UNIT 3

EIA DEFINITION
• Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA as usually called can be
considered as the appraisal of the probable impact that a proposed
project may have on the natural environment
• EIA is implemented prior to undertaking any project or major activity
in order to ensure that no short or long term harm will be faced by
the environment.
• Environmental Impact Assessment gives attention to the nuisances,
inconsistencies and natural resource constraints which might
impinge on the feasibility of a project.
CONT…
• EIA is an orderly scrutiny of all environmental impacts cropping up
out of any developmental activity
• Under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, on 27 th January
1994, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF),
Government of India, circulated an EIA notification which made
Environmental Clearance (EC) obligatory both for expansion or
modernisation of every activity and for setting up new projects
• In September 2006, the MoEF passed a new EIA legislation making it
mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power plants,
river valley, infrastructure etc. to get environment clearance5 .
TYPES OF EIA
• Climate Impact Assessment
• Demographic Impact Assessment
• Development Impact Assessment
• Ecological Impact Assessment
• Economic and Fiscal Impact Assessment
• Environmental Auditing
• Health Impact Assessment
• Social Impact Assessment
• Strategic Impact Assessment
EIA PROCESS & STEPS
• There are 8 steps
• 1. Screening: This first stage of EIA establishes whether the
anticipated project, necessitates an EIA and if it does, then the
intensity of assessment required.
• 2. Scoping: This step recognizes the key issues and impacts which
further needs to be investigated and also delineates the periphery
and time limit of the study.
• 3. Impact Analysis: The third stage of EIA identifies and envisages the
likely ecological and social impact of the anticipated project and
weighs upon the implication.
CONT…
• 4. Mitigation: Mitigation advocates the actions to lessen and steer
clear of the possible adverse environmental upshots of development
activities.
• 5. Reporting: The end result of EIA is accounted in a form of a report
to the decision-making body and other concerned parties.
• 6. Review of EIA: It reviews the sufficiency and efficacy of the EIA
report and makes available the information essential for decision-
making.
• 7. Decision-Making: It decides whether the project is cast off,
accepted or needs additional alterations.
CONT…
• 8. Post Monitoring: This final step of EIA comes into play once the
project is bespoke. It tries to make certain that the impacts of the
project does not go beyond the officially permitted standards and
execution of the mitigation measures are done in the manner as
stated in the EIA report.
ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS OF CONSTRUCTION
• The construction business accounts for approximately 45-50 percent of
comprehensive power consumption,
• just about 50 percent of all-inclusive water usage,
• And more or less 60 percent of the total usage of unprocessed or raw materials.
• the construction sector chips in 23 percent of atmospheric contamination,
• 50 percent of climate change gases
• 40 percent of drinking water contamination,
• in addition to an added 50 percent of landfill wastes.
• Additionally, rising concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from various
anthropogenic activities in the atmosphere8 which definitely included
construction have been posing threat to the environment.
GENERALISED FLOW SHEET OF EIA PROCESS
VARIOUS EFFECTS OF CONSTRUCTION
• Change in land use pattern,
• Re-development of active urban land from single storey structure to high-rise/high
density structure,
• clearing of surface vegetation,
• rise in green house gas emissions,
• removal of topsoil due to excavation,
• change in topography,
• change in drainage blueprint of the region,
• noise pollution owing to the use of heavy machineries,
• temperature rise of 1-2o C in urbanized area due to higher absorptive surfaces,
• disposal/reuse of construction debris, discarded electronic waste, cables etc, which are
noxious to environment,
• added load on sewers and waste carrying pipe lines and solid waste management, mostly
inorganic.
EVALUATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
The tool for assessing the sustainability of infrastructure projects by estimating the
influence factor (TIF). There are total 20 general evaluation criteria
CONT…
CONT…
CONT…
LIFE CYCLE COST AND ANALYSIS
• PROJECT LIFE CYCLE
LIFE CYCLE COST OF AN ASSET
• The life cycle of a physical asset involves four
• phases:
• planning,
• acquisition,
• use
• and, when it no longer meets our needs, disposal.
