Who is a designer? The answer will generally depend on your profession.
In January 2015, I met my wife physically for the first time. At that time I was offering MSc. Civil Engineering (Geotechnical Specialization) at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. I was in Uganda for a short holiday. Being an excellent Geotechnical Engineer in Uganda, that evening I just put on a short sleeved shirt, jean and funny sandals with a small polythene bag. I met my girlfriend, at that time, well dressed in a great dress waiting for me. The shock on her face was loud enough! She left that day never to meet me again. Anyway now she is my wife, making five years in marriage in July 2022. Before you blame me for my dress code on that day, first know who is an excellent Geotechnical Engineer in Uganda.
Most engineering projects generally consist of two phases; design and construction supervision. In Geotechnical Engineering we have another important phase known as Geotechnical Investigations. Geotechnical Engineers in Uganda are never designers (now you understand my dress code). They have been reduced to geotechnical investigations and construction supervision of related infrastructure. And they seem to be okay with the statusquo. With the right information, we should not be comfortable but strive for more.
Lets assume a geotechnical investigation for a small commercial building. Generally, in Uganda, this would call for digging test pits for soil profile observation and sample collection. Maybe also Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing at the bottom of the pits. Sincerely you do not need a degree to carry out such an investigation. Unfortunately, this is what we are involved in everyday. And then we give the results to the structural engineer to design the foundations.
Even on large infrastructure projects, the scope of geotechnical investigations is determined by international consultants largely. Then communicated to us. We have been reduced to the level of data collectors. I understand data collection is part of the process but not good enough for all us. Especially with the growing numbers of Geotechnical Engineers in Uganda. For those who are thinking of joining this community, my advice has always been not to concentrate on geotechnical investigations and/or construction supervision. There is a virgin field: Geotechnical Engineering Design. It is a new field with less or no local competition at all.
Look around or even ask: How many Geotechnical Engineering Structures have designed by Ugandans as the lead consultants. From water resource structures like earth dams and hydropower dams to highway engineering structures like deep foundations for bridges. Even foundations for complex structures.
By the way am now an excellent Geotechnical Engineering Designer even in terms of dress code.
This is a good direction to take. I would love to try that.
Thanks engineer Samuel for being the Moses for this new revolution in Uganda.
Best way to go, Engineer, that’s why most buildings collapse in the city during to lack of proper geotechnical design attributed to no or little investigations carried out!
I personally think Geotechnical engineering has been my calling… I just indulge in Geotechnical engineering related course units
However, I don’t think I have had appropriate guidance and i think I would really love to be part of this great family.
Obongo Marvin
Bachelor in Civil Engineering of Kabale University
Being a part of Geotechnical Engineering services I feels like it’s the earliest phase of child which needs to be nursed for better person..However I’m yet in the learning phase and I feel samuel sir will be helping me for being a good gentleman.