Analysis of Geology of a Major Civil Engineering Project - Case Study Example

Report on Geology of a Major Civil Engineering Project Report on Geology of a Major Civil Engineering Project 1 Abstract: 1 Introduction: 1 Engineering Geology: 2 Cardiff Bay Barrage: 4 Aim: 4 Opposition: 4 Construction: 5 Impact: 6 Ecological Impact: 6 Conclusion: 8 Abstract: In the following project there shall be a conducted a detailed analysis done of the role that is played by the geology of a certain area, and the geological implications that need to be taken into account while developing the engineering plans of a concerned area. This shall be done with the help of a detailed study of a case analysis. The case analysis that has been taken up in this report is that of the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Introduction: It is a widely known and accepted fact that the geology of an area plays an important role in influencing any engineering activity that might take place in the area. Thus, while developing and initializing any engineering project there are conducted geological investigations. This is done to investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of the developed engineering plan. The investigations affect the site selection also, and over the years it has been observed that many engineering projects have failed to prove effective due to the fact that the engineering projects while being developed did not conduct proper geological research of the area, or failed to take into account the findings of such investigations. (Aitchison, Grant). In this report there shall be made a detailed analysis of the Cardiff Bay Barrage, the construction that has been done in the area and the geological implications of this construction. (Becket, Webster1969) Engineering Geology: Engineering geology is an integral and essential part of the geotechnical services that has emerged important in the 21st century as the demands on the infrastructural facilities have increased manifolds. (British Standards Institutions 1981). The engineering geologists play a key role in the establishment of the investigation process, and then the implementation of this is also done by the geologists. (Brunsden, Chandler 1996). Once the analysis is complete, they help in the understanding and interpretation of the ground conditions and the geological conditions of the site. The activities undertaken by our engineering geologists are varied and at times include a wide range. Some of the activities are enlisted below: Office-based investigation and aerial photo site understanding and explanation; Field analysis and mapping activities; statistics and information analysis and reporting; Hazard evaluation studies and estimation, predominantly related to land stability; Site description for coastal and nautical projects; and Water supply and measurement of materials for engineering or excavation activities. For example, in the Wind Farm Construction that is currently underway in New Zealand, the engineers and geologists have analysed the existing conditions, and while it has been realised that the project will be beneficial, there are certain challenges that have to be looked into, such as the construction of the wind mills, and insuring stability, especially in the times of turbulences, etc. Another such project is the PJK Project, which is also underway in New Zealand, where the engineers and the geologists need to take into account the fact that the soil in the area has soft foundation, and that the construction of the highway will also have to take into account other geological set backs such as sensitive soils encountered in earthworks, difficult pavements, and major cut slopes. Cardiff Bay Barrage: The Cardiff bay barrage is a construction that has been carried out on the Bristol Channel in Britain.(Cardiff Bay) It lies between the Queen Alexandra Docks and Penarth Head, and is one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe in the 1990s. The harbor at Cardiff Bay experiences one of the world’s greatest tidal ranges up to 14m. This has meant that at low tide, it has been inaccessible for up to 14 hours a day. The new barrage will eliminate the effect of the tide, which has acted as an inhibitor to development, releasing the potential of the capital city's greatest asset - its waterfront. Aim: The construction for the barrage was first proposed in the 1980s, where the aim of the construction was the revival of the docks which had fallen into a state of abandonment and neglect. It was to help in the creation of a large water lake in the area so as to help in attracting investment in to the docklands and thus help in the revival of the economy in the area. It aimed at the regeneration the dockland activities, and also to ensure that the bay did not suffer from lack of water as it had done before. Opposition: The government at that time wanted to ensure that there was greater cooperation and economic growth and development in the area, and this was the reason for the promotion of the development of the barrage in the area. But the proposed idea saw opposition both at the political level as well as at the social and economic level. There was opposition in parliament itself about the repercussions of the construction, and the damage it might do the environmental conditions of the area. The then local politician Mr Rhodri Morgan (now the First Minister of Welsh Assembly), argued that the project would be too costly. There were