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GWANDA STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF GEOMATICS AND SURVEYING

VINCENT GUMBO (G0207949T)

WORK RELATED LEARNING REPORT
PERIOD (JULY 2023 – MARCH 2024)

LEVEL 4 BEng IN GEOMATICS AND SURVEYING

THIS REPORT IS COMPILED AND SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND
ENVIRONMENT

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TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR:MR E CHIVANGA (Projects Manager)

ACADEMICSUPERVISOR: Eng C Musiiwa

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………...……………………………….4

1 BACKGROUND…………………………………………………………4
2 COMPANY OVERVIEW……………………………………………….6
3 PRODUCT/ SERVICE MARKETS……………………………………8
4 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE………………………………….11
5 ATTACHMENT ACTIVITIES………………………………………...14
6 CHALLENGES AND SOLLUTIONS…………………………………20
7 RESULTS AND FINDINGS……………………………………………22
8 DISCUSSIONS………………………………………………………….26
9 CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………………….28
10 RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………29
11 REFFERENCES………………………………………………………….33
12 APPEDICES……………………………………………………………….33

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Acknowledgements

I thank God Almighty for His grace that is sufficient for me. Without Him I would not be where
I am today.

I would like to thank Mr. L Makono and the Difflock construction company team for their
unlimited support in grooming me to be the company’s conversant Geomatics surveyor.

Thumbs up to the EGS department and my attachment supervisor Eng C Musiiwa for their
patience and tolerance in endowing me with the surveying awareness anyone would need.

Special thanks to my family and all my friends for their unwavering support.

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INTODUCTION

This attachment report documents the experiences, knowledge and skills gained during the
attachment period by the student. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the
tasks performed, challenges faced and lessons learned during the attachment. This report seeks to
give detail about the company and the student’s adaptation to the workplace as well as
compliments and recommendations to both the university and the company of placement.

BACKGROUND OF SURVEYING

Surveying has been a vital component in the evolution of human environment as early as
thousands of years back. A specific type of surveying known as land surveying is a
comprehensive technique, profession and science of accurately determining the terrestrial
position of points and the distances and angles between them by gathering information through
observations, measurements in the field or research of legal instruments and data analysis in the
support of planning, designing and establishing of property boundaries.

It involves the re-establishment of cadastral surveys and land boundaries based on documents of
records and historical evidence as well as certified surveys (as required by statute), of
subdivision maps, registered land surveys and space delineation. Land surveying includes
associated services such as mapping and related data accumulation, constructing layout surveys,
precise measurements of lengths, angle, elevation, area, volumes as well as horizontal and
vertical control surveys and the analysis and utilization of land survey data. Cadastral land
surveyors are licensed by the government.

During the work-related learning the student was heavily involved in engineering survey.
Industrial attachment plays a pivotal role to the surveying world. Equipping students from
college with work related experience gives them a glimpse of what to expect when the student
graduates and how to blend in the world outside the college. It also boasts the student’s
confidence in terms of being hands on and help them showcase or apply the theory part into real
practice.

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COMPANY OVERVIEW

Introduction

The first chapter gives a brief description of Difflock Construction; this includes company
background, vision, mission and organisational structure.

Background

Difflock Construction is a privately owned establishment that specializes in Construction and

civil works, Engineering and Topographical Surveys. It is located in the central business district
of Kwekwe. Difflock Construction was first established in 2017 by Mr. Langa Makono.
Combining cutting edge professional experience, comprehensive capabilities and extensive
research development in a diversified range of disciplines, Difflock Construction has been able
to provide sustainable value to organisations, individuals and communities driven by its mandate
to provide engineering services and accurate survey information to its various clients.

Difflock Construction is dedicated to customer service and that dictates the way the organization
provides solutions to all engineering surveying and construction problems. The Company has a
strong foundation, proficiency and strength because of a devoted team of experts with professional
experience, cutting edge surveying tools and techniques, thorough knowledge of local and regional
communities it operates in, adequate materials and equipment. The organisation has a workforce
consisting of the directors, construction manager, surveyors, drivers, operators, secretary and
casual workers.

