Course Report: Design of Low-Volume Roads

The project aimed to increase agricultural productivity, access to markets and resources, and the capacity of the Government of Tanzania (GoT) authorities to identify, deliver, and maintain district roads infrastructure networks. As part of the IRRIP2 capacity building initiatives, a training course on design of low-volume roads was organized for technical staff from organizations implementing the project in Morogoro, Dodoma, Manyara, Iringa, and Mbeya Regions. The course was designed to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of designing low-volume roads. The course covered 15 key components, including rural roads prioritization, introduction to low-volume roads, site investigations, subgrade and in-situ soils studies, construction materials investigations, traffic, drainage structures, hydrological calculations, geometric design, pavement design, road surfacing, technical specifications for roadworks, engineering drawings, quantities and cost estimation, and report writing. The course was delivered in two groups, each attending for 5 days. Group 1 attended from 13th to 17th November 2017, and group 2 attended from 20th to 25th November 2017. The course was provided separately to two groups, with a total of 56 trainees from various organizations participating in the training. The course modules provided participants with knowledge on prioritization of roads, definition of low-volume roads, characteristics of low-volume roads, concepts of unpaved roads, and concepts of paved low-volume roads. Trainees were also introduced to various activities needed to be carried out during site investigations, including preparatory work, method of investigations, types and scope of site investigations, desk studies, and initial surveys. Participants were trained on subgrade and in-situ soils, focusing on design depth, centerline soils survey, determination of design California Bearing Ratio (CBR), sub-grade classes, and problem soils. Trainees were also introduced to various techniques for investigating availability and suitability of construction materials for low-volume roads. The course aimed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to use the GoT-produced manuals for producing cost-effective designs of low-volume roads. The course was designed to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of designing low-volume roads, enabling them to competently use the GoT-produced manuals for producing cost-effective designs of the low-volume roads. The course evaluation questionnaire was administered to participants to assess their knowledge and skills gained from the course. The results of the course evaluation indicated that participants gained significant knowledge and skills in designing low-volume roads. The course was considered effective in achieving its objectives, and participants were able to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the course in their work. The course report provides a comprehensive overview of the course content, delivery methodologies, and evaluation results. The report highlights the importance of capacity building initiatives in improving the skills and knowledge of technical staff in designing low-volume roads. The report also emphasizes the need for continued support and capacity building initiatives to ensure the sustainability of the project outcomes. The course report provides a valuable resource for technical staff involved in designing low-volume roads, highlighting the importance of using the GoT-produced manuals for producing cost-effective designs of low-volume roads. The report also provides a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of capacity building initiatives in improving the skills and knowledge of technical staff. The course report highlights the importance of collaboration between the Government of Tanzania and development partners in improving the skills and knowledge of technical staff in designing low-volume roads. The report emphasizes the need for continued support and capacity building initiatives to ensure the sustainability of the project outcomes.