Page 17 - EngineerIt March 2021

SMART CITIES

Smart cities promote best practice

in urban sustainability

‘smart city’ is much more than
a city that is digitally enabled
A and brimming with technology.
It is a city that leverages innovation to
achieve its desired outcomes – and here
innovation does not necessarily mean
only technology.
This is the view of Carshif Talip,
expertise leader, Urban Planning and
Land Infrastructure at Zutari. “A smart
city is a city where opportunity, amenity,
safety, resilience, inclusivity and
prosperity are imperatives, and innovation Carshif Talip, expertise leader,
across financing, design, construction, Urban Planning and Land
Infrastructure at Zutari
operations and governance is embraced
by all stakeholders to achieve these
imperatives.” itself, needs to be eliminated if we are to be successful,” urges Talip.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Each stakeholder needs to have his/her role and contribution clearly defined and have
in his State of the Nation Address on the necessary resources to deliver. Finally, a measure of agility and fluidity needs to be built in.
11 February that the masterplan for the “Planning, in essence, is designing a path based on a predicted future. If that future changes,
proposed Lanseria smart city had been and one just has to look at how unpredictable 2020 was due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the
completed in November last year and plan needs to be sufficiently adaptable to respond to change,” stresses Talip.
is now available for public comment. In terms of the impact of Covid-19 on future urban planning requirements, one positive
The project is a joint initiative of the outcome has been that flexible working arrangements are now possible. “The need for
Presidency, the Office of the Gauteng large swathes of office space will certainly be challenged, and tenants will demand more
Premier, Tshwane, Johannesburg and flexible arrangements from their landlords,” notes Talip. While there will always be a brick-
Mogale. It is based on best practice in and-mortar component to retail, there is certainly a move towards online retail. These two
urban sustainability and the principles phenomena could challenge planning concepts like centralising commercial areas, and
underpinning the smart city concept. even the concept of what a CBD looks like.
The fact that innovation is such an “This might have a profound impact on what cities will look like in the future,” argues
integral part of smart cities makes for Talip. Another more subtle impact of Covid-19 has been the disruption of global supply
a natural fit between smart cities and chains. What will be interesting to see in the long term is if governments around the
sustainability, according to Talip. The world – who anticipate more severe pandemics in future – shift towards self-reliance
emphasis on digital platforms also enables rather than global imports. Therefore, governments might consider reigniting primary
data collection, and the availability of large and secondary economic sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing. “Should
data sets is one of the first steps towards this happen, we could expect shifts in urban migration that could impact planning
optimisation. “While there are benefits in requirements,” predicts Talip.
chasing low-hanging fruit, I believe that Zutari’s capabilities within the built environment encompass civil, structural, electrical,
a more holistic approach is the more mechanical, fire engineering and wet services design, as well as urban planning. This is
appropriate first step.” supported by a proficiency in ESD (environmentally sustainable design) and advanced
Talip asserts it goes without saying digital capability. These multi-disciplinary services are provided across the entire project
that proper planning is the answer life cycle, from risk analysis, planning and feasibility studies to engineering design,
to rapid urbanisation, inadequate documentation and construction supervision, as well as operations and maintenance.
infrastructure and polarised development. Teams deliver projects across both the public and private sector and have an impressive
What is equally important is an integrated track record of mixed-use developments, integrated human settlements and various offices,
approach, as with the Lanseria smart retail and leisure facilities. Some of Zutari’s award-winning projects include the Discovery
city. “A siloed approach, whether that head office in Sandton, the Menlyn shopping centre refurbishment in Pretoria, Atrium on
be across the various spheres of 5th and Newtown Junction in Johannesburg, 16 on Bree and 35 Lower Long in Cape Town,
government, the private and public and the Sol Plaatje University library in Kimberley. Zutari prides itself on finding the delicate
sectors or even within a municipal entity balance between cost, durability, function, sustainability, safety and practicality. n

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