Comparison of district roads geometric and pavement structural elements integrity attained independently during road construction by equipment-based and labour-based technology: A case of eastern Uganda.

Abstract

This research compared district roads geometric and pavement structural elements integrity attained independently by equipment-based and labour-based technology during road construction. By Labour-based technology, hand tools such as hoes, spades, pickaxes, and axes among others are use in roads construction. However, by Equipment-based technology, road works equipments such as motor grader, wheel loader, roller, and compactor among others, are use in roads construction. This research was to determine which of Labour-based and Equipment-based technology in road construction best suit the integrity of district roads geometric and pavement structural elements. This research specific objective was to develop a comparative assessment of the effectiveness of equipment-based and labourbased technology in attaining the integrity of district roads geometric and pavement structural elements. This research was limited to District Class II district road and was done in Kapchorwa, Mbale, Sironko, Kumi, Soroti and Katakwi district. The Class II district road geometric and pavement structural elements including the procedures and instruments used to measure their integrity was confirmed by documentary and descriptive research design. In descriptive research design, data was obtained using pretested self-administered questionnaires. The respondents were district engineers, supervisors of works, and county engineering assistants. The Class II district road geometric and pavement structural elements confirmed were considered the research dependent variables. Percentage analysis technique was applied to analyze data obtained by questionnaire. To compare the technologies, Katero-Kapkoc and Kapchorwa-Kawai road in Kapchorwa district were selected among the roads under construction as the study sample elements by stratified random sampling method. Those roads were under construction by labour-based and equipment-based technology respectively. Road geometric and pavement structural elements data was obtained by carrying quality assurance. The data obtained was described using histogram, analyzed based on computed statistical parameters and compared using limit of agreement method. GenStas 2003 statistical software was used in data analysis. Based on the standard road design specifications provided by ministry of works and transport, it was found that other than vertical and horizontal alignment, Labour-based technology suit all district roads geometric and pavement structural elements more than Equipment-based technology. It was recommended that to ensure conformity of dependent variables to specifications in use, control of roadwork activities need to be adopted. Further study be carried to determined cost effectiveness of the technologies in road construction.