Browsing Faculty of Engineering and Technology by Title
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Nair, S.; Vokolkova, V.; Abadjieva, T.; Michalek, J. (University of Botswana, NaN, 2000)[more][less]
Abstract: The percentage of students, especially women in engineering, is very low in Botswana and the country is still heavily dependent upon foreign human resources.The objective of this research has been to study the gender differences in education,which might have caused the current poor representation of women in engineering.The secondary school results of 749 students were statistically analyzed per gender.Three main factors were identified by factor analysis:The science-ability, the general aptitude and the memory ability factor.As to the general aptitude and the memory ability,it was found that no statistically significant difference between boys and girls exists.However, there is a difference in the science-ability factor. To strengthen this factor for girls,it requires to make the study of mathematics and science courses attractive to girls at early stage so that they are not limited in their options at the level of secondary education and thus in their career choice. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/647 Files in this item: 1
Nair_BJT_2000.pdf (1.021Mb) -
Nair, S.; Vokolkova, V.; Abadjieva, T. (University of Botswana, NaN, 2000)[more][less]
Abstract: The percentage of students, especially women in engineering, is very low in Botswana and the country is still heavily dependent upon foreign human resources. The objective of this research has been to study the gender differences in education, which might have caused the current poor representation of women in engineering.The secondary school results of 749 students were statistically analyzed per gender. Three main factors were identified by factor analysis: the science ability, the general aptitude and the memory ability factor.As to the general-aptitude and memory ability factor, it was found that no statistically significant difference between boys and girls exists. However, there is a difference in the science-ability factor. To strengthen this factor for girls, it requires to make the studies of Mathematics and Science courses attractive to girls at early stage so that they are not limited in their options at the level of secondary education and thus in their career choice. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/624 Files in this item: 1
Nair_BJT_2000.pdf (1.543Mb) -
Loukanov, I.A.; Uziak, J. (Akademiai Kiado, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: The effect of enamel-coating on the draught performance of an animal-drawn mouldboard plough was studied. A single furrow swing mouldboard plough-Maun Series, and the same type enamel-coated plough both ox-drawn, are compared under similar working conditions such as soil moisture content, depth and width of cut and approximately constant speed of ploughing. It was found that the enamel-coating reduces both the plough draught and the specific draught. The percentage reduction of the plough draught for enamel-coated plough compared to uncoated plough varied from 12.7% at 25% soil moisture content to 18.1% at 32% soil moisture content (dry basis). It was also found that the percentage reduction of the specific draught achieved with the enamel-coated plough in comparison with the uncoated plough varied from 20.3% at 32% soil moisture content to 25.7% at 25% soil moisture content (dry basis). URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/632 Files in this item: 1
Loukanov_PAES_2007.pdf (692.2Kb) -
Yanev, K.M. (University of Botswana, www.ub.bw, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: By the turn of the century, Botswana will be 34 years old as an independent nation. Reflecting on the past, is a background of tremendous achievements from a socio-economic development perspective. The achievements could not have been possible if it was not for the contribution of the construction industry. The construction industry’s (CI) contribution to socio-economic development may be viewed from many areas, among them, creating employment, wealth and demand for manufactured goods, infrastructure and producing factors of production (e.g. office space, factory shells, roads, etc) for other sectors. However, the relationship between the general economy and the CI has not been established explicitly despite numerous studies. Using Botswana’s CI and the economy, some of the paradigms proposed in previous studies revisited. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1063 Files in this item: 1
Yanev_BJT_2007.pdf (928.5Kb) -
Oladiran, M.T.; Uziak, J. (http://www.ais.up.ac.za/digi/docs/oladiran_paper.pdf, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: During the first semester of 2007/2008 academic session at the University of Botswana (UB), some mechanical engineering courses were delivered using a blended method i.e. online resource (eLearning) and traditional face to face approach. This paper presents results of a study to analyse students’ perception of the eLearning technology, namely WebCT/Blackboard. An electronic questionnaire was administered to a cohort of third year mechanical engineering students for the study. The questionnaire consisted of 92 items that covered such areas as facilities, resources, access, instruction and quality issues. An open ended section enabled students comment on other issues related to the course delivery. The results show that students were very receptive of ICT based course delivery. The paper discusses the challenges of using eLearning and proffers recommendations to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from technological investment and staff effort. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/459 Files in this item: 1
Oladiran_AICT_2009.pdf (548.4Kb) -
