The Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE) has called for the inclusion of engineering geologists in the planning and design of infrastructure projects to reduce road, building and other structural failures in Nigeria.
The association made the call ahead of its 11th Annual International Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to hold in Abuja this week.
The conference, with the theme, “Geoinformation for Sustainable Infrastructure in a Rapidly Developing Nation like Ours, for Smart Cities,” will bring together professionals and stakeholders in Engineering, Geology, Construction, Environmental Management and related fields to discuss sustainable infrastructure development and smart cities.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, NAEGE national president, Prof Salome Waziri, said greater involvement of engineering geologists in infrastructure projects would help address failures linked to inadequate understanding of subsurface conditions.
Waziri said rapid urbanisation in Nigeria had increased the need for proper geological investigations before the construction of roads, buildings and other infrastructure.
She said many structural failures could be prevented if subsurface investigations were conducted and their findings incorporated into engineering designs before construction begins.
“You need to know the strength of anybody before you place a load on that person. And so we also need to know the strength of the subsurface before you can place any load on it,” she said.
According to her, engineering geologists are trained to examine subsurface conditions and determine the strength and characteristics of geological materials on which infrastructure would be built.
She noted that roads and other infrastructure often pass through different geological formations, resulting in variations in the strength and behaviour of the subsurface from one location to another.
The NAEGE president urged civil engineers and other construction professionals to incorporate geological findings into the design and construction of infrastructure.
She warned that inadequate subsurface investigations could contribute to structural failures, loss of lives and destruction of property.
Waziri also identified construction materials, groundwater conditions and geological hazards as areas requiring adequate investigation before and during infrastructure development.
She said some geological materials could contain substances that may pose health risks if their properties were not properly assessed.
The association, she added, was using the conference to strengthen collaboration among geologists, civil engineers, architects, builders, contractors, lawmakers, academics and other stakeholders.
Waziri said such collaboration was essential to developing safe, sustainable and resilient cities capable of coping with the challenges posed by Nigeria’s rapid urban expansion.
She called on professionals and members of the public to participate in the conference, saying all relevant disciplines had a role to play in ensuring the safety and sustainability of Nigeria’s growing cities.
