolled for a National Certificate in Electrical Power Engineering at Westgate Industrial Training College. A straight-A student in high school, Fortune passed the 3-year course with distinctions in 2004. During that time he was posted out[…]
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Aug 12, 2019 | 06:15 am
The Netherlands is a country well known for its intricate landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. But did you know that the country has been in a defiant war against water since the early 17th century?The Netherlands relationship with water is complicated, to say the least. Nearly a quarter of the country lies below sea level and another half sits less than a metre above, putting the country’s entire existence under constant attack from the elements. Consequently, the country has fallen victim to a number of serious floods over time.A defining landmark in the country’s history in the North Sea flood of 1953. After a heavy storm on the night of 31 January 1953, citizens of the Netherlands woke up to large areas of the country completely underwater. The devastating floods claimed 1,835 lives and forced the emergency evacuation of over 70,000 more. The total damage from[…]
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Aug 9, 2019 | 07:48 am
The new paradigm that exists in the modern engineering industry is the replacing of fossil fuel burning machinery with renewable, zero-emissions technologies. There is a growing public call for the re-engineering of automobiles, aircraft, trains and more, to power them in more renewable ways. Mechanical engineering and electrical engineering are coming together to ‘reinvent-the-wheel’ and design new technologies that produce zero emissions.New Zealand’s Ports of Auckland authority says that they will be debuting the world’s first all-electric tugboat. Ports of Auckland have been dedicated to finding alternatively powered vessels for quite some time. Tony Gibson, the chief executive officer of Ports of Auckland said in a press release:“In 2016 we set ourselves the goal of being zero-emission by 2040. We set this goal because we recognize that urgent action is needed on climate change, and we wanted to be part of the solution. However, setting the goal created a tough[…]
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Aug 9, 2019 | 06:47 am
A future with flying cars might be closer than you think. On 5 August 2019, Japanese electronics firm NEC revealed their prototype for a giant drone, developed with their partner Cartivator.Their electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft weighs around 330 pounds and is equipped with four propellers. During a recent trial, the aircraft was able to lift itself 10 feet in the air and fly 65 feet before landing safely on the ground again. The whole trial lasted just less than a minute.Last year, the Japanese Government announced a country-wide initiative for companies to build eVTOLs with driverless capabilities. They have granted Cartivator permission for outdoor flights, and the company plans to start mass-producing these in 2026.Source: Associated PressSpeaking to Bloomberg, leader of the project at NEC, Kouji Okada, said, “Japan is a densely populated country and that means flying cars could greatly alleviate the burden on road traffic.“We[…]
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Aug 8, 2019 | 03:17 am
Homelessness is a global issue on the rise with a new estimate of 1.2 billion people worldwide lacking access to safe and secure housing at any given time. However, a construction-technology startup is proposing to build 3D-printed homes in 24 hours and for under $4,000, a new and possible solution to homelessness.CEO of Fuseproject, designer Yves Behar has revealed plans to build 3D-printed houses for an impoverished farming community in Latin America. Fuseproject, has teamed up with non-profit organisation, New Story, to bring the project to life.Source: FuseprojectOn the Fuseproject website, their mission is laid out:“It is our belief that designers, builders and technology innovators have the potential to bring unprecedented speed and scale to housing design that can elevate the lives of some of the most impoverished populations around the globe. 3D printing, in particular, offers a new and powerful tool for realizing this potential and driving this mission[…]
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Aug 5, 2019 | 02:56 am
The industrial sectors of the engineering world are currently amidst a period of incredible progress. With the introduction of more automated processes than ever before, the industry is becoming increasingly efficient and requiring less physical manpower. However, the digital transformation of the industry does come with its downsides. When integrated with technology, vital industry hardware becomes connected to the internet, which makes the chances of corruption far more likely.Fortinet is an American multinational company that develops cybersecurity software in the engineering sector. They recently released a report entitled the ‘2019 Operational Technology Security Trends Report’, which examined troublesome cyber-attacks, specifically targeting supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and industrial control systems (ICS) systems.Image Source: Sigma AssociatesIn the report, Fortinet says that two-thirds of global operation technology is connected to an interconnected network. 32% of the systems are connected to the public internet, and the other 32% connected through a gateway[…]