• The life cycle cost of an asset is the total of all costs incurred
throughout the four phases.
PLAN
• Planning is the most important phase in the asset life cycle as this is when performance
and level of service requirements are defined.
• Planning is the least expensive phase
• Basic questions to answer during the planning phase include:
• Why do we need the asset?
• What function will it perform?
• What service will it deliver and for how long?
• Are other assets affected by this asset?
• Who will use it?
• Can we afford it?
• How will we acquire it?
• How will we maintain it?
Cont…
PLANNING LEVELS
E.G SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SITE
• STRATEGIC LEVEL - , we want to think about the potential location and
size of a new landfil. We also want to plan for the closure and
monitoring of the existing landfill
• TACTICAL LEVEL - we will consider the type of landfil and how much it
will cost to manage over its entire life cycle
• OPERATIONAL LEVEL - we will consider the design of the landfll, the
types of vehicles needed for collection and training requirements for
operators.
ACQUIRE
• Acquiring an asset is often the shortest phase in its life cycle.
• It is when we act on our plans and obtain new assets to meet increased requirements,
enhance service provision or replace old assets that no longer meet the community’s
needs.
• Many people believe that this phase is the most expensive in the asset life cycle, as it
involves paying out the largest amount of money in the shortest period of time.
• In reality, however, it only accounts for 15 –30 per cent of an asset’s life cycle cost
• This phase of an asset’s life cycle is most susceptible to:
• Inflation,
• Material shortages,
• Labour shortages,
• Corruption, especially in procurement and provider selection.
USE
• This is when an asset provides service to the government or
community.
• It is usually the longest and costliest of the four phases.
• Costs incurred during this phase range from 60–80 per cent of the
total asset life cycle cost and often include the replacement of major
components to keep the asset functioning.
• The service life of an asset is the period of time over which an asset
fulfils the purpose for which it was built or acquired, with no
unforeseen costs or disruption for maintenance or repair.
DISPOSE
• The service life of an asset is the period of time over which an asset fulfils
the purpose for which it was built or acquired, with no unforeseen costs or
disruption for maintenance or repair.
• Disposal can take several forms, including selling or transferring the asset
to another party or demolishing the asset.
• We can sell or auction of underperforming property to the private sector to
generate one-time revenue to invest in other assets.
• We can transfer assets that no longer meet the mandate of one
government department to another department, level of government or
community group.
• Assets that are too costly to maintain can be demolished and replaced or,
in the case of land, repurposed
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
• Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment,
and the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving
building performance.
• The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-
renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive
environments.
• Design and construction of buildings and related infrastructure create
major direct and indirect impacts on the environment.
• For example, in the United States, buildings:
• Consume 39% of total energy use
• Consume 12% of total water consumption
• Consume 68% of total electricity consump on
• Cause 38% of carbon dioxide emissions
SIX PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
• OPTIMIZATION OF SITE POTENTIAL
• OPTIMIZING ENERGY USE
• PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF WATER
• SELECTION AND USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PRODUCTS
• ENHANCEMENT OF INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
• OPTIMIZATION OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES
OPTIMIZATION OF SITE POTENTIAL
• Creating sustainable buildings starts with
• proper site selection,
• including consideration of the reuse or rehabilitation of existing buildings.
• location, orientation, and landscaping of a building affect the local
ecosystems, transportation methods, and energy use.
• The location of access roads, parking, vehicle barriers, and perimeter lighting
must be integrated into the design along with sustainable site considerations
OPTIMIZING ENERGY USE
• On an annual basis, buildings in the United States consume 39% of
America's energy and 68% of its electricity.
• They generate
• 38% of the carbon dioxide,
• 49% of the sulfur dioxide, and
• 25% of the nitrogen oxides found in the air.
• The vast majority of this energy is produced from nonrenewable,
fossil fuel resources..
