Ascertaining the Level of Awareness of the Functional Uses of Geosynthetics among Construction Practitioners in the Construction Industry in Ghana

Whereas the strength properties, economic benefits, and comparative advantages the uses of geosynthetics have over traditional alternatives of soil improvement are known, little is known of studies that ascertain the level of awareness of the functional uses of geosynthetics among construction practitioners in Ghana. Thus, this current study seeks to establish the level of awareness of the functional uses of geosynthetics among construction practitioners in the construction industry in Ghana. This cross-sectional study employed a structured questionnaire for data collection concerning the functional uses of nine (9) major categories of geosynthetics for civil engineering infrastructure. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and one sample t-test. It was revealed that there was generally a low level of awareness of the functional uses of geosynthetics among construction practitioners in the construction industry in Ghana. An overall mean score of 2.377 was recorded, less than the hypothesized mean of 3.5. Relatively, the level of awareness among construction practitioners regarding the functional uses of geopipes ranked 1st with a mean score of 4.057 whereas geofoams ranked 9th with a mean score of 1.796. Contrary to the view that geotextiles are the most known geosynthetics followed by geogrids, this study found out that in Ghana geopipes are the most known geosynthetics followed by geomembranes based on their functional uses for civil engineering infrastructure. Practically this study has established the level of awareness of the functional uses of geosynthetics in the construction industry in Ghana, specifically among construction practitioners such as civil engineers, construction engineers, construction technologists and building technologists. Theoretically, it has provided the basis for future studies on the functional uses of geosynthetics.