Difflock Construction is a company which specializes in civil and construction engineering.

Surveying is the art, science, and technology of determining relative positions of natural and
man-made features on the earth’s surface and the representation of this information ether
graphically or numerically.
The organization has a strong hold in the following Geomatics fields:

Topographical surveys
These are surveys carried out to determine the relative positions of natural and man-made
features on the earth’s surface. The graphical representations of the features are shown on plans

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and maps. Spot heights and contours are added to show height differences. The information from
such maps can be used for decision making purposes. The terrain of the area can be shown in
three dimension using Digital Terrain Models. Plans are used for engineering design such as
sewer reticulation and drain designs by councils and relevant authorities.

Engineering surveys
Engineering Surveys involve all surveys carried out before, during and after any Engineering
work. It involves transferring measurements from the plan to their proposed positions on the
ground, which is known as setting out. Verticality, alignments as well as levels of the structures
are established and checked during and after the construction process. Engineering surveys may
involve making sure that a building or heavy machinery is placed in its proper position Bot
relatively and absolutely. The company is involved in the following Engineering surveys:

• Marking and setting out of buildings

• Volumetric surveys
• Marking and setting out of water and sewer reticulation routes
• Marking and setting out of roads
• Dam and bridge construction
• Buildings construction
• Road construction
• Servicing of residential and commercial stands

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED

Difflock Construction provides services in construction of roads, dams, sewer and water
reticulation, highway surveys, plant hire, supplies aggregate and supplies bituminous products as
well as providing topographic data in the form of maps which are of importance in decision
making for road designs, sewer and water reticulation. The Organization offers a variety of
construction and surveying solutions tailored to each client. The Organization also performs
volumetric calculations for dumps.

GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS

INDIVIDUAL LAND
MINES
OWNERS

DIFFLOCK
CONSRUCTION

LOCAL
ESTATE AGENCIES
GOVERNMENTS

PRIVATE LAND HOUSING

DEVELOPERS COOPERATIVES

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To all these sectors the services we provide are better explained as below: -

1. Topographical Surveys
Data acquisition using satellite imagery, aerial photographs, GPS surveys, and traditional survey
to produce maps and geo-spatial data for Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The maps can
be used for planning purposes, irrigation designs, road designs, water and sewer reticulation
networks designs.

2. Engineering surveys
i) 3 dimensional setting out of buildings, roads etc.
ii) Road construction and civil works
iii) Route surveys for roads, railways, water and sewer reticulation, power and telephone
lines
iv) 3-dimensional mapping of features such as mine dumps, as a basis for calculating
volumes and cut and fills in earth works
v) Monitoring structures such as buildings and dams for movements and deformations

3. Consultancy
i) With special emphasis on property development. These include property subdivisions,
Environmental Impact Assessments, Consolidations, change of use and providing
general advice on building plans for compliance with model building by-laws and town
planning legislation.

Corporate culture

The way in which an organization is run defines its corporate culture. The values and norms of
an organization form the basis of the culture.

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Unity of purpose: the organization has unity of purpose and love in the way it operates. Everyone
is concerned with the health and good working environment for others. They believe in team
work. When one employee encounters a problem, members get together and make contributions
in solving the problem at hand.

Time Management: timely targets are set by team leaders and everyone works flat-out to meet
the proposed deadlines. Employees at Difflock Construction are punctual. They are always at
work in good time unless there is a genuine problem faced which may result in delays.

Integrity and transparency: the organization believes that for it to prosper and perform well it
should have integrity. It does not tolerate any form of corruption and wrong doings which tarnish
the image of the company. Transparency is also observed. The Director updates the company on
any changes taking place within the Organization.

Respect: another key strength of the Organization is the respect among the workmates. Everyone
sees the other person as equally important and unique to the company. The Director also shows
respect even to the lowest level employee which on its own has made everyone feel at home.

High performance: individuals and teams concentrate on their work in trying to achieve superior,
innovative and encouraging results. Sometimes employees would work after-hours in order to
see the completion of a project with the expected quality of results.

