“Why do some engineering systems require a minimum vertical separation from the water table?”
Engineering systems may store water beneath the surface, such as septic systems for wastewater or infiltration systems for stormwater. However, these systems can cause catastrophic damage if they’re built too close to the water table. Septic systems can leach wastewater and contaminate groundwater supplies, while water infiltration can raise the water table and lead to flooding. Consequentially, government regulations may require a Minimum Vertical Separation From Water Table to ensure public safety. For example, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection mandates that stormwater infiltration practices in Brooklyn and Queens are at least 4 feet above the groundwater table.
“What regulations do you have to follow if you install or alter curbs, sidewalks, or roadways in NYC?”
Different municipalities have different regulations for different construction activities. In NYC, people who install or alter curbs, sidewalks, or roadways are required to submit a Builders Pavement Plan, or BPP. The builders pavement plan documents what actions the construction operator is taking to install/alter their right-of-way infrastructure and how they will follow regulations. The NYC Department of Buildings reviews BPP applications and analyzes how they comply with city construction codes and NYC Department of Transportation rules, regulations, and standards. BPPs help ensure NYC’s urban planning stays strong and that city residents are offered a safe environment.
“How can construction operators temporarily stabilize soils when they’re pausing construction?”
Soils are disturbed during construction activity. While site maintenance can prevent erosion, sometimes you want to pause construction activity. When this happens, you will want to temporarily stabilize the soil to keep the soil from eroding. Temporary Stabilization offers the quick fixes needed to prevent site degradation. Temporary stabilization measures are usually quick to deploy but do not last permanently.
“What can we do to prevent soil from eroding away?”
Soil is foundational for human life on this planet. Whether it’s for growing crops or managing construction projects, humans modify soil to meet the needs of the day. Sometimes soil needs altering to make it able to hold it in place and keep wind, water, and other forces from eroding it. These strategies are commonly referred to as Surface Stabilization. Surface stabilization applications range from strengthening soil to support new structures to planting trees to keep sediment from spilling into waterways.
“How do we dispose of leftover concrete at the end of a construction workday?”
Concrete is a vital part of modern-day construction activity. But what do we do with the spare concrete leftover at the end of a construction workday? If we don’t do anything with it, we risk polluting soil and waterways. Well, what if we wash concrete out of all tools and chutes and place the waste into a special disposal container? Well, this is the Concrete Washout process, and it’s how construction operators ensure they don’t harm the surrounding environment and community with concrete waste.
“How can we create underground storage chambers that infiltrate stormwater into the earth?”
Stormwater can overwhelm any municipality, whether it’s in the Borneo rainforest or the Kalamari Desert. People need a way to manage it as it enters. So what if we were to use a pipe to collect stormwater from a roof or catchment basin, place it in an underground tank filled with filtering aggregate material punctured by void spaces for the water, and encase it in a semi-permeable structure that allows water to infiltrate out? Well, this is the idea behind Dry Wells. Dry wells can mitigate stormwater flooding and help recharge nearby aquifers. Operators should install dry wells away from low hydroconductive soils, high groundwater table aquifers, polluted sites, and building foundations.
“How can we use floatable curtains to prevent turbidity from spreading in bodies of water?”
Sediment runoff from construction activities can spike turbidity levels in nearby bodies of water. Once enough sediment breaches into a body of water, it can envelop everything. So what if we were to build a floating curtain barrier to contain the turbidity to a single place? Well, this is the idea behind Turbidity Curtains. Turbidity curtains have three parts: a top floatable piece, a protective skirt in the middle that prevents turbidity from spreading, and a ballast at the bottom to stabilize the curtain. We can apply turbidity curtains to a variety of situations beyond construction activity, from aquaculture to oil spill containment.
“How can we develop roofs designed to store rainwater during storms?”
Rainwater during storms will fall on roofs before moving to the ground. If too much water is dumped on the ground, then it might overwhelm local infiltration capacity and flood the area. So what if we were to develop roofs that could hold rainwater during storms and then slowly release and/or evaporate it once the storm has passed? Well, this is the concept behind Blue Roofs. Blue roofs are an excellent asset for flood control. Reducing the intensity of stormwater can decrease the occurrence of combined sewer overflows and increase water conservation.
“How do utilities mark where their underground infrastructure is during excavation?”
Utility infrastructure is often underground, such as sewer pipes and electric power lines. This means that during construction excavation, people need to mark where the existing infrastructure is to avoid damage. The American Public Works Association has developed Utility Excavation Color Codes to visually indicate on-site locations of infrastructure, such as red for power lines or blue for potable water. Utility operators are obligated to mark their infrastructure location using paint and/or flags in their assigned colors. Utility excavation color codes help protect construction professionals and the general public from preventable accidents.
Isaac's Science Blog 