Analysis of Impacts of Geotechnical Investigation on Construction Projects Performance, Case Study: Rwanda
Paulin RUZIBIZA1, Abedenego O. Gwaya2, Titus Kivaa3
1Paulin Ruzibiza, Department of Construction Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
2Dr. Abenedego O. Gwaya, Department of Construction Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
3Dr. Titus Kivaa, Department of Construction Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
Manuscript received on May 04, 2019. | Revised Manuscript received on May 12, 2019. | Manuscript published on May 15, 2019. | PP: 16-19 | Volume-5, Issue-11, May 2019. | Retrieval Number: K11180551119/19©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Construction industry is a huge area where many investments have been made so far and will still be so, but changes during the construction phase generate cost growth, quality changes, schedule delays, scope changes and claims in any project. However, one of the areas that causes variations related to the impact of geotechnical problems on construction costs, schedules, quality and claims in construction projects but still no deep analysis or investigation had been done. A survey conducted on 102 engineers from public, private, and contractor consultant’s engineers has been completed within three months ended in March 2019. It has been found that the geotechnical investigation affects not only the quality of construction project but also cost, time and scope prior to the scale at which it is completed. The root causes of the impacts rely on misunderstanding and negligence related to initial investment required during predesign and implementation phases. The most affected aspects of project performance identified are quality, schedule, scope and project schedules, which result to project claims. The majority of the respondents stated that these geotechnical-related parameter like shear strength of soil, Soil Particle distribution, Compaction, Soil Permeability, Soil bearing capacity, SP and bore hall cause negative impacts on cost and schedule growth of projects during construction. When asked about geotechnical guide document that facilitate to predetermine the needful parameters and cost implication in predesign phases, only 15% have acquired otherwise 85% do not have any document nor guide hence resulting to bypassing the practice securing project fund that at the end of the day is spend will a lot of remedial works and cost implication. Respondents revealed that the designer having detailed knowledge about the project site’s geotechnical information, such so predefine and predict ahead impacts related to soil and ground and underground conditions for construction project appraisal and fund raising that will cover all cost related otherwise unpredicted impact remain surprise to both clients and contractors.
Keywords: Geotechnical Investigation, Construction Projects Performance, Quality, Cost, Schedule and Scope.