New Soil Testing Machine Funded by PRT Basrah Will Benefit Basrah University College of Engineering

Basrah /September 23, 2010

September 23 - As the result of a successful Iraqi-American cooperation, the College of Engineering at Basrah University received a much-needed truck-mounted auger machine for soil investigations. Basrah University Chancellor Dr. Saleh Najim, Basrah Provincial Reconstruction Team Officer Suzanne Bodoin, and a representative from Al-Fakher Company presided over a hand-over ceremony in the presence of Basrah University faculty and students. 

This $210,000 USG-funded addition to the Engineering College will provide Basrah University with a valuable research and pedagogical tool. Soil investigations are fundamental to the agricultural and oil industries. Many of the graduates of the University’s engineering curriculum will find employment in agriculture and the rapidly developing oil sector in Basrah. By incorporating exposure to real-world soil investigations into the curriculum, the auger will contribute to a more meaningful degree and, hence, increase the likelihood of employment opportunities.

At the same time the University is using the auger as an instructional tool, it will also be used to benefit the wider Basrah commercial community. The Engineering College already has a sophisticated soil (and construction materials) testing laboratory funded through USAID (2004) and Bechtel Corporation. The lab frequently conducts soil analysis testing for a large portion of Southern Iraq, since such testing is necessary before major construction projects can begin. However, augers are very scarce in Iraq, and the lab has to rent one from outside the country at significant cost each time it needs to conduct a soil investigation. By being able to take their own samples, the Engineering College will be able to analyze soil samples quicker, which will lead to quicker approvals for construction projects in the region.

At the hand-over ceremony, Basrah University Chancellor Dr. Saleh Najim thanked the Basrah Provincial Reconstruction Team for this important contribution to the College of Engineering, saying: “It is the only device of its kind in southern Iraq. This machine allows us to take soil samples for the purposes of for research and educating students, as well as construction and other commercial projects. These samples will in turn help us to determine the bearing capacity of the soil, which is a very important factor in soil research and construction.”