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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

DIFFLOCK CONSTRUCTION (PVT) LIMITED

DIFFLOCK CONSTRUCTION is a company owned by Mr. L Makono which he established in

2013 after he Fruitstone private limited to open his own company. The company is situated in the
CBD at no. 13 Burma Road, Kwekwe.

Mr. L Makono is a holder of a BSC (Hons) in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance
at the Midlands State University.

The company was formed out of a passion to complement and improve where necessary existing
services offered by construction companies and offer the client a reliable and efficient service in
the field of geo-spatial information and construction industry It utilizes a combination of sound
project management, modern data acquisition techniques, communications and processing to
expedite all projects we undertake.

Under the leadership of Mr. Makono, the company has managed to acquire the following;

▪ Workshop in Kwekwe New Town

▪ 1 CAT excavator
▪ 5 25 tonnes Tipper Trucks
▪ 1 D6 CAT Bulldozer
▪ 1 CAT Backhoe Loader
▪ 1 CAT Front End Loader
▪ 1 CAT 140H Grader
▪ 1 Pneumatic roller
▪ 1 Iron Roller
▪ 1 20000 litres Water Bowser
▪ 4 water pumps
▪ 1 5kva Generator
▪ 2 plate compactors
▪ 16 brush cutters
▪ 2 Isuzu pick-up trucks single Cabs

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▪ 4 Isuzu double cab trucks

▪ 4 Laptops
▪ 1 Total Station
▪ 2 Automatic Dumpy level
▪ 1 GPS

Organisational structure

DIRECTOR

ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP

SURVEYOR MANAGER MANAGER

DRIVERS/OPERATOR SECRETARY
FOREMAN
S

CASUAL STAFF

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Mr. Makono who is the Director of the firm is responsible for the company management and
tendering of jobs, supervising and examination of all tender documents before submission to the
clients. He is also responsible for the assignment of tenders won to construction manager and the
surveyors. All personnel report back to the construction manager Mr. E Chivanga, who then
reports back to the company director Mr. Makono.
The construction manager, surveyor and workshop manager report directly to the Director. The
Secretary is responsible for the Administration and Financial Handling of the office matters, also
providing sufficient finances for the company and lastly is responsible for the handling of
confidential documents, banking, filing, handling the clients. The construction manager and the
surveyors are responsible for project management as well as supervising students and field
assistants. The drivers and operators report to both the surveyors and construction manager.
The casual workers report to the foreman.

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ATTACHMENT ACTIVITIES
During my Work-Related Learning period I learnt a whole lot of skills from the practical,
theoretical, technical, communication and many more

Technical skills

The student had continuous exposure to survey equipment namely Total Station, T2 Theodolite,
GPS. I also gained extensive knowledge of the Land Survey Regulations as these are consulted
for guidance in day-to-day survey work especially for in title surveys.

The major projects participated in while at Difflock Construction are as follows:

➢ Construction of 5km road Guyu Manama highway

This was one of the big projects the student was heavily involved from the inception stage up-to
the finishing stage.

The project scope consisted of construction of 5km stretch which consisted of earthworks of two
bases with a compacted base of 150mm thickness and stabilized with 2% cement.

Construction of all culverts within the section, priming, surfacing using tuck and seal composed
of 19mm aggregates for tuck and 10mm aggregates for seal.

Installation of signs and billboards. Road marking of the whole section.

Survey works included setting out of the whole section, putting up profiles along the section for
level control during and after construction of the road. Setting out of all curvets, road alignment,
guiding the operators during construction. Production of completion of works diagrams.
Calculations of dumping distances, measuring of stockpiles using a total station, calculation of
gravel needed for the whole project and also volumes of gravel needed per base. Marking of prime
line in preparation for surfacing. Determining the centre line during road marking.

The student had the opportunity to work hand in hand with the provincial survey officer in province
from the department of roads.

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This opportunity helped the student in mastering the concepts on how to conduct setting out of
highways thus the application of highway surveys and learnt from the college as he put it into
practice. The student also had the opportunity to learn how to do profile boning.

