Management of Environmental Risks during the Project Life-Cycle - Term Paper Example

Risks management analysis during Development stage of the Channel Tunnel Project, Including management of environmental risks during the project life-cycle Development Phase The development phase is particularly a sensitive phase of the Channel Tunnel Project, considering that safety must be enhanced from the very start of the project, lest the whole project becomes a risk. The risk identified were the Project ground risk, which are associated with the systemic failure of the organization and management of the project. The Risks management analysis during Development stage requires that preliminary information is collected regarding the site, to ensure that the subsequent excavation that is undertaken does not cause the deformation of the water table. (Yan-juan, Ding-li, & Jian-jun, 2009 p2). This is then followed by the assessment of the influence of the excavation on underground strata structures, and how such excavation might lead to their deformation. To reduce the probability of these risks, the Construction, Design and Management Regulations have been developed to aid the monitoring and avoidance of the risks. The necessary controls are then implemented immediately, to prevent the occurrence of the risks (Aritua, 2011 p304). When all that information is collected, a program detailing the nature of the strata and how it might be influenced by the excavation of the tunnel is developed (ProQuest, 2012 p2). The details of the settlement and deformation of the strata are recorded, and a scheme to control the occurrence of the deformation of the strata then generated (Yan-juan, Ding-li, & Jian-jun, 2009 p3). The monitoring and current control strategies are then established, to ensure that the influences of the excavation are constantly monitored and Consistent management of the site and the assessment of the structures is done on a real-time basis, and any necessary control and rectification implemented. The risks that were poorly identified were the risks to do with site investigation, which forms the basis for providing adequate information regarding what type of products can be undertaken on the area. This resulted to the establishment of risk registers for tunneling that details every aspect of the site, to ensure that all ground risks have been assessed, and the appropriate features registered, to inform the nature of the most viable project (ProQuest, 2012 p1). Environmental Risk Management during the project life cycle The project life cycle consists of four main stages namely the identification, definition, implementation and the closure stage (Lycett, 2004 p292). However, there are various environmental risks factors that are associated with these stages of the project lifecycle, which contributes to the complexity of the project. The competition for contractors was identified as the major environmental risk, since the construction companies with critical resources and the ability to mobiles are always in constant competition (Aritua, 2011 p310). The organizational structure and the project team coordination is yet another environmental risk factor that was identified, that contributes to the complexity of the project, if not adequately addressed. Social complexity is yet another environmental risk factor, which is contributed by the various actors in the project, and their diverse interests, who may include the politicians and the surrounding communities. Their conflict of interest serves to delay the implementation of the project (Clifton, 2011 p47). However, the reputational risk was poorly assessed. This risk emanates from the direct relationship between the project and the end-users, as well as the stakeholders, since the reputation of a project, is considered a vulnerable asset, which depends on the project environment to have it sustained (Eisner, 2000 p12). The environmental risks were assessed through assessing the interaction between the project, the people and the organizations, in terms of aspects such as politics and ambiguity, which serves to complicate the project and delay its completion (Bosch-Rekveldt, et al 2011 p730). Proposals for improvement The first proposal for improvement, especially regarding the aspect of Environmental Risk Management during the project life cycle, is the escalation of commitment on projects (Winch, 2013 p2). This concept requires that due commitment is escalated, by all the parties involved in the implementation and execution of a major structural project. Through the commitment of the organization, the project team and the other project actors, the environmental risk factors of organizational and social complexity are eliminated, which ensures that the project is executed effectively, without straining the budget and the time constraints any further (Stannard, 1990 p49). Considering that the environmental risk is highly contributed to, by both the organizational and the social complexities throughout the Channel Tunnel Project lifecycle, then, the application of the escalation of commitment on project will go a long way in enhancing the cooperation of the project executors and actors, and thus make the project implementation more efficient and effective. The escalated commitment will serve to eliminate the delays, disruptions and the unnecessary complexities involved in the project, and thus enhance the successful accomplishment of the project. The second proposal is in relation to risks management analysis during Development stage. Site management is the fundamental aspect of risk management in the developmental phase, considering that when the assessment of the site is accurately done and all the essential standards of consideration met before tunneling commences, then the project has minimal or no safety risks associated with it (Eisner, 2000 p13). Therefore, the proposal for improvement at this stage is that the evaluation and data collection for this stage should be