Civil Engineering October 2021 | Vol 29 No 9

52 October 2021 Civil Engineering SA I CE & profess i onal news S AICE initiated the bridge building competition more than 29 years ago to further high school learners’ use of mathematics and science in an engineering context in order to grow the profession. It has since become an enor- mous success and is enjoyed by learners across the country. This year’s event was proudly sponsored by PERI, WBHO, BVi, JG Afrika, RiChem and SAASTA. The National Bridge Building Competition finals, organised by the SAICE National Office, brings the win- ners of local bridge building competitions from around the country, organised by SAICE’s regional branches, to a venue in Pretoria. This year schools came from as far afield as Bloemfontein, Durban, Ermelo, Kimberley, Pietermaritzburg, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Cape Town to fight for the much sought-after trophy and cash prizes. The bridges, adjudicated by a panel of engineers, were judged according to a system where design, correctness and aesthetics accounted for 30% of the total score, while the weight of the bridge and its weight carrying capacity made up the remaining score. The teams, after exchanging daytime T-shirts and tracksuits for school uniforms, gathered for an evening of nerve-racking testing of their bridges. Before the destruction, each team had to give a briefing on how the pandemic influenced their design. Excitement mounted, hopes soared and some dreams were shattered as one team after another brought their bridges forward for testing on the rigg. Each team’s bridge was tested to destruction to ascertain its weight-bearing capability. The winning school was HTS Kimberley with a bridge weighing 162 g which collapsed carrying a whopping weight of 162.5 kg. Their aesthetics score was 46.5 and their total points were 247.1. Brackenfell High School from Cape Town came second with a bridge weighing 135 g which failed at 111.9 kg. They had an extremely high aesthetics score of 58.5 and their total points came to 224.3. Hoërskool Jim Fouché from Bloemfontein placed third with their bridge weighing 149 g and carrying a load of 126.1 kg be- fore breaking. Their aesthetics score was 36 and their final points were 205.3. This competition provides an impor- tant career guidance opportunity. Because of its practical and hands-on nature, the event is SAICE’s most successful initiative in attracting learners from previously dis- advantaged rural schools, previous model C schools and private schools to civil en- gineering, as well as promoting a general awareness of the profession. Interestingly, the bridge building competition forms an integral part of some schools’ activities and is recognised at the same level as academic or sports achievements. THE COMPETITION The bridge building teams consist of three learners each. Each team must build a model bridge from dowel sticks, glue and string, according to a technical briefing. The event culminates in a bridge testing ceremony to determine the winners and is typically attended by representatives of the sponsors, parents and members of SAICE. This year, all the teams – representing learners from Grades 9 to 12 – arrived on Building bridges to success The finals of SAICE’s annual National Bridge Building Competition were held at the Saint George Hotel in Doornkloof, Pretoria on 27 August 2021 and saw the construction of bridges able to carry unexpectedly heavy weights. The winning team from HTS Kimberley: Devon Hodgson, Zander Burger and Charles Rouse The second place winners from Brackenfell High School: Philip Loubser, Anthony Oosthuizen and Mathys Botes