Measures to Enhance the Use of Geosynthetics for Civil Infrastructure Projects: An Example from Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to establish measures to enhance the use of geosynthetics for civil infrastructure projects in Ghana and determine the relative impact of each measure. It employed the Delphi technique, and a structured questionnaire aided the data collection from 15 expert panellists. At least a good consensus was reached in the views of the expert panellists regarding 14 measures to enhance the use of geosynthetics in Ghana after two rounds of a Delphi survey. Out of the 14 measures, there was a strong consensus in the views of the expert panellists regarding 3 measures as they recorded median values within the range (VHI: 9.00-10.00) signifying very high impact. These measures were, readily availability of geosynthetic products in the market, availability of design manuals for geosynthetics design, and educating construction practitioners on geosynthetics options for meeting their infrastructure needs. A good consensus was attained in the views of the expert panellists for the remaining 11 measures as they recorded median scores within the range (HI: 7.00-8.99) signifying high impact. Moreso, 2 out of the 14 measures were unique to this study in Ghana: setting up of a geosynthetic think tank to advocate for the use of geosynthetics, and promoting geosynthetics usage in the manifestos of political parties. In terms of relative impact index ranking, readily availability of geosynthetic products in the market with RII score of 0.91 ranked 1st whereas increase geosynthetics education and exposure for prospective and practising civil engineers with RII of 0.79 ranked 14th. This study is unique in that it applies the Delphi technique and empirically establishes the measures to enhance the use of geosynthetics for civil infrastructure projects giving an example from Africa, specifically Ghana which hitherto was not in existence.