Mechanised Construction

Mechanised technology is using heavy machinery such as motor-graders and bulldozers, which require trained operators and fuel. This type of technology is generally used in developed countries and is often replicated in the developing countries. It is generally capital intensive.

A water bowser and a grader mixing in lime cement at the optimum water content level before compaction. These machines are typical of mechanical construction and are often second hand from developed countries.

Advantages of mechanised construction:

Mechanised road construction is cost effective for and suit roads subjected to a high traffic volume (generally sealed roads e.g. bitumen). They have quick start up times and serve political interests such as producing immediate results and suit foreign donors funding. The majority of engineers are educated and skilled in these technologies.

Disadvantages of mechanised construction:

In the long term there is often a lack of funding to maintain roads mechanically. They have a high capital cost and the requirement of fuel and spare parts is a drain on foreign expenditure. Broken machinery waiting for spare parts to be imported cause severe delays and machines can sit idle in poor weather conditions as they cannot adapt to different jobs.