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CESGI

Unit – 6

Civil Engineering Projects

Q1) What is EIA and what is the purpose of EIA of civil engineering projects?

A1)

Environmental Impact Assessment (or simply, EIA) is recognized as a tool for achieving sustainable development. The main objective of EIA is to ensure that potential environmental impacts are foreseen at the appropriate stage of project design and addressed before any concrete decision is undertaken on the project.

The Environmental Impact Assessment involves a systematic process for identifying, predicting and evaluating potential impacts associated with a development project. The EIA process must proffer mitigation measures to avoid, reduce or minimize the negative impacts on the environment, public health and property and may highlight the foreseeable positive impacts.

The EIA is not a one-off process which terminates in the production of a report on the effects of the project and associated mitigation measures. It also deals with monitoring the construction and operational phases, and this continues till the project is decommissioned. The post-closure care is also an integral part of the EIA process.

Purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects

The purpose of the Environmental Impact Assessment study is to establish existing baseline conditions in the project area and to proactively assess the potential impacts and associated impacts of the proposed project on the project area.

The main objectives of the EIA are to:

Establish the existing bio-geo-physical and socio-economic conditions of the project area.

Identify the resultant impacts (positive and negative) associated with the installation and operation of the project.

Make recommendations to eliminate/mitigate/control the magnitude and significance of the identified impacts.

Recommend plan and procedures to manage the consequences and

To integrate the views and opinions of stakeholders, National and International environmental regulations, codes and conventions relevant to the proposed dam activities into the final project design from the EIA report Review.

Q2) What is the procedure for Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects?

A2)

Screening

Determines whether the environmental and social impacts of a proposed development project would be significant enough to develop an EIA

Scoping

Establish the boundaries of the EIA, set the basis of the analyses that will be conducted at each stage, describe the project alternatives and consult the affected public.

Impact Assessment & Mitigation

Evaluate the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the planned project and its alternatives, and then identify the mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.

Impact Management

Prepare the plans required for addressing mitigation measures and other project risks, such as technological failures and natural disasters.

The EIA Report

Pull together all the research and work done during the previous steps into a comprehensive, structured document, ensuring that the EIA report contains all the key components.

Review & Licensing

Designated authorities review the EIA report to determine if the planned project will get a license or if it requires amendments.

Monitoring

Ensure that the mitigation measures, priorities listed in the EMP, and contingency plans are properly implemented and effectively address the project’s impacts.

Q3) What is waste prevention and how can we achieve it?

A3)

Waste prevention, also known as source reduction, means using less material to get a job done Waste prevention methods help create less waste in the first place—before recycling. If organizations take a good look at their recycling collection data, they are likely to see ways to reduce waste first through waste prevention, thereby decreasing purchasing costs and the amount of material that must be managed for recycling.

Minimize waste

Some building-related waste can be minimized. For example, construction products can be selected on the basis of its being designed and manufactured to be shipped with minimal packaging. Also consider that selection and use of recyclable materials and products offers potential to minimize waste.

Segregate waste efficiently

This can be done by:

Introducing a secure on-site waste storage area that features clearly labelled and colour-coded skips, bulk bags or wheelie bins for different types of waste

If applicable, deploying a mini crusher and screener for leftover bricks, blocks and hardcore

Training employees in basic segregation procedures, using incentives and rewards to ensure they follow them

Bringing on board a team to exclusively monitor and manage materials and waste either on a full- or part-time basis (depending on your budget).

Reuse materials

Some materials can be reused. For example, doors and windows in good, resalable condition might substitute for new products, or be donated and or sold for use on another project; a form of beneficial reuse.

Materials and products which cannot efficiently and effectively be eliminated, minimized or reused ultimately are collected, and unless managed, will probably be disposed at the lowest cost. In many areas of the country, disposal fees at solid waste landfills are substantially higher than the cost of separation and recovery, including the disposal cost for residues.

Eliminate waste

Some waste generated in the process of construction can be eliminated. For example, durable modular metal form systems for use in concrete construction may be selected on the basis of being readily demountable and reusable on other projects, thus eliminating wood waste associated with formwork fabricated of plywood and dimensional lumber. Elimination of waste can be beneficial to reduce impacts on human health and the environment.

Q4) What are the ways to increase efficiency in civil engineering projects?

A4)

1. Communicate Clearly

Communication is the most important productivity booster in any job. No one will get the job done well if they have no idea what’s going on.

