TOPIC 6

SITE SELECTION 
 LESSON OUTCOMES (LO)
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
Understand the definition and urgency of Feasibility Study
and Site Investigation in site selection during Pre-Tendering
Phase.
Understand and explain the factors governing Feasibility
Study.
Understand and explain the factors governing Site
Investigation. 
 SITE SELECTION
Site selection and land acquisition is crucial when the client does not own
the site desired to be developed. This matter should be undertaken as
early as possible, ideally, in parallel with feasibility studies. This work may
be carried out by a specialist consultant.

The key to the process is ensuring that the requirements for the site are
properly defined and that the selected site meets these requirements
within the constraints of the project programme and with minimal risks to
the client.

FEASIBILITY STUDY - A PROPOSAL PREPARED BY A PROJECT MANAGER OR

ARCHITECT/CIVIL ENGINEERING/PROJECT MANAGEMENT, OR CLIENT IN-HOUSE STAFF TO
DETERMINE THE VIABILITY OF A PROJECT SITE, FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF PROJECT
OBJECTIVE, BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL WITHOUT INVOLVING SITE MEASUREMENT /
TESTING.

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 FEASIBILITY STUDY

Objectives of
the project 

Factors governing
Feasibility study 

Technical point Business point

 of view  of view 

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 OBJECTIVES OF THE
PROJECT 
The client must define the need and
objectives of the project in the project
brief.
Sometimes money/expenses is not the
priority compare to the need of the
project.
Examples: Project of infrastructure for
people (such as school, public hall and
etc.), flood disaster area, landslide disaster
area and etc. 

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 FEASIBILITY STUDY

Land Financial
Valuation  Study 

Business Point of View

Market
Risk Analysis  (Economic)
Analysis 

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 BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW
Land Valuation – The owner/client needs to assess the
current value of the proposed land and decide whether to
acquire/buy the land. 
Financial Study – Then, the owner/client has to prepare
budget and forecast the cashflow of the project for the
items as follow:
‒  Pre-Development Cost
‒  Infrastructural Cost 
‒  Preliminaries
‒  Construction 
‒  Sales Revenue 
‒  Profitable Return 
‒  Cashflow

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 BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW
Market (Economic) Analysis
The owner/client has to identify potential buyer, carry out
the market analysis and determinewhetherf the percentage
of profit margin is worthwhile to proceed the project or not.
Concerned with the supply and demand situation and also
the country’s economic market situation (discuss further in
class for current situation). 

Risk Analysis
Usually carried out together with the market analysis.
Purpose is to make known the liability should the project fail.
At the same time, it encourage the owner/client to work
towards success. 

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 FEASIBILITY STUDY

Site Visit 
Preliminary
Preliminary
Layout Plan 
Investigation

Technical Point of View 

Accommodation for staff 

Technical Site Local suppliers or Sub-contractors availability
Material, Plant and Labor availability
Suitability Mode of Transportation to the site 
Factors  Services (water, electricity, telephone) availability 
Environment
Flood Level (if any) and existing Drainage System 
Topography  
Site Investigation   
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 TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW
Preliminary investigation 
The study without going to the
site, i.e. study on map/drawing
/report from local authorities
such as land office, district
office, resident office,
municipal/city council office,
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Site Visit 
After preliminary investigation, site
visit shall be carried out to determine
the following matters: 
Physically location and present use
of the land
Site topography and existing
drainage

JKR, JPS, TELEKOM and etc. Distance from town center

The purpose is to obtain Population of the area
information on land status, Economic activities of the area
current and future development Surrounding
plan for the desired site and development/industrial commercial
surrounding, services available, residential squatter
access road, etc.    Accessibility - gravel laterite or
pre-mix 
 TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW
Preliminary Layout Plan 
Shall be prepared based on development concept.
Include infrastructure, access, facilities and etc. so that economic
assessment can be executed; to determine the feasibility of project.

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 TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW
TECHNICAL SITE SUITABILITY FACTORS

1. Accommodation for staff (contractor responsibility) 

Contractor has to build quarters for accommodation of staff if it
is hard to rent or the site is located in remote area. 

2. Local suppliers or Sub-contractors availability  (contractor

    responsibility)
Availability of local suppliers or sub-contractors can reduce the
price of sub-contracting.  

3. Material, Plant and Labor availability (contractor responsibility)

If they are available locally, it would ease the construction while
reducing the cost.  

