The Role of Enhanced Research Oriented Highway and Foundation

Design for Sustainable Development

J. N. Mukabi1, F. Tatsuoka2, K.Gono3, N. Shimizu4, G. Feleke5, R. Hatakeyama6, W.

Demoze7, B. N. Njoroge8, A. Tesfaye9. M. Tadele 10.

1. Construction Project Consultants, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2. University of Tokyo, Japan,

3. Kajima Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 4. Construction Project Consultants, Tokyo, Japan,
5., 6. & 7. Kajima Corporation Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 8. University of Nairobi, Nairobi,
Kenya, 9. Ethiopia Road Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10. Kajima Corporation, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT: This paper describes some of the recent advances made in developing
research oriented design and construction techniques particularly tailored for
developing countries due to the lack of adequate finance and/or limited technological
capacity. The paper proposes various design and QC methods considered suitable in
ensuring the achievement of a cost-effective and sound structure based on the VE
concept. The purposes of innovating such techniques and the results emanating from
their practical application are also discussed in terms of cost-effectiveness, performance
and environmental considerations.
The study concludes that for purposes of developing appropriate and suitable
design approaches and methods of construction, enhanced research is imperative.

1. INTRODUCTION innovative engineering concepts and

The contemporary Civil Engineer is
increasingly faced with major tasks and
challenges as a consequence of increased
socio-economic activities prompted
mainly by population explosion and
changing lifestyles. Such tasks and
challenges necessitate the construction of
larger civil engineering structures such as
high rise buildings for increased
accommodation, large storage facilities
such as liquid tanks as well as highways
and bridges that can cater for heavier
loads and higher capacity of
transportation due to increased traffic.
On the other hand, the recently developed
environmental policies intended to
control degradation can be imposing.
Furthermore, the Civil Engineer in
developing countries is constrained by
lack of sufficient or necessary financial
resources and technical capability. Under
these circumstances therefore, the Civil
Engineer has to constantly develop
methods to face and resolve such
challenges in a most appropriate manner.
For developing countries in particular, the
methods must take into account factors
such as appropriate technology,
investment benefit in terms of time, cost
reduction of maintenance requirements
and most of all, reasonable sustainability.
Another perspective is that,
geotechnical engineering is founded and
enhanced on the basis of three attributes
as stipulated by Professor Peck. These
attributes include; knowledge of
precedents, familiarity with soil
mechanics, and a working knowledge of
geology. All three can only be developed
through enhanced research. The
contemporary procedures currently in
use in computing design in-put
parameters related to bearing capacity,
settlement, or factor of safety of slopes for
example, are nothing more than the use of
the framework of soil mechanics to
organize experience derived from case