Environmental Geotechnics and Sustainability

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The teaching model of the Course will include theoretical-classes with more theoretical approach lessons that will be address the fundamental knowledge. In the classes more practical, theoretical explanations of the concepts and practical applications will be combined, presenting and discussing case studies that represent best practices or situations to avoid in environmental sustainability and also promote contact with relevant projects through guest speakers and (or) visits to the site.

Learning Outcomes

With this course it is intended, first, to alert students to the importance of environmental sustainability and the role of Geotechnical sustainable development and, moreover, that the student acquires knowledge and tools to assume technical decisions regarding the design and monitoring of waste landfills, recover of construction waste for geotechnical purposes and detection techniques and treatment of contaminated soils.

At the end of UC students should be able to:

- Make technical decisions that promote the sustainability of buildings;

- Design the waterproofing and drainage system for waste landfills;

- Evaluate the stability of waste landfills;

- Understand the phenomenology of biochemistry from landfills

- Evaluate waste recovery alternatives in geotechnical works

- Assess potential soil contamination situations

- Evaluate soil treatment techniques.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1  Geotechnis and the environment

1.1 Environmental impacts from construction

1.2 Sustainability and sustainable development

2 Waste disposal (landfills)

2.1 Selection and site management

2.2 Liner and drainage systems

2.3 Waste physical, mechanical and hydraulic characterization

2.4 Stabilization and deposition

2.5 Global stability

2.6 Monitoring and control behaviour

2.7 Landfill biochemistry

2.8 Leachate pollution control

2.9 Landfill rehabilitation

3 Waste valorization in Geotechnics

3.1 Current situation of waste valorization in Portugal

3.2 Legislative and normative framework for valorization of waste in Geotechnics

3.3 Waste from quarrying

3.4 Steel slag

3.5 Construction and Demolition Wastes

3.6 Bottom ashes from incineration of municipal solid waste

3.7 Tailings

3.8 Wastes from other sources

4 Contaminated soils

4.1 Contamination sources

4.2 Assessment

4.2 Treatment methodologies.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 25.0%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

Bibliografia fornecida aos estudantes em suporte digital colocada na página da UC.

Sarsby, R.W. (2013). Environmental Geotechnics, 2nd Edition, ICE Publishing.

Qian, X.; Koerner, R.M. and Gray, D.H. (2001). Geotechnical Aspects of Landfill Design and Construction, PEARSON EDUCATION (US), ISBN: 9780130125064

Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability Principles and Practice, Routledge – Taylor and Francis Group, 1st Edition, ISBN-13: 978-0415840187.

Mulligan, M. (2014). An Introduction to Sustainability: Environmental, Social and Personal Perspectives, Routledge – Taylor and Francis Group.