Inambao, F.L.; Mosweu, M. (University of Botswana, NaN, 1999)[more][less]
Abstract: It is widely recognised that air pollution caused by the global rapid increase of automobile traffic is a threat to the environment. With regard to automobiles there are three general areas of concern: urban pollution, especially in highly populated cities with high density of private transport, depletion of the ozone layer and pollution resulting in disturbance of natural environment. Several methods of effective control of automobile emsissions to meet current and future environmental demands are analyzed. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/626 Files in this item: 1
Inambao_BJT_1999.pdf (951.9Kb) -
Ketlogetswe, C.; Mothudi, T.H. (www.elsevier.com/locate/resconrec, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: Recycling operations have become one of the primary strategies forwaste management,worldwide. Especially, recycling operations are viewed as among the most effective techniques for reducing the amount of municipal solid waste disposed at landfill sites. Botswana’s environmental policy on recycling stipulates, among others, that all waste management authorities should provide information on the classification and quantities of controlledwaste targeted for recycling. This paper, therefore, examines the extent to which recycling operations in Botswana have either been conducted in compliance with or in violation of some major environmental requirements as enunciated on statutory guidelines. Compatibility between environmental policies on recycling and actual practice is evaluated focusing on two companies (Dumatau trading and Botswana Tissue) involved in recycling operation. Data from the two companies is complemented by one collected from the Gaborone landfill site. Finally, this study discusses on the role played by various stakeholders in policy formulation and implementation with particular emphasis being placed on a select number of non-governmental organisations (NGO). URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/378 Files in this item: 1
Ketlogetswe2005EnvPolicy.pdf (750.2Kb) -
Rekha, A.; Raju, V.C.C. (University of Botswana, NaN, 1999)[more][less]
Abstract: The stress-attention in cascade reliability has been studied when both stess and strength follow Rayleigh distribution. The expression for the relaibility R(n), for a system survive with the first (n-1) components failed and the n component active, is obtained R(n) is calculated numerically, for n=1,2,3 and 4, for different values of the parameter p and the attention factor k. It has been found that with lower attention factors in high degree of reliability can be attained. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/677 Files in this item: 1
Rekha_BJT_1999.pdf (887.1Kb) -
Kalabamu, F. (Elsevier http://www. doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2003.09.005, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: The purpose of this essay is to identify gender contracts in self-help housing construction. Gender contracts have been defined as invisible power relationships that determine roles, responsibilities, privileges, status, sexuality and behaviour of men and women within households, communities, the market and the state. Gender contracts shape social, economic, political and sexual relationships in what people often refer to as ‘our culture’. Various gender contracts constitute a gender system (e.g. patriarchy or matriarchy) under which general rules, perceptions, hierarchies and privileges are formulated, refined and preserved. The paper notes that although the advent of colonialism and capitalism did not replace patriarchal structures in Botswana, they set in new political and production systems that upset the traditional power base and provided opportunities for women to challenge traditional gender contracts—notably the marriage contract that had hitherto been used to oppress women. The paper further notes that despite women having made inroads into male domains, there has surfaced new sites and forms of female subordination largely due to gendered inequalities in accessing and controlling contemporary critical resources (land, money, modern technical skills and formal employment) as well as continued male dominance of community and state structures. Taking Lobatse as a case study, the paper tries to identify gender contracts formed as a result of men’s takeover of construction activities which were traditionally undertaken by women in Botswana. It notes that besides dominating construction work, men control access to land, building skills, housing finance, and the entire self-help housing process in Lobatse, thereby forcing women into subordinate positions from which they have to bargain or negotiate new gender contracts. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/430 Files in this item: 1
Kalabamu_HI_2005.pdf (2.325Mb) -
Mosha, A.C. (Allen press, www.allenpress.com/ -, NaN, 1996)[more][less]
Abstract: In this paper we trace how Gaborone has grown from a very small village to the capital city of Botswana in a period of less than 30 years. Attention has been given to how careful design of master plan concepts has shaped the city and responded to the needs and aspirations of the residents. Through appropriate and enabling urban- development policies, standards and codes, a very amenable environment has been created. The city can boast of adequate and modern civic and commercial centers; modern functional infrastructure including water, electricity, roads and sewage systems; access to land for virtually all people; adequate housing provided by both the public and the private sectors and for the low income, the adoption of a very successful program of squatter upgrad- ing and self-help housing. Through careful management and development control practices, city growth has been contained quite well in spite of rapid development and the future of the city looks quite bright. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1061 Files in this item: 1