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 TECHNICAL SITE SUITABILITY FACTORS

4. Mode of Transportation to the site (contractor responsibility)

A good access road to the site is important for the purpose of
transportation, i.e. bringing in and out materials, plant and labor.
Will reduce the cost of transporting materials, plant and labor.
Save/reduce the time of travelling.
Lower the maintenance cost of contractors’ vehicles.
If the condition of existing road is poor or if it is in remote area,
contractors have to create temporary road access.  

5. Services (water, electricity, telephone) availability  

Services available will reduce the contribution cost and construction
cost. 
Available services or in close proximity will reduce contribution cost
to TNB, JKR, or Telekom and construction cost will be cheaper due to
length shorten for services/facilities involved.

awang295@sarawak.uitm.edu.my
 TECHNICAL SITE SUITABILITY FACTORS

6. Environment 
The surrounding may affect the project feasibility. A remote area
is normally not suitable for a housing scheme. On the other hand,
the project will affect the surrounding.
Interfacing with human activities include components like soil,
rock, water and geologic hazard (flooding, erosion, slope failures
and subsidence).
Understanding on these geological components are important so
that the construction activities can be carried out according to the
adopted designs with minimal impacts on the geological
environments. 

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 TECHNICAL SITE SUITABILITY FACTORS

7. Flood Level (if any) and existing Drainage System 

Identify whether the proposed site is located on the low lying area
or in the vicinity of flood prone area or was flooded before.
 Historical records for rainfall, king tide, flood level, flood prone
areas are available at MMD and JPS. In addition, with the assistant of
sophisticated software nowadays the flood simulations are available
at MMD for certain areas. In order to determine whether a site has
been flooded before, we may look for;   
‒  Estuary or nearby river affected by high tide
‒  Swampy vegetation- e.g. water lily
‒  Tall tale sign-e.g. dirty marks of some level in trees and buildings
‒  House design-e.g. stilts houses along the river side.
‒  Availability of transports during flood
e.g. sampan or asking local peoples (last alternative)

The existing and project drainage scheme for flash flood or flood
mitigation shall be checked. These existing drainage systems record/
as-built are available at JPS, JKR, district office, resident office and
municipal/city council office.  
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 TECHNICAL SITE SUITABILITY FACTORS

8. Topography 
Available hard/soft copy of topography map are available at Survey
Department Malaysia. This map provide information on contours
level, elevations, river, facilities and etc.
Site topography map can be used to determine the volume of earth
to be cut and/or filled, the location (storage) of resources, building,
and services; the temporary access and etc.   

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 SITE INVESTIGATION
Site Investigation is a study to examine the suitability of the
site in terms of physical properties, geological and
geotechnical materials properties (soils, rocks and geological
structures) and the environment aspects in order to meet the
standards with the most economical layout for the proposed
site location.

  Standards here means, the construction are economy, safe,

and meet the design standard and local authorities
requirements.    

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GEOLOGICAL & GEOTECHNICAL
Geotechnical Engineering is the branch of Civil Engineering that
concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. It includes
investigation on existing subsurface conditions and materials; assessing
risks posed by site conditions; designing earthworks and structure
foundations; and monitoring site conditions, earthwork and foundation
construction.
Engineering Geology is the ‘application’ of the geologic sciences in
engineering practice for the purpose of assuring that the factors
affecting the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance
of engineering works are recognized and adequately provided.
Engineering Geologists investigate and provide geologic and
geotechnical recommendations, analysis, and design. Engineering
Geologic studies may be performed during the planning, environmental
impact analysis, and construction phases of public and private works
projects, and during post construction and forensic phase of projects.

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 Factors  governing
Site Investigation

Economical Technical
Factor  Factor 

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 ➤  Development Cost
Compare cost of any similar project in the area
nearby, and study if the project is worthwhile. 

➤  Transportation Cost
Economical
Poor transportation may increase the contract sum
Factor 
due cost of transportation for materials, labours and
equipments.   

➤  Utilities and Services Cost

Contribution cost and construction cost for new
utilities and services are to be included in contract
sum. 

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 ➤  Ground Water Level (G.W.L.) 
Ground water presence need to be identified, and
the level of corrosiveness must be examined.
Ground water level may be determining the type of
foundation to be used. 

