Star Matsongoni
The installation of monitoring
systems at Great Zimbabwe monuments meant to give feedback on the movement of
walls started recently and is in progress at the world heritage site.
systems at Great Zimbabwe monuments meant to give feedback on the movement of
walls started recently and is in progress at the world heritage site.
Lovemore Mandima who is the director
of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) Southern Region said they
had been using a manual system to monitor the movement of the walls so as to
detect the movements which could lead to the collapse of the walls.
of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) Southern Region said they
had been using a manual system to monitor the movement of the walls so as to
detect the movements which could lead to the collapse of the walls.
He said this was the
implementation stage after a long consultation program since the funds were
released towards the project.
implementation stage after a long consultation program since the funds were
released towards the project.
“We have been doing consultations
and the first stage was to identify experts for the various components of the
project. In March and April we had a team of two conversation specialists
coming in to have a feasibility study on that aspect of the project
and the first stage was to identify experts for the various components of the
project. In March and April we had a team of two conversation specialists
coming in to have a feasibility study on that aspect of the project
In May we had monitoring
specialist who came in to have another feasibility study and now this is the
implementation study using the reports produced by the studies,” said Mandima.
specialist who came in to have another feasibility study and now this is the
implementation study using the reports produced by the studies,” said Mandima.
He went on to say they were not
going to abandon the manual system but will use both as they each have its
strengths.
going to abandon the manual system but will use both as they each have its
strengths.
“We were using the manual system
of measuring where we would measure if there is any movement from the previous
day on weekly basis. We also used the general eye to detect the movement on the
walls so as to take action” said Mandima.
of measuring where we would measure if there is any movement from the previous
day on weekly basis. We also used the general eye to detect the movement on the
walls so as to take action” said Mandima.
Mandima said he was happy to have
finally kick started the project as it is going to make it easier to do the
monitoring since the new system does not require a person to be physically be
on the ground.
finally kick started the project as it is going to make it easier to do the
monitoring since the new system does not require a person to be physically be
on the ground.
“This one is going to be very
handy though we are not leaving the manual one. The manual one could be
affected by weather for instance our guys would be affected by rains and could
not do the readings at the required time and intervals but the electronic
system will do the work for it cannot be affected by weather,” said Mandima
handy though we are not leaving the manual one. The manual one could be
affected by weather for instance our guys would be affected by rains and could
not do the readings at the required time and intervals but the electronic
system will do the work for it cannot be affected by weather,” said Mandima
Cristiano Russo structure
engineer from Italy said the system will automatically sent the necessary information
after every four hours every day and it works in all types if weather
conditions.
engineer from Italy said the system will automatically sent the necessary information
after every four hours every day and it works in all types if weather
conditions.
“We have managed to install 16
monitoring systems around the wall, the systems are able to detect 0,005
millimeters of movement and they are flexible when it comes to weather
conditions” Said Russo
monitoring systems around the wall, the systems are able to detect 0,005
millimeters of movement and they are flexible when it comes to weather
conditions” Said Russo
A laser scanner was also put in
place, to provide a three dimensional (3D) view, which help to have the exact
view of the building and in case of collapse they can rebuild it the exact way
and it also enables the staff to see around the wall while in their offices.
place, to provide a three dimensional (3D) view, which help to have the exact
view of the building and in case of collapse they can rebuild it the exact way
and it also enables the staff to see around the wall while in their offices.
The funds of this project was
granted to the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) by the United
States Government through World Monument Fund (WMF) the fund amounted to US$
475,000 it was handed over by the US ambassador Brian Nichols to the provincial
minister Ezra Chadzamira on November 28, 2018.
granted to the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) by the United
States Government through World Monument Fund (WMF) the fund amounted to US$
475,000 it was handed over by the US ambassador Brian Nichols to the provincial
minister Ezra Chadzamira on November 28, 2018.
Part of the funds is meant for the
control of the lantana camara which is threatening the walls and Mandima said
after finishing the monitoring project they will then start doing the
feasibility study on the lantana Camara issue.
control of the lantana camara which is threatening the walls and Mandima said
after finishing the monitoring project they will then start doing the
feasibility study on the lantana Camara issue.
