Methods and Procedures for Prospecting for Road Construction Materials

Abstract

Construction materials and related issues typically account for over 75% of road construction cost. The general scarcity of conventional road building materials in Botswana has led to substantial research, over the past 25 years, by Roads Department to identify, test and develop specifi cations for the use of the available local materials. This research work has been carried out in-house and in collaboration with the following organizations: Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) funded by DFID, Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA), funded by NORAD, Center for Scientifi c and Industrial Research (CSIR) funded by the Government of Botswana, Dr. Frank Netterberg, funded by the Government of Botswana. The materials prospecting techniques that are embodied in this guideline are the results of decades of work and should provide an invaluable document for both engineers and technicians and trainers working in the road construction industry in the country. Ultimately, it is myfervent hope that the Guideline will assist in insuring that the best appropriate materials are identifi ed for each road project at economical haul distances. Thereby, minimizing the construction costs and reducing materials related claims. The Guideline is another in a series of documents intended to insure that signifi cant technological developments within the Roads Department over a number of decades are put on sound sustainable footing for future effi cient development and maintenance of our road network.