During this period the student had the opportunity to use different survey equipment such as GPS,
total station dumpy level and a theodolite.

Below is some of the projects the student was involved in during his period at the organisation;

➢ Construction and rehabilitation of 2.4km Kwekwe Aveni road

➢ Setting out and construction of the Victoria Falls access road 4.3Km

➢ Servicing stands in Gweru Thornhill suburbs

➢ Relocation of stands in Gweru Thornhill

➢ Alignment of Gokwe north road Chitekete-Simchembo road

The student had an opportunity to work with the new advanced technologies especially in the
Kwekwe Amaveni road. This project involved the use of the advanced construction equipment
called reclaimer and a paver. These two machines are used in the construction of roads. The
reclaimer can recycle a tared road without having the need to scrap away the tar so as to
rehabilitate the old worn-out tar. Whilst the paver is there for surfacing as it used to lay hot
asphalt as it is the new standard used worldwide. It produces a strong and durable tared road.

The student used various survey methods in collaboration with civil engineering concepts.

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Just like every procedure when conducting surveys, it is also the same concepts used even in
engineering surveys. These activities played a great role in achieving the main goals of the
student’s work-related learning and the theory learnt at college. This helped in grasping the
technical aspect of survey field. It empowered the student with the know-how on the handling
and operation of survey instruments. The attachment created opportunities for the student to meet
different stakeholders including very influential public figures like the minister of transport and
infrastructure development, the provincial road engineer, minister of local government among
others.

The other key point was that the student had the opportunity to work with the drone from the
department of roads as they were doing a topo survey on the other section of the road. These
activities contributed immensely in the application of the theory acquired at college and
practicing in the real world. It helped the student with relating what was taught at college versus
reality.

Below are the basic survey procedures before carrying out any surveys;

Preparation of a project

Data Searches

Before carrying out any survey, a Surveyor shall provide himself with all available information
in respect of any previous surveys of the piece of land to be surveyed and of the adjoining pieces
of land. This information is obtained from the Department of the Surveyor General’s office and
any other relevant government departments. One has to know the district and/or compilation for
the area to be surveyed.

The required information usually comes in the form of co-ordinate lists, working plan, general
plans or diagrams. The student was privileged to do data searches for some of the jobs done at
Difflock Construction.

Field Work

Reconnaissance

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This is when one maneuvers through an area to be worked upon to find out if the data, he has to
agree with what is on the ground and also coming up with the best method to carry out a
particular survey. One has to come up with the method of establishing control, taking into
account the visibility of control stations to each other as well as to the beacons to be surveyed or
placed.

Establishing control by GPS

Using Localization

It is a process of bringing control using a GPS in which one opens a cot file known as
Localization file and he corrects the GPS Rover so as to bring control from the whole to the part,
Usually more than three Trigs are used when localizing so the Surveyor have to visit all the trigs
and add their positions fixed on the GPS to the cot file after that he applies Localization and to
check if Localization was perfectly done the Surveyor checks the position of any trig station
which are near.

Using Parameters of the Trig Stations

After depicting the farm or area you want to survey on a 1: 50000 map you can point out the Trig
stations you want to use in bringing control and then you can get the parameters of the Trig
Stations and then you will use one Trig station for correcting and then you can check with any
other Trigs though this method is not highly recommended.

By A Total Station

Using traversing

The control was established by traversing through the area to be worked on. Traversing involves
measuring distance and direction from one point to another in a sequential manner so as to
determine coordinates of such points. Both loop and link traverses were used. The traverses for
cadastral work always start from a trig beacon, town survey mark or beacon from a previously

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approved survey while orienting to at least two known points. Double polars (polar check polar)
were sometimes used as control points as well as check stations. In some cases check stations
were fixed as points on line.

Calculations

The calculations are done using Surpac software. Sometimes the coordinates we get from the
data searches may be in Cape Feet or English Feet and there is need to convert them to the metric
system using given scale factors. Joins between trigs or stations and beacons to be searched for
are calculated. Sometimes there is need to do data traverses (sequential polars) to coordinate
beacons whose coordinates are not written in the coordinate list.

