Achievements in Software Technology: Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI)
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 ANNOUNCEMENT
NBRRI Stakeholders meeting
holds from 24-25 May, 2011 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja
   
Achievements:
 
  Achievements in Software Technology

  Building and Road Services Information and Data Generation  

From the concerted research and development activities in the Institute over the years, some technical and invaluable information and data have been generated to assist and complement in the design and construction of various building and road components. These indigenous information and data would be found invaluable by the professionals, consultants, and contractors to achieve their objectives economically without sacrificing quality. Some of these include:

 
 
   Generation of Climatological and Solar data for Nigeria  

a. The climatological data for some towns in Nigeria over a period of 36 years (1951 – 1986) were compiled from Meteorological Station, Oshodi. The data compiled include Temperature, rainfall, humidity, sunset and sunrise times, sunshine hours, etc. These have been presented in the form of tables, isograms and comfort charts that can be readily used for thermal comfort design in buildings. From the information generated, a climatological map of Nigeria has been prepared for the use of professionals.

b. The Institute also embarked on a comprehensive programme in which thirty observatory stations were set up all over the country to measure directly solar radiation on horizontal surfaces over a period of five years (1981 – 1985). The Institute established an empirical approach, through regression analysis, to estimate solar radiation from climatic data. This is particularly important for areas where solar recorders are not available. The data have been published in the form of tables, solar and comfort charts and solar radiation distribution maps. These data charts, tables, and maps are invaluable not only in the design of thermally comfortable buildings but also in the design and fabrication of solar devices. In particular, the data comes in handy in the design of external louvers, shading devices, horizontal (roof) and vertical (wall) surfaces, orientation of buildings, etc. A direct consequence of the data is the development and fabrication of solar water heaters and cooker entirely from local sources.
 

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Following from the above, NBRRI has evolved among others, the following :

Classification of Nigeria into four climatic zones and design guidelines for each zone.

Optimum building orientation for thermal comfort for most parts of the country

Rational and scientific basis for window design in Nigeria which incorporates daylight into general lighting of buildings thereby reducing reliance on artificial means of saving energy.

Incorporating solar energy data to improve the thermal efficiency of buildings and development of solar appliances (e.g. solar cooker and water heaters).
 
 
  Determination of acoustic properties of building materials  

Through the use of the standing wave apparatus, the sine Wave generator and the sound frequency analyzer, NBRRI has determined the acoustic performance of some locally manufactured building materials as well as those developed at the Institute for use by architects, engineers, etc. The Institute is equipped with facilities to determine the acoustic properties of building materials particularly for the design of special structures like auditoria, conference and cinema halls, etc.
 
  Development of Subgrade Soils Maps of Nigeria

The subgrade soils of Nigeria are systematically being investigated through conventional means to establish their engineering classification and properties with regard to the design and construction of roads. From the data and information generated, subgrade soils maps are prepared.

Typical Subgrade Soils Maps Developed at NBRRI
 
These are invaluable aids to road planners, designers and contractors who can obtain, even before they engage in fieldwork, a fair assessment of the engineering properties of the soils to be encountered and used on site. This is of paramount importance to Local Government Councils who may not be able to afford the appointment of Consultants for rural road projects. The maps are particularly useful for road route location, land resource evaluation and for planning detailed field work. So far, subgrade soils maps of all States in Eastern Nigeria, Delta, Edo, Benue, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara States, the Federal Capital Territory, the Black Cotton Soils of North-Eastern Nigeria, among others have been prepared and digitized and are now available both in computerized form and in hard copies for public use in road design and construction. The Federal and States Ministry of Works and Local Government Councils will find these soils maps invaluable in the preliminary design of roads.
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  Road Traffic Accident (RTA) Data Generation on Nigerian Roads
As part of its mandate, the Institute initiated a programme in which factors influencing the occurrence and processes of road traffic accidents in Nigeria were studied. The ultimate aim was to generate adequate data which will be useful in the planning and execution of corrective measures to drastically reduce and mitigate against road traffic accidents in Nigeria. The pilot test conducted on Lagos State roads in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force were revealing and resulted in far reaching recommendations. The programmes were replicated in Imo and Abia States with success. The resultant computer-coded format for recording the RTA data and the computer analysis led to the proposal for the establishment of a National Road Traffic Accident Information System with the involvement of the Federal Road Safety Commission and Nigeria Police Force.
 
 
  Land Resources Identification and Evaluation through Aerial Photo Interpretation – (Terrain Evaluation)
NBRRI is equipped with the expertise to utilize remote sensing techniques for the interpretation of aerial photographs and Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) Imageries as a tool for conducting engineering soils and materials survey. This provides ready-to-use data to assist the construction industry and regional planners in the location of road routes, soils and construction materials sourcing thereby effecting considerable economy in the cost of road construction. Considerable work has been done in this programme. Areas already studied include the Anambra, Delta/Edo, Sokoto and Cross River States among others. The resulting engineering geological maps developed are invaluable aids to the highway engineer, planners etc.
 
 
  Housing Studies: Conceptual study of housing needs in different Nigerian environment
The Institute conducted an anthropometric study in which the spatial needs in terms of size and shape of household equipment and activities were determined with the ultimate aim of establishing the optimum/minimum space requirement for every activity in a household. The outcome of this study which has been published provides indigenous data and will be found useful by architects in the design of buildings especially buildings for low income earners.
Another important programme is the study of living patterns and cultural settings of different peoples in Nigeria with the ultimate aim of establishing criteria that can be used for effective architectural designs of functional buildings for different parts of the country. Several designs for different cultural settings in Nigeria have been evolved.
Apart from the above, Research and Development activities have also been carried out into other architectural, cultural and climatic variables which include:

reduction in wastages, accident, irritation through development of alternative building design detailing

study of cost-effective housing concepts for low income earners leading to integrated economic and quality of planning in cost-effective housing delivery and rural transformation in the housing sector

studies on construction/design techniques for low-cost housing aimed at design, specification and construction processes in order to save on resources
 
As a result of these studies, the Institute has produced a catalogue of model design of houses based on cultural and climatic considerations.
 
 Techno-Economic Survey of Enterprises in the Engineering Materials sub-sector.
The study carried out by the Institute produced a number of startling revelations which include the following:
 
 

there is a serious shortfall in the sub-sector in terms of infrastructure, expertise and capability

  
 

there is pathetic deficiency in precision engineering capabilities

  
 

the observed high incidents of defects in castings produced in Nigeria and their causes were catalogued and preventive measures recommended.

  
     
The findings formed the basis for the proposal for the establishment of a National Foundry and Training Center to be sited in the Engineering Materials Department of the Institute at Ota.
 
 Investigation of Failures on Major Nigerian Roads
The perenial failures of major Nigerian Roads which have been a source of concern to individuals and governments were systematically studied. The outcome led to the identification of black spots and other far reaching recommendations were proposed to ameliorate them. Some of the roads already investigated include the Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway, Onitsha-Port-Harcourt Highway, the Shagamu-Benin Expressway, the Gamboru-Ngala-Maiduguri Highway to mention a few.
 
 
Capacity Building in Rural Farm Access Road Construction and Maintenance Using Labour Based/Light Equipment Supported Technology
This technology utilizes abundant surplus labour in rural areas especially during off-farming season and light equipment for the construction and maintenance of rural roads. The benefits of this project include the following.

the rural populace can acquire the capacity for replicating and maintaining such roads.

only hand tools and light equipment like hand rollers etc are required. Heavy machinery normally employed in highway construction and equipment-based construction methodology is not used.

employment is generated during the construction period.

the provision and maintenance of such roads
  • facilitates the evacuation of farm produce especially perishable ones from the farms to ready market outlets.
  • promotes inter-communal and socio-economic integration
  • provides ready access for movement of goods and services
  • facilitates emergency relief services in the event of natural disasters such as floods, bush fires, sickness etc.
A pilot project has been started and it is expected that the project will be replicated in each geo-political zone of Nigeria with the active participation of the Local Government Councils and State Governments.
 
 
 
     
 
   
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