Programme manager Turner & Townsend and consulting engineer Ramboll have teamed up to lead a pro bono surveying project in Nepal, and will play a role in the earthquake-ravaged country’s reconstruction programme. Â
Four teams of structural engineers and surveyors have been deployed across Nepal to assess the damage at nine hospitals hit by earthquakes in April and May this year. Â
The work is being carried out in conjunction with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), which funded the project. Â
T&T and Ramboll are working on the behalf of the Nepali government, along with surveyors from Nepali design engineer John Sanday Associates.
The engineers and surveyors will give a detailed breakdown of the damage sustained and propose solutions to the repair of hospital buildings, allowing T&T to produce costings. Â
The project’s findings will be presented jointly to the Nepali authorities and DFID, which is funding a programme of disaster resilience and capacity building in Nepal.
T&T was engaged with Ramboll in another DFID-funded programme to assess the earthquake resilience of 59 hospitals across Nepal, and devise a strengthening strategy for the most vulnerable structures. Â
The post-earthquake surveys were undertaken as part of this longer-term programme.
The programme also trained and employed 150 Nepali engineers, who were equipped with the latest surveying techniques.
Leonie Grover, T&T Associate Director (pictured) said: "I’m returning to Nepal full of excitement, but under no illusions about the scale of the task that awaits me.
"Turner & Townsend’s previous work for DFID in Nepal was all about training Nepali engineers and surveyors and helping the country to prepare for the worst. Â
"Now the worst has happened, the importance of our work has been thrown into sharp relief. Working with colleagues from Ramboll, DFID, and Nepal, we have a crucial role to play in helping the Nepali government to repair and rebuild several essential hospitals."