Mosha_AMBIO_1996.pdf (2.779Mb) -
Malumbela, G.; Alexander, M.; Moyo, P. (Elsevier http://www.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0958946508000784, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper presents a discussion on a paper authored by Chung et al. [Chung L, Najm H, Balaguru P. Flexural behaviour of concrete slabs with corroded bars. Cement Concr Compos 2008;30:184-93]. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/426 Files in this item: 1
Malumbela_CCC_2008.pdf (146.7Kb) -
Ngowi, A.B.; Mselle, P.C. (MCB University Press http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02632779810233511, November NaN, 1998)[more][less]
Abstract: By involving the beneficiaries of a facility such as housing or an irrigation scheme, at the various stages of the project, it is possible to build their capacity in relation to the facility, which may contribute to the sustainability of the project beyond the disbursement period. A study carried out in Botswana found that the intensity of community participation at the various stages of facility development is influenced by the complexity of the technology adopted and the willingness of the facility managers to involve the community from the early stages of the project. Based on these findings, this paper proposes a framework which may be followed to achieve this end. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/407 Files in this item: 1
Ngowi_Fac_1998.pdf (382.5Kb) -
Ngowi, A.B. (MCB University Press; Emerald Group Publishing Ltd; http://www.emeraldinsight.com/, NaN, 1997)[more][less]
Abstract: The design and construction of infrastructure facilities such as road network, water supply and sewage disposal in Botswana, have often been done in a top-bottom fashion where the government or local authority decides what is good for the community. While the design and construction of infrastructure facilities require technical knowledge, heavy equipment and proper supervision, their management hardly requires these resources to the same extent. This offers the beneficiaries of the facilities an opportunity to manage their day-to-day operations and maintenance. Reports on an approach adopted to engage the community in the management of local road network, water supply and sanitation in three major villages in Botswana. It analyses the method previously employed in managing these facilities and outlines the benefits which will accrue when this approach is fully operational. Concludes by underlining the fact that, for community-managed facilities to work, the people in the community need to participate in all the stages of the project (i.e. planning, design, construction and eventually maintenance). URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/257 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb) -
Ngowi, A.B. (MCB University Press. http//:www.emerald.library.com/ft, NaN, 2001)[more][less]
Abstract: The primary purpose of forming alliance in the construction industry is to pool together the resources of the participating partners in order to form a team that has a competitive advantage. Each partner in an alliance has its own competence and market share that do not necessarily fall under the alliance as common resources. Therefore, although the competitive advantage aimed at when forming an alliance is for common profits, each partner has a possibility of using it (the competitive advantage) for private profits (i.e. activities that do not fall under the alliance). Using a case study from Botswana, this paper argues that a construction alliances strives as long as the profits created by common activities are substantially higher that the ones that can be created by private activities. Once one of the partners in the alliance can create the competitive advantage in question on its own, it will opt out of the alliance through such mechanisms as withdrawing some of its key contributions to the alliance. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/344 Files in this item: 1
Ngowi_2001_JEIMngt.pdf (1.186Mb) -
Ngowi, A.B.; Iwisi, D.; Mushi, R. (Taylor and Francis Ltd. http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/09613218.asp, NaN, 2002)[more][less]
Abstract: Traditionally, competitive advantage has been based upon large-scale production and accumulation of large quantities of physical and financial assets. Large financially capable firms, particularly Multi-national Corporations (MNCs) and large construction firms create competitive advantages and sustain them through the use of such defence mechanisms as entry barriers and other competition-impeding features of industry structure. Small firms in developing countries, especially in Africa can hardly mobilize financial resources to match the MNCs and the large construction firms, nor can they employ similar defence mechanisms due to their lack of global reach.Using the construction industry in Botswana, the paper reports on a pilot study that investigated the factors that are crucial to creating constantly changing competitive advantage in the context of low financial resources. It concludes by emphasizing that firms operating in low financial contexts should create dynamic competitive advantages instead of imitating the strategies used by large financially capable firms. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/264 Files in this item: 1
