FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY APPLIED

DESIGN AND FINE ART

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CIVIL ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

(BCE 4106)
TOPIC IV- ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF CONSTRUCTION
WORKS
TOPIC IV-ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS

4.1 Introduction
Ever since the dawn of civilization, man has indulged in some form of construction activity. Even in
ancient times, man created architectural marvels which came to be regarded as the wonders of the
world for example: the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the Angkor temples of Cambodia,
and the tower of Babel.
The Giza Pyramid of Egypt contains more than 2,000,000 blocks, with an average weight of 2.3 tons
each, about 100,000 persons worked on the pyramids for three to four months a year to build it in about
20 years. The Great Wall of China, built to provide protection against surprise enemy raids, is about
6,400 km long and its height and width at the top varies from 5 to 10 m, it has 20 m high towers placed
every few hundred meters.
The medieval times witnessed the construction of the world –famous landmarks like Taj Mahal in
India and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. A more example of man’s achievement in this direction
is the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
In the present-day world, technical breakthroughs have revolutionized construction activity. Modern
construction areas include high rise buildings, dams and irrigation networks, energy conversion and
industrial plants, bridges, railways, airports and seaports, satellite launching stations, onshore and
offshore oil terminals.
4.2 Construction Project Categories
Broadly, the major construction projects can be grouped into: Building construction, infrastructure
construction, industrial construction and special purpose construction.
a) Building Construction
Building works include residential and commercial complexes, educational and recreational facilities,
hospitals and hotels, warehouse and marketing facilities. They constitute the largest segment of the
construction business and they serve mankind by providing shelter and the services for its habitation,
educational, recreational, social and commercial needs.
b) Infrastructure construction
These are capital intensive and heavy equipment-oriented works which involve movement of large
quantity of materials like earth, steel and concrete. They include dams and canals, highways and
airports, railways and bridges, oil/gas pipelines and transmission lines, large water supply and sewage
disposal networks, docks and harbors, nuclear and thermal power plants, and other specialist
construction activities which build-up the infrastructure for the growth of the economy.

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Environmental Monitoring of Construction Works-Tobby Michael Agwe
 c) Industrial construction
These works include construction of manufacturing, processing and industrial plants like steel mills,
petroleum refineries and consumer goods factories.
d) Special purpose construction projects
These include environmental works, emergencies, remedial works, installations and commissioning of
equipment, and complex key operations.
4.3 The Construction Project Stages/Life Cycle
The life cycle of any construction project can be broadly categorised under the following 3 stages:
a) Formulation stage
 The project idea conceived
 Feasibility study conducted
 Investment appraisal done
 Project definition done
b) Mobilization stage
 Project preliminary plan drawn
 Designs and drawings completed
 Specifications and contract finalization
 Resources mobilized and funds earmarked
c) Construction stage
 Planning and controlling of executions done
 Inducting resources
 Construction and commissioning
 Final handing over to the client for operation and maintenance.
4.4 Sources of Pollution in Construction Works, their Effects and Control

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Environmental Monitoring of Construction Works-Tobby Michael Agwe