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Feasibility Studies
Phase 1
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A Feasibility Study and Risk Assessment are essential prior to the commencement
of all sports turf construction projects.
GEO Turf Feasibility Studies draw on a wide range of data sources and site investigation
techniques.
Following the site visit we will prepare a detailed report which includes the following
topics.
- Local climate and topography.
- Soil profile assessment.
- Assessment of ground conditions and existing drainage.
- Environmental status, including desktops studies and geo-environmental site investigations.
- Sward condition and composition.
- Usage assessment in relation to facility quality.
- Compliance with FA Performance Quality Standards.
- Assessment of development risks.
- Upgrade options with guideline costs.
- Construction materials.
- Health and Safety.
- Timing of works.
- Future maintenance.
- Specialist contractors.
The information from the risk assessment and feasibility study is used to produce
recommendations for development options, including budget estimates.
Brownfield Sites.
The Environment Agency estimates that there are some 300,000 hectares of land in
the UK affected to some extent by contamination left by industrial activity.
When it is proposed to develop sports facilities on land-fill or brownfield sites
GEO Turf Consulting works closely with specialist geo-environmental consultants
in conducting site investigations, and risk assessments.
We have a strong track record in working with geo-environmental engineers to design
cost-effective engineering solutions which mitigate risk to the environment, to
the developer, and end users.
It is important that appropriate investigations are undertaken at an early stage
so that cost-effective remediation solutions can be integrated into the design before
works begin.
Remediation after the start of works is always expensive!
Background Information on Toxicity Risks.
For most low risk sites a desk study risk assessment, supplemented by observations
made during a site visit, is termed a Tier 1.
For developments determined to be of low risk to the environment, the results from
a Tier 1 risk assessment can be used to accompany a planning application. |
For sites considered to be of intermediate or high risk to the environment, more
detailed investigative work is conducted.
The investigation may include topographical and geophysical surveys, the excavation
of trial pits, and less disruptive windowless sampling plus the installation groundwater
monitoring boreholes.
The assessment of potential risk to human health is primarily based on total levels
of contaminant within a soil.
The potential phytotoxic risk to grass plants of heavy metal contaminants, especially
boron, copper, nickel, zinc and certain hydrocarbons is a question of bio-availability
as apposed to total levels.
The availability of a heavy metal to a grass plant will depend on a number of factors
including, soil Cation Exchange Capacity, pH, soil redox potential, organic matter
and moisture content values.
Soils with total levels of contaminants which are deemed to be a risk to human health
may not be phytotoxic, as they could be chemically bound up and unavailable to the
grass plant.
A topsoil which appears to be uncontaminated and capable of supporting a healthy
grass sward could, if disturbed or cultivated, become potentially phytotoxic.
Therefore, when assessing a soil for the bio-availability of a contaminant we assess
levels of contamination at increasing depth intervals throughout the soil profile.
If the environmental status of a site is not fully investigated and understood before
site works begin then the soil disturbance by the works could :-
- Increase the quantity of contaminated water discharged off site to controlled waters.
- Increase the concentration of contaminants present in water discharged off site
to controlled waters.
- Increase the risk of exposing end users to contamination.
- Increase the risk of exposing construction workers to contamination.
- Increase the risk of top soil becoming phytotoxic.
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