Ground disturbance is the amount of space between your property’s surface and the surface of the ground underneath it. Ground surface covers everything from roadways to sidewalks to driveways. Ground surface may change with new construction or modifications to those properties. In these situations, the owner and contractor must ensure adequate space is left between the ground and the buildings above so that no significant impact on the surrounding environment occurs with any type of construction. It is important to understand how much space is needed to protect the environment so that construction can proceed in a safe and responsible manner. If there isn’t enough space between surface and ground, the soil could be damaged and it could negatively impact the environment. There are two types of ground disturbances: vertical and horizontal. Vertical ground disturbances include grading and grading modifications such as terracing or creating a raised bed. Horizontal ground disturbances include cutting into soil, installing structures in the ground, and constructing underground structures like pipelines or canals. Both types of disturbances can occur during construction or demolition projects; however, vertical disturbances are usually more common than horizontal ones. Read on to learn more about the different types of ground disturbances, why they matter, and how to avoid negative impacts on the surrounding environment during construction projects.
Vertical Ground Disturbances and Impact of Construction
When construction involves grading or creating a raised bed, workers must leave a certain amount of space between the surface and the ground underneath. This space is called vertical ground disturbance. The amount of vertical ground disturbance needed depends on a variety of factors including the type of soil, the type of construction, the design of the project, and the intended use for the property. Some examples of vertical ground disturbances include:- Cutting into soil: When cutting into soil to install utilities or construct below-grade structures, the contractor must leave a certain amount of vertical ground disturbance. This will help protect the surrounding environment from being damaged by the digging and construction process.- Raising a bed: When creating a raised bed, the contractor must leave a certain amount of vertical ground disturbance. This is important because it will help keep soil from running into the bed and damaging it.- Modifying vegetation: When removing vegetation that obscures the view of a building, the contractor must leave a certain amount of vertical ground disturbance. This will help protect the view for potential buyers.
Horizontal Ground Disturbances and Impact of Construction
When constructing underground structures like pipes or canals, workers must dig in the ground to install the pipes. This can impact the surrounding environment if the digging disturbs the soil too much. In these cases, the contractor must leave a certain amount of vertical ground disturbances to protect the environment while digging. There are two types of horizontal ground disturbances: - Excavation: Excavation is necessary for a variety of construction projects including underground mining or installing water pipes. Excavating the soil can cause large amounts of soil to be displaced. If the soil is displaced too much, it could impact the surrounding environment.- Cutting into soil: Cutting into the ground to install pipes or other underground structures can create large amounts of soil disturbance. The contractor must leave a certain amount of vertical ground disturbances to protect the environment.
Bottom line
The amount of ground disturbance that occurs during a construction project depends on a variety of factors. It’s important to know the difference between vertical and horizontal ground disturbances and understand how they affect the surrounding environment. With this knowledge, you can make sure your construction project follows all safety regulations and protects the environment.