Major conversions were carried out using these conversion factors

cape feet - metres = 0,3148355575

English feet – metres = 0,304799472

Cape roots - metres = 3,7782669

Survey of beacons of parent property

The coordinates of the beacons of the parent property are derived from performing data traverses
or transformations depending on the previous survey, after that the beacons of the area under
survey are searched. A comparison sketch for the beacons found can be drawn. From the
comparison a beacon is adopted if the difference is within the allowable range or else it is
rejected if the beacon was destroyed, removed or tempered with it is replaced. A minimum of
three beacons from the same survey are required for a comparison sketch,

Placing beacons

In Township surveys after computing the placing data joins, drafting of the pegging plan
deriving it from the layout plan is done. If a Total Station is being used to place the beacons,
beacons are then placed from stations and checked from a station/check station. When placing
and checking these beacons, at least two orientations are required. If a GPS used coordinates of
block corners are extracted from the DXF /DWG file. Block corners are placed and intermediate

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beacons are placed by line running. Line running is good enough to check the block corners
provided the direction to the other block corner is checked. In farm surveys the subdivision plan
and existing developments determine how the beacons are going to be placed on the ground.

Running lines

It is usually performed when placing beacons which are in straight line from one block corner to
another. Directions need to be checked first before running the line to avoid running a wrong
line. Orientation using the longest line is required. Before running lines, proper planning is
needed to minimize the number of set ups as well as verifying the block corners. Running the
lines can be done using a Total Station or GPS. Use of signs in communicating is very important
when the distance is so long that shouting is no longer useful.

Office work

After field work there is need to prepare Survey Records that is for cadastral surveys, to be
submitted to the surveyor general’s offices.

According to Section 66 of the Land Survey (General) Regulations consists:

• THE FIELD BOOK

• COORDINATE LIST
• CALCULATIONS
• CONSISTENCES
• DSG
• DIAGRAM CHECKLIST
• REPORT ON SURVEY
• GENERAL PLAN CHECKLIST
• SUBMISSION LETTER

However, in the case of engineering surveys office work will include the production of base
maps from topo survey, designing of road designs, water and sewer reticulations, calculations
and reports writing.

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Challenges and Solutions

The student faced a number of challenges like in the case of the access road in Victoria falls.
They were a number of challenges faced during that period namely; the extreme temperatures.
Temperatures would go as high as 39 degrees Celsius therefore it made hard to work with the
total station as it was affected by the excessive heat. The machine would have a lot of errors it
caused a lot of delays. The student could only manage to work during the early hours of the
morning for at most 5 hours.

The heat also affected the stuff members as the site was a bit far from the water source people
suffered from dehydration and severe headaches. This challenge was resolved by adjusting the
working hours and getting hydrated. Working in the early hours of the morning helped a lot in
terms of accuracy as the temperatures were so conducive and favorable for the total station. The
student and the rest of the survey team had to maximize on the time frame and move at a greater
pace so as to meet the project’s timeline.

They were also an issue of terrain it was bush and had gorges along the way so navigating was a
bit of a hustle. They were also need for bush clearing so that the setting out of the road was
possible and also placing beacons of the road. It took the team longer than expected to finish the
job. The student and the team also faced the issue of conflict of interest as the new road was
cutting through some of the locals’ fields. It caused a lot of noise and dragged the project
backwards as it caused some commotion. However, the issue was then resolved by engaging
with the locals through the project client which was the Hwange Rural District Council in
conjunction with the headman and traditional leaders. After a series of consultation, the situation
come under control as all parties reached a mutual agreement. The local leaders demanded that
they should be rituals done because it is in their tradition that they should seek permission first
before carrying out any project in the area.