It’s important you clearly communicate your goals to your crew before you start a new project and continue keeping them updated throughout the project.

Send out frequent emails and memos if there are any changes that might affect your workers. Be considerate and never leave your employees in the dark about what’s happening in a project.

2. Set Realistic Goals

Rome wasn’t built in a day and your new building won’t be either.

Construction takes time so it’s important you set realistic goals. Make sure the entire crew understands the goal for each day, each week, each month, and even each year.

It’s important that people have goals to strive towards each and every day. Setting small goals makes a big project seem easier to accomplish.

3. Reward Regularly

Construction is often hot and tiring work. Your workers are putting in hour after hour of manual labour.

In order to increase productivity, offer incentives in the form of rewards. Whenever your crew meets a goal, treat them to pizza and beer at a local restaurant.

This will make your workers feel appreciated and eager to push forward.

4. Train Your Troops

If you want a work site the runs efficiently, you have to train your workers. Make sure they’re all trained before you begin a project.

Yes, this will often cost extra money but it will be worth it. Training also reduces the number of injuries on a job which will, in turn, increase productivity.

5. Listen Well

To be a good leader, you have to listen well to those you’re employing.

It’s not enough to communicate with people if you’re not open to hearing their responses. Your workers will have a firsthand idea of what does and doesn’t work on site.

They will sometimes come to you and tell you that a goal isn’t realistic, or that they need new tools. Don’t brush these things off. Instead, take them into consideration and try to find a solution for your crew.

6. Plan with Purpose

Before starting a construction project you need to have a detailed plan laid out for how you’re going to accomplish the job.

This includes schedules for workers, materials needed, and countless other logistics.

The more thoroughly you plan your project beforehand, the better it will turn out. You also need to keep this plan updated to reflect on how the project is moving.

7. Hire Good Management

Hiring good management is one of the key ways to increase productivity on site.

If you have managers who are respectful yet firm in their leadership, your team will respond. Managers help keep workers focused and working towards your goals.

Managers also work as middlemen between construction workers and upper management in order to relay problems.

8. Keep Track of Your Materials

You should be regularly checking inventory in order to prevent shortage at end. You need to make sure you have the materials to complete at least one week’s worth of work.

If you don’t, you need to order new materials well in advance to give them enough time to come in..

9. Give Your Workers Time Off

In order to increase productivity, it is important to give you workers adequate time off. If you’ve been working them hard for a few weeks in a row, give them a long weekend to recover.

This will demonstrate that you care about your workers and they will be happier for it. When they return to work they’ll be eager to get back to the project after being well rested.

10. Convey The End Goal

It always helps people stay on task if they’re reminded of what they’re working towards.Put up pictures of the end result around the site to remind the workers why they’re working.

Remind your workers of the end result of all their hard work. Show them what an impact they’re going to make in their community.

Q5) List top sustainable construction technologies used today in green construction.

A5)

Solar power: In green construction there is active solar power and the other is passive solar power. Active solar power is the use of functional solar systems that absorbs the sun’s radiation to cater for heating and electricity provision. It reduces the need for the use of electricity or gas. Passive solar power is a design that uses that sun’s rays to warm homes through the strategic placement of windows and the use of heat absorbing surfaces. The window let in energy and the heat absorbed reduces the need for warming the house during cold periods such as winter.

Biodegradable materials: the use of biodegradable materials is an eco friendly means of making construction sustainable. Most traditional construction method leads to the accumulation of waste products and toxic chemicals, the majority of which take hundreds of years to degrade. Biodegradable materials such as organic paints therefore aid to limit the negative impacts on the environment as they easily breakdown without the release of toxins. The use of biodegradable materials for building foundation, walls and insulators are also a part of sustainable construction technologies.

Green insulation: insulation is among the greatest concerns when it comes to construction of buildings and homes. The use of green insulation has proven to be a sustainable construction technology as it eliminates the need for high end finishes made from new renewable materials. Green insulation offers a solution by making use of old and used materials such as denim and newspaper.

The use of smart appliances: sustainable construction technologies emphasize the installation of energy saving and self sufficient appliances. Smart-grid dishwashers, refrigerators and washing machines are examples of such sustainable technologies. The technology is oriented towards establishing zero energy homes as well as commercial buildings.

