KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI-GHANA

PROJECT TITLE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOANKRA INTEGRATED
LOGISTICS TERMINAL, ASHANTI REGION

TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR ENGINEERING DESIGNS OF
INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, KNUST

CE 378 INTEGRATED DESIGN - 2022/23

Client:
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, Represented by:
KNUST Civil Engineering Department & ABP Consult,

May, 2023

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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, KNUST, KUMASI

CE 378 CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN (CED) PROJECT 2020/2021

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority and the Ghana Shippers’ Council intend to
develop the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal at Boankra, through a
concessionaire arrangement. It is to serve as an inland port to handle both imports and
exports from the northern half of Ghana and neighbouring countries around northern
Ghana. The development is to be on a 160-hectares parcel of land, some 27km from
Kumasi, 295km and 330km from the Ports of Tema and Takoradi respectively.
The site for the development with its conceptual Master Plan is as shown in Figure 1
attached. The objective of the project is to develop the required infrastructure to support
the Master Plan and Construct the strategic Commercial Complex and Truckers
facilities as the first stage of the development.
Complete infrastructural services including drainage, water supply and waste
management are required for the entire Master Plan.

1.2 The Concessionaire, the Client, has commissioned a Planning and Architectural
Consulting Firm to undertake the general planning and the design of the architectural
aspects of the development scheme. Similarly, the Client has engaged the services of
Engineering Consultants for the design of the mechanical and the electrical engineering
aspects of the proposed development scheme. The planning proposals and architectural
designs of the Commercial Complex/Warehouse Type 1 have been completed and
tentatively approved by the Client. However, the design of the site layout has partly
been completed as the Planners are awaiting advice of the Engineers, especially with
regard to the road layout and other supplementary infrastructure. It is now required to
propose conceptual and preliminary engineering designs for the Civil Engineering
Infrastructure Works for the proposed Development Scheme and the selected buildings
in order to finalized the Master Plan development.

1.3 To this end, the Client has commissioned M/s EDCIII-2023 and M/s EDCIV-2024 Civil
Groups to undertake the preliminary designs of the Civil Engineering Infrastructure
Works for the entire Project Site and the selected buildings.

1.4 The components of the Infrastructure Works to be designed shall include preliminary
designs/conceptual designs of the following:
i. Commercial Complex/ Warehouse Type 1;
ii. Road Network, Vehicular Parking
iii. Drainage, Water Supply and Distribution Networks;
iv. Solid and Liquid Waste Management System (Sewerage networks)
v. Any supplementary facilities

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2.0 PROJECT INFORMATION AVAILABLE
The Project Architect has made the following information available.
 Topographic Site Survey Map;
 Proposed site layout drawing of the Master Plan
 Architectural sketch drawings of the Commercial Building and Warehouse Type 1.
2.1 The Site
The Topographical survey map of the site is attached herewith. The land is largely
undulating and needs to be considered carefully. Supplementary information may need to be
collected.

All utility services (i.e. water, electricity and telephone) can be sourced from the vicinity of
Boankra but it is important to check the adequacy of the existing services to meet the
requirements of the new Master Plan.

2.2 The Master Plan

The Master Plan as prepared by the Project Planner is herewith attached. The drawings for
the proposed Commercial Complex/Warehouse Type 1 prepared by the Project Architect
has been attached herewith. The components of the building are as follows:

 Administration Block;
 Commercial Complex
 Container Yard Area;
 Empty Yard Area;
 Container Service Yard;
 Fuel Station;
 Post Office/Security/Fire Stations;
 Construction of Freight Station/Reefer Yard Area;
 Warehouses;
 Truck Parking Area;
 Equipment Storage Zone;
 Truckers’ Facilities;
 Road Network Infrastructure;
 Waste Disposal systems;
 Water Supply and Distribution

2.3 Infrastructure Works (Civil)

The components of civil infrastructure works required for ensuring the efficient functioning
of the Master Plan include the following:
- Road Network;
- Vehicular Parking
- Drainage
- Water supply/distribution
- Refuse Disposal
- Sewage Disposal

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3.0 FACILITIES TO BE DESIGNED
The conceptual and preliminary design of the following Infrastructure facilities are to be
designed:
 Main Facilities
- Commercial complex/Warehouse Type 1
- Road Network;
- Vehicular Parking
- Drainage
- Water supply/distribution
- Refuse Disposal
- Sewage Disposal

3.1 Geotechnical Information

Appropriate sub-soil investigations are to be carried out to obtain information for the design
of the relevant facilities.