done with utmost precision, thus leaving zero chances of error, since accurate assessment of the excavation effects, leads to the prevention of the deformation of the structures above. The proposal implores on the application of Grouting method, since it can be applied both from the surface downwards and from the tunnel upwards, effectively collecting the adequate data for strata analysis (Yan-juan, Ding-li, & Jian-jun, 2009 p3). High focus on the developmental stage, through the application of the most effective technology of assessing the strata structure and gathering data goes a long way in reducing ground risk and other site investigation issues, which may derail the project once it commences, or which may cause later complexities in the project accomplishment. The elimination of the ground and the site risks ensures the project runs smoothly without raising issues in the course of implementation. Introduction The channel tunnel project has its history dating back to 1800s. The building of tunnels have been instrumental in assisting end the traffic congestion, while also affording a faster means of transport, as compared to the use of roads. However, the process of starting, implementing and finalizing channel tunnel project is one that is marred by a variety of challenges (Clifton, 2011 p47). Most fundamental is the safety challenge that is posed by the construction of channel tunnel, considering that some have to be developed under a region where there already exist water structures. Therefore, it becomes essential to devise various strategies that would address the challenges that comes with the construction of the channel tunnel project, to ensure that the safety of the structures that are already build is maintained, while also ensuring the safety of those working in the tunnels (Lycett, 2004 p297). Therefore, information and data collection regarding the construction site forms a fundamental part of the initial assessment process, to establish the suitability of the channel tunnel project, through assessing how the excavation is likely to influence the strata structure that exists. In addition to the safety challenges, other important considerations are the environmental concerns that face the channel tunnel project, which include the technical, social and organizational concerns. Nevertheless, owing to the benefits realizable from the implementation of the project, it becomes essential to focus on overcoming the challenges and implementing the project to its closure. Challenges Bi-national challenges These are challenges that emanates from constituting a project team from different countries, which then calls for the training and harmonization of various issues regarding the nationalities, including the languages and the specific aspects of the project that has different approaches from the different country’s project team members (Pompee, 2). The training also entails the harmonization of the different levels of training of the different team members, into a single level, focused on the project achievement. Design The complexity of the project calls for addressing the design challenges, which are more of a management concept than an engineering concept, which is the area of specialization of the project team members. The design challenges emanates from the fact that the various interfaces of the project requires to be harmonized, to give a single working and operational relationship, requiring a higher level of management skills (Pompee, 3). R & D Research and design entails the study of the outlines, designs and functional aspects of the project. The R&D does not only entail the study of the designs, functionalities and the outlines, but also the study on the coordination of all aspects of the project construction, management and finalization. All these aspects are so much detailed, and coupled with the large size of the project, and the complexity of the project, then, R&D becomes a highly challenging aspect. Largest size and complexity The large size and the complexity of the project comes with higher challenges, since the activities and logistics involved are many, thus the coordination aspect becomes a major challenge. Additionally, the larger the project, the larger the number of the peoples involved, and the complex the project becomes to manage, due to the differences in approaches y different individuals. Program management The program management challenges emanate from the combination of the different sorts of challenges such the organizational bureaucracy, the lack of commitment of the project team members, the social challenges emanating from the interaction of the community and the stakeholders with the project (Pompee, 2). All these factors make the management of the project a multi-faceted concept, which adds to its management complexity. Conclusion The implementation of channel tunnel project is a complex process that entails various stages forming the project lifecycle. The lifecycle of the channel tunnel project implementation includes the identification, where the actual project that is to be undertaken is known. This then continues to the definition stage, where the project to be undertaken is accurately defined and all the components and activities to be involved established. The process then proceeds to the implementation stage, where the necessary activities are executed and then to closure, after the whole project is executed. Nevertheless, there various challenges involved in the process of the channel tunnel project implementation, which range from the financial, political, organizational, technical and social challenges. However, thorough effective data and information gathering, the application of monitoring and control strategies, proper coordination and enlisting the support of all parties and actors involved in the implementation process, the channel tunnel project can effectively be executed, and its benefits obtained. 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