University of Birmingham

Course: Site Investigation

Walkover Survey for Teaching Facilities, University of Birmingham

Salvatory Lyakurwa, 1192649 Rafael Kamalov, Gul 1256795

Executive Summary A walkover survey was carried out on 16th October 2012, to determine the suitable location for the proposed development of the new teaching facility near west gate location, at University of Birmingham, approximately 0.40 miles in West direction from the Aston Web building and Clock Tower. (See Figure 1) The report is prepared based on the information from previous studies including geology, hydrology, topography, seismicity, ground instability data, mining impact and climate change of the area. The walkover survey was carried out with the intention of defining the site constraints, determining the appropriate scope of the subsequent site investigation works and to provide a visual assessment of the site and ground conditions. A total of .boreholes were proposed for project site investigation at a spacing of.. The area of interest has been identified as barren land with some vegetation; no history of old mines, and fault structures. Birmingham and Worcester a canal located nearby, hence it is necessary to identify the ground water levels and its possible effects on the proposed development, with other mechanisms which may causes adverse ground conditions, and in order to establish the risk assessment and put forward the considerations to be taken into account for the construction of the teaching building.

Contents
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. 1 1. 2. 3. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 Site Location and Description ......................................................................................................... 3 Physical Setting and Geomorphology .............................................................................................. 4
3.1. 3.2. Topography: ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Geology .............................................................................................................................................. 4 3.2.1. 3.2.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6. Bedrock Geology Superficial Deposits 4 5

Hydrogeology ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Preliminary Contamination Considerations ........................................................................................ 6 Utilities Information and Old Mines: .................................................................................................. 6 Seismicity ........................................................................................................................................... 6

4. 5. 6. 7.

Proposed Geotechnical Considerations: .......................................................................................... 7 Geotechnical Risk Assessment: ....................................................................................................... 7 Detailed Ground Investigation Proposal: ........................................................................................ 8 Conclusions and Recommendations: ............................................................................................... 9

Appendix-B - Site Photographs .............................................................................................................. 11

1.

Introduction

The Engineering department of University of Birmingham has been instructed by the client to carry out a walkover survey for the proposed North West Campus Development construction of new teaching facility in the North West part of the university campus near the West Gate. The location of the development is shown in Figure 1. The area of the proposed development is approximately . square meters comprises of green vegetation and trees. The walkover survey was carried out with the intention of defining the site constraints, determining the appropriate scope of the subsequent site investigation works and to provide a visual assessment of the site and ground conditions. The study team has prepared the walk over survey report on the basis of the information obtained during the survey period with the scope of the walk over survey being designed to provide information relating to the Site conditions, Surface geology, Rock Outcrops, vegetation, Service information and other Geotechnical considerations. 2. Site Location and Description

The sites is located in the North-West part of the university campus, near the West Gate, approximately 0.60km to the West of the Joe Tower (Clock Tower); site access is via main street running across East-West of the university campus. A vehicular access is via university main entrance from East Gate Road, entering to University, and through Sports Road, where sports grounds are located. Access to the proposed site is from main road running across the university from East Gate entrance. North-East Corner: This corner is bounded by asphalt road with pavement running across the university campus from West gate to East Gate. An archaeological site is located towards North end, approximately 0.4km away from this corner. The Learning Centre is situated just opposite to the site in North direction across the road. North-West Corner: Access to this corner is through West Gate, near University Train Station. This corner is also bounded by asphalt road with pavement, which runs from West gate to East gate of the university. The site is covered with green grass and some floral patches. South-East Corner: Access to this corner is via asphalt road running across the university through main arterial road and entering via chemical engineering building in the South-East direction. Vegetation, mostly grass has occupied this corner. A chemical engineering department is situated approximately
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30 m away from this end. South-West Corner: There is no road access to this corner except from SE corner of the site. Vegetation, mostly grass and shrubs has occupied the corner. The site pictures are attached in Appendix-D. 3. Physical Setting and Geomorphology

3.1. Topography: The site is uneven and has undulating terrain from high elevation at Northwest end fairly lower towards southeast. The top surface reveals soft materials from silty sand and some gravels incorporated in top loose strata. The investigated zone is generally covered with grass. There are some middle-size trees to the West from the area. 3.2. Geology The Permian (290-248 million years ago) and Triassic (248-205 million years old) periods in the West Midlands are represented by red mudstones and sandstones that underlie the majority of Birmingham, Solihull and extend northwards through to Sutton Coldfield. They also form the prominent ridge of hills that extends northwards from Bushbury in Wolverhampton. These rocks were deposited under arid, desert conditions. The Lower Triassic sandstones of the Sherwood Sandstone Group occupy the north-east of Birmingham and comprise red, yellow, and brown sandstones that often show colour mottling. Pebbles are scattered through much of the sequence in central England and include the well-known Chester Pebble Beds which underlie the area between Walsall and Sutton Coldfield. Where not mantled by thick, younger drift deposits, the pebble beds and sandstones give rise to freedraining soils, such as those supporting the heathland vegetation of Sutton Park. The smoothness and roundness of the pebbles within the Chester Pebble Beds indicates that they were transported by a large and powerful braided-river system, probably on the margin of an arid, desert mountain system. The mudstones of the overlying Triassic Mercia Mudstone Group probably represent wind-blown dust that settled in shallow salt-lakes and sun-baked mudflats on the extensive alluvial plain. These sediments underlie the south-east Birmingham conurbation and, when weathered, give rise to the characteristic red soils of the area. 3.2.1. Bedrock Geology

