Page 25 - GRIHA Manual Volume II - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 25
Sustainable site planning 17
Environmentally, vegetation loss leads to depletion of biodiversity and destruction of the natural
habitats that existed on site. Ordinarily, the biodiversity adds to the nutrient content of the topsoil.
If the topsoil is discarded, increased expenditure is incurred on procuring nutrient-rich topsoil
from other locations for landscape purposes post construction. On bringing topsoil from elsewhere,
additional resources such as artificial fertilizers and chemicals are required to help acclimatize the
foreign topsoil to the existing site. This also impacts the groundwater level, since trees and plants
help retain moisture in the soil. Expenditure is also incurred for back-filling and cutting. Back-filling
is often done by excavating soil and transporting it from some other site.
In terms of planning, improper timing of construction leads to loss of materials and pollutants
being carried off the site during the monsoon as well as otherwise. This also leads to disruption of
construction activity and may also compromise the strength of the structure.
Solutions
Solutions to preservation and protection of the landscape can help create a much more beneficial
built environment in the long run. Planning and pre-emptive measures can save a lot of money in
comparison to solutions that do not consider preservation and protection of landscape. Solutions
can be multiple. Some of them are illustrated below.
Environmentally, preservation and protection of existing vegetation by non-disturbance or
damage to specified site areas during construction is recommended. This practice enables retention
of fully grown mature trees and also reduces avoidable erosion of bare soil due to exposure to
climate and human intervention during construction.
# All existing vegetation should be marked on the site-survey plan. The tree survey must be carried
out and data must be recorded before starting construction activity.
# Preserving/protecting the natural site features helps save a lot of money in the long run, since
it impacts the site’s sustainability with respect to water security (low water demand due to on
site sources), energy security (low energy demand due to use of natural light, wind, shade), food
security (from fruit trees or plantations), good health benefits in the long run.
Reduction of the amount of damage to the site features ensures that minimal cost is incurred on
control measures.
The timing of construction and application of erosion control measures include protection of
slopes greater than 10%. Sedimentation collection systems, drainage systems, and run-off diversion
systems are to be in place before the commencement of construction activity.
In terms of planning, staging areas should be created, by dividing the site into zones where
the soil/vegetation shall be exposed to construction activity and where it shall not. This ensures
protection/preservation of vegetation as well as topsoil during construction, and the same can
be integrated into the eventual landscape plan without incurring additional expenditure on new
landscape strategies.
The roots of trees and other plant-cover naturally ensure that the topsoil is held in place and is
not eroded.
Spill prevention and control plans should clearly state measures to
# stop the source of the spill
# contain the spill, in case there is one
# dispose of the contaminated material and hazardous wastes safely.
It should also state the designation of personnel trained to prevent and control spills.
Environmentally, vegetation loss leads to depletion of biodiversity and destruction of the natural
habitats that existed on site. Ordinarily, the biodiversity adds to the nutrient content of the topsoil.
If the topsoil is discarded, increased expenditure is incurred on procuring nutrient-rich topsoil
from other locations for landscape purposes post construction. On bringing topsoil from elsewhere,
additional resources such as artificial fertilizers and chemicals are required to help acclimatize the
foreign topsoil to the existing site. This also impacts the groundwater level, since trees and plants
help retain moisture in the soil. Expenditure is also incurred for back-filling and cutting. Back-filling
is often done by excavating soil and transporting it from some other site.
In terms of planning, improper timing of construction leads to loss of materials and pollutants
being carried off the site during the monsoon as well as otherwise. This also leads to disruption of
construction activity and may also compromise the strength of the structure.
Solutions
Solutions to preservation and protection of the landscape can help create a much more beneficial
built environment in the long run. Planning and pre-emptive measures can save a lot of money in
comparison to solutions that do not consider preservation and protection of landscape. Solutions
can be multiple. Some of them are illustrated below.
Environmentally, preservation and protection of existing vegetation by non-disturbance or
damage to specified site areas during construction is recommended. This practice enables retention
of fully grown mature trees and also reduces avoidable erosion of bare soil due to exposure to
climate and human intervention during construction.
# All existing vegetation should be marked on the site-survey plan. The tree survey must be carried
out and data must be recorded before starting construction activity.
# Preserving/protecting the natural site features helps save a lot of money in the long run, since
it impacts the site’s sustainability with respect to water security (low water demand due to on
site sources), energy security (low energy demand due to use of natural light, wind, shade), food
security (from fruit trees or plantations), good health benefits in the long run.
Reduction of the amount of damage to the site features ensures that minimal cost is incurred on
control measures.
The timing of construction and application of erosion control measures include protection of
slopes greater than 10%. Sedimentation collection systems, drainage systems, and run-off diversion
systems are to be in place before the commencement of construction activity.
In terms of planning, staging areas should be created, by dividing the site into zones where
the soil/vegetation shall be exposed to construction activity and where it shall not. This ensures
protection/preservation of vegetation as well as topsoil during construction, and the same can
be integrated into the eventual landscape plan without incurring additional expenditure on new
landscape strategies.
The roots of trees and other plant-cover naturally ensure that the topsoil is held in place and is
not eroded.
Spill prevention and control plans should clearly state measures to
# stop the source of the spill
# contain the spill, in case there is one
# dispose of the contaminated material and hazardous wastes safely.
It should also state the designation of personnel trained to prevent and control spills.