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Aug 2, 2019 | 07:38 am
The proud capital of Western Australia, Perth is a city of immense advancement and evolution. Nestled on the banks of the beautiful Swan River, the city is bustling with new urban developments which are putting Perth amongst the top travel destinations of the world.The benefits of the last decade’s resources boom have flowed into every aspect of Perth living with the city experiencing growth in all corners of life. From the brand new Elizabeth Quay to the upcoming opening of the revamped Museum of Western Australia, Perth is becoming home to its very own myriad of engineering feats. 1. Optus StadiumSource: wge.com.auOne of the newest additions to Perth’s horizon, Optus Stadium is a multi-purpose 60,000 seat world-class venue. Delivering an exceptional atmosphere and experience no matter the sport, the stadium utilized specialists from Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore, and London to engineer the sporting marvel.One of the stadiums’ key features[…]
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Aug 2, 2019 | 06:44 am
Most technologies have something in common: heat generation. For example, engines, electronics, light bulbs, and machinery all create thermal radiation while running.Any heat not utilized is wasted energy. Imagine re-using that thermal radiation and turning it into something that benefits the technology itself.Photo credit: Dan Hixson/University of Utah College of EngineeringOne engineer has found a way to use his ‘wasted’ energy. He has created a device that takes such wasted energy and pumps it back into the original technology.University of Utah mechanical engineering associate professor Mathieu Francoeur and his team have produced what is known as a ‘Near-Field Radiative Heat Transfer Device.’ Their device purportedly surpasses what is known as the blackbody limit.A blackbody limit is the maximum amount of heat that can be emitted from an object. Francoeur said, “Nobody can emit more radiation than the blackbody limit. But when we go to the nanoscale, you can.”The researchers put[…]
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Aug 1, 2019 | 03:38 am
Amazon is moving forward with a plan to launch thousands of satellites into space in order to bring reliable broadband internet service to rural areas across the globe.Amazon subsidiary Kuiper Systems has applied with the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch more than 3,000 satellites into space under the name Project Kuiper.The application states, “The effective implementation of global broadband services requires more than the design, construction, and deployment of the technologically advanced satellite system, low-cost customer terminals, and gateways. It also requires worldwide terrestrial network infrastructure and customer operations capabilities.”“The Kuiper system will help bridge gaps in coverage by complementing the efforts of terrestrial fixed and mobile careers and reaching some of the most remote and hard-to-reach areas - where it is often geographically difficult of cost-prohibitive for terrestrial service providers to operate today.”Kuiper Systems Chief Executive Officer is Rajeev Badyal — SpaceX’s former vice president. Interestingly[…]
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Jul 31, 2019 | 07:00 am
On a chilly winter’s day on the 23rd of July, the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) hosted the ‘Hot Trends in Engineering, Job Prospects & Troubleshooting Tips’ seminar in Johannesburg.EIT’s Dean of Engineering, Dr Steve Mackay, visited South Africa to speak to an enthusiastic crowd of engineers, technologists, artisans, future students and general professionals about the trends occurring in the engineering industry as a consequence of the fourth industrial revolution.These trends are altering engineering education and training. Prospective engineers must meet the challenge of staying ahead of the curve, and seasoned engineers must play catch-up with the changing industries.Dr Steve Mackay addressing attendeesDr Mackay told the crowd, “you are here to find out how to skill yourself, improve yourself, and constantly refine yourself. Automation is going to accelerate. At the same time, the world is hyper-connected. We are doing everything on our phones these days. It is a quickly changing[…]
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Jul 30, 2019 | 01:06 am
On 22 July, Dr. Steve Mackay, Dean of Engineering at Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT), spent the day at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), in Pretoria, South Africa. Engineering staff from universities around the country had gathered for a seminar.Steve was delighted to also welcome two Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) representatives, the President, Mr Cyril Vuyani Gamede and Mr Edmund Nxumalo, Executive Research, Policy and Standards (ERPS).The universities in South Africa often reach capacity and are obliged to turn large numbers of students away. An online option would allow them to be more inclusive and it could better serve students who live remotely.Since 2008, EIT has employed a live, interactive online platform of learning, to reach students in over 140 countries around the world. It was the technical tools which underpin this approach to learning that were showcased by Steve, and his colleague from EIT’s IT Department,[…]
