What We Do

GroundTruth offers a wide range of services, where we can act as project and research leaders, specialist environmental, engagement, and engineering consultants, or as implementation partners. Within all our work, we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards.

We have a focus on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and collaborate with local and international industries, mining companies, consultants, developers, and government agencies. Our comprehensive suite of services includes river health and water quality assessment, research, wetland delineation, conservation and restoration, environmental engineering solutions, environmental support to the mining industry, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV drone) operations, GIS and biophysical spatial planning, ecological water requirements (EWR) / reserve determination / environmental flows (e-flows) studies, hydrological assessments, advanced freshwater ecosystem modeling, aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity assessment and monitoring, spill management, corporate social engagement, and development and sale of industry tools.

On this page you can see a detailed range of the kind of services we offer, roughly split into the three main spheres we work in (Built Environment, Natural Environment, Community & Citizen Science). However, the various specialists at GroundTruth work synergistically, with a lot of our work crossing boundaries between these services. We specialize in connecting these services and collaborating both locally and internationally for a holistic approach to any project, initiative, or challenge.

Also, if you do not see the specific service you are looking for here, that might not mean we do not offer that service or would not be willing to take on the challenge of something new. We are always open to innovation and fresh ideas and challenges!

Our Spheres of Service

Services-Built-Environment

Built Environment

We do planning, analysis, system design, optimization, modelling, mapping, and corporate-social engagement in urban, peri-urban, and agro-forestry environments.
Services-Natural-Environment

Natural Environment

We perform a wide range of ecological services in natural and semi-natural environments, including wetland, biodiversity, and riverine assessments, etc.
Services-Community-and-Citizen-Science

Community & Citizen Science

Co-development of tools, initiatives, and events regarding citizen science water resource monitoring, community and stakeholder engagement, and environmental education.

Where We Have Worked

Publications

GroundTruth stays at the cutting edge of research and development. Take a look at our list of publications to see our presence in the literature and across different media.

Sewage leaks put South Africa’s freshwater at risk: how citizen scientists are helping clean up.

14 March 2024. The Conversation Africa.

Graham, P.M., Pattinson, N.B., and Taylor, J.

Clarity tubes as effective citizen science tools for monitoring wastewater treatment works and rivers.

2024. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 00, 1–10.

Taylor, J., Pattinson, N.B., and Graham, P.M.

Heroes of environmental stewardship.

20 February 2024. IWMI Blog.

Garcia, A., Scheibenreif, M., and Keil, L.

A Perspective of Water Quality in South Africa.

10 January 2024. YEMAYA: Newsletter of the WWQA.

Taylor, J., Pattinson, N.B., and Graham, P.M.

Digital innovation in citizen science to enhance water quality monitoring in developing countries. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

2023. International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. 40p. (IWMI Working Paper 210).

Pattinson, N.B., Taylor, J., Dickens, C.W.S., and Graham, P.M.

The enviro-champs: Establishing a framework for a technologically upgraded environmental monitoring network at community scale. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

2023. International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. 19p.

Pattinson, N.B., Taylor, J., Lepheana, A.T., Dickens, C.W.S., and Graham, P.M.

Digitally improving the identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates for indices used in biomonitoring. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

2023. International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. 10p.

Koen, R.C.J., Koen, F.J., Pattinson, N.B., Dickens, C.W.S., and Graham, P.M.

Digital innovation with miniSASS, a citizen science biomonitoring tool. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

2023. International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. 31p.

Pattinson, N.B., Russell, C., Taylor, J., Dickens, C.W.S., Koen, R.C.J., Koen, F.J., and Graham, P.M.

Millions of litres of poo a day never even reach SA’s failing, underserviced sewage plants.

10 August 2023. Daily Maverick.

Graham, P.M., Pattinson, N.B., and Still, D.

Deployment of citizen science could have helped avoid the Hammanskraal cholera crisis.

22 June 2023. Daily Maverick.

Graham, P.M.

Empowering disenfranchised communities through citizen science.

10 November 2023. NRF-SAEON eNews.

Gule, N., Tshabalala, G., and Sithole, N.

Artificial intelligence-based biomonitoring of water quality. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

2023. International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. 32p.

Pattinson, N.B., Koen, R.C.J., and Koen, F.J.

Social change innovations, citizen science, miniSASS and the SDGs.

2022. Water Policy, 24(5), 708–717.

Lotz-Sisitka, H., Ward, M., Taylor, J., Vallabh, P., Madiba, M., Graham, P.M., Louw, A.J., and Brownell, F.

Co-researching transformation within training processes in a post COVID-19 world: The case story of the Palmiet Enviro-Champs, indigenous knowledge practices and Action Learning. In I. Kulundu-Bolus, G. Chakona, & H. Lotz-Sisitka (Eds.), Stories of collective learning and care during a pandemic.

2021. Reflective research by practitioners, researchers and community-based organisers on the collective shifts and praxis needed to regenerate transformative futures (pp. 55–82). Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures (TESF) and the Rhodes University (RU) Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC).

Lepheana, A.T., Russell, C., and Taylor, J.

Development of citizen science water resource monitoring tools and communities of practice for South Africa, Africa and the world.

2018. Water Research Commission (WRC) Report No. TT 763/18, Pretoria, South Africa. 

Graham, P.M., and Taylor, J.

How are learning and training environments transforming with ESD?

2018. In A. Leicht, J. Heiss, & W.J. Byun (Eds.), Issues and Trends in Education for Sustainable Development (pp. 111–131). United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

O’Donoghue, R., Taylor, J., and Venter, V.

Enviro-Champs: Community mobilization, education and relationship building.

2016. In C. Breen (Ed.), Resilience by Design: A Selection of Case Studies (pp. 14–15). International Water Security Network and Monash University. 

Taylor, J., & Taylor, E.

Shiyabazali settlement: Water quality monitoring and community involvement.

2012. . In Z. Fadeeva, U. Payyappallimana, & R. Petry (Eds.), Innovation in Local and Global Learning Systems for Sustainability (pp. 92–95). United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS).

Taylor, J., Msomi, L., and Taylor, E.

miniSASS - A novel technique for community participation in river health monitoring and management.

2004. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 29(1), 25–35.

Graham, P.M., Dickens, C.W.S., and Taylor, J.

Our involvement in all these spheres can be as project leaders, specialist expert consultants, or implementation partners within larger projects and initiatives. We cannot cover everything we have done, can do, or might be able to partner with you to do here.

The best way to find out if we are the right partner for you or if we offer the services you are looking for is to contact us!