also protests that were experienced at the social level, and by the environmental groups of the country. There was a more general outcry against the project as it was believed that there would be experienced a raise in the water levels and this would permanently damage their houses and property loss due to submersion would be experienced. There was also protest experienced from the environmental groups as it was believed that there would be loss of feeding ground for birds in the area which was provided by the marshes. There were also certain other geological problems and concerns that were bought up about the siltation of the embankments that may occur due to the construction of the barrage and that it might lead to instability in the ecosystem of the area. Construction: The construction of the barrage was started in the year of 1994 and it was completed in the year of 1999, and this connected the whole area to the Bristol Channel, and has lead to an increase in the economic activity that has been experienced in the area. This has lead to the creation of a fresh water lake of the size of about 2 kilometres that is about 490 acres. This is due to the fact that the barrage impounds upon the two rivers, River Taff and River Ely. Impact: The impact of the barrage has been positive, but it has also had some negative impacts. The most important impact of the construction of the barrage has been that it has helped in the economic revival of the docklands and has lead to the development and growth of investments in the area. There has also led to further construction in the area and on the barrage itself, and this allows for pedestrians to cross the barrage. This has added to the growth of the tourist industry, and more importantly has helped in ensuring that there is quick and better transportation from one side to the other. But it has also caused a number of strains on the economy, as the number of jobs that were generated was not enough, and it took almost 200 million euros to build it and it takes almost 20 million euros a year to keep it maintained and running. This has led to economic draining due to the existing system. Ecological Impact: The ecological impact of the construction has been unhelpful. Firstly it has displaced the bird population of the area and this has had a negative impact on the ecological cycle of the area. The feeding area has been covered by the construction and this has lead to further problems. Another problem is that it has adversely affected the geology of the area also. (Murray, Hawkins). There has been observed a gradual rise in the sea level instead of an obituary rise, and this has lead to a change in the siltation of the area. There is heavy siltation where it cannot be utilised and causes damage to the project. It also leads to additional expenditure of maintaince. Also the barrage block the navigational waterway and this has lead to further increase in the prices of water transportation system. As Sian Best has put it- “Replacement feeding grounds for birds have been created on the Usk estuary at a cost of more than £10m but, four years on, not many of Cardiff's dunlin and redshank seem to have found the way there. Supporters of the barrage promised that the investment it attracted would create nearly 30,000 jobs. Even if every job that has been created in the bay area can be attributed to the barrage, there is still a shortfall of more than 10,000 jobs. And that's not counting the 15,000 jobs that existed in the area before '"regeneration" began - but disappeared when the owners of scores of small firms were served with compulsory purchase orders, sending many out of business or out of Cardiff Bay. Its sponsors also promised that the development would include more than 4,000 units of social housing. This promise has been fulfilled, but there are now 3,000 more homeless people in Cardiff than when the barrage was first planned.” Conclusion: In can thus be concluded that the geological engineering is an important part of the civil construction process so as to ensure that the impact of the construction can be studies before hand, and suitable steps be taken to ensure that these concerns are addressed to avoid problems and complications in the future. Reference: Aitchison, G. D. & Grant, K. 1967: The P.U.C.E. programme of terrain description, evaluation and interpretation for engineering purposes. Proceedings of the Fourth Regional Conference in Africa on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Cape Town. 1, 1–8. Becket, P. H. T. & Webster, R. 1969: A review of studies on terrain evaluation by the Oxford-MEXE-Cambridge group, MEXE Report 1123, Christchurch, Hants. Best Sian: Damn Nuisance, Guardian, accessed on Friday, August 28, 2009 at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/jan/05/environment.welshassembly. British Standards Institution. 1981: Code of Practice for Site Investigations, BS5930:1981, British Standards Institution, London. Brunsden, D. & Chandler, J. H. 1996: The development of an episodic landform change model based upon the Black Ven mudslide 1946–1995. In: Anderson, M. J. & Brookes, S. M. (eds) Advances in Hillslope Processes, 2, J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 869–896. Cardiff Bay accessed on Friday, August 28, 2009 at http://www.cardiffbay.co.uk/. Murray and Hawkins: Journal of the Geological Society; 1976; v. 132; issue.4; p. 385-398; DOI: 10.1144/gsjgs.132.4.0385, accessed on Friday, August 28, 2009. Read More