Developing a Methodological Framework for Estimating Temporary Drainage Capacity to Inform Land Requirements for a Highway Construction Project in Scotland

Abstract

<jats:p>Silt pollution generated during major highway construction projects can prove detrimental to the water environment and the aquatic species that depend on it. Construction activities can leave many kilometers of exposed soil susceptible to erosion from surface water runoff, which can result in silt pollution and degradation of ecologically sensitive watercourses if appropriate mitigation is not in place. In Scotland, assurances need to be provided during scheme development to demonstrate that there is sufficient space to accommodate temporary drainage. In response, a methodological framework has been developed that can be applied before construction commences to estimate the required capacity of settlement ponds including runoff and soil loss volume estimation, which are estimated using the Rational Method and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The application of the framework as a case-study has demonstrated the potential applicability of the approach and highlighted where further refinements can be made to increase the robustness for future applications by improving the accuracy of input parameters to address site-specific conditions. Furthermore, it demonstrates how adopting erosion control measures can reduce the land required to accommodate temporary settlement ponds.</jats:p>

Will contractors pursue unsustainable practices following environmental recovery? A highway case in China

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Spatial–Temporal Pattern and Influence Factors of Land Used for Transportation at the County Level since the Implementation of the Reform and Opening-Up Policy in China

“…The types of research on land used for railways can be divided into research on comprehensive development and utilization of railway land [10] and the evaluation of the land footprint of high-speed railway construction [11]. Studies on land used for highways mainly focus on estimating land requirements for expressway construction projects [12], the influence of expressways on population redistribution [13], and the evaluation of land conservation for expressways [14].…”

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“…However, sustainable materials contributing to the increase in soil strength would have little value without appropriate planning and design procedures and strategies. On those lines, Al-Janabi et al [5] offer a case study for experimental and numerical analysis for earth-fill dam seepage, while Wallace et al [6] demonstrate how adopting erosion control measures can reduce the land required to accommodate temporary and permanent sustainable drainage measures.…”

“…In the latter study, Wallace et al [6] demonstrate the development of a methodological Framework for estimating temporary drainage capacity to inform land requirements for a highway construction project in Scotland. Silt pollution generated during major highway construction projects can prove detrimental to the water environment and the aquatic species that depend on it.…”