Transport in Sandikhola Village - Assignment Example

Portfolio: Transport in Sandikhola village s of Learning: s Portfolio This design system looks forward in finding a solution to the problem facing the people who live in the remote hilltop communities in the Gorkha district in the Western region of Nepal. The problems that were identified by Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) were characterized into specific design areas. They include: Housing and Construction, Waste supply and sanitation systems (WASH), Energy, Waste management, Climate change, Information communications technology, and Transportation (Engineers without borders institute, no date). Transport Task 1: Problem Statement The Common means of transport for the area is road transport. Currently, the roads in the area are compacted with walkways made of stone or compacted soils. However, the two way roads shared by vehicles and livestock have significant challenges during the rainy seasons and are steep and narrow. During the rainy season, the roads are cutoff by landslides as the road bridges get washed out. These transport challenges make the natives use animals to transport goods, and walk on foot so that they access facilities such as education. This means that most of the native’s time is spent on transport (Engineers without borders institute, no date). Task 2: Personal Learning Goals Personal Learning Goals Steps and Resources Required Evaluation Strategy By week 1 be able to identify transport problem statements for engineering scenarios. Perform case study on Sandikhola village and identify their transport problems Analyse the problem statements in the context of engineering solutions collected from text books. Understand methods of construction that can be used to solve transport challenges from relevant textbooks. Week 2: Develop methods of data collection and analysis skills. Be able to present data collected into simple forms of data presentation Develop questionnaires to be used during data collection, use various tools to analyse data collected. Use excel sheet in analyzing the data and presenting it in graphs and other available functions Use textbooks that have data collection methods and perform exercises with excel and other data analysis programs Week 5: Learn construction methods that can be used in the area of study Make a tour visit in the area to look at the transport challenges the natives’ experience. Discuss with them about their views on the existing transport modes they have, skills required, resources available in the area, and construction materials available. Use engineering textbooks to learn various road construction methods. Perform exercises from textbooks related to construction methods, design solutions for the roads in the area, and perform various tests for the construction materials in the area. Week 8: Understand construction materials through material investigation Collect construction material available in the area and perform various tests to determine their strength and parameters for use in construction Refer to geotechnical engineering textbooks, perform exercises and work in groups to perform laboratory experiments for construction materials Week 10: Develop engineering drawing skills for design purposes, and learn how to interpret working drawings. Install engineering drawing software such as Archicad and AutoCAD. Perform exercises on various drawings, collect working drawings and interpret them. Task 3: Teamwork and Leadership The success of a team is success to each of the team members and the success of an individual team member leads to the success of the team. Effective leadership is a motivational factor in the success of a team. Lattimore & Glinow (2010) define teamwork as responsibility done by several associates with each having a role to play but well coordinated to develop personal prominence and efficiency. Teamwork is achieved through the following processes; transition processes, action processes, and interpersonal processes. Transition processes occurs in between the periods of action and focuses on mission analysis, goals specification, and formulation of strategies. Action processes happen when the team tries to achieve its goals through monitoring progress, the systems, the team, and the coordination of the team. Interpersonal processes integrate action and transition periods. Main areas of focus of this process are conflict management, motivation, and affect management. Importance of teamwork One of the benefits of teamwork is problem solving. Since each team member has a responsibility towards equal contribution to the problem, possibilities of arriving at the best solution are high. The quality of teamwork is measured by analyzing the components of unity among the members, these are; communication skills used, coordination principles, equal participation from and by all members, effort, support, and cohesion. It also produces healthy competition and motivates individual group members as well as develops positive relationships and social networking skills. Since every member has unique skills, knowledge, and experience, each team member shares these qualities on an equal platform. One of the setbacks of teamwork is the ability of social loafing by team members. There are chances that some team members may perform fewer responsibilities than when they work individually (Lattimore & Glinow, 2010). As a team member, I have mobilization skills that will motivate the group to work together and achieve the desired goals. However, I am a bad time keeper and this may delay the group’s output. Leadership is the house power for the team’s success. Effective leadership is achieved through effective communication, listening skills, questioning, and persuasion, respecting, assisting, sharing and participating. Task 4: Design Area Choice Road Maintenance and Management Since the village is on a hill, special attention is needed in the design phase of the road network in the village. The roads become inaccessible mostly during the rainy season due to debris and landslides. The roads that the residents use are rough and rugged, and they can hardly use them during the rainy season because they flood and become rivers. The roads need