Freight Vehicle Travel Time Analysis: A Case Study of Birgunj Nagdhunga Corridor

This study covers the freight vehicle, which clears the custom clearance process for Kathmandu and transports the same goods to Kathmandu from Birgunj. In this study average travel time for freight vehicles from Birgunj to Nagdhunga has been studied, along with the factors affecting the travel time from Birgunj to Nagdhunga. License plate monitoring method of the freight vehicles was done to find the average travel time and a questionnaire survey was done to identify the factors affecting travel time of the freight vehicle. The travel time from Birgunj to Nagdhunga is different for different types of, vehicle and good. The fastest average travel time is of fixed container of 40 feet size with 23.2 hours and longest average time is for fixed container of 20 feet size with 28.95 hours. The average travel time for non-degradable goods is 26.5 hours and for degradable goods is 22.38 hours. Major factors affecting the travel time are traffic congestion along the route, bad road condition along the route and hilly road with sharp bends, turns and grade.

Technical and Economical Assessment of Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln

Infrastructure development, particularly the housing problem, is one of the serious issues in developing countries like Nepal. The development of housing complexes is related to various financial and environmental implications. One of the basic parameters involved in the infrastructure development pertinent to Kathmandu valley is the use of alternative materials to masonry unit, particularly bricks. Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) should be adopted and diffused in Nepal because it is high time for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. Various studies and monitoring has shown that (VSBK) Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln technology is an improved brick making process. The major advantage of VSBK technology is its energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. VSBK consumes 30 to 40% less energy and reduces environmental pollution by 80 to 90% in comparison to FCBTK technology. The Strength of this brick is also higher than FCBTK brick. Further VSBK provides an improved working environment (Reduced Occupational Health Hazards) to the workers.

Assessment of Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Nepal’s Construction Sector based on Selected Construction Projects

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic as declared by World Health Organization (WHO) is causing severe impacts in almost all aspects of life in Nepal. In response to this pandemic, Nepal Government announced a country-wide lockdown from 24th March 2020 and ended on 21st July 2020. Coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented event affecting almost every aspect of the construction sector in Nepal. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on Nepal’s construction sector based on selected construction projects. For this purpose, a case study of five ongoing construction projects was taken into account and questionnaires were distributed to responsible officials (client, consultant and contractor) of those projects. This study intended to find out the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on supply-demand trend analysis, cost and time of construction projects. Besides, this study also intends to find the contractual issues and claims associated with COVID-19 lockdown. The study reveals that COVID-19 caused serious disruption to the supply chain. Subsequently, project cost and time increases due to uncertainty regarding the availability of subcontractors/ suppliers/labour. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown however varies with the nature, scale and size of the project. Besides, the study also implies that contractual disputes are likely to increase due to lockdown. Each contract and its conditions have to be carefully analyzed to determine a party’s specific entitlement. There is uncertainty as to when the situation becomes normal and construction work can be carried out with optimum efficiency.

Evaluate the UK Construction Project Impact and Response Strategies during the Epidemic through Malaysia and China

2020 is a special year, this year the world’s economy has become extremely unstable because of the arrival of COVID-19. Idiosyncratic shocks have hit the global economy. The stock market has suspended, companies have closed, unemployment has soared, every industry has faced the biggest crisis since the Second World War. The British construction industry is certainly no exception. This time it will be the victim of this epidemic and the financial crisis. Compared with the European and American countries, the impact of the epidemic in Asia (Malaysia and China) is relatively light. The development of the epidemic situation in these countries has been controlled relatively effectively and strictly controlled. They are inextricably linked. However, the impact of construction projects in any area under the epidemic, the countermeasures adopted by the government, the epidemic prevention measures adopted by the company and the risk prevention strategy are very different. Therefore, under different circumstances, whether it is from the construction industry managers themselves or government policymakers, it is essential to apply correct and valid management measures to face the projects under construction under the epidemic actively. Simultaneously, collect statistics from questionnaire surveys of three countries in the region, then get an experimental result. Besides, different countries have different policies and forms of epidemic development. So, this research will summarize the corresponding policies and coping strategies of the project. It based on statistics of Malaysia and Chinese construction Projects, surveys for five projects to make comparisons than do statistics to the survey result.

Identification of the Factors for the Selection of Cement Brands by Construction Companies and Selection of Optimal Cement Brand using TOPSIS for Kathmandu Valley along with the Physical Strength Comparison of Various Cement Brands

Cement comprises major proportion in any construction materials and the right selection of cement is equally important for construction companies. The objective of this research is to find the criteria used by the construction companies in cement selection and using the required criteria adopt TOPSIS (Technique of Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) as Multi Criteria Decision Making method for the selection of optimal cement brand among various cement brands for the construction projects in Kathmandu. Another objective is to find the physical characteristics of the selected cement brands in laboratory. For the methodology, non-random sampling was adopted. Data were collected by questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, KII and Lab test. For physical characteristics comparison of cement brands, samples were collected from hardware shop and lab test were conducted in private lab. For the factors in cement selection quality, ex-factory rate, credit-terms, delivery-time, relationship, self-clinker production, production-capacity, technology and financial-conditions were identified and ranked in relevant order. Six factors were chosen for TOPSIS for the six cement brands for Kathmandu valley. From TOPSIS, it was foundSarbottam cement is best suited for projects in Kathmandu valley in terms of physical strength Hongshi had the highest 3 and 7 days of compressive strength where as Sarbottam had highest 28 days strength. Maruti cement had longest setting time whereas United cement had shortest setting time. 28 days strength of all the cement were as per the NS 49whereas except for Maruti and Shivam, all the brands had strength as per IS 8112 criteria.