Cool roofs: cool roofs are sustainable green design technologies which aim at reflecting heat and sunlight away. It aids in keeping the homes and building at standard room temperatures by lowering heat absorption and thermal emittance. Cool roofs can reduce temperatures by more the 550 degree Celsius during summer.

Low energy and zero energy building design: sustainable construction technologies typically include mechanisms to lessen energy consumption. The construction of buildings with wood, for instance is a sustainable construction technology because it has a lower embodied energy in comparison to those build of steel or concrete, sustainable green construction also makes use of designs that cut back air leakage and allows for free flow of air while at the same time using high performance windows and insulation techniques.

Q6) What is zero energy building (ZEB)?

A6)

A zero energy building (ZEB) produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements, thereby reducing the use of non-renewable energy in the building sector. ZEBs use all cost-effective measures to reduce energy usage through energy efficiency and include renewable energy systems that produce enough energy to meet remaining energy needs. There are a number of long-term advantages of moving toward ZEBs, including lower environmental impacts, lower operating and maintenance costs, better resiliency to power outages and natural disasters, and improved energy security. Reducing building energy consumption in new building construction or renovation can be accomplished through various means, including integrated design, energy efficiency retrofits, reduced plug loads and energy conservation programs. Reduced energy consumption makes it simpler and less expensive to meet the building’s energy needs with renewable sources of energy. ZEBs have a tremendous potential to transform the way buildings use energy and there are an increasing number of building owners who want to meet this target. Private commercial property owners are interested in developing ZEBs to meet their corporate goals, and some have already constructed buildings designed to be zero energy. In response to regulatory mandates, federal government agencies and many state and local governments are beginning to move toward targets for ZEBs. However, definitions differ from region to region and from organization to organization, leading to confusion and uncertainty around what constitutes a ZEB.

Q7) What are the effects of infrastructure development on growth and income distribution?

A7)

It is a given that increased infrastructure spending will increase the gross domestic product (GDP) in the short run as a natural accounting consequences of piling investments (productive or not) into fixed capital.

The contribution of the infrastructure sector in India GDP

Infrastructure sector growth rate in India GDP came to 3.5% in 1996-97 and the next year, this figure was 4.6%. The growth rate of infrastructure sector in India GDP increased after the Indian government opened the sector to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) this was done in order to boost the infrastructure sector in India. The result of opening the sector to the private sector has been that infrastructure sector growth rate in India GDP has increased at the rate of 9%. It is estimated that the growth rate of infrastructure sector in India GDP will grow at the rate of 8.5% between 2006 and 2010.

CONTRIBUTION TO JOBS

It is widely accepted that investments in infrastructure can lead to direct and indirect jobs, and usually have spill-over effects into other economic opportunities. For example good transport system and agro logistic services help move freight from farms to locations where value can be added (like intermediate processing, packaging and sorting of agricultural produce) and ultimately to consumers.

However the anticipated benefits of these investments are not always fully realized or sometimes they happen much later.

To maximize their impact, infrastructure project should explicitly analyze and include complementary investments (e.g., industrial parks or processing facilities) and soft interventions (financial services, ICT, laws and regulations etc) needed to unlock the potential of new markets.

Q8) What is a low energy building?

A8)

A low-energy house is characterized by an energy-efficient design and technical features which enable it to provide high living standards and comfort with low energy consumption and carbon emissions. Traditional heating and active cooling systems are absent, or their use is secondary. Low-energy buildings may be viewed as examples of sustainable architecture. Low-energy houses often have active and passive solar building design and components, which reduce the house's energy consumption and minimally impact the resident's lifestyle. Throughout the world, companies and non-profit organizations provide guidelines and issue certifications to guarantee the energy performance of buildings and their processes and materials.

Q9) What is a project management system?

A9)

A project management system is a means of managing a project by planning, organizing, and managing its different required aspects. Depending on the sophistication of the project management system, it can include:

Estimation activities

Scheduling

Cost control and budget management

Resource allocation

Quality management

Risk management

Change control

Decision-making managing

Q10) What does it mean by safety and health management system?

A10)

A safety and health management system means the part of organisation’s management system which covers:

The health and safety work organisation and policy in a company

The planning process for accident and ill health prevention

The line management responsibilities and

The practices, procedures and resources for developing and implementing, reviewing and maintaining the occupational safety and health policy.

The system should cover the entire gambit of an employer’s occupational health and safety organisation.

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