DEFMIL087
Supervise the construction of short term roads or tracks


Application

This unit describes the skills required to plan and direct the construction and to ensure the maintenance of a shortterm road or track. It includes repairs to all weather dirt roads to prepare them for sealing without additional construction and repairs, that would normally involve:

potholes that cause the slowing of traffic

removal and replacement of culverts emergency repairs to bomb damaged airfield runway, taxiway and hard standings

small scale stabilisation tasks

construction of short distance emergency bypass routes

expedient roadways

This unit applies to combat engineer personnel who are required to plan and direct the construction and to ensure the maintenance of, a short term road or track in a deployed operational environment.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Those undertaking this unit would work independently and lead a team under direct and/or indirect supervision. They use discretion and judgement, and take responsibility for the quality of their outputs. They would perform complex tasks in a broad range of unpredictable contexts.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Plan road or track construction

1.1 Interpret road requirements and restrictions from instructions, expected time frame for usage and likely weather conditions.

1.2 Seek assistance to survey road location.

1.3 Survey water courses and other ground obstacles and note their impact on road design.

1.4 Plan crossing or entry points for other roads and tracks.

1.5 Investigate soil conditions to establish profile to sub-base level.

1.6 Plan extent and depth of clearing and cutting.

1.7 Plan soil dumping or storage areas to accommodate volume of soil to be removed, access and restoration.

1.8 Develop construction plan in accordance with design, resources, risks and environmental considerations.

1.9 Confirm availability of required road base and additional material.

1.10 Confirm and monitor competence of team members.

1.11 Brief construction team.

1.12 Liaise with outside agencies.

2. Supervise road or track construction

2.1 Direct and supervise construction team in accordance with the construction plan.

2.2 Recognise and respond to unexpected situations that require a quick and decisive response.

2.3 Check drainage, levelling, road alignment and soil stability.

2.4 Organise and direct support from outside agencies.

2.5 Provide technical advice to higher authority or support agencies.

3. Supervise maintenance of road or track

3.1 Monitor condition of road/track in relation to volume of traffic and expected future requirements.

3.2 Identify and repair, or report to controlling body, specific damage likely to lead to safety or environmental issues.

3.3 Plan and carry out normal wear and damage repair with minimal disruption.

3.4 Note and modify ineffective drainage.

3.5 Redesign and remake areas of consistent damage.

4. Finalise the task

4.1 Conduct post activity analysis and make recommendations.

4.2 Recondition, replace or return equipment and stores.

4.3 Complete documentation.

Evidence of Performance

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

analysing pavement using cone penetrometer

conducting reconnaissance for quarries and gravel pits

conducting route reconnaissance:

route formula symbols

limiting factors

construction materials

overhead obstructions

tunnels and underpasses

map overlays

conducting soils testing (CBR)

designing and constructing culverts:

determining ground bearing pressure and angle of repose

determining soil characteristics and properties

employing geo textiles

employing soil stabilisation methods

measuring roadway parts:

pavement widths and thickness

shoulders

camber and crossfall

drainage

preparing terrain analysis

constructing roads and track to a standard that they could be classified as all-weather dirt roads and tracks capable of sustained heavy vehicle traffic

constructing roads or tracks able to be sealed without further construction


Evidence of Knowledge

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

techniques of:

compaction

pavement analysis using cone penetrometer

route reconnaissance

soil stabilisation methods

soil testing

terrain analysis

construction standards

types of:

geo textiles

ground bearing pressure and angle of repose

quarries and gravel pits

road systems and their relevant parts

soil characteristics and properties


Assessment Conditions

Competency should be demonstrated over a time frame that encompasses all aspects of the unit, in the workplace or in a simulated work environment. Assessment need only be conducted supervising the construction of one road or track due to the high cost and complex nature of the task. Specifically, access is required to the following resources:

construction equipment and materials

communications equipment

suitable site

construction team

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


Foundation Skills

The foundation skills demands of this unit have been mapped for alignment with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The following tables outline the performance levels indicated for successful attainment of the unit.

Further information on ACSF and the foundation skills underpinning this unit can be found in the Foundation Skills Guide on the GSA website.


Competency Field

Military Skills