Council for Scientific and Industrial Research transport and freight logistics research group head Dr Jacomine Grobler has been awarded the 2015 JD Roberts Award for Emerging Researchers for her contribution to the development of mathematical models and optimisation algorithms for solving industrial engineering problems.

Grobler’s accomplishments included the development of a multi-objective algorithm for a complex real-world production scheduling problem, which was shown to outperform existing algorithms by up to 76%, resulting in a significant decrease in manufacturing and algorithm development costs.

Instituted by Murray & Roberts in 1980 in remembrance of one of the group’s founding fathers, Dr JD Roberts, the award recognised and encouraged scientific research into technology that promoted environmentally sustainable solutions to human living environment challenges.

Runner-up finalist Julius Komba was, meanwhile, recognised for his research which focused on road design, the advanced evaluation of road construction materials and the long-term performance monitoring of roads.

He was also involved in the implementation of high-modulus asphalt in South Africa and had participated in the evaluation of innovative road products, including ultrathin frictional course bituminous road surfacing.

Fellow finalist Vhahangwele Masindi was lauded for his development of an acid mine drainage treatment technology with a patent filed in the US, Canada and Argentina.

His areas of research included wastewater chemistry and treatment, acidic mine waste remediation and mine tailings rehabilitation.

The finalists’ research presentations were adjudicated based on the relevance and potential improvement to people’s quality of life; the innovation, uniqueness and distinction of the work; the potential uptake and practicality of the research in the relevant sector and the potential impact of the research.