This article presents the characteristics of the heaps resulting from coal exploitation in terms of the possibility of their development for industrial facilities. The chances of soil improvement and the existing threats were indicated, emphasising the risk of self-ignition. The most effective technologies are dynamic or impulse compaction, which allows deep soil improvement and the obtaining of an appropriately rigid and load-bearing subsoil. The homogeneity of the soil’s mechanical properties that form the subsoil is also essential, which guarantees compliance with the serviceability limit state. A very important aspect of the investment process in the post-mining waste dumps is the risk of auto-ignition of the accumulated material. Considerations and analyses are presented on the example of the implementation of Panatonni service, warehouse, and production halls in Ruda Śląska. The performance of impulse compaction allowed for the safe construction of industrial halls. In particular, the tests carried out on the thermal state of the dumps confirmed the lack of an unacceptable risk of endogenous fire in the dump mass.

The paper presents in a comprehensive way issues related to propagation in a soil environment of vibrations originating during sheet piling vibratory driving. Considerations carried out comprised the FEM analysis of initial-boundary behaviour of the subsoil during impacts accompanying the works performed. The analysis has used the authors' RU+MCC constitutive model, which can realistically describe complex deformation characteristics in soils in the field of small strains, which accompany the phenomenon of shock propagation. The basis for model creation and for specification of material parameters of the presented model consisted of first-class tests performed in a triaxial apparatus using proximity detectors guaranteeing a proper measurement of strains ranging from 10 -1 to 10 -3 % and bender elements. Results obtained from numerical analyses were confronted with results of field tests consisting in measurements of acceleration amplitudes generated on the ground surface due to technological impacts versus the distance from vibration source.

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The article presents the concept of monitoring buildings and infrastructure elements located near large construction investments (the construction of high-rise buildings of the Oak Terraces housing estate in Katowice and the construction of a tunnel under the roundabout in Katowice along the intercity express road DTŚ). The impacts include deep excavation, lowering of the groundwater level over a large area, and dynamic influences related to the use of impact methods of soil improvement. The presented monitoring includes observation of the groundwater level with the use of piezometers, geodetic measurements of settlement and inclinations, as well as the measurement of vibration amplitudes generated during the works involving shocks and vibrations. It was also important to observe the development of cracks on the basis of a previously made inventory of damage. The results of the monitoring allow corrections to be made in the technology of works (e.g., reduction of vibration amplitudes, application of additional protections at excavations, etc.) or the use additional safety measures. Currently, there are also monitoring systems used during the operation of completed facilities.

The paper presents a comprehensive study on the causes and effects of landslides occurring in the gmina Milówka (gmina is the administrative district in Poland, similar to a commune or municipality) from 1947 until today. The analysis includes the identification of probable causes of landslides and a discussion of possible remedial methods, including preventive ones. The following were considered: results of laboratory, geophysical and seismic tests; meteorological data; vegetative and transpirational properties of plants and agricultural crops; intensity of farming; forest clearance. Attention was also paid to the tree-ring eccentricity among spruces. Additionally, a numerical analysis of the current landslide stability was carried out in the Z_Soil program. Finally, it was found that determining the exact value of the stability coefficient is not possible due to the numerous assumptions necessary for the numerical analysis. However, it is possible to predict with high probability which of the slopes are threatened with landslides.