They were also issues of language barrier as most of the locals only spoke native languages the
Nambian language. The student through their team leader had to hire one of the locals to work
with as their translator. This helped in the fluidity in communication. The translator played a
pivotal role in every case that needed some explanation to the locals. These experiences helped

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the student a lot in public relations and liaising with the stakeholders involved. This was a great
experience for the student as it made it easier for him when they did the Gokwe Chitekete
project. This project was almost similar to the Victoria Falls one as they both had the same
challenges. The team had to carry out their research well and get every stakeholder involved
during the consultations. This made the whole process smooth and fluid. From public relations to
technical aspects like working with the instruments in favorable condition due excessive
temperatures just like those at Victoria Falls.

Advice to other fellow students who are on the journey of getting an attachment is that they
should be prepared to work under pressure, harsh weather conditions, good communication skills
and also being humble and attentive to all instructions given. These were the challenges with was
faced by the student during his period on attachment.

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RESULTS AND FINDINGS

During this period of work-related learning, the student has since developed a lot, both
personally and professionally.

Being able to learnt how to use Surpac, GIS softwares and AutoCAD Surveying softwares. Most
of the office work requires the use of these softwares. Diagrams and topographic maps can be
drawn using the above-mentioned software applications. He has found AutoCAD being faster as
well as more flexible to use than Surpac for drawings. With AutoCAD joins and polars can also
be calculated.

With the use of the Survey Regulations, my supervisor also had to clarify some concepts behind
choosing a certain method to solve a problem at hand. Thus, he is now able to tackle different
problems with minimum supervision. The field work also involved the strict observation of Land
Survey Regulations.

Personal developments

Strengths

During the work-related learning period, it boasted quite a number of strengths which are
outlined below:

a) Ability to work under pressure, manage a demanding workload and bit tight deadlines

Some of the projects were done within a limited timeframe. This meant the student had to work
tirelessly to meet the expected deadlines while the quality of the work is not compromised. From
this experience he is now able to work under pressure and still produce good results.

b) Good personal and interaction skills

Having worked with people at different levels within the organization, the student has learnt and
managed to interact well with everyone. he also had good relations with the team when he was in
the field. This was done so as to avoid conflicts which may retard progress. Through these good
relations he has gained respect from the teams he has worked with.

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c) Quick data analysis and interpretation skills

Every new survey is linked to another previous survey. Before doing any new survey, one has to
collect and analyze data from the previous survey. From the exposure the student is now able to
examine and interpret the data, accurately and providing solutions quickly.

d) Ability to work efficiently and within resources

At times the rate of doing work depends on the resources available as well as the environment in
which one is working in. Survey work can be done in thick bushes in farms or in developed
townships. The student adapted to working in all environmental conditions exposed to. With the
equipment at hand, he is able to carry out a survey using a theodolite and a tape as good as when
using a Total Station or a GPS set and still produce good results. In that respect the student was
taught to work efficiently and within resources so as to minimize on time and maximize on
profits without compromising quality.

e) Ability to communicate and liaise with a wide range of clients

During the attachment, the student would be asked to attend to clients who may need
explanations on how we do our surveys in regards to their projects as well as giving quotations.
He was therefore exposed to a wide range of clients representing different Organizations, farmers
and business people. Through this exposure, he developed the ability to communicate well with a
wide range of clients.

f) Commitment and passion for my work

Survey work requires commitment, self-motivation and patience. The job involves a lot of
traveling as well as calculations. Sometimes you spend weeks away from home or even have
sleepless nights to meet the targets. It robs you of time from your social life, so if you don’t
develop a deep liking for surveying you would end up enduring your profession instead of
enjoying it.

g) Ability to adapt to suit circumstances and organizational demands

Coming to Difflock Construction, the student found that the company had its principles, rules
and the way it operated. However, it should be said that he did not find any difficulty in adapting

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and getting into the new system. He worked in different environments with unique challenges
but developed a fluid-like ability to circumstances and was able to meet Organizational demands.
Also in an Organization, employees are placed at different levels. The student is now able to fit
himself at the right level, submitting himself to superiors as well as leading those on lower
levels.