3.2 Road Network

The preliminary site layout proposed by the Project Planner is incomplete due to the
finalization of road layout and the location of other facilities such as water storage system,
sewerage treatment. The consultant is advised to visit the site and obtain additional
information to propose a suitable road layout for the approval of the Planner/Architect and
the Employer to enable the site layout to be completed. Necessary provision should be
made for walkways and drains. The consultant is responsible for investigating the needed
traffic flow for the designs. The network should be integrated into the existing road network
with appropriate revisions to intersections made.

3.3 Drainage
Maximum rainfall intensity for Kumasi and the appropriate return period are to be obtained
from the Meteorological services. The designed drains should be self-cleansing. The
roadside drains shall consist of buried concrete pipes with adequately designed inlet
arrangements to prevent siltation. Storm water from entire area has to be estimated and
outfall facilities for draining the facilities provided.

3.4 Water Resources, Water Supply and Distribution

Assessment for the water requirements should made for the entire Master It is proposed that
both ground and elevated storage reservoirs be provided to ensure 24-hour service.
Provision is to be made for water storage for 3 days peak water consumption. The water
quality is to be ascertained to determine its suitability for the locality or otherwise and
whether further clarification may be required. The design should be adequately linked with
the water resources available.

Water Resources
The consultant shall provide detail calculations showing evidence of the adequacy or
inadequacy of all the water sources available and justification of choice of option(s) for
water supply (use data from metrological, river flows and hydrogeological studies)

Water Supply and Distribution

The design of the distribution network and storage system would be done such as to ensure
the minimum required residual pressures at all fittings for their optimum functioning.

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3.5 Liquid Waste Management
The wastewater has to be estimated, collected and treated. Sewage would be collected from
the inspection chambers at each facility and transported through adequately sized sewers to
a central sewage treatment plant. An appropriate sewage treatment system should be
designed to handle and treat all domestic waste and the effluent discharged into the nearest
natural water body in accordance with the EPA guidelines for effluent discharge into natural
water bodies.

3.6 Solid Waste Management

The solid waste to be generated at public facilities have to be considered in the design. The
collection, handling and disposal of domestic solid waste shall be done in accordance with
the KMA method for solid waste disposal. Refuse collection points to be located in such a
way as to avoid odour invasion.

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EXPECTED OUTPUT OF M/S EDCIII-2023
4.1 Geotechnical Investigations

Part A: Foundation for Building

(a) Types of foundations that can support the building
(b) Approach for bearing capacity determination and foundation design for the building
(c) Identify the type of field tests to be carried out to determine the strength of the soil to support
the foundation of the building
(d) What are the standard specifications for conducting geotechnical field tests?
(e) Identify the types of laboratory tests to be carried out and their significance to support the
foundation design of the building
(f) Identify the kinds of construction materials that can be used for the construction of the building
(g) List the kinds of tests that can be carried out to determine the quality of these construction
materials
(h) Where can these construction materials be obtained in the quantities required?

Specific Tasks for building foundation

The Consultant shall:
 Carry out a comprehensive desk study of the geological, geomorphological and climatic
setting of the site and its environs to provide a background for geotechnical investigation to
support the safe and economic design of the foundation of the Selected structure.
 Carry out a reconnaissance visit to the site to observe and catalogue all factors that will
affect the design of the site investigation or the design of suitable foundation of the
selected Building.
 Carry out an analysis of the desk and reconnaissance study to determine the most
appropriate method and scope of site investigation and the geotechnical information that
will be required. It should also include a description of the methodology
 Conduct both desk and reconnaissance study to identify the sources of suitable
construction materials of geologic origin.