a design that will be used so that they are not washed away by rain water. Some of the methods that can be used in maintaining and managing the roads in Sandikhola are: 1. Bank Stabilization Bank stabilization is a way of using measures that will make the road resist erosion, collapse of the road way. This may be achieved by using two methods; the mechanical means or using vegetation or we can use both of them to stabilize the banks. Rainfall that causes landslides is caused by the tree harvesting in the area and the continuous change of the activities at the hill. The bank may also collapse due to steepness of the hill that the soil cannot withstand making it to fail. The soil may fail because the roads are not well compacted, pressure from the ground water and loads that are placed on the slope that has a steep gradient like in Sandikhola, the roads are used by animals and the trucks and the people that leave there. According to Robinson, Danielson, & Snaith (1998), bank stabilization has several importances on the roads such as, it will not only reduce the fail of the road but also the cost of maintaining the roads after it rains. The safety of the trucks that move to the hill will also be improved if the banks are well stabilized. The trucks that are used for transportation in this area will not get stuck. 2. Stabilizing the Roads The slopes should be compacted to a density that has been designed to make sure that the soil is compact and the size of the layer also designed so that it does not fail again during the rain season. The soil material that will be used to construct the roads should be determined by an engineer (Larcher, 1998). The slopes can be graded evenly so that it creates a good platform for growing plants. The grades of the slope should be made straight and plane so that rainwater from uphill does not settle in the dips that are formed on the roads. If the water flows smoothly and does not bump into the ridges will reduce erosion and cause infiltration which is effective for the vegetation. 3. Terracing Terracing is another method that can be used to slow down the speed of the water. The benches cause levels that cut off the speed of the surface water runoff. 4. Cutting and filling The cutting and filling method can be used to reduce the steepness of the hill and then created to a less steep gradient. The soils that will be used to fill the slopes should be stable and strong and well compacted to avoid failing. 5. Counter weighing This involves the process of placing material below the hill to stop sliding. It acts like a retaining wall and the material used should be stronger and more stable than the soil that will be sliding. 6. Vegetation and grass seeding Plantation is the most effective way making banks and the hill stable. Vegetation and grass will lower the speed of the flowing water and increase infiltration. The vegetation will also help in holding the soil a factor that will help in minimizing sedimentation. 7. Building culverts along the roads so that the water from up the hill is directed into the drainage and the culvert should also be kept off from debris that wears them off. 8. When it rains the users of the road may direct water into the drainage so that the road is kept off from flowing water (Luo & et. al., 2009). Evaluation of the methods The success of the project lies in the docket of the locals. Through capacity building, the government resources are channelled to the various construction methods that will improve the road conditions of the village. Labour based methods of road construction will be the viable method for the area (Organisation for Economic Co-operation development, 1995). However, earthmoving equipments may be hired where necessary. Some of the earthmoving equipment to be hired is; roller compacting tractors, water boozers since the projects will be undertaken during the dry spell, and pickups for mobilisation. Labour based methods of road construction will require a supervisory team from the government. The supervisory team will be responsible for designing of the roads, supervision to ensure that the final product is delivered, and control the quality of the product (Kocher, Gerstein & Harris, 2008). Reflection Successful implementation of the listed construction methods will solve the problems the village undergoes during rainy seasons. However, there is need for regular maintenance of the roads which can be achieved by the locals through the organization groups. Since the locals are involved in all phases of the project, they will develop the ownership of their roads. Enjoy working and maintaining them even at minimum costs. At the same time, the locals acquire relevant skills on road construction and maintenance. The whole village becomes aware of the probable causes of road failure in the area and will participate in ensuring that they are served with best roads. The village will be economically viable from the project. Reference List Engineers without borders institute (no date). Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) EWB Challenge Design Brief, NEWAH; Nepal. Pp.2-15. Engineers without borders Institute (no date). Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) EWB Challenge Outline, NEWAH; Nepal. Pp.4-9. Kocher, D.S., Gerstein, J.M & Harris, R.R., (2008). Rural Roads: A Construction and Maintenance Guide for California Landowners, ANR Publication 8282. Pg 9. Larcher, P. (1998). Labour-Based Road Construction, Intermediate Technology Publications, London; U.K. Lattimore, M. S. & Glinow, M. A. (2010). Organizational Behaviour: Emerging Knowledge and Practice for the Real World, 5th Edn., McGraw-Hill Irwin; Boston. Luo, W. X. & et. Al. (2009). International Conference on Transportation Engineering 2007: Proceedings of the First International Conference, July 22-24, 2007, Southwest Jiangtong University Chengdu, La Fontaine de Siloe, Brazil. Organisation for Economic Co-operation development (1995). Road Maintenance Management Systems in Developing Countries, Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development, London; U.K. Robinson, R., Danielson, U. & Snaith, M. S. (1998). Road Maintenance Management: Concepts and Systems, Macmillan Publishers, New York, NY; U.S.A. Read More