NEW buildings in Myanmar should be better adapted to local physical conditions, say people familiar with the field of geotechnical engineering.

As the country embarks on larger construction projects, whether in industry or for housing, architects and engineers have to take more into account the fact that Myanmar is subject to earthquakes, cyclones and storm surges, heard participants in the seminar “Touring Lectures in Geotechnical Engineering”, held at Myanmar Engineering Society Building in Hlaing Campus in January 15.

Dr Win Swe, president of the Myanmar Geoscience Society (MGS), said in his opening address that geotechnical engineering should be widely applied in a country that is no stranger to geological and other natural disasters.

“Myanmar is definitely earthquake-prone because it is located in the Alpide Seismic Belt and it is also vulnerable to tropical cyclones, storm surge and floods because of its location in the tropical monsoon climate belt of Southeast Asia,” Dr Win Swe said.

He said that industrialisation and the movement towards a more sophisticated urban lifestyle over the past two decades had entailed the construction of more heavy structures, including high-rise buildings, highways, bridges, airfield and dams.

“All these structures should be built in accordance with the necessary geotechnical knowledge and regulations, together with proper enforcement, not forgetting that Myanmar is an earthquake-prone or rather a disaster-prone country,” he said.

U Toe Hlaing, part-time Professor of the Department of Applied Geology of Yangon University, said that the application of geotechnical engineering principles in post- construction and maintenance work was minimal in rapidly developed construction over the past 20 years.

“Geotechnical engineering is still a young discipline in Myanmar and needs urgent upgrading in many areas. In Yangon city, the high-rise building quality control committee set up regulations and guides for the design and construction of foundations.” But there has been limited follow-up.

Professor Toe Hlaing also said many new highway and railway projects have been implemented in those years with little consideration of geotechnical factors.

“Technical information is available from Road Research Department of Public Works. However, the application of that technical knowledge in day-to-day work is very limited. Moreover, sub-grade failures are very common in Myanmar’s motor roads. Maximum axle load for current road design in Myanmar is 13 tonnes. However, an investigation has recorded that the axle load of some trucks exceeds 20 tonnes.”

Professor Toe Hlaing said that, though the government employed experienced geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists, the rapid expansion of large projects could result in a shortage of technical experts.

Mr Dennes Bergado, Secretary General of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS), said Myanmar should develop its technical human resources. “If this is lacking, the country will have to rely on foreign technicians when mega-projects are established,” he said. Members of his society participate in local and regional conferences and can get timely geotechnical knowledge, he added. SEAGS could also offer seminars and short-term training.

The objective of the seminar, which was jointly arranged by the Myanmar Geoscience Society, the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS), was to improve knowledge of geotechnical engineering and to promote construction in Myanmar.