h) Sound understanding and appreciation of the Surveying profession and production

environments

At college most of the learning is mostly classroom based which does not suffice to give a full
understanding of what surveying is all about. During the attachment the student developed a
sound understanding of surveying through the various projects he was involved in. He also made
trips to the Surveyor General’s office to make data searches and conducted site visits on behalf
of the company.

i) Leadership and supervision

The had the opportunity to lead a survey team. From these occasions, he has learnt a lot of skills
in where he was able to work with the team without difficulties. A team involves people with
different interests as well as different opinions, hence he had to make decisions in such a way
that everyone is motivated and maximize performance. As a leader he would explain to the team
how they will work and the expected target for the day. The student would listen to their
suggestions and make changes if the suggestions are profitable to the organization.

j) Ability to organize and prioritize

When having many tasks at hand the student had to make priorities which would not cost the
organization. Prioritizing is the ability to choose things in their order of importance. Survey work
involves a lot of things to be done. One has to tackle a problem from the central point such that
more things are covered at one go. Prioritizing go hand in hand with time. Certain things have
precedence over others at a particular time in a project.

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j) Ability to work with minimum supervision

The student is now able to work with minimum supervision. The self-motivation in him
allowed him to work hard and produce results within a reasonable timeframe.

Weaknesses

The following were weaknesses most of which however the student only had during his early
days at Difflock Construction:

The student occasionally procrastinated, but when finally decided to do the task at hand, he did it
within the time limit. The consciousness that time cannot be stopped, recycled or stored made me
surmount this imperfection.

The student had no rest or peace of mind when tasks are not done within the required time frame.

At times the student was slow in performing tasks especially during the early days of attachment.
Setting up the instrument, making observations and carrying out calculations were things he
could not do with great speed. However, through continued use and the will to learn he later
overcame the huddle.

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RE-ENTRY/DISCUSSION

The student has matured to a greater extent that he is now a different person with needs and
capabilities that have changed. This is because being in the Geomatics field has affected him
personally as an individual as well as a student. Above all he has made new friends; been able to
relate and work with the public; met, worked and engaged professionals of the survey industry and
engineering. In regards to the public the student now knows how to handle pressure when working
with the people especially during conflict handling, meetings amongst many other occasions, the
student has since developed capabilities in this regard has been greatly enhanced.

The superior Mr. Makono has influenced the student a lot and has motivated him to want to seek
a career as an engineering surveyor, the student now wants to achieve what he has and more and
have grown to admire engineering surveys field through his extensive travels and adventures
working in his organization, in simpler terms a total change of thought of who the student wants
to be. Before the student started work related learning, he was just a student with theoretical
knowledge and little exposure to the reality of survey work but being able to be exposed to
instrumentation; calculation and tackling different survey tasks on an almost day to day basis;
being able to deal and handle the pressures of deadlines and misclosures on and off the field has
tested many aspects of his capabilities and put them at another level higher than he was before the
work-related learning.

He now needs to keep on to better himself through practice of all that he has learnt in the period
of work-related learning which he considers the main goal. The student can now without any doubt
use and manipulate survey software that is Surpac and AutoCAD in the preparation of survey
record for most if not all types of surveys.

Experience gained from learning will greatly enhance the student learning when he resumes his
final year mainly in the projects that he shall undertake as fulfillment of his degree. The student
appreciation of the theoretical knowledge of survey will be more since it helped him a lot in his
placement period thus, he shall be more attentive and will desire to master the concepts in this
regard.

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Another aspect is that the student shall not struggle learning things that he would have undertaken
during placement hence increasing the student’s understanding capabilities and enhancing
learning. Also with practical experience, it becomes easier for me to comprehend and
conceptualise final year theories and even the objectives will become clearer. The attachment
period enhances a good approach to final year studies with a practically oriented background. Of
more importance in the context of further studies industrial experience promotes a wider and
clearer perception of the survey profession and yields a better understanding of the theories by
referencing to the technical skills acquired the last aspect would be that of maturity, he conducts
with his lecturers and seniors will be enhanced in the positive as he has learnt that it is of paramount
importance to do so thus making learning to be easier and more indulging.