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Bolaane, B. (July 2, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Public participation is considered the touchstone for the success of recycling schemes. In recognition of this, the trend in recycling policy and legislation is geared towards promoting people centred approaches in recycling with public education as the main driver towards increasing public participation. Most of the time, these initiatives do not take into consideration the perceptions and attitudes of the key stakeholders of municipal officials and the public towards waste recycling schemes. These perceptions and attitudes appear equivocal. This paper highlights the potential constraints to promoting people centred approaches in recycling and recommends some strategies that could mitigate them. The paper is based on a case of Gaborone and used household and key-informant interviews. The study found that, even though municipal officials in Gaborone are aware of the potential benefits of recycling, they appear not to embrace waste management reforms such as municipally organised recycling schemes amid their limited knowledge in organising such schemes. In addition, the study found that even though the public are aware of recycling, this does not necessarily translate into participation in recycling initiatives. Other factors such as limited economic direct economic incentives and absence of ‘visible’ recycling centres were found to limit participation in recycling initiatives. Further, the public are biased towards separating materials for recycling that have known markets and are of significant financial value. The paper concludes that while public education is important to raise awareness and enhance public participation in recycling, in Gaborone, such education must be complemented by direct incentives targeted to the participating public. To this end, the paper proposes a multi-stakeholder approach to recycling initiatives that involve NGOs, households, the private and public sectors to mitigate some of the above constraints. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/141 Files in this item: 2
bolaane _constraints.pdf (119.4Kb)license.txt (1.998Kb) -
Ssegawa, J.K. (University of Botswana, http://www.ub.bw, NaN, 1999)[more][less]
Abstract: By the turn of the century, Botswana will be 34 years old as an independent nation. Reflecting on the past, is a background of tremendous achievements from a socio-economic development perspective. The achievements could not have been possible if it was not for the contribution. The construction industry’s (CI) contribution to socio-economic development may be viewed from many areas, among them, creating employment, wealth and demand for manufactured goods, infrastructure and producing factors of production (e.g. office space, factory shells, roads, etc) for other sectors. However, the relationship between the general economy and the CI has not been established explicitly despite numerous studies. Using Botswana’s CI and the economy, some of the paradigms proposed in previous studies revisited. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/843 Files in this item: 1
Ssegawa_BJT_1999.pdf (1.185Mb) -
Ssegawa, J.K. (University of Botswana http://www.ub.bw, NaN, 1999)[more][less]
Abstract: By the turn of the century,Botswana will be 34 years old as an independent nation. Reflecting on the past, is a background of tremedous achievements from a socio-economic development perspective.The achievement could not have been possible if it was not for the contribution from the various sectors of the economy, such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing and of course, construction. The construction industry's (CI) contribution to socio-economic development may be viewed from many areas, among them, creating employment, wealth and demand for manufactured goods, infrastructure and producing factors of production(e.g. office space, factory shells, roads, etc.) for other sectors. However, the relationship between the general economy and the CI has not been established explicitly despite the numerous studies. Using Botswana's CI and the economy, some of the paradigms proposed in previous studies revisited. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/706 Files in this item: 1
Ssegawa_BJT_1999.pdf (1.950Mb) -
Oladiran, M. T. (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=13, August NaN, 1999)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper presents the results of an investigation to determine the level of continuing professional development (CPD) for engineers in developing countries. Questionnaires were administered randomly to engineers of different specialties. It was found that CPD for engineers in developing countries seems neglected. Experience and state of the art in the profession are, thus, not usually acquired in an organized fashion. Nevertheless, many of these engineers would support the introduction of continuing professional development at all levels of their careers. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/666 Files in this item: 1
Oladiran_IEEETE_1999.pdf (763.3Kb) -
Uziak, J.; Gizejowski, M. (University of Botswana, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: A new design developed by the authors that gives an opportunity to account for the interaction of different modes of buckling is presented.Eurocode 3 model is used as the reference model, an equivalent geometric imperfection comprising of an initial bow being equal to the length divided by 500 is used.The model is based on the design criterion referred to the individual chord components. It allows to avoid the application of complicated procedure based on an explicitly given imperfection parameter. It is achieved by a treatment of a chord local buckling mode between lacing connections in the same way as the plate buckling of chord sectional elements.The buckling design of the compound number can therefore be carried out in the same wayas for a single element provided that the stiffness of lacing members is properly taken care of. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/610 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_BJT_2009.pdf (1.086Mb)