Engineer ECS, Engineers Without Borders Restore Impassible Road in Africa
Employees of Virginia-based engineer ECS are donating expertise to an Engineers Without Borders USA voluntary effort to upgrade a key road in Malawi, East Africa that often is impassable.
Photo by Bryan Layman courtesy of Engineering Consulting Services
Volunteer experts from Chantilly, Va-based Engineering Consulting Services is working with pro-bono advocacy group Engineers Without Borders USA to restore an impassable roadway in a remote village in East Africa that keeps it cut off from the nearest hospital, schools and other community locations during the region's rainy season. .
In April, Bryan Layman, the firm's senior vice president and subsidiary regional manager was part of a team of engineers from the group's Northern Virginia professionals' chapter who spent a week in Kaseye, Malawi to complete the project’s assessment phase. It included conducting GPS surveys over a four-mile stretch of road, meeting with community members and local leaders, consulting with regional contractors and collecting data to inform drainage and road design improvements.
The geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and facilities engineering firm ranks at No. 66 on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, reporting $453.8 million in 2024 revenue
The project now moves into engineering evaluation, hydrologic analysis and phased construction planning. The design team is working to design durable, cost-effective improvements that are locally sustainable and respectful of regional conditions and governance.
“This is a deeply human project ... that could dramatically change the quality of life for the Kaseye villagers.” Layman said in a statement. “EWB-USA has allowed me to apply my engineering, problem-solving and leadership skills to serve communities that are often forgotten."
ECS was named the ENR Southeast Design Firm of the Year in 2022 and the ENR MidAtlantic Design Firm of the Year in 2018.
To learn more about how to participate in EWB-USA volunteer projects, visit its website.
