Precious Kamndaya
Licensed Civil Engineer
Profile
Precious Kamndaya
Licensed Civil Engineer
As Chief Materials Engineer heading Malawi’s Central Materials Laboratory (CML), institutionally positioned under the Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, I have been mandated by the Malawi Engineers ‘Act and the Malawi Engineering
Institution of Engineers to certify engineering services that will be nationally and professionally accepted.
My position requires me to work directly with government ministries, road authorities, consultants, contractors, and non-governmental organizations. My main mandate has been to improve quality control and testing methods for construction materials on national strategic infrastructure projects. I have also been committed to raising the levels of technological and technical expertise of our technical staff through improved training programs.
I effectively lead a team of both support and technical staff of more 100 in achieving high quality results, meeting Malawi’s construction standards, and ensuring compliance with established criteria through work inspections and approvals, while addressing challenges of maintaining staff morale and competence through training programs. I have held key positions in the project management teams for high-rise buildings, highways, and dam-raising projects, embracing their development, reviews, and reporting of detailed programmes with critical path analysis, budget management, financial control and reporting, and management of sub-consultants. I have a good working knowledge of standard forms of contract, including: FIDIC; Construction (Design and Management) Regulations; and I have been involved in the production of tender documents and specifications.
I have experience working on studies and hydrological and hydraulic analyses of river flows for the designing of major highways, bridges, towers, and high-rise buildings variously in Malawi. I have worked on integrated, multidisciplinary teams at every stage of a project’s life cycle, including feasibility testing, option testing, preliminary design, detailed design, costing, bid evaluation, and bid award, and also have senior management experience in the design of deep foundations, including those for major highways, bridges, and local roads. I also have senior experience in the contract management, administration, and site supervision of motorways, major highway improvements, infrastructure projects, major bridge construction, and dams. I have been involved in the development and support for the implementation and establishment of sustainable road research capacity in Malawi, as well as various materials investigations and
Resume
Resume
Education
BSc in Civil Engineering, The Malawi Polytechnic
Malawi
2012
MSc in Project Management, University of Bolton UK
United Kingdom
2021
Professional Affiliations
Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers UK Malawi Engineering Institution
.
Professional Registrations
Member of the institution of Civil Engineers UK Registered Civil Engineer, Malawi Engineering Institution MEI Panel Member of the MEI Engineering Qualifying Examination Board
.
Employment
Malawi Government,
A forensic audit on independent investigations on premature pavement failures on Malawian national roads
2023
Malawi Government,
A forensic audit on independent investigations on premature pavement failures on Malawian national roads
2023
Agricultural Engineering (AGE) Department of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
Engineering Professional Practice and Ethics & Testing of Engineering Materials
2020
Chief Materials Engineer, Government Materials and Research Division of the High Buildings and Roads Department in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works
2020 - Present
Detailed design of the substructure for the new Kamuzu central hospital partial cloverleaf interchange bridge on Kenyatta drive and Mzimba street respectively in Lilongwe city
2020 – 2021
- As the project consultant’s lead materials engineer, it was my job to do daily geotechnical field research and lab tests to build the structure’s foundations at a cost of US $17.3 million.
- My team comprised ten people, most of whom I mentored to assist in their professional development.
- I led the team ensuring terms of reference produced required parameters, using standard data collection and reporting forms, and employing rotary and percussive drilling with cone
and standard penetration tests, resulting in cost and time savings, improved quality and consistency. - I made sure that the piles met the requirements of BS 8110 and BS 8004 so that they would be safe and cost-effective.
Technical and Legal experts to review the cross-border road transport model law with regard to the transport and trade facilitation program
February 2023
- As a civil engineer, and member of the team of experts I provided advice on how to ensure compliance with essential standards and regulations in road design and construction, with a particular focus on accounting for differences in axial load requirements across different countries
Resilient and Strategic Transport Operational Enhancement Project (RESTORE, P500625)-World Bank Funded Project
- As the desk officer for the project, I drafted the comprehensive Terms of Reference (ToR) for the diagnostic exercise aimed at upgrading the Roads and Bridges technical design standards and guidelines.
- I collaborated closely with the Roads Authority (RA) and the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MoTPW) teams to ensure the ToR accurately captured the project’s objectives and scope.
- I incorporated feedback from key stakeholders to refine and finalize the ToR, ensuring alignment with Malawi’s specific infrastructure requirements and international best practices.
Soil & Geotechnical Investigation for COMESA Competition Commission Office Building, Lilongwe, Plot No. 34/527
March 2024
- I led the team in selecting appropriate soil testing methods and procedures to determine soil properties and characteristics.
- I analysed and interpreted test results to inform the optimal foundation design for the
COMESA Competition Commission Office Building project in Lilongwe, Plot No. 34/527
Assessment & Cost Estimation for Songwe Bridge Crossing in EU-Funded M1 Road Rehabilitation, Malawi
- I led the European Union-selected team of experts to conduct a cost estimate for the Songwe Bridge crossing, providing a cost estimation to cover worst-case scenarios.
- I confirmed bridge design codes in accordance with SADC requirements, coordinating with the Malawi Roads Authority.
- I identified key cost variables influencing bridge construction costs, such as span length, number of spans, foundation type, steel weight, concrete volume, and superstructure type
- I utilized historical bid data from the M1 Road Rehabilitation project and other relevant bid data provided by the Malawi Roads Authority to inform cost estimations.
