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TOPIC: COST COMPARISON OF LABOUR BASED AND MACHINE BASED TRENCH EXCAVATION FOR STORM AND SEWAGE DRAINGE
NGE 2014

THEME: UNDERGROUND WATER RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION Page 1

Abstract
Excavation means a hole in the earth, or a face of earth, formed after rock, sand, soil
or other material is removed (such as a trench, ditch, shaft, well, tunnel, pier hole,
cutting or caisson or a hole drilled in the earth etc.). (Code of Practice Excavation, 2005
Australia)
Open cut trench excavation is the traditional and most popular method for lateral
sewer construction, repair, or replacement. This method is usually the least expensive
method if the pipe is located under non pavement areas such as a front or back yard.
When the open cut trench excavation is located under pavement the existing
pavement must be saw, cut and removed, the excavation filled with granular backfill
(compacted stone or sand to prevent settlement), and the pavement must be replaced
and the end of the pipe repair or replacement.
Sanitary sewer systems are essential to the public health and welfare in areas of
concentrated population and development. Every community produces water-borne
wastes of domestic, commercial and industrial origin. The sanitary sewer performs the
needed function of collecting these wastes and conveying them to points of approved
discharge or disposal but the storm sewer is a system designed to carry rainfall runoff
and other drainage. The runoff is carried in underground pipes or open ditches and
discharges untreated into local streams, rivers and other surface water bodies.
The city of A.A has serious problems in the provision of storm and sewage sewer and
there is lack of choice to select appropriate and cost saving construction methods in
the sectors. In order to improve this sector however there is a need to observe
different mechanisms to select appropriate and cost saving trench or trenchless
excavation methods in the construction of underground infrastructures.
Literature survey will be used to carry out the study. Questionnaire, interview and
observation are tools to be used to gather data from sample population of the
stakeholders. The collected data will be organized, summarized and comparative
analysis to be done and finally, from the result of data analysis, conclusion and
recommendations to be forwarded.
Keywords: Labor & machine based trench excavation, storm & sanitary gravity sewer,
construction cost, installation methods and trenchless technology.
TOPIC: COST COMPARISON OF LABOUR BASED AND MACHINE BASED TRENCH EXCAVATION FOR STORM AND SEWAGE DRAINGE 2014


CHAPTER- ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
Addis Ababa City has an area of about 530.2 square kilometers. The population of the
city is greater than 2.7 million living in 10 sub-cities and 99 kebeles divided for
Administrative purpose (Ethiopian Central Statistic Agency, 2009). The city is a center
of modern economic and social activities where infrastructure services are found
relatively in a better situation than other towns of the country. However, the citys
development is too slow to meet the demands of the increasing population due to
natural growth and rural-urban migration. In particular, the inadequacy of sewage
waste and storm removal system seems a major environmental problem among
others in it. Associated with this expansion is the need for public utilities, most of
which are constructed below ground. But the current underground water related
infrastructure construction and the disposal facility of the city, is not matching with the
growing needs.
Installation of buried utility lines provides numerous benefits. These include aesthetics,
safety (line protection), security, and easement considerations, to name a few.
Moreover, gravity sewer lines, in addition to the aforementioned, must maintain
adequate slope throughout its course to provide velocities necessary to carry solids
along with the liquid phase of sewerage. In order to achieve the necessary gradient,
while minimizing the depth of excavation, gravity sewer lines often follow surface
topography, frequently adjoining, and sometimes crossing, streams that occupy the
valley floors.
Gravity Sewer construction has made a positive impact for improving everydays life.
These networks of pipes hidden underground have granted us the luxury of indoor
plumbing. For the most part, we don't give much thought to sewer pipes unless
experiencing a problem with a backed up or broken line. While sewer construction isn't
at the forefront of our minds, these complex systems are quite an engineering marvel.
Storm water management is an increasingly important consideration in the design of
urban drainage systems. Storm water management practices, when properly selected,
designed, and implemented, can be utilized to diminish the adverse hydrologic,
hydraulic and environmental pollution impacts caused by storm and sewage drainage
facilities.


During construction preplanning and co-ordination between those involved in
excavation operations and activities are essential to ensure the safety of employees
and protect members of the public. Safety in and around excavations should be
considered as part of job planning from the commencement of a project. Identification
of hazards should be part of the planning, design and estimating process.
Cost engineers and managers involved in urban underground water related
infrastructure construction projects, frequently face problems in terms of cost
estimates, economic and financial analysis, rate analysis, project benefit cost analysis
etc. The question is how to tackle these aspects to predict or assess cost, how to
minimize the risk and impact of overspends against budgets, and how to ensure that
there is an appropriate balance between technical aspects and the related costs.
Construction costs include the cost of materials, labor, and equipment. Overhead
costs related to the job site contribute to management of the project, while additional
markups are applied relative to the home office cost of doing business. In general,
the Direct and In-Direct costs are those most often associated as the Project Costs or
Construction Costs, which are usually relatively straight forward to estimate using
standard estimating methods, and are greatly represented proportionally by the
construction cost fees tendered by contractors.
Currently, demand for installation of new underground utility systems in overcrowded
areas with existing utility lines has increased the necessity for innovative and
economical systems to go underneath and alongside in-place facilities. Environmental
concerns, social (indirect) costs, new and more severe safety regulations, difficult
underground conditions (containing natural or artificial obstructions, high water table,
etc.) and new developments in equipment have increased demand for trenchless
technology.
Hence, trenchless technology is a new alternative for traditional installation or
replacement of the underground infrastructure with minimal disruption to surface and
subsurface. Advantages of these methods are fewer trenches, environmentally
friendly construction operations, relative cost-effectiveness, and a better level of safety
and productivity in the construction process.



