SKA Meerkat Extension

Designing and constructing the world’s largest radio astronomy telescope: Reaching for the stars through technical excellence.

Client

South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)

Project date

2023

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope is the world’s largest radio astronomy telescope, set to revolutionise our understanding of the universe. The MeerKAT Extension project expanded the existing MeerKAT array in South Africa with 20 additional dishes and established the first four dishes for the SKA-MID Array. This mega-science project represents a monumental step forward in astronomy, giving scientists the ability to map the universe with unprecedented sensitivity, speed, and scope.

The opportunity

Delivering a project of this scale required overcoming extraordinary challenges. The MeerKAT Extension demanded precision engineering to meet strict requirements for foundation stiffness, movement tolerances, and orientation. The site’s remoteness, vastness, and extreme sensitivity to radio frequency interference (RFI) introduced further complexity, necessitating innovative and unconventional approaches throughout design and construction.

What we did

Zutari was appointed to oversee the design and construction, which included preliminary and detailed design, verification, and construction monitoring for the dish foundations. The scope also covered the provision of power and fibre networks for long-distance data transmission, as well as the development of access roads, platforms, an RFI-shielded container, offices, a kitchen, and a fully equipped construction camp.

The construction camp accommodated 250 people and included essential services such as a water supply system and a wastewater treatment plant. Zutari’s multidisciplinary team, comprising structural, geotechnical, roads, electrical, fibre, water, and project management specialists, collaborated seamlessly across offices and the remote site.

To meet the stringent technical standards, Zutari employed advanced 3D numerical modelling to simulate ground behaviour and assess stiffness under varying soil conditions. By developing a full 3D geological model, the team was able to predict rock levels and ground performance with high precision, even in areas where data was limited.

Due to RFI restrictions, no digital devices or unapproved vehicles were permitted on-site. This constraint required the team to devise creative, non-digital alternatives for several construction activities, ensuring compliance without compromising quality or safety.
Advanced 3D modelling enabled the team to meet the project’s strict stiffness and alignment requirements, despite challenging ground conditions.

The outcome

Zutari successfully delivered a technically complex and scientifically significant project that lays the foundation for the world’s largest radio telescope. The work demonstrates the capability and growth of South African companies in delivering global-scale science and technology infrastructure. The project also showcases Zutari’s ability to unite diverse disciplines to solve complex engineering problems through innovation, technical excellence, and collaboration.

The SKA MeerKAT Extension is not only a triumph of engineering but also a symbol of Africa’s contribution to global science. Zutari’s involvement in this project underscores its commitment to pioneering solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible, both on Earth and beyond the stars.

By combining advanced modelling, ingenuity, and teamwork, Zutari helped turn a scientific vision into reality

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