An Assessment of the Extent of Application of Geosynthetics to Civil Infrastructure Projects in Ghana

Abstract

This study was informed by the lack of literature that gave a country-specific holistic account of the extent of the application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects. Thus, this current study determined the extent that geosynthetics had been applied to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana and, established the relative level of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana. Structured questionnaire aided in data collection. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and one sample t-test. The study revealed that there was a low level of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana. However, Ghana’s case was of great concern as geosynthetics had been applied to only 7 out of the 28 civil infrastructure projects identified in previous studies. Pipe projects had the most application of geosynthetics whereas geosynthetics were least applied to retaining structures. Moreso, the study further revealed that only 6 out of the 9 types of geosynthetics had been applied to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana namely: geopipes, geomembranes, geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, and geocells. Relatively, geopipes were the most applied geosynthetics whereas geocells were the least applied geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana. This study serves as reference material on the extent of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana which hitherto was lacking in the construction industry in Ghana. It also serves as the basis for future studies on the application of geosynthetics as it contributes to the existing body of literature on the subject.

Ascertaining the Knowledge Level of Fresh Graduates of Civil Engineering and Allied Programmes on the Types and Primary Functions of Geosynthetics: A Study from Ghana

“…Though the researcher does not seek to generalize the findings of this study in Ghana to represent that of developing countries, the study offers fruitful lessons for developing countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Malaysia, and Burkina Faso whose academic programmes share close characteristics with that of Ghana. In Ghana, studies on geosynthetics have considered the underlying constraints to the use of geosynthetics among construction practitioners [6], the level of awareness among construction practitioners regarding the functional uses of geosynthetics [7], the extent of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects [8], among others. What is not known is the knowledge level in geosynthetics among fresh graduates with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or allied programmes.…”

Measures to Enhance the Use of Geosynthetics for Civil Infrastructure Projects: An Example from Ghana

“…Hence, the relevance of this current study as it gives an account of measures to enhance the use of geosynthetics by providing an example from Ghana, a country in Africa. In Ghana, studies in the past have unravelled the constraints to the use of geosynthetics [20], and the extent of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects [21], among others. None of the studies has established the measures to enhance the use of geosynthetics for civil infrastructure projects.…”

“…None of the studies has established the measures to enhance the use of geosynthetics for civil infrastructure projects. Furthermore, studies in the past have predominantly employed surveys and experimental research designs in studying geosynthetics (see [3,9,13,[20][21]). Whereas none of the studies in the past has ever employed the Delphi technique in a geosynthetic study.…”

“…Civil infrastructure projects are the basic systems including but not limited to roads, buildings, and dams, that help society to function [21].…”