Project managers in construction already have a lot to contend with when trying to complete builds successfully. Stormwater and flooding have always been essential yet unpredictable considerations, especially for those working on projects in areas where flood risk is great, such as Queensland or other monsoonal territories.
Working with flood specialists like the team at CWD Group, who understand the critical element of flooding in engineering, can help protect your construction project from the risk of flooding and the damage and challenges that come with it.
How can flooding impact construction projects?
There’s a range of different causes of flooding that any construction project across Australia might face.
When we talk about flooding, we’re typically referring to heavy rainfall – the most common cause of floods in building projects. However, simply avoiding construction in a flood-risk area isn’t going to protect a project from flooding that other circumstances can cause.
Various other causes can contribute to flooding, such as:
- Landslides, which can occur after heavy rain when the saturated ground collapses
- Dam failures, which, while rare, can cause huge amounts of flooding depending on the dam levels
- Human errors, like improper drainage or unsuitable erosion and sediment control methods.
Regardless of how flooding occurs, it can have severe impacts on a project.
Assessing risks and managing the consequences
These far-reaching impacts include:
- Safety risks for people and workers on site
- Damage to equipment and materials
- Additional costs for site clean-up, replacing of materials or other damaged items and subsequent delays
- Environmental issues like damage or pollution to waterways and surrounding land.
Luckily, project managers can mitigate these risks by collaborating with water experts in civil engineering, like the flooding and drainage specialists at CWD, who can perform a thorough flood impact or overland flow assessment before construction begins.
Analysing flooding risks isn’t a small task, but it is a necessary one. Having a streamlined method for identifying any areas of your project that are at risk of flooding can help you feel confident in achieving project success.
You may not be able to remove the risk of flooding entirely, but by implementing flood strategies and working with drainage specialists, you can manage the consequences so any impact is minimal.
Conducting in-depth flood analysis
A flood analysis is the most effective method of assessing the likelihood of flooding occurring on a construction site and flagging the potential outcomes and risks.
Looking at the site from several angles will help determine the overall risk of flooding on a project. We do this by reviewing historical data, conducting a site survey and determining whether we can utilise any existing water and sewage drainage methods to help protect the construction site.
We use computer modelling to identify further risk areas that may not have been picked up on, as well as reporting on the impact of safety regarding the speed and depth of any flow from flooding and any structural implications and/or constraints to architecture you’ll need to know.
We conduct these flood assessments across a range of industries, from commercial to residential, and in various forms as well, including other causes of flooding in the area, such as:
- Tidal floods
- Coastal floods
- Creeks and rivers
- Stormwater floods
- Overland and catchments
We’ll also provide a risk management plan specific to your site to help you understand and implement best-practice flooding and stormwater management plans.
Efficient solutions in flood management
Our civil engineering experts have completed hundreds of successful stormwater, waste water and flooding projects. We are highly equipped to supply clear, in-depth flood assessments, identify risks or potential issues and establish effective flood management plans.
Contact us today to discuss how we can support your next construction project.