CONT…
• Reduce Cooling, Heating and Lighting Loads by Using Climate
Responsive Design and Conservation Practices
• Employ High-Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources
• Specify Efficient HVAC and Lighting Systems
• Optimize Building Performance and System Control Strategies
• Monitor Project Performance
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF WATER
• Reduce, Control, Treat Surface Runoff
• Use Water Efficiently
• Protect Water Quality
• Recover Non-Sewage and Greywater for On-Site Use
• Design Waste Treatment and Recycling Programs
SELECTION AND USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY
PREFERABLE PRODUCTS
• Evaluate renovation and/or expansion of an existing building instead
of constructing a new building
• Use reconditioned products, furniture and equipment whenever
economically practical and resource efficient
• Consider reusing components of an existing building (such as
windows, doors,
• Evaluate Environmental Preferability Using Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) Tools
• Consider trade offs among life-cycle stages (raw materials acquisition,
manufacturing, transportation, installation, use and waste
management)
• Consider USDA Biobased Products
CONT…
• Evaluate substitution of bio-based materials or products (such as
agricultural fiber sheathing) for inert or non-recycled alternatives
• Specify rapidly renewable materials that regenerate in 10 years or less
(such as bamboo, cork, wool and straw)
• Evaluate the use of demountable or deconstructable products and
assemblies
• Establish a waste management plan in cooperation with users to
encourage recycling
• Consider providing locations at the project site for organic waste
composting
• Limit Construction Debris
CONT…
• Use materials and assemblies with the lowest level of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs)
• Eliminate the use of asbestos, lead and PCBs in products and materials
• Eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as HVAC refrigerants
• Consider locally produced products and materials to reduce impacts
associated with transportation from remote locales
ENHANCEMENT OF INDOOR
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
• Good design, construction, and operating and maintenance practices;
• value aesthetic decisions, such as the importance of views and the
integration of natural and man-made elements;
• provide thermal comfort with a maximum degree of personal control
over temperature and airflow;
• supply adequate levels of ventilation and outside air to ensure indoor
air quality;
• prevent airborne bacteria, mold and other fungi through heating,
ventilating, airconditioning (HVAC) system designs
CONT…
• use of sound absorbing material and equipment isolation;
• control disturbing odors through contaminant isolation and careful
selection of cleaning products;
• create a high performance luminous environment through the careful
integration of natural and artificial light sources;
POLICIES IN INDIA FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
• Energy Conservation Building Code 2007
• provides for the establishment of state energy conservation agencies
to plan and execute programs.
• The Act led to the formation of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) that
formulated the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC).
• It covers minimum requirements for building envelope performance
as well as for mechanical systems and equipment,
• including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system,
• interior and exterior lighting system,
• service hot water, electrical power and motors in order to achieve energy
efficiency in different climatic zones of India
CONT…
• The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) and Clearance. This is a mandatory
requirement for all buildings with a built up area above 20,000 sq. m
• Sustainable Habitat Mission under the National Action Plan on
Climate Change National Action Plan on Climate change was launched
by the honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh on June 30,
2008
• These include missions on solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency,
sustainable habitat, conserving water, sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem,
creating a “Green India,” sustainable agriculture and, finally, establishing a
strategic knowledge platform for climate change
RATING SYSTEM
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) :, developed
and managed by the USGBC, is the most widely used rating system in
North America. Buildings are given ratings of platinum, gold, silver, or
“certified”, based on green building attributes.
• The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) founded by the
collaboration between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and
the private manufacturer Godrej, has taken steps to promote the
green building concept in India
CONT…
• Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA):
• developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
• GRIHA has been developed to rate commercial, institutional and residential
buildings in India emphasizing national environmental concerns, regional
climatic conditions and indigenous solutions
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
• DEFINITION - “infrastructure project which is
• (a) designed to achieve one or more sustainable development goals in the
long run,
• (b) developed with clear social, economic and environmental objectives and
commissioned with institutional mechanisms to manage or mitigate the
adverse impacts of the project by monitoring through the course of the
project life-cycle, and
• (c) financially sustainable in that it is financed through a robust structure that
achieves affordability for consumers without overburdening the Government
with long term debt”
TYPES OF SUSTAINABLE/GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE
• Downspout Disconnection:
• Rainwater Harvesting: / Catchment harvesting
• Planter Box: Urban rain basins with upright
surfaces and closed or open bottoms are planter
boxes. They catch and absorb runoff from
roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots and are
typically seen in downtown locations.