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CONCLUSION

Review of degree programme and work-related learning experience

Stinger (2011) defines theory as an idea and hypothesis which explains something while practise
is an exercise and application that translate an idea into action. Relating to the modules the student
did at college, he managed to integrate the theory learnt there and the practical learnt during his
work-related learning. They were considerable similarities on what he did during first years of
college at practicums and at Difflock Construction. These include traversing, relocations,
reconnaissance and parent property monument search, although he found their applicability during
work related learning. In short, the student can say that the work-related learning period has been
a relevant exercise according to the BSC Engineering in Geomatics and Surveying degree
requirements.

In conclusion, work related learning played a vital role in grooming and exposing the student to
the real world of working in a professional company as far as the degree of Geomatics and
surveying is concerned. It also enlightened him to the reality of the survey profession. This was
achieved through a professional practical approach by Difflock Construction. Through work
related learning, the student can now have a better understanding and appreciation of the program.
His period at Difflock Construction has helped groom his confidence levels and he can be a
competent surveyor after completing his degree program.

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Recommendations

The student noticed certain issues both at Difflock Construction and at the EGS department at
college that may need to be addressed.

Difflock Construction

• The student strongly recommends the company to buy plotters which can print and
photocopy diagrams, working plans, layout plans and general plans which will be on A0,
A1, A2 and A3 since we only have printers for A4 papers.
• He also recommends the company to buy technologically advanced total stations (Robotic
total stations) which will minimise the number of survey hands needed and which are also
fast.
• The company should also get the licensed Surpac software which has got many applications
than the one it is using. The licensed Surpac is fast and efficient and can also do functions
AutoCAD does and even more.
• The Director must make it a point that the survey equipment such as Total Stations and
GPSs are calibrated regularly to avoid errors during field work.

Gwanda State University

• The department must increase on the practical work for students so that they get used to
the field work because the actual survey is much difficult than the practicum students held
at school.
• The student recommend that the University buy more computers and relevant survey
software’s for surveying
• The University should also buy this new technology when it comes to surveying equipment
so that students get well versed with what they would find at work places.

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• Educational trips to different surveying firms, mines and construction companies should
be embarked on as this helps the student get the feel of the work environment beforehand.

In conclusion, work related learning played a vital role in grooming and exposing the student to
the real world of working in a professional company as far as the degree of Geomatics and
surveying is concerned. It also enlightened him the reality of the survey profession. This was
achieved through a professional practical approach by Difflock Construction. Through work
related learning, the student now has a better understanding and appreciation of the program. The
student’s period at Difflock Construction has helped groom his confidence levels and will be a
competent surveyor after completing his degree program.

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SUMMARY

To sum up all that have been learnt during his period of work-related learning. The student is
grateful to the survey camps that were done during the first year up to third year. They helped the
student to experience everything not as totally new but as a recollection and improvement of
something that has been done before. Without this prior training the student would have been in a
hard situation to adjust in the first few months. He also faced some challenges over the work-
related learning period, but managed to tackle the problems faced using the skills acquired from
different elements of the degree programme.

In the organization he was usually divided into teams that is survey hands and this is usually a
problem since he was a student. Handling man power of a group people can be difficult but he
eventually managed to tackle that problem. During the fieldwork the student had to cooperate and
work together as a team to reduce time and hence progression of project. The student acquired this
skill of working as a team leader during the survey camps as well. Another case was when a lot of
work would pile up, especially office work, being used to the pressure at university that is
assignments and all this played a pivotal role in being able to handle such cases because of this.

It also aided the student’s skills in time management. There were also situations when he was
tasked to do something that he had not done before and did not know, but had to learn through and
mostly research on his own. It was not difficult for the student to deal with challenges of this kind
because even at university they were used to finding own way and fending for themselves through
research and the like.

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Supervisor (Mr. L. M N MAKONO)

Signature……………………………………

Director

Student (Vincent Gumbo G0207949T)

Signature………………………………………

Student

Lecturer (Eng C Musiiwa)

Signature………………………………………

Academic Supervisor

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Students, Butterworth-Hieneman Ltd. Oxford.

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