Custom Clearance Processing Time Analysis and Factors Affecting Clearance Time for Goods in Birgunj Custom of Nepal

Trade plays a fundamental role in shaping the country’s economy and for this imported goods must be delivered to the market in the quickest possible time without unnecessary delay. This study covers the freight vehicles, which clears the custom clearance process for Kathmandu and transports the same goods to Kathmandu from Birgunj. In this study average processing time in Birgunj customs areas (Birgunj customs, Birgunj Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) and Birgunj Integrated Check-Post (ICD)) as well as factors affecting processing time in Birgunj customs area has also been explored. Custom Clearance time at the particular points was collected using the trained enumerators. Key Informant Interview (KII) was carried out to explore the factors affecting the processing time and the questionnaire survey was done to identify the factors affecting clearance time. The average processing time for vehicles in Birgunj customs, ICD and ICP for different types of, vehicles, goods and lanes assigned for goods were analyzed. Various factors that are affecting the processing were identified. In Birgunj customs, ICD and ICP in average approximately 30.1 hours, 2.8 hours and 19.2 hours respectively, extra time is being spent by freight vehicle inside the custom yard, other than actual processing time, which shows that there is mainly delay in-between the process other than in actual processing unit and the major factors for this are: owner not clearing the goods on time, due to lack of enough number of agents and unseen syndicate within the freight transportation system.

Effect of Copper Slag as a Fine Aggregate on the Durability Characteristics of High-Performance Concrete (HPC) Containing Silica Fume

This paper investigates the fresh and durability properties of the high-performance concrete by replacing cement with 15% Silica fume and simultaneously replacing fine aggregates with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% copper slag at w/b ratio of 0.23. Five mixes were analysed and compared with the standard concrete mix. Fresh properties show an increase in the slump with the increase in the quantity of copper slag to the mix. Sorptivity, chloride penetration, UPV and carbonation results were very encouraging at 50% copper slag replacement levels. Microstructure analysis of these mixes shows the emergence of C-S-H gel for nearly all mixes indicating densification of the interfacial transition zone of the concrete.

Strategic Risk Management Practice in Urban Road Construction Project of Nepal

Risk management effectiveness assures project success. The overall objective of this research is to analyze the risk management practice in an urban road construction project with a case of Shiddharthanagar Municipality, Rupandehi, Nepal from contractor’s and client’s perspective. This research is based on a scheduled questionnaire survey to collect the primary data using convenient sampling of the partially or fully completed project. Contractors are quite aware of risk management and the percentage of awareness is even higher among the clients. The feedback from a similar project was used as the main method to identify the potential risk of the project from both contractor’s and client’s perspective. Direct judgment method is used maximum to the analyzed risk of the project from the contractor’s perspective as well as scenario analysis from the client’s perspective. Monitor the risk and prepare a contingency plan is used mostly for risk response of the project from both contractor’s and client’s perspective. An alternative plan, subjective judgment, close supervision, increment of resources and change in construction methods were applied as a preventive and remedial strategy. Risk should be managed by the one who is capable of managing the particular risk by managing contractual obligation with proper contract administration practices for ensuring the project objectives. There should be a risk register at the site and a frequent meeting should be conducted to identify the risks. These identified risks should be documented properly to ensure expertise for future projects.

Effect of Partial Substitution of Fine Aggregate with Copper Slag on Mechanical and Durability of High Performance Concrete-A Review

The challenge before the construction industry is to meet the demand of the efficient and economically viable construction materials posed by the huge infrastructural needs. Many nations are observing an expeditious growth in the field of construction necessitating the utilization of natural reserves for the expansion of infrastructure. This expansion is giving a warning to available reserves of nature. The natural ingredients, fine aggregates and coarse aggregate constitute more than 70% volume of the concrete. The availability of these resources is decreasing at a very high pace. In fact due to the severe problem with the availability of natural sand, the construction industry is faced with the pressing need to consider available options to lessen the reliance on natural aggregates. Copper slag being a waste material, can be used as an option for fine aggregates. The substitution of fine aggregate from nature with waste materials from industries such as copper slag offers economic and technical dominance, which are of pronounced significance in the present scenario. This study is, based on the critical review of the development of High Performance Concrete (HPC) by replacing fine aggregate with copper slag by observing various other researches and reviews. The key intent of this paper is to closely look at the copper slag utility as an unconventional material to be used as a substitute of fine aggregate and its effect on mechanical and durability parameters of HPC.