For this assignment, you need to demonstrate your understanding of Building Information Modelling (BIM) emphasizes proactive and preventative maintenance to maximize the operational efficiency of equipment.

Debate and answer the following based on the brief scenarios :

1. South Africa has the best rail infrastructure in Africa. However, rail (freight and passenger) and port capacity shortages remain a severe constraint in domestic and regional trade, even in the currently constrained business environment. The South African Government has announced plans to spend R900 billion by 2027 on transportation infrastructure, although project implementation has been slow and may be reviewed to ensure good governance and sustainability.

The insufficiency maintenance of the existing infrastructure has been highlighted as the key contributor to the current state of railway infrastructure. A need to have planned and preventative maintenance will prolong infrastructure assets not deteriorated faster than anticipated. Infrastructure facilities that are in good working order are either overloaded, no longer operational or in need of a complete renewal or replacement. After conducting further research, describe how will you make use Building information modelling (BIM) for proactive and preventative maintenance to maximize the operational efficiency of railway infrastructure or equipment (30).

2. Railways are a climate-smart and efficient way to move people and freight. Make use of value chain knowledge and discuss in details on why we aggressively need to expanded the railway to promote economic growth while cutting greenhouse gas emissions? (40) Note: Consider use of sustainable energy at the station/ Energy-efficient rail, Low-emission rail, Regional differences, High-speed rail, Freight expansion and where possible support by means of diagram.

3. With reference to our passenger rail transport in South Africa identify different methods of measuring performance in the value chain from the customer perspective (30) . Note: consider mainly price, availability and reliability of service.

[Total 100 marks]

Your answers to the above will be assessed in terms of the level of communication displayed, the insights and inferences drawn, and your ability to show the implications of the factors that you have assessed and discussed. An answer that merely gives a list of events that have happened or a synopsis of a situation, without showing insight into the reasons and results, will not earn good marks. Your method of referencing must consistently follow the augmented Harvard method. Annexures can be used to highlight additional information.