Geological input in construction development and planning
2001
Chu, L.H. | Chow, W.S.
In any construction project, engineers conduct site investigations to acquire the engineering characteristics of the site before designing the substructure and superstructure. Most projects do not encounter problems as engineers adhere to the engineering. Codes of Practice. However, some projects did encounter problems as certain geological factors were not addressed. A number of geological factors such as bedrock morphology, bedrock lithology, geological structures in the bedrock and mineralogy of the rocks may affect the safety of a civil structure. There are a number of case histories outlining the role played by geology in construction development, such as the change in design of the Pan Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur to avoid sitting over a large overhang in the limestone bedrock, the oxidation of pyrite in concrete in Batu Dam, Kuala Lumpur which led to the formation of cracks in the spilway, or the failure of a rock slope in Taman Rawang Perdana along a day-lighting fracture plane. In the process of planning the landuse of an area, planners require basic information such as the geology, topograpy and landform of the site, as well as other geotechnical details such as whether the area is prone to landslides. Geological mapping and a rational evaluation of the overall terrain would serve the purpose. In the past, the role of geology in the construction industry was not accorded much importance, but in recent years, the scenario has changed and civil engineering consultant companies now employ geologists.
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