BRRI

STRUCTURES, DESIGN & PLANNING DIVISION

The Structures, Design and Planning Division deals with the impact of the country's climatic conditions on various aspects of building designs, studies into urban low income housing and rural housing problems, deals with the structural designs of buildings and bridges; architectural designs of buildings; development of Codes of Practice relevant to the sub-region. The Division is divided into four (4) main sections which are: Planning, Structures, Survey and Building Design STRUCTURES SECTION The Section specializes in • Structural Engineering Design • Material Testing • Compilation of Codes and Standards Technical Services: Structural Analysis and Modelling. Structural Design of all type of buildings, bridges and other crossing structures in concrete, steel, timber and brick masonry. Supervision of construction of civil engineering infrastructure. Research into the strength and durability of concrete, steel, timber and masonry components, and testing of new (innovative) products and also other local materials such as bamboo and earth and Pozzolana. Compilation of standards and codes such as Building Codes and Seismic Codes. Testing of materials to ascertain their compliance to specification Effective ways of reducing Carbonation in Reinforced Concrete Structures with the addition of Pozzolana cement. Facilities available: 2000 kN capacity compressive machine. 3000 kN (60,000 lb.) capacity compression machine V-B Consistometer, Compaction Factor Test Machine. Air-Astrainment measuring equipment. 1000 kN capacity reaction frame. 75,100,150mm cube and 150Ø x 300mm cylinder moulds. 400m2 concrete/structures laboratory Los Angeles Abrasion Test Machine. Contribution to Economy: Various consultancies at competitive costs to public, among which are: • Design and construction of Timber Viewing Platform for Mole Game Park (2004, 2008). • Design and construction of 7.5m Timber Vehicular Bridge (45HB capacity) over Subin River at Kaase, Kumasi. (1991). • Design of Head Office of Standards Board, Accra (2009) and Laboratories and Offices of Samet Consultants at OPRI, Kusi-Kade (2009). • Design of Laboratories and Head Office of Food Research Institute (FRI), Okponglo, Accra (2000). • Design of Laboratories and Offices for STEPRI, ARI, IIR, CRI, FORIG, SARI, OPRI (1982 to date). • Promoting the use of Pozzolana in infrastructural development in UPRP – SIF projects Sunyani. • Polytechnic Science Park Project. PLANNING SECTION This Section specializes in Urban / Rural Development Planning Human Settlement Planning Population Studies Demography Technical Services Offered: Preparation of Settlement Planning Schemes Socio-Economic Surveys Socio-Demographic Surveys Contribution to the Economy The promotion of orderly spatial landuse development in human settlements through the preparation of Planning Schemes. SURVEY SECTION Areas of Specialisation: i) Engineering Survey, ii) Hydrographic, Topographical and Cadastral Surveys and GIS Technical Services Offered: i) Customary Boundary Demarcation of Ejisu land [Land Administration Project (LAP), Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines] ii) Systematic Survey and Titling of Nhyiaso Lands – Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines (Submission of Technical and Financial Proposal) iii) Base Map of CSIR institutes Contribution to Economy: i) Assisting the Ministry of lands in the Land Administration System through the Land Administration Project. ii) Carrying out research in the Land Administration System and finding ways to mitigate litigation on land and improve Revenue Collection. iii) Development of land use planning schemes BUILDING DESIGN SECTION Area of Specialization: • Residential and Civic Buildings • Developing modular plans for Africa and disaster areas Technical Services: i) Design of Staff Housing for Crop Research Fumesua ii) Renovation of Staff Bungalows for Ghana Sumatra at OPRI, Kusi-Kade iii) Supervision of National Tree Seed Centre, FORIG, Fumesua iv) Architectural Designs v) Management improvement training Contribution to Economy: Design of Cost-Effective and Energy Efficient Buildings Employing BRRI Technologies. Expertise of the Divisional Staff The Divisions is endowed with Engineers, Planners and Architects well vexed in: • Architecture • Geomatic Engineering • Development / Spatial Planning • Demography • Structural Engineering