A soil management plan is an important part of ensuring soil sustainability during construction projects. Without a soil management plan there is a risk of losing, damaging or contaminating valuable soil resources, whether the soil will be retained for future landscaping on-site, or used or sold off-site.

Example soil management plan contents

Your soil management plan should include:

maps showing topsoil and subsoil types and areas to be stripped

methods for stripping, stockpiling, respreading and improving the soils

haul routes

location and content of each soil stockpile

schedules of volumes for each material

expected after-use for each material

who is responsible for supervising soil management

If your construction site doesn't have room to stockpile soil, it might make sense to find a sustainable off-site use for the temporary surplus and then import suitable soil later. However, you should consider the costs that this may involve.

You should ensure that any areas of soil that need to be protected from construction activities are clearly marked out by barrier tape and exclusion signs. Any haul routes should be stripped down to a firm base and be no wider than necessary to accommodate two passing vehicles.

Topsoil and subsoil stripping

Topsoil is a finite and valuable resource due to its fertility. Before beginning work on your construction site, you should strip the topsoil from all areas that will be disturbed by construction activities or driven over by vehicles.

Subsoil isn't as fertile as topsoil, but - because of the vital role it plays in storing and transmitting water - you should still minimise any damage during stripping. Subsoil in areas designated for landscape plantings often just needs to be protected from damage rather than stripped. However, you should remove subsoil from all areas that will be disturbed by construction activities or to make way for haul roads.

There are a number of best practice measures you should follow when stripping topsoil or subsoil to avoid soil damage as much as possible, such as:

using tracked machinery

carrying the work out in the driest conditions possible

Soil stockpiling techniques

To enable soil to be reused on site at a later stage, it needs to be stored in temporary stockpiles to minimise any damage or loss of function. There are a number of important considerations when creating stockpiles - including soil erosion, pollution to watercourses and the risk of flooding. These will be affected by the size, height and method of forming your stockpiles, and how they are protected and maintained.

Soil is a fundamental and irreplaceable natural resource. Its key functions include providing food and raw materials, supporting wildlife and regulating the flow of water.

Despite its importance, the management of soil has often not been given consideration during construction and landscaping projects. Poor understanding of soil management during the construction process has led to problems of soil infertility and compaction, valuable topsoil being sent to landfill, and led to some developed areas being prone to flooding.

Taking steps to ensure good soil management can help your business cut costs and improve its image and environmental performance.

This guide summarises the key pressures on soils in the built environment and the benefits of managing them sustainably. It includes good practice techniques for stripping, stockpiling and spreading soil. It also contains guidance on sourcing and manufacturing topsoil, soil aftercare, and finding sustainable uses for surplus topsoil

Soil erosion is a concern for construction, especially in huge projects. When it comes to construction, focus on erosion control is increasing and manufacturers are continually looking to develop innovative products for erosion and sedimentation control.

Soil erosion can be caused by a variety of factors. Depending on this factor and the severity of the issue, solutions vary. This is the reason why there are different approaches when it comes to erosion control in construction projects.

However, erosion control during construction has several benefits. For instance, it can help preserve the construction site, and protect the new structures. Minimizing the environmental impact on the surrounding is another consideration.

In fact, the focus of erosion control is to reduce the environmental impact while simultaneously cutting costs. All that said; let’s talk about common ways of controlling erosion at construction sites:

1. Articulated Concrete Blocks

Articulated concrete blocks are available in a wide variety of thicknesses and shapes. They are used as revetment systems or sloping structures on waterway embankments or manmade drainage systems.In simpler words, blocks of concrete are used to form a grid of units to act as slopes. They are helpful in erosion control by ensuring water runoff is as desired.

2. MSE Walls

MSE stands for Mechanically Stabilized Earth. MSE walls have largely replaced conventional concrete walls in recent years. These walls offer several advantages over traditional concrete such as speed of installation, improved erosion control, and adaptability.

3. Turbidity Barriers

Turbidity barriers are useful in multiple ways; they prevent soil erosion as well as water contamination. They are usually made of floating geotextile membrane and employed in various water bodies. They are anchored to the bottom with the help of weights and used for sediment control.

4. French Drains

French drain consists of an underground piping system that is used to channel water to an exit. Also known as drain tile, these pipes may also be perforated to allow water seeping into the soil underneath the tile. This water ensures erosion control while excess water is carried away.

5. Soil Nails

Soil nails involve drilling into the soil and placing steel bars deep into it. Soil nailing offers resistance against slope failures; the installation is simple as well. These nails—steel bars—have capped surfaces to create a barrier resembling that of a retaining wall.

6. Riprap

Riprap is effective for erosion control in areas of dense water runoff such as lake shores or riverbeds. It consists of a layer of interlocked stones that serves as a barrier on unstable slopes. Commonly, a synthetic geotextile is placed under the riprap to prevent soil displacement.

7. Dust Control

Dust control is applicable on all construction sites where there’s a risk of water or air pollution from the traveling dust. Dust presents the risk of wind erosion as well. Dust control techniques usually used for soil erosion control involve mister water, polymer additives, and silt fences.

8. Geotextiles

Geotextiles are commonly used for erosion control and soil improvement in a variety of construction projects such as roads, pipelines, and embankments. The type of geotextile used depends on the application.

For instance, open mesh weave, closed fabric, nonwoven surfaces are commonplace. When it comes to biodegradable products for erosion control, coir is leading the way. Coir products are proving to be very effective in erosion control on construction sites and farms.

Erosion control blankets and mats made out of coir (coconut fiber) present a great biodegradable alternative to the synthetic products. At RoLanka, we offer GeoNatural products for erosion control, restoration, and sediment control applications; get in touch with us now.

If you were building a new home in an undeveloped area, what steps would you take to reduce the impact of construction on the soil? Please give steps

Public Answer

If you were building a new home in an undeveloped area, what steps would you take to reduce the impact of construction on the soil?

Please give steps