Application of inspection technologies anddevelopment of a knowledge transfer platform forrealizing bridge maintenance management in Tajikistan
Michael Henry, Ph.D.

Department of Civil Engineering
Shibaura Institute of Technology
Mid-term presentation, JSCE Research Fund for Intl. Tech. Exp. // Nov. 8, 2021

Project summary
Objective

Create an environment for human resource development forbridge maintenance management in Tajikistan by constructing aplatform for effective knowledge transfer from Japan

Members

Dr. Michael Henry (Shibaura Institute of Technology)
Dr. Rahmonzoda Ahmadjon (Tajik Technical University)

Period2021/04~2023/03 (2 years)
KyrgyzstanUzbekistan
Tajikistan

China

Afghanistan

2

Recent trends in socio-economic development
Population

9.54 million (2020)

GDP$3,658 (international-$, 2020)

Real GDP growth rate +4.5% (4th in the world in 2020)
Achievement of SDGs as of 2020
Infrastructuredevelopment is amajor challenge3

State of road infrastructure
Background 2,194 bridges were under the management of
the Ministry of Transport as of 2016
 Most were constructed during Soviet era
 Freeze-thaw and carbonation are the primary
deterioration mechanisms
Challenges
 Maintenance management is not being carriedout due to a lack of funding, knowledge, andskilled workers (JICA, 2016)
 Tajik engineers who receive training in Japan
have difficulties applying training contents due todiffering conditions
4

Issues for maintenance management
Construction
quality issues

Progression ofdeterioration

Presence andextent of damage

Maintenance management is critical issue for ensuring thesafety of new and in-service road bridges
5Maintenance and life cycle management

Visual and non-destructive
inspection is necessary for
initiating maintenancemanagement of road bridges
Need to tackle barriers to theimplementation of inspection(human and technical)*From Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) “Infrastructure
Maintenance, Renewal, and Management Technology"

6Research framework and current activities
Area

Knowledge transfer platform (human-oriented)

Goal

Nurture future human resources

Develop current human resources

Demonstrate effect inspection
methods

Issues Bridge engineering not
attractive job opportunity
 Lack of interest in bridge
and/or maintenanceengineering as career Confounding factor: lack ofappropriate education on saidtopics

 Lack of training for personal
development (esp. for maintenance)
 Too busy with work tasks to focus ontraining Difficult to apply knowledge/techniquesfrom Japan (other countries) to situationin Tajikistan Lack of equipment andguidelines for implementing
maintenance (inspection)

Activities Survey of current CE students
on interest Survey of previous JICA trainees toevaluate difficulties in using knowledge
from Japan

 Carry out field investigation
with select appropriate tools

Current
activities

Technology utilization platform (technique-oriented)

Survey planning and development
Consultation with colleagues and discussion withconsultant to plan demonstration inspection7

Thank you for your attention

Mid-term presentation, JSCE Research Fund for Intl. Tech. Exp. // Nov. 8, 2021