The bedrock of site is represented by Sandstone (Wildmoor Sandstone formation). Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 242 to 248 million years ago. Local environment
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previously dominated by rivers. These rocks were formed from rivers depositing mainly sand and gravel detrital material in channels to form river terrace deposits, with fine silt and clay from overbank floods forming floodplain alluvium, and some bogs deposit peat; includes estuarine and coastal plain deposits mapped as alluvium. ( http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html) 3.2.2. Superficial Deposits

Superficial deposits formed up to 2 million years ago in the Quaternary Period. They are represented generally by Sand and Gravel. These rocks were formed in cold periods with Ice Age glaciers scouring the landscape and depositing moraines of till outwash sand and gravel deposits from seasonal and post glacial melt waters. Previous ground investigation in 1999 indicated layers of fill medium dense grey-brown sandy clayey with bricks, and gravel all intermixed with topsoil up to approximately 2.0 m depth (thickness is approximately 1.5 m) underlain by stiff to very stiff becoming stiff in places brown with trace of green- grey silty sandy gravelly Clay with occasional cobbles and sand pockets to 6.0-7.5 m depth (thickness is approximately 4.0-4.8 m) http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html 3.3. Hydrogeology Natural Aquifer of the area is highly productive. Principal sandstone aquifer up to 600 m thick and yielding to 125 L/s. Quality is good, but hard and become saline beneath confining Mercia Mudstone. Groundwater observations in 1999 showed that soils are dry or wet from 4.0-5.7m. However, boreholes 10 meters West from investigated area indicated that soils are wet from1.5-3.0m.* (Borehole location plan for New Steam Main)*

(www.bgs.ac.uk/products/hydrogeology/home.html?src=topNav) Canal, located some 80m North West of the Site, lies at a lower elevation than the Site and the surrounding area. It is considered that, as the canal is not a natural feature, it will not be representative of the local water table elevation. The Bourn Brook is the closest natural water course, and is located some 310m down-gradient of the Site, flowing into the River Rea some 1.8km east of the Site. The hydrogeology of the Site is characterised by the superficial deposits, designated by the EA as a Secondary aquifer; and the Wildmoor Sandstone Formation, a Principal aquifer. Minimal groundwater may be present within the superficial
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deposits; however the predominantly cohesive nature of these soils suggests that the presence of significant amounts of groundwater within the superficial deposits is unlikely. The true groundwater table is likely to be present at depth within the Wildmoor Sandstone Formation. Localised pockets of perched water may be present within the Made Ground. Based on the walkover survey findings and review of the in-house library an idealized ground model for conceptual design purposes is presented in Appendix-2 (Cross section) 3.4. Preliminary Contamination Considerations The desk study information reviewed above indicates that most significant potential source of contamination at the site is the possible Made Ground associated with the historical development of the Site. The electricity substation may also present a localised source of contamination within the immediate vicinity of the substation. The former tanks associated with the buildings to the south of the site are unlikely to be significant with regard to the Site, as they are located down-gradient of the site. Furthermore, the railway line located to the north of the site is unlikely to be of any significance given the distance between the site and the railway, and the difference in elevations between them. 3.5. Utilities Information and Old Mines: There are number of utilities and services identified at different locations adjacent to the site, in the form of manhole covers, concrete slab, electric Posts, service ducts, electric poles, sub stations and general warnings signs. No record of old mines were found and noticed at site during the walkover survey. The National Archives data indicates, no mining operations were not carried out in said territory. http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nocomico/offices.htm 3.6. Seismicity According to the information from British Geological Survey, UK is not determined as region with seismic active zone. Nevertheless, every two years earthquakes with magnitude 4 occurs and a magnitude 5 approximately every 10-20 years. Based on the data given in the mentioned resource, the earthquake with magnitude 4.2 happened in the year of 2002. The epicentre was 10 kilometres left from the investigated area in Dudley

city.( http://earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/historical/)

4.

Proposed Geotechnical Considerations:

The walkover survey does not indicate any rock outcrop but the vicinity borehole data reveal the strata as mentioned in conceptual ground model. The ground investigations in the form of trial pits and shallow boreholes with rotary follow on should be adequate to provide information required for the concept design of each site. Proper equipment would be required to clear the obstructions during site investigation The canal could be potential risk to the development during construction phase, as the fluctuation of water may occur during wet season. The groundwater level may rise in floods condition, which may affect the construction, and a proper instrumentation plan for dewatering would be required to lower the water level during construction. 5. Geotechnical Risk Assessment:

The risk assessment below has been used to highlight the potential risks that could arise at the site and the mitigating measures that would be considered to reduce the risk and its impact to internationally accepted levels. References to risk classifications are made according to the following definitions: Low risk - it is considered unlikely that the issue within this category will arise. Moderate risk - it is possible but not certain that issues within this category will arise. High risk - there is a high potential that issues within this category will arise.

