unpaved roads. Resources are particularly availed for the maintenance of urban roads that are more presentable and beneficial to many decision makers. One common reason has been, for decades, that rural roads are many and the budgets constraints cannot allow to keep them in good conditions. This project will develop a vulnerability index assessment that can help prioritization and hence optimization for the limited maintenance funds particularly for rural and unpaved roads in LICs. Findings from the research will lead to improved accessibility and connectivity, minimised isolation, and achievement of the sustainable development goals rural populations in LICs. Interested applicants can contact Dr Esdras Ngezahayo (e.ngezahayo@bham.ac.uk) for further details and guidance on how to apply.
Eligibility: Home and International students
Requirements: MSc/MEng degree in geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, civil engineering, and related disciplines. A first-class undergraduate degree in these areas with relevant working experience can be considered.
Project supervisors
Dr Esdras Ngezahayo
Career overview
Dr Esdras Ngezahayo holds a BSc in Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology, an MSc in Geotechnical Engineering and Management, and a PhD in Civil Engineering, specialising in Geotechnical Engineering, all from the University of Birmingham. He has over a decade of experience in Higher Education, both internationally and in the UK. Dr Ngezahayo is a Fellow of Higher Education and a registered External Examiner in the UK. Prior to his current role as an Assistant Professor in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, he served as a Postgraduate Teaching Associate, Researcher, Research Fellow, and Teaching Fellow within the same School of Engineering. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, and has contributed to numerous technical reports and presentations. Dr Ngezahayo is recognised as an award-winning researcher. His recent paper on sediment transport and runoff coefficients in local roads received accolades from the Department for Transport (DfT), CIHT, and PIARC for its significant contribution to road design adapting to climate change, and was presented at the World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress. Another of his papers was similarly recognised for its focus on sustainable mobility, highlighting his work on social accessibility and equity in transport systems. He has made significant contributions to the Climate Resilient Sustainable Road Pavement Surfacings (CRISPS) project, which involved collaboration with various international institutions, including the University of Auckland and the International Road Federation. This project was commended by the ICE West Midland for its research excellence. Dr Ngezahayo is actively involved in teaching and supervision, currently overseeing six PhD students and supervising over 40 MSc thesis projects annually across various engineering disciplines.
Research interests
Dr Esdras Ngezahayo's research interests encompass geotechnical engineering, transportation geotechnics, underground engineering, geotechnical sustainability, infrastructure resilience and adaptability, geohazards, problematic soils, buried infrastructure, and rural transport infrastructure. His recent work includes significant contributions to the Climate Resilient Sustainable Road Pavement Surfacings (CRISPS) project, which investigated modified epoxy-bitumen and fibre mastic asphalt for long-life pavement options in low-income countries. He has also focused on sediment transport and runoff coefficients in local roads, which earned recognition from the Department for Transport, CIHT, and PIARC. Additionally, Dr Ngezahayo has explored the effects of geotextiles on railway infrastructure, social accessibility in transport systems, and the impact of climate change on geotechnical infrastructure. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.
