Roads and Bridge Design Infrastructure Research Engineer

Objective/Purpose of the Assignment:

The consultant will be responsible for supporting the Department of Roads (DOR) to revise its engineering guidelines, undertake case analysis to further understand how road works can be made more resilient to climate change, and train department staff both centrally and through regional events. DOR will revise its pavement, geometry, drainage and bridge design guidelines. The consultant will also provide similar support to the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DOLIDAR) for the review and revision of rural roads engineering designs and standards.

Scope of the Work:

The Department of Roads (DOR) faces increasing problems relating to damage to roads, bridges and drainage systems as a result of land-slides, intense rainfall events, rapid sediment deposition and an increase in the frequency of historically low return period floods. Also, the alignment and construction of roads in some fragile areas are exacerbating vulnerability, particularly in fragile mountain systems, to increased erosion, landslides and flash floods. Some roads have increased flood vulnerability, while others have been routed over groundwater recharge areas/spring sources, potentially reducing the water supply because of lower infiltration of rainwater during the rainy season and in the drying of spring sources. The DOR will undertake a vulnerability analysis of its existing road network and analyze in detail the decision, planning and design methods which were used for a particularly vulnerable road segment and bridge. This information will also be used for training and to inform the revision of guidelines. This consultancy will help support the revision of guidelines, undertake case analysis and conduct training. For district-level planning and development, the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DOLIDAR) identified concerns over the vulnerability of rural roads, water supply and small-scale irrigation projects. Unpaved rural roads are often more vulnerable to intense rainfall events because they are unpaved and therefore more easily erodible. In addition, roads are often cited as being the cause of increased vulnerability, as they can increase the incidence of landslides and erosion in fragile mountain systems. The impacts to local infrastructure have become more apparent with deepening droughts and more intense rainfall events. DOLIDAR engineers will participate in a focused learning activity to review transportation options, alignment and design or rural roads, and determine how its engineering guidelines should be adjusted.

Detailed Tasks to be performed by the consultant:

• Work with the Departments (DOR and DOLIDAR) and national consultant to identify case analysis scope, terms of reference. Provide support to the national consultant in undertaking the case analysis.
• Review and assess current engineering designs, standards and guidelines to withstand current and future climate change risks.
• Drawing from international experiences, provide recommendations on adjustments that can be made to the above in order to better incorporate considerations of climate change risks and natural hazards.
• Upon agreement with the Departments, make changes to the engineering guidelines
• Review international experiences to indicate cost implications from existing case studies and models to follow.
• Contribute to training and capacity building activities.
• In light of Nepal’s Climate Change Policy and the knowledge developed through the TA, assist DOR to review its policy and make recommendations for policy revisions.

Outputs:

• Revised engineering guideline for DOR and DOLIDAR
• Terms of Reference for Case Analysis
• Training Materials
• Policy Recommendations

Skills required:

• Advanced degree in engineering research, particularly as related to roadworks, bridges and drainage infrastructure.
• Experience in the development of engineering guidelines, particularly for WSS, manuals and standards.
• Knowledge of the fragile mountainous environmental conditions relevant to engineering specifications is needed, including of water supply.
• Some exposure to climate change risk management is also needed.
• Strong ability to work in teams and multi-disciplinary/sectoral projects is required.
• Some experience in Nepal is an asset.