Having evaluated the information gathered during this study to date and with due regard to the site walkover survey, an assessment of risk is presented in Table 5.1. The risk assessment could be reviewed and updated during future stages of the project.
Residual Risk Rating

Risk Very low bearing capacity of the ground

Risk Rating

Mitigation

High

Undertake detailed site specific ground investigation to identify potential problematic horizons Undertake detailed site specific ground investigation to identify the extent of Clay layer/ horizons

Low

Presence of Clay High layer within the site

Low

Groundwater level rise in the ground due High to canal flood

Undertake detailed site specific ground investigation and mitigation measures to identify potential water Low level rise in canal and its effect to the site Undertake detailed site specific ground investigation to identify potential problematic horizons

Ground subsidence Low

Low

Water runoff at site Low

Undertake detailed site specific ground investigation to determine the Low gorge course, and mitigate or reroute the alignment of the gorge Undertake detailed site specific ground investigation to determine ground stratigraphy Undertake a program of soil and groundwater testing Low

Encountering mixed Moderate geology Potential for significant site contamination Presence of mines and shafts

Low

Low

High

Protection of exposed mines ad shafts to be included within design and Low construction. Low

Overall Assessed Risk Rating

Table 5.1 Geotechnical Risk Assessment

6.

Detailed Ground Investigation Proposal:

The objectives of the proposed ground investigation will be to assess the ground conditions beneath the site and collect soil and groundwater samples for physical and chemical testing to provide the information required for the building construction. The scope of the works would provide information relating to the geology at the site, depth to groundwater, nature of the superficial deposits, depth to rock-head, geotechnical properties of the strata encountered and feasible construction options. To provide the relevant information, it is considered that the proposed scope of the investigation should include the following:

 Trial pits at 500m grid across the site to determine the nature of the near surface deposits, to assess the ground profile, presence of reworked material and obtain bulk samples for laboratory testing and facilitate in-situ testing. 5No. Cable percussive boreholes follow on by Rotary Core drilling up to 10.0 m depths, to investigate the superficial geology beneath the site, and investigate specific locations including the pipeline crossings. In-situ testing including Standard Penetration Tests (SPTs), permeability tests and California Bearing Ratio tests, CBR shall be carried out at 0.30 0.50m for roads and parking infrastructures Installation of standpipe piezometers to enable long term monitoring of groundwater levels and facilitate the collection of groundwater samples (if necessary). Obtaining disturbed and undisturbed soil samples for laboratory testing. Undertaking routine geotechnical laboratory testing for physical and chemical properties of the materials. Installations of inclinometers and extensometers to detect rates, direction and magnitude of lateral movements below the ground surface. 7. Conclusions and Recommendations:

A walkover survey for new teaching building has been carried out by study team to assess the features and characteristics of the site. The survey was carried out to facilitate the conceptual design for teaching building within the site and the boundary area, which serves the access and egress of sites. The observation of showed that, the site comprises of barren land, with grass, shrubs and trees. Conclusions drawn from the walkover survey as shown below; i) The survey indicated that the site is generally barren land, with other building surrounded by it, the chemical engineering building towards the east and medical building towards south.

ii) A number of Utilities were identified around and within the site, the services were mostly found adjacent to the site, particularly along the current tarmac road, in North direction. iii) Based on visual observations and adjacent borehole data we can assume that the rock head level would be very shallow at most of the locations. iv) There were no signs of ground water level at site, but borehole data indicates groundwater level to be in range of 2.5-1.80m. v) We recommend that an appropriate intrusive site investigation should be undertaken, prior to the commencement of the conceptual design. The objectives of the proposed ground investigation will be to assess the ground conditions below the ground and to provide the information required for the conceptual design and collect soil and water samples for chemical testing. vi) The geotechnical works scope would provide subsurface information relating to geology, depth to groundwater, soil and water chemical assessment below ground, nature of the superficial deposits, depths to rockhead, geotechnical properties of the strata encountered and possible foundation options. The relevant information would be acquired by investigation of trial pits and boreholes at both sites.

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University of Birmingham Edgbaston Campus Title: (Appendix-A) United Kingdom Tel: +44 Fax: +44 www.bham.ac.uk

Site Location Plan

Appendix-B - Site Photographs

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Site photos to be compiled in one PDF Plate-1: View East (Landmark Shopping Mall)

Plate-2: View South-West (Landmark Mall)

Plate-3: View Southeast (Car park behind Landmark Mall) . Plate-4: View North (Asphalt cracks at Petrol station entrance)

Required:

10 pages excluding summary, title page, contents and appendices

References:
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1. 2. 3.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk *www. mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/hydrogeologymap/hydromap.html * * www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

*BGS.year etc? *BGS year etc?

4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

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