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Jul 16, 2019 | 05:43 am
Simona Capparella comes from a family of engineers in Italy. From a young age she was destined to follow in her father’s footsteps and work her way up to being a reliable, dynamic female engineer.“My father is a very respected engineer in my hometown, he was a teacher and started a career as a design engineer in Italy in 1990,” she said.“Both my father and uncle were electrical systems teachers. They were the people who encouraged me to study engineering, and instilled a great love for this subject in me.”Today, she is a senior electrical engineer in the building services industry. It has been quite the journey to get where she is today.At the age of 16, Simona enrolled in an engineering high school in Italy where she studied electrical systems.In 2008, she acquired an Honors degree in Safety and Protection Engineering in Rome, where she mainly studied Chemical Processes[…]
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Jul 16, 2019 | 05:06 am
Lonwabo Busakwe is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate. He is working in the Renewable Energy industry, particularly within the wind turbines space with a company named Nordex and Acciona Windpower. He completed his 52726WA - Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering (Power Industry) with EIT.His daily responsibilities include the service and maintenance of the wind turbines, the troubleshooting of electrical and mechanical faults, checking the SCADA systems, and generally working with electrical software tools.Renewable Energy is a relatively new area of expertise for South Africa. The country’s energy sector is largely made up of coal power plants — which makes up 70 percent of the country’s mix.Experts are calling for independent renewable energy power producers to flood the energy sector to teach and train South Africans in the way of new clean forms of energy.Seeing an opportunity, Lonwabo sought out the Engineering Institute of Technology. He wanted to grow[…]
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Jacques Esterhuizen is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate from South Africa, who earned his 52810WA - Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering in 2017. However, he has wanted to be an engineer ever since he was a child.“I was always[…]
Gaston Kausa is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate from Zambia who earned his 52724WA - Advanced Diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering. He felt an instant connection to engineering when in high school he was introduced to the technical[…]
Fortune Chipeta was born and raised in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He earned his Advanced Diploma in Industrial Automation with the Engineering Institute of Technology between 2014 and 2015. The Advanced Diploma is now one of many qualifications Fortune has amassed across[…]
The Netherlands is a country well known for its intricate landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. But did you know that the country has been in a defiant war against water since the early 17th century?The Netherlands[…]
The new paradigm that exists in the modern engineering industry is the replacing of fossil fuel burning machinery with renewable, zero-emissions technologies. There is a growing public call for the re-engineering of automobiles, aircraft, trains and more, to power them[…]
A future with flying cars might be closer than you think. On 5 August 2019, Japanese electronics firm NEC revealed their prototype for a giant drone, developed with their partner Cartivator.Their electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft weighs around[…]
Homelessness is a global issue on the rise with a new estimate of 1.2 billion people worldwide lacking access to safe and secure housing at any given time. However, a construction-technology startup is proposing to build 3D-printed homes in 24[…]
The industrial sectors of the engineering world are currently amidst a period of incredible progress. With the introduction of more automated processes than ever before, the industry is becoming increasingly efficient and requiring less physical manpower. However, the digital transformation[…]
The proud capital of Western Australia, Perth is a city of immense advancement and evolution. Nestled on the banks of the beautiful Swan River, the city is bustling with new urban developments which are putting Perth amongst the top travel[…]
Most technologies have something in common: heat generation. For example, engines, electronics, light bulbs, and machinery all create thermal radiation while running.Any heat not utilized is wasted energy. Imagine re-using that thermal radiation and turning it into something that benefits[…]