CHAPTER-TWO
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Introduction
As it is stated in the FDRE constitution of 1995 Article 44, all persons have the right to
a clean and healthy environment. The National Health Policy has given priority to the
development of environmental health, promotion of inter-sectoral collaboration in
developing safe disposal of human, household, agricultural and industrial wastes to
reduce health risks which are caused by environmental pollutions.
The Federal Environmental Protection Authority deals also with liquid waste issues for
sustainable use of natural resources in the country. Regardless of these efforts, the
liquid waste management service is insignificant when it is compared to the demands
of the public in Addis Ababa. Liquid waste management in the city is getting more
difficult and becoming a problem due to an increasing rate of illegal disposal of liquid
wastes.
The problem can easily be verified by a simple observation of sewages overflowing
from every corner of household toilets, pit latrines, septic tanks into streets, public
places and residential areas in the city.
Such problems in the city are created as a result of inadequate household,
commercial and industrial liquid waste collection, transportation and disposal systems
and lack of mechanisms or systems to select appropriate construction methods in the
construction of underground infrastructures. This is aggravated by poor institutional
capacity, management and inadequate financing of the sectors.
Hence, the city of A.A has serious problems in the provision of storm and sewage
sewer and there is lack of choice to select appropriate construction methods in the
construction of underground infrastructures.
In order to improve this sector however there is a need to observe different
mechanisms to select appropriate construction methods in the construction of
underground infrastructures particularly storm and sewage sewer construction in
Addis Ababa city. As this may be difficult to select the appropriate construction


methods at hand, which method is more appropriate? Which is more cost-effective
construction method? What other alternative exist?
This research, therefore, will attempt to address these questions, in particular to the
provision of cost-effective construction method with a particular emphasis of the cost
comparison on using labour based trench excavation and machine based excavation
for storm and sewage drainage.
Hypothesis:
Construction theme method selection shall be made based on the scientific
comparison method. One of the major parameter in construction is COST hence if
comparative analysis is done for based on cost the result will be approaching to the
implementable techniques
Goal of the study
The goal of the thesis to reduce the cost of construction and at the same time not
sacrifices any element of safety or serviceability of the underground infrastructures.
Objectives of the study
This research is based on the goal to contribute to a real shift in resource
management by focusing on the cost-effective method for the construction of storm
and sewage sewer. Therefore, based on the problems stated, this research is undertaken
with the following four principal objectives:-
To demonstrate the cost analysis on labour and machine based trench
excavation for storm and sewage drainage construction.
To compare the cost of labour and machine based excavation for storm and
sewage drainage construction being scenarios.
To identify the appropriate construction methods in the construction of
underground infrastructures based on different constraints.
And finally to formulate conclusions and recommendations based on the work
performed.



CHAPTER THREE
LITERATURE REVIEW
This research literature survey will focus on the following basic literature review areas:
Sanitary and storm sewer construction concept
Excavation design guideline brief
Sewer system installation methods
Sewer construction guidelines
Alternative sewer construction methodologies
Safety requirements
Construction costs
Cost estimates
Cost breakdown and Rate analysis
Other new method of construction ( or Trench less excavation methods )



CHAPTER-FOUR
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
Introduction
Research is an academic activity and as such the term should be used in a technical
sense. According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organizing,
analyzing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at
last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis.
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of
scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden
and which has not been discovered as yet. (C.R. KOTHARI, May 1990)
Research methodology is a means which ties all research process together and
guides the researcher to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. The purpose of
this chapter is to show the research methodology which will be followed to achieve the
ultimate goal of the paper.
Research approach
According to, C.R. KOTHARI, May 1990, Research methodology methods and
techniques (2nd revised edition), the design of any study begins by defining the
research methodology and generally, there are two research approaches which are
widely recognized as qualitative and quantitative research.
Quantitative research involves the generation of data in quantitative form which can
be subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis in a formal and rigid fashion.
Qualitative approach to research is concerned with subjective assessment of
attitudes, opinions and behaviour.
From the two approaches, in this research qualitative approach is used to identify the
underlying problems, based on Observation supported by pictures, Desk study survey,
Questionnaires and Interviews with stakeholders. Primary and secondary data to be


