5 Types of Environmental Monitoring Required by the Construction Industry

Environmental concerns are important in project management as global awareness for zero waste is growing nowadays. Effective environmental project management makes sure that projects meet their objectives, obey environmental regulations, and contribute to a worthy development. The critical feature of this is noise monitoring, which is important to minimize noise pollution’s impact on communities and ecosystems.

Role of environmental project management

Environmental project management includes planning, executing, and overseeing projects to reduce the environmental impact. This approach combines environmental thoughts into every project phase, from foundation to completion.

Key responsibilities of Environmental project management

Some key responsibilities of environmental project management include

a. Risk assessment

Developing mitigation strategies after knowing environmental risks is important in environmental liaising. Liaison officers work with project teams to estimate the risks, like hazardous waste disposal, soil contamination, or ecological disruption, and bring plans to reduce the risks.

b. Regulatory compliