{UAH} Canadian Firm Suggests Nanotechnology for Dusty Kampala Road
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Canadian Firm Suggests Nanotechnology for Dusty Kampala RoadsTop story
16 Feb 2018, 14:03 0 Comments 238 Views Business and finance AnalysisAndre Voskull , CEO NTI Nanotechnology Corp.Login to license this image from 1$.
In short
The companys Chief Executive Officer, Andres Voskuil said the nanoparticles made of zinc and irons are applied as the last layer on well-graded roads. The particles chemically change the soils and sand on roads to minimize dust and water penetration.
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A Canadian firm, NTI Nanotechnology Corporation, says nanotechnology could have a lasting solution to Kampala's dusty roads and equally lower maintenance costs.
The firm's officials on Thursday met Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA Division Engineers to introduce them to nano-particles that if mixed with water and cement could make the paved roads live longer to resist erosion during the rainy season.
The meeting was attended by engineers from Kawempe, Makindye, Rubaga, Nakawa and Jacob Byamukama, the Deputy Director in Charge of Roads at KCCA.
The company's Chief Executive Officer, Andres Voskuil said the nano-particles made of zinc and irons are applied as the last layer on well-graded roads. The particles chemically change the soils and sand on roads to minimize dust and water penetration.
Voskuil says the Nano-technology has been used in Argentina to change properties in road construction.
He suggests that unlike bitumen which usually gets affected by too much heat from sunrays, the Nano-particles also resist heat and therefore avoid expansions leading to the usual cracking effects.
Voskuil said their technology has been used in climates and soil conditions almost identical to Uganda's and has demonstrated an ability to produce a road surface that is extremely durable using native soil and has no negative impacts on the environment.
//Cue in "Durability of technology…
Cue Out…..quality of the contractor itself"/
While some of the engineers at the meeting were skeptical about the suggested technology, some believed it could reduce Kampala's budget on some of the existing paved roads.
But KCCA engineers wondered whether the new technology will not be more expensive given that it suggests the introduction of cement into the mix. Paved roads in the country have traditionally been constructed by compacting soil with layers of murram.
Voskuil admits the cost will slightly go up but in the end outweigh the cost of making a paved road that would be destroyed within one rainy season.
//Cue In "Yes it will be….
Cue Out…bitumen road"//
Voskuil said his Company was willing to provide the Nano-technology particles for testing on one of the Capital City's unpaved roads to demonstrate how it works.
Kampala Capital City Authority currently spends about one USD 1 million to upgrade each kilometre to tarmac or also known as bitumen roads.
Statistics from the Uganda Road Fund in 2015 indicated said the road maintenance backlog had peaked at USD 1.25 billion covering over 51,000 kilometres. KCCA roads according to the figures constituted 700 kilometres of roads that needed maintenance.
Uganda Road Fund indicates that the country's road network of 140,000 km has a replacement value of USD 6.2 billion, which is nearly 24 percent of Uganda's GDP.
KCCA and most of the Local Governments continue to face a dilemma in road maintenance as well as opening new ones at a time when the roads budget has stagnated.
Mathews Lee from Australian NanoTech who was part of the team that made a presentation at KCCA said cities with increased traffic volumes don't have to waste most of their financial and natural resources to keep road's in good condition. He said Nano-particles could offer high-performance and reduce maintenance costs.
Meanwhile, Voskuil said Nanotechnology though still limited in Africa could hold the future for making roads at a relatively cheaper cost.
//Cue In " ….
Cue Out…"//
KCCA engineers discovered that exiting road equipment supplied to the Local Governments can still be used for application of the Nano-technology
The firm's officials on Thursday met Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA Division Engineers to introduce them to nano-particles that if mixed with water and cement could make the paved roads live longer to resist erosion during the rainy season.
The meeting was attended by engineers from Kawempe, Makindye, Rubaga, Nakawa and Jacob Byamukama, the Deputy Director in Charge of Roads at KCCA.
The company's Chief Executive Officer, Andres Voskuil said the nano-particles made of zinc and irons are applied as the last layer on well-graded roads. The particles chemically change the soils and sand on roads to minimize dust and water penetration.
Voskuil says the Nano-technology has been used in Argentina to change properties in road construction.
He suggests that unlike bitumen which usually gets affected by too much heat from sunrays, the Nano-particles also resist heat and therefore avoid expansions leading to the usual cracking effects.
Voskuil said their technology has been used in climates and soil conditions almost identical to Uganda's and has demonstrated an ability to produce a road surface that is extremely durable using native soil and has no negative impacts on the environment.
//Cue in "Durability of technology…
Cue Out…..quality of the contractor itself"/
While some of the engineers at the meeting were skeptical about the suggested technology, some believed it could reduce Kampala's budget on some of the existing paved roads.
But KCCA engineers wondered whether the new technology will not be more expensive given that it suggests the introduction of cement into the mix. Paved roads in the country have traditionally been constructed by compacting soil with layers of murram.
Voskuil admits the cost will slightly go up but in the end outweigh the cost of making a paved road that would be destroyed within one rainy season.
//Cue In "Yes it will be….
Cue Out…bitumen road"//
Voskuil said his Company was willing to provide the Nano-technology particles for testing on one of the Capital City's unpaved roads to demonstrate how it works.
Kampala Capital City Authority currently spends about one USD 1 million to upgrade each kilometre to tarmac or also known as bitumen roads.
Statistics from the Uganda Road Fund in 2015 indicated said the road maintenance backlog had peaked at USD 1.25 billion covering over 51,000 kilometres. KCCA roads according to the figures constituted 700 kilometres of roads that needed maintenance.
Uganda Road Fund indicates that the country's road network of 140,000 km has a replacement value of USD 6.2 billion, which is nearly 24 percent of Uganda's GDP.
KCCA and most of the Local Governments continue to face a dilemma in road maintenance as well as opening new ones at a time when the roads budget has stagnated.
Mathews Lee from Australian NanoTech who was part of the team that made a presentation at KCCA said cities with increased traffic volumes don't have to waste most of their financial and natural resources to keep road's in good condition. He said Nano-particles could offer high-performance and reduce maintenance costs.
Meanwhile, Voskuil said Nanotechnology though still limited in Africa could hold the future for making roads at a relatively cheaper cost.
//Cue In " ….
Cue Out…"//
KCCA engineers discovered that exiting road equipment supplied to the Local Governments can still be used for application of the Nano-technology
Gwokto La'Kitgum
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