Technical ➤  Flood Level (if any) and existing Drainage System      

Factor        (MITIGATION)
The pattern and quantity of runoff shall determine
the drainage system based on pre-development and
post-development analysis.
Confirmation on collecting data during FS to provide
mitigation actions in order to avoid/reduce/control
the flash flood/flood caused by the proposed
development itself.

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 ➤  Location of Existing Services (water pipe, electrical cable
     and etc.)   
The existing services underground must be seriously
assessed to avoid disturbance or damaging to
existing underground services such as water pipe,
sewerage pipe, electrical cable, telephone cable and
etc.
Usually any existing services will be mapped on plan
Technical using sophisticated detectors equipment.  
Factor 
➤  Marine Effect  
Structures on the shore, i.e. wharf and jetty, are
subjected to environment marine effect.
The tide of water encourages sea water attacks against
the structural elements (reinforcement); as there are
periodic supply of air, saltwater (from the sea), and
heat (from sun).
As a result, structure may fail during service due to
corrosion problem. 
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 ➤  Site Survey  
Boundary stone for the site must be determined to ensure
the construction is on the exact location.
If available topography survey is incomplete or not
consistent, additional survey is required before detailed
design stage.
Data survey includes TBM, contour line, elevation, spot
Technical level, existing features on ground and etc. It is useful to
Factor  determine the volume of earth to be cut and/or filled, to
assign the location (storage) of resources, building, and
services; the road access and etc. 

➤  Soil and Sub-Soil Condition Survey 

Soil samples (disturbed/undisturbed) may be obtained
from site by numerous method of soil samplings.
Laboratory testing is conducted to obtain the necessary
parameters for detail design purposes such as foundation
design, allocating of structures (buildings, services) and etc.

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 ➤  Environment  
Interfacing impacts the ecosystem and surrounding
area to minimize direct and indirect impacts on the
Technical geological environment.
Factor  Samples Studies frequently conducted are as follow:
1. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
2. Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA)
3. Social Impact Assessment (SIA)

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 METHOD OF SITE INVESTIGATION
Method of Site Investigation (SI) can be grouped into 2 types, i.e. Surface
and Sub-Surface Method. The need depends on the type of structures to
be constructed and other factors as follow;

Stage of investigation
Condition and topography of the site
Amount of information required
Allocated fund
Accessibility
Availability of materials required for the investigation (e.g. water for
flushing in drilling) 

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 METHOD OF SITE INVESTIGATION
➤  Limitations:

Geologic conditions are complex and varies as well as subjected to changes

with time.
The limitation of SI will occur when it is not possible to identify all of the
critical aspects of geological conditions, regardless of the
comprehensiveness of the investigation.
Consequently this would require incorporation of conservative measures
into the design and construction to avoid unsatisfactory results.
Case study and past experience on similar geological environment will
facilitate in planning which is the most reliable and informative in SI work.
In addition, allocated fund may be not sufficient for detailed and
comprehensive investigation on a given area. 

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METHOD OF SITE INVESTIGATION
➤  Some of SI methods are:
Desk study of previous records publications Sampling taken either
Trial pits from disturb or
Soil electrical sensitivity probe kit undisturbed samples.
Land survey Generally, reports are
Auger boring divided into 2
Wash boring categories namely
Rotary drilling preliminary and
Constant Rate Penetrate Test detailed investigation
Mackintosh probe test report.
Maintain Load Test
Satellite image and topographic maps
Seismic wave propagation (reflection) and seismic effect (reflection) 

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 SUMMARY

COMPARISON BETWEEN FS & SI

Factors governing Feasibility Study;
i.   Objectives of the project
ii.  Business point of view
iii. Technical point of view

Factors governing Site Investigation;

i.  Economical Factor
ii. Technical Factor

awang295@sarawak.uitm.edu.my
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Janidah Eman (UiTMPP)

Nur Muizzah Nawi (UiTMJ)
Muhammad Isha Ismail (UiTMP)
Noor Raifana Ab Rahim (UiTMJ)
 REFERENCES
Clayton, C. R. I., Matthews, M. C., Simons, N. E. (1995). Site Investigation (2nd
ed.). Blackwell Science.

DOE, (2011). Site Selection Criteria and Evaluation Handbook. Department of

Education, State of Alaska.

Merritt, F. S., Ricketts, J. T. (2001). Building Design and

Construction Handbook (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Rodney, O. (2007). Feasibility Studies Made Simple. Martin Books.

Additional notes:
The Site Selection Guide
Site Selection Considerations
CONTENT DEVELOPERS