• Planter boxes are an excellent technique to
decorate city streets and are ideal for regions
with limited space
Cont…
• Bioswales: Vegetation or mulch is used
to slow and purify storm water flows in
bioswales, frequently found along the
curb and in parking areas
• Permeable Pavements: Rainwater
infiltrates, is treated, and is stored
where it falls on permeable pavements.
Permeable concrete, porous asphalt, or
permeability interlocked pavers can all
be used.
Cont…
• Green Parking: Numerous different types of green infrastructure can
be flawlessly incorporated into parking zone.
• Rain gardens and drainage systems can be placed in medians, then all along
the parking lot periphery, and rigid pavements can be placed in areas of a lot.
• Green Roofs: Green covers are made up of growing vegetation and
media that allow rainwater to infiltrate and stored water to evaporate
• Land conservation: Preserving open places and susceptible natural
locations within and adjoining a city and offering leisure activities for
city people can help reduce the water quality and flood impacts of
urban runoff
SERVICE LIFE OF A STRUCTURE - FACTORS
• CONCRETE PROPERTIES
• Strength : Strength of concrete is defined as the resistance that concrete
provides against load so as to avoid failure.
• It depends on the water-cement ratio, quality of aggregates, compaction,
curing etc
• High early strength concretes are more prone to cracking than moderate or
low strength concrete.
• Contractors apparently thought that a higher than the desired strength would
speed up the construction time, and therefore used high cement content.
• Hence it is not feasible to use high strength concrete for rapid development
CONT…
• PERMEABILITY –
• Permeability affects the way in which concrete resists external attack and the
extent to which a concrete structure can be free of leaks.
• The permeability is much affected by the nature of the pores, both their size
and the extent to which they are interconnected.
• REASONS FOR HIGH PERMEABILITY
• The large microcracks with generated time in the transition zone.
• Cracks generated through higher structural stresses.
• Due to volume change and cracks produced on account of various minor
reasons.
• Existence of entrapped air due to insufficient compaction.
CONT…
• THERMAL PROPERTIES
• Knowledge of thermal expansion is required in
• long span bridge girders,
• high rise buildings subjected to variation of temperatures,
• in calculating thermal strains in chimneys,
• blast furnace
• and pressure vessels,
• in dealing with pavements and construction joints,
• in dealing with design of concrete dams and in host of other structures where concrete
will be subjected to higher temperatures such as fire,
• subsequent cooling, resulting in cracks, loss of serviceability and durability
• For this study of specific heat, thermal conductivity coefficient of thermal
expansion is necessary
CONT…
• CRACKING –
• Water from fresh concrete can be lost by evaporation, absorption of sub
grade, formwork and in hydration process.
• When the loss of water from the surface of concrete is faster than the
migration of water from interior to the surface dries up.
• This creates moisture gradient which results n surface cracking while concrete
is still in plastic condition
CONT…
• DURABILITY
• Durability of concrete may be defined as the ability of concrete to resist
weathering action, chemical attack, and abrasion while maintaining its
desired engineering properties.
• concrete exposed to tidal seawater will have different requirements than an
indoor concrete floor
DEGRADATION MECHANISM IN CONCRETE
• Freeze-thaw damage (physical effects, weathering) – Volume change,
cracks
• Alkali-aggregate reactions (chemical effects) - matrix becomes weakened
and its constituents may be leached out.
• Sulphate attack(chemical effects).
• Microbiological induced attack (chemical effects)
• Corrosion of reinforcing steel embedded in concrete (chemical effects)
• carbonation of concrete
• Chloride induced.
• Abrasion (physical effects).
• Mechanical loads (physical effects)
ERRORS

DESIGN ERRORS
CONSTRUCTION
ERRORS