Environmental impact of foundation construction

The long-term environmental impact of foundation construction arises from the energy use and pollutant emissions associated with the manufacture, installation, maintenance and disposal of the foundation piles.

Sustainable development requires the minimisation of these impacts. Decision-making at the design stage currently focuses on minimising the short-term economic costs of manufacturing and installing the foundation. Social and environmental impacts are addressed only through compliance with current legislation. The impact of long-term economic costs is hidden by future discounting, and through a lack of liability of current owners for end-of-life disposal costs.

This decision-making approach leads to wasteful use of non-renewable resources, and leaves an expensive and harmful legacy for future generations. Current research is comparing the merits of novel new foundation solutions within the wider framework of the social, economic and environmental impact through the entire life cycle.

E-mail

Department Address – Schofield Centrifuge Centre, High Cross Site, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0EL

Telephone - +44 (0) 1223 337097
Fax - +44 (0) 1223 460777

Other environmentally related projects:

Noise and vibration reduction during foundation construction