Part B: Road Pavement and Parking Facility

(a) What is a typical road pavement structure? Provide well labelled sketches.
(b) Identify the type of field tests to be carried out to determine the strength of the subgrade of the
road
(c) Identify the types of laboratory tests to be carried out to determine the engineering properties
and strength of the subgrade and other pavement layers.
(d) What standard specifications are available to determine the suitability or quality of a material as
a road pavement material?
(e) Where can these road pavement materials be obtained in the quantities required?

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Specific Tasks for road pavement
The Consultant shall:
 In consultation with the Highway designer, identify all the elements or the pavement
that will require geotechnical investigation;
 Carry out the appropriate desk and reconnaissance studies to determine the site
specific factors that will affect the site investigation to support the safe and economic
design of the pavement of the road network and parking areas.
 Identify the most appropriate site investigation method and scope. Write out the
methodology to undertake such a site investigation.
 Conduct both desk and reconnaissance study to identify the sources of suitable
construction materials of geologic origin.

4.2 Structures

Part A: Structural Analysis

a) Perform a thorough structural analysis of all structural/building elements considering the soil
conditions, environmental factors, and potential loadings (such as dead loads, live loads, wind
loads, seismic loads, etc.).
b) Determine the appropriate general arrangement of all structural elements considering factors
such as span lengths, column position, function of the space, and height requirements.

c) Evaluate the structural stability and integrity under different loading scenarios, ensuring
compliance with relevant building codes and standards.

Part B: Foundation Design

a) With information from the soil test report, design and specify the foundation system for all
structures/buildings in the terminal, considering the soil conditions and loadings. This may
involve options such pad footing, raft foundation, etc.
b) Consider any potential settlement issues and develop appropriate measures to mitigate them.

c) Ensure that the foundation system provides adequate support for the terminal's structure,
equipment, and anticipated loads.

Part C: Structural Material Selection

a) Select suitable materials for the terminal's structural components, considering factors such as
strength, durability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
b) Evaluate different options for structural elements (such as columns, beams, slabs, etc.) and
choose the most suitable materials for each, based on their specific requirements and
constraints.
c) Consider the environmental impact of the chosen materials and explore opportunities for
incorporating sustainable construction practices.

Part D: Structural Design and Detailing

a) Develop a detailed structural design drawings and specifications, including general
arrangement, typical sections, and reinforcement details.
b) Determine appropriate member sizes, reinforcement requirements, and connections for all
structural elements.

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c) Ensure compliance with relevant building codes, standards, and regulations in the design and
detailing process.

Part E: Design Computation

a) You can use any structural engineering software of your choice but you are required to provide
a comprehensive manual calculation that supports the software output.

Part F: Miscellaneous
a) Any additional information provided during meeting with external examiners and academic
mentors.

4.3 Highway Engineering

Part A: Pavement Design of Roads and Parking Facilities

(a) Manuals and standard specifications for the design of the pavements
(b) Traffic engineering studies that should be conducted to collect data for the:
i. Structural design of the roadways and parking facilities
ii. Design of traffic management and pedestrian safety facilities
(c) Institutions that can provide data to facilitate the design of the pavements and traffic
management/pedestrian safety facilities. Identify the data needed from these institutions.
(d) Geotechnical data requirements for characterizing subsurface conditions for pavement design.
(e) Potential pavement types for roadways, sidewalks/walkways, and parking facilities. Discuss
their advantages and disadvantages.
(f) Potential sources of road construction materials, including granite aggregates, natural sand,
bitumen, and material borrow pits
(g) Potential environmental and social impacts (both positive and negative) that may be associated
with the construction and operation of the roads and parking facilities