collected from the selected stakeholders and also desk study to be conducted with the
stakeholders.
Therefore, the methodologies to be applied to achieve the objective of the research
are: literature survey, problem identification, design of data collection methods, data
collection, data analysis and draw conclusion from the result of data analysis and
forward recommendations.
The survey reference materials include: recent journals related to construction of
Sanitary and storm sewers, different excavation design guidelines & standards of
Sanitary and storm sewers construction emphasizing on construction methods &
System Installation methodologies, project cost estimation & cost breakdown, related
research papers on trench less excavation methods, , internet exploration etc.
Steps of conducting the research
Step 1: site visit (Sanitary and storm sewer construction survey)
Step 2: Constraint listing (on what basis we shall compare the methods based on the
constraints)
Step 3: Preparation of unit of work or unit of comparison variable determination
Step 4: Data collection by means of :
Site visit and observation, supported by pictures
Questionnaires and interviews
Payment certificates; labour schedules; machinery schedules
Step 5: - Design of questionnaires and questions for interview
Questionnaires and interviews are designed in such a way that to achieve the
research objective, which are; which method of trench excavation is more appropriate?
Which is more cost-effective construction method? What other alternative exist? What
measure do the stakeholders take to minimize the construction cost in the construction
of underground infrastructures and what should be done to reduce the marginal cost
by the contractors.


Questionnaires and questions for interview are described as follows:
All Possible questions related to our research to be forwarded.
Wording of questionnaires and questions for interview are short and
comprehensive.
Avoiding redundancy etc
Step 6: - Analyzing the response from the site visit and collected data
Step 7: - Draw Conclusion and forward recommendation of the research

Cost of the Project
An itemized list of the costs to be involved in the thesis work excluding those costs,
which are normally borne by the indirect activities.
No
Description
Estimated cost [Birr]
Duration
(week)
1 Literature review & Desk study 500.00 4
2
Costs related with for distributing the
questionnaires & making interviews
600.00 3
3 Analysis and discussions 500.00 2
4 Conclusions and Recommendations 400.00 1
5 Final report preparation 600.00 1
6 Contingency 400.00 -
7 Transportation & communication costs 500.00 -
Total 3,500.00 11



Work Plan
Breakdown of the thesis into its component stages, eliminating the amount of time
which will be required for the work involved in each of the stages and giving an
approximate timetable for the completion of each stage, and the project as a whole.
The project plan given below is the breakdown of the project stages and the time
schedule.
NO
. Activity March,2014 April,2014 May,2014 June,2014

Week 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1
Literature review
2
Finalized Review
literature
3
Design of Research
Methodology
4 Designing structured
questionnaire and
interview guide
5
Data collection
6
Analysis and
Discussions
7
Conclusion and
Recommendation
8
Final report
preparation
9
Final Report
Submission

First week of
June ,2014



CHAPTER-FIVE
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
As part of the research methodology, questionnaires; interview; payment certificates;
labour schedules; machinery schedules; unit of comparison variable determinant site
visit and observation, supported pictures are among the basic research tools of this
study for the analysis.
Then cost analysis of labour based construction and cost analysis of machine based
construction of sewers will follow based on the primary & secondary data obtained
with regard to constraint listing. At the end of the research, conclusion and
recommendation will be drawn based on the finding of the study from different
scenarios for cost comparison of labour based and machine based trench excavation
of storm and sewage drainage construction.
Hence it emphasizes on:
Cost analysis of labour based construction ,and
Cost analysis of machine based construction



CHAPTER-SIX
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
At the end of the study, the conclusion shall assert the hypothesis placed, which
means conclusion will be drawn based on the finding of the study from different
scenarios for cost comparison of labour based and machine based trench excavation
of storm and sewage drainage construction.
Recommendation
Based on the conclusion, recommendation will forward to address the question, What
shall be done in the future? to reduce the cost of construction without sacrifices any
element of safety or serviceability of the water related underground infrastructures.
References
It includes books; previous thesis; peer reviewed papers; construction manuals;
construction guidelines etc.
Annex
It includes: Data; questionnaire sample; supported pictures; comparison methods;
payment certificates; labour schedules; machinery schedules etc.



INSTRUCTORS' PROVISION OF WRITTEN RESPONSES TO
UNGRADUATE PROGRAM
OF
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
IN
ETHIOPIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND
CITY DEVELOPMENT (EIABC)
OF
ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
COST COMPARISON OF LABOUR BASED TRENCH EXCAVATION AND
MACHINE BASED EXCAVATION FOR STORM AND SEWAGE DRAINGE
BY
Signature
TARIKU DESSU ____________
MENEN ASHENAFI _____________
KASSAHUN ASFAW _________________

APPROVED BY EXAMINERS
_____________________ _____________________
ADVISOR Signature

____________________ _______________
INTERNAL EXAMINER Signature

____________________ _______________


CHAIRMAN Signature

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TOPIC: COST COMPARISON OF LABOUR BASED AND MACHINE BASED TRENCH EXCAVATION FOR STORM AND SEWAGE DRAINGE

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