NBRRI Soft Technologies are in two areas:
Building Design Studies from Data
1. Building Design Studies from Climatological and Solar Data
2. Housing Studies
Road Services Information and Data
1. Digitized Subgrade Soils Maps of Nigeria for Economic Pavement Design
2. Capacity Building in Design/Construction/Maintenance of Rural Roads
NBRRI has evolved/generated
- Local technical data
- Invaluable information
- Construction operations
Data/Information are useful to
- Consultants/Contractors
- Professionals in Construction Industry
Advantages
- Use of local design data and methodologies
- Economy in construction activities
- Quality control in construction operations
- Availability of local design criteria
- Capacity building
Building Design Studies from Climatological and Solar Data
- Climatological and solar data for Nigeria were collated and empirically generated. Data were analyzed to generate comfort charts, solar charts, Climatological Maps of Nigeria
- Climatological Map of Nigeria classifies Nigeria into 4 climatological zones with design guidelines for thermal for building in each zone. The zones are
- Hot Dry
- Temperate Dry
- Hot Humid
- Warm Humid
- Useful for Design of building for thermal Comfort
Information derived from Analyzed Data resulted in
- Classification of Nigeria into four climatic zones and design guidelines for thermal comfort for each zone
- Optimum building orientation for most parts of Nigeria
- Rational and Scientific basis for design of windows, shading devices which incorporates daylight into general lighting of building: reduces relevance of artificial means saving energy
- Incorporating solar energy data to improve thermal efficiency of building, building orientation; and development of solar appliances (e.g. solar cooker and solar water heaters)
- Established empirical approach for estimating solar radiation from climatic data
Housing Studies
NBRRI conducted Anthropometric studies and:
- Determined spatial needs of housing in terms of size/shape of equipment and household activities
- Established optimum space requirement for every household activity
- Output: local design data for architects for design of buildings
NBRRI conducted studies on living patterns/cultural settings for various parts of Nigeria and established criteria for:
- Architectural design of functional building for different parts of Nigeria
- Designs for different cultural settings
Studies led to:
- Establishment of housing needs based on cultural setting and living patterns
- Development of alternative building design detailing to reduce wastages, Accident, irritation, etc.
- Development of concept and options for cost-effective housing delivery for low income earners e.g. concept of core housing
- Construction/design techniques for different cultural groups.
Digitized Subgrade Soils Maps of Nigeria for Economic Pavement Design
- NBRRI conventionally investigated subgrade soils of Nigeria
- Engineering parameters developed were presented in maps form
- Subgrade soils data have been digitized to:
- Make them interactive
- User friendly
- Digitized subgrade soils maps of 16 states in Nigeria are available
Uses
- To assess engineering properties of subgrade soils even before engaging in field work
- For road route location
- Preliminary information to guide in economic pavement design
- For planning detailed fieldwork
Beneficiaries
- Highway Engineers
- Consultants/contractors
- Road planners/designers
- Federal/States/Local Governments