Part B: Geometric Design of Roads and Parking Facilities

(a) Relevant manuals and standards for geometric design of the roads and parking facilities
(b) Data requirements for geometric design of the roads and parking facilities
(c) Manuals and specifications for the provision of traffic control devices
(d) Institutions that can provide data to facilitate the design of the pavements and traffic
management/pedestrian safety facilities. Identify the data needed from these institutions.
(e) Geometric design controls and their recommended values (e.g., design speed, design vehicle,
road class, etc.)
(f) Geometric characteristics of sidewalks/walkways, parking facilities, and lay-bys.
(g) Potential intersection (junction) types and intersection safety provisions
(h) Typical cross-sections of roadways
(i) Locations of lay-bys, traffic control devices, crosswalks, and other safety features
(j) Traffic control devices and pedestrian safety devices required for the safe and efficient
operation of the road network

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4.4 Water Resources and Drainage
a) Identify the potential sources of water for the project.
b) Identify standards and guidelines that would be used to check the quality of identified water
sources.
c) Outline how the yield of water available would be assessed for each recommended source.
d) Draw the schematic layout for the drainage network.
e) Indicate the direction of flow for all proposed drains in the drainage network.
f) Properly locate cross-drainage structures where required.
g) Locate outfalls for the proposed drainage network.
h) Propose measures to regulate/control any water body in the project area

4.5 Water Supply Management

1. Identify the sources of water supply in the area, including natural sources like rivers, lakes,
and groundwater, as well as infrastructure-based sources like reservoirs and water treatment
plants.
2. How do you intend to assess the quality and quantity of the available water resources to
determine their suitability for human consumption and other uses?
3. Develop water conservation and demand management strategies to ensure sustainable use of
water resources.
4. Identify suitable locations for water storage infrastructure to ensure reliable water supply.
5. List various water treatment technologies and their processes to ensure the delivery of safe
and potable water to consumers.
6. List measures you would Implement to promote water quality and ensure health and safety
standards compliance.
7. Identify agencies or organizations that can collaborate in water resource management.
8. Establish efficient water distribution systems to ensure reliable and equitable access to water
throughout the area.
9. What contingency plans would you implement to address potential water supply disruptions
or contamination incidents in an emergency?
10. How would you ensure water conservation and incentivize responsible water use?
11. List methods you would use to evaluate and assess the efficiency and sustainability of the
water supply system, considering technological advancements, changing population needs,
and evolving environmental standards.

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4.6 Waste Management

1. Identify the sources of liquid and solid waste generation in the area.
2. Identify how you would generate per capita waste for solid and liquid waste.
3. What is the composition of both solid waste generated and liquid waste?
4. Determine the necessary approaches to managing solid and liquid waste generated.
5. Identify suitable locations for waste storage, recycling facilities, and disposal sites.
6. List some wastewater treatment technologies and their processes.
7. What steps would you implement to ensure waste segregation?
8. Identify agencies that can form partnerships for collecting and processing recyclable
materials.
9. Identify proper waste disposal methods based on the waste characteristics and
environmental regulations.
10. Identify wastewater treatment methods.
11. How would you ensure compliance with waste management plans and regulations?
12. How do you intend to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the system put in place?

4.7 4.7 Environmental Impact Assessment Report:

There will be only one EIA report but each specialisation should contribute a section
to cover the following:
 Identify the positive environmental impacts of the project
 Identify the negative environmental impact of the project
 Identify appropriate mitigation measures to lessen the objectionable impacts
 Draft appropriate management clauses and actions to be included in the Contract
document during implementation and operation of the facilities
 Develop a monitoring programme for each of the facilities to ensure that mitigation
being implemented is effective
 Assess Traffic impacts, especially at the main entrance from the network of roads
around the development
 Assess the cost of Environmental Management Plan

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5.0 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
 Submit Inception Reports on ………..
 Submit Conceptual Design report on …..
 Preliminary Engineering Designs Draft Final Report on …….;
 The following Final report for the Phase One of Works should be submitted on the
preliminary designs:
o Geotechnical investigation for the Selected Buildings;
o Geotechnical Investigation for Roads, Parking Areas, Associated
Infrastructure works and associated EIA Report.
o Pavement Design of Roads and Parking Areas and Geometric Design of
Road network, and associated EIA Report.
o Structural Design of the Selected Building, and associated EIA Report.
o Water Demand and Supply Sources Investigation and Drainage System, and
associated EIA Report.
o Water Supply Distribution System, and associated EIA Report.
o Wastewater and Sewerage system and Solid Waste Management Report,
and associated EIA Report.