- I provided a comprehensive cost estimation that included all aspects of bridge completion, encompassing site investigation, design costs, and bridge construction, including road
access.
Independent Pavement Investigation on the Ntchisi – Malomo Section of M5 Road in Malawi
2021
- As a materials engineer, I was in charge of a team of engineers and technicians who did audits and technical reports for the Malawian government.
- I successfully managed an assignment with a cost of $12.8 million, which involved me in setting criteria and scope, following accepted procedures, and analysing outcomes to provide recommendations.
- Under my direction, the team evaluated the structural capacity of pavement by selecting appropriate testing equipment and methodology based on factors such as base-course, moisture regime, and road category.
Detailed engineering design for the Upgrading of Chimwaza Trading Centre – Nambuma (S115/T344) Road to an all-weather bitumen standard road in Dowa District
2018–2020
- I pioneered the use of drones within the central materials laboratory to expedite hydrology and drainage design and overcame a lack of precipitation data by using information from a nearby meteorological station.
- I made sure that maintenance on construction equipment was done in a certain area to limit damage to the environment (from oil spills, etc.), and instigated regular watering of the working area to cut down on dust.
Designing of civic office in Mzuzu to Malawi
2019–2020
- As a lead materials engineer, it was my job to use advanced finite element analysis software to look at geotechnical data and figure out axial resistance. The project had a total cost of $30.3 million, with the design costing $1.3 million.
- I was in charge of a team that did tests in the field and in the lab to figure out the soil and rock parameters needed to choose and design the most appropriate bridge foundation system. This was determined to be bored cast in place piles
Senior Materials Engineer, Government Materials and Research Division of the High Buildings and Roads Department in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works
2017–2020
- I led the team in analysing the properties and performance of different materials, evaluating the environmental impact of materials, and considering factors such as cost and availability.
- I provided expert guidance on selecting the most appropriate materials and design solutions to ensure the success of the various projects.
- I was part of the team that looked at the results of in-situ tests to figure out the properties of construction materials. This helped us design roads, bridges, and buildings that are strong, durable, and perform well enough to meet the standards.
High rise buildings sector designs across Malawi
2018-2019
- I led the team in choosing the right testing methods and procedures to find out the
properties and characteristics of the soil. I also analysed and interpreted the results to find the best foundation design for the project.
Independent Pavement Investigation on the Karonga –Songwe Section of M 1 Road in Malawi
2019
- I was a part of the team that did different tests on the materials to find out how they worked, figure out what environmental factors might have caused the problem, find ways to stop it from happening again, and suggest durable materials or changes to the construction process to improve the overall quality of the road.
- I led the team in developing cumulative graphs in Excel using calculated deflection values, CBR values obtained through evaluation of the pavement materials used in construction to identify patterns and outliers, predictions about uniform sections for data visualisation and analysis, as well as real-time communication features to improve decision-making based on engineering empirical formulas.
Bridge designs across Malawi
2019-2020
- I was in charge of evaluating the properties of different materials, like concrete, steel, or composite materials, and choosing the best one for the job based on factors like strength, durability, and cost. I also made sure that the chosen materials worked well with the other parts of the bridge and could handle the loads and stresses that were expected.
District Contracts Engineer, Bridge upgrading works on selected district feeder roads - pe 2 batch 3 (rural roads infrastructure program me-ridp-eu funded project
(2015- 2017
- I was responsible for the coordination of all design matters with the main contractor and resolving design queries relating to construction drawings. On completion of the works, I was responsible for certifying that they had been constructed in accordance with the design intent
Ass Highway Engineer, Royal associate consulting Engineers) Consultancy Services for the Design and Supervision for the upgrading of Kasinje-Kandeu Road in Ntcheu District
2014-2015
- I assisted a senior highway engineer by coordinating and supervising the activities of
contractors and subcontractors, monitoring project schedules and budgets, ensuring compliance with regulatory and safety requirements, and liaising with local communities and stakeholders. - I reviewed project plans and specifications, conducted site inspections, and identified any issues or challenges that may arise during construction. Additionally, I was maintaining accurate project records, preparing progress reports, and communicating regularly with the project team, senior management, and external stakeholders.
- I assisted in reviews of the construction schedule and explored alternative methods to mitigate delays from the effects of inclement weather.
- I was involved in the review of the concrete mix design for the precast concrete components constructed off site and assembled on-site
Senior Clerk of works, Nacala Corridor Project for VALE Logistics of Brazil to lay a new 140-kilometer railway track from Moatize, Mozambique, to Nkaya, Liwonde, via Mwanza and Neno.
2013–2014
I was involved in monitoring the progress of the embankment construction, carrying out inspections and tests to verify the quality of the materials and workmanship, and reporting any defects or issues to the senior clerk of works or project manager.
I also conducted toolbox talks before starting any work, and recorded and properly
documented the discussed safety topics for regular auditing. and eventually improving the safety of the construction processes.I was responsible for ensuring that in locations with limited digital infrastructure, the
materials section team maintained correct records of test results. To do this they kept track of test findings using physical records or hand-drawn maps.
Technical Skills
Portfolio
Portfolio
Testimonials
Testimonials
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