5.1 Format for Report

All reports shall be submitted on bound A4 sheets except for drawings that will be submitted
on appropriate sheets (A3 or A2) or specifically required. The drawings should be bounded
together with the report.
All reports shall have:
o Executive summary,
o Table of contents, list of figures, list of tables, glossary of abbreviations and
appendices, if required,
o well-structured chapters of the engineering studies and designs,
o Sketches of designs should be incorporated in the design report to illustrate the
design approach and calculations.
o All drawings to be submitted on appropriate sheets (A3 and A2) or specifically
required and drawn to appropriate scale using AutoCAD.
o Reports WITHOUT THE REQUIRED SET OF DRAWINGS will NOT be
ACCEPTED

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SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR THE 2023/2024
ACADEMIC YEAR

ACTIVITY MILESTONES Person(s) in Charge

Start of CED and meeting with

2 External Examiner CED Coordinators

Virtual interaction with guest

4 experts in specializations Sectional Heads, HoD

5 Submit Inception Report Sectional Heads, All Lecturers

6 Conduct Geotech Field work Sectional head Geotech

7 Meeting with Client CED Coordinators, All Lecturers

9 Submit Preliminary report Sectional Heads, All Lecturers

8 Meeting with Clients /Seminar CED Coordinators, All Lecturers

11 Submit Draft Report Sectional Heads, All Lecturers

10 Meeting with Clients /Seminar CED Coordinators, All Lecturers

12 Submit Final Report Sectional Heads, All Lecturers

18 Oral defence All Lecturers & External Examiners

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 CE 378-2023 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
CE 497-2024 CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN
PROGRAMME FOR 2023
TOPIC DESCRIPTION OF ACTION DATE WEEK
NO.

(a) Consultants send draft CE 378-2023 project 4th May 2023

with assignment to HoD

PROJECT (b) Design Coordination Team (DCT) reviews 8th May 2023
assignment and send comments to
FORMULATION
Consultants

(c) Consultants update and finalize CE 378-2023 12th May 2023

project and assignment

(a) CE 378-2023 project uploaded for students 15th May 2023 1

(b) DCT groups students into student design 22nd May 2023 2
teams (SDT)

RUN CE 378- (c) SDT submit CE 378 Inception Report 12th June 2023 5
2023 COURSE
(d) SDT submits draft CE 378-2023 Report 10th July 2023 9

(e) SDT submits final CE 378-2023 Reports 31st July 2023 12

(DCT submits final CE 378-2023 Reports to
Consultants)

(a) DCT reviews Inception Reports and give 26th June 2023 7
feedback

CE 478-2023 (b) Staff grade CE 378-2023 Reports 31st July -25th 16

EVALUATION August 2026

(c) CE 378-2023 Defense in front of staff and 28th-29th August 17

Consultants 2023

FORMULATION (a) Staff and Consultants review CE 497-2024 29th August 17

OF CE 497-2024 project assignment 2023
AND
(b) Consultants and staff discuss lessons from 29th August 17
REVIEW OF CE CE 378-2023 2023
378-2023

(c) Consultants and staff discuss modification to 29th August 17

be included in CE 378-2024 Project 2023
NOTES:
1. The same project will be used for both CE 378-2023 and CE 497-2024. CE 378-2023 will design up to identification
of required data and CE 497 will continue from data collection through analysis to design.
DCT: Design Coordination Team: Membership-Prof. S. Oduro-Kwarteng, Prof S.I.K. Ampadu, Dr. F. Ayeh, Dr. E. Appiah-
Effah, Dr. Emmanuel Dzisi, Dr. J. Owusu-Twumasi, Dr. Ababio-Donkor, Dr. K.A. Tutu, Dr. E. Amponsah
SDT: Student Design Team. The teams that the students form for the designs. This will be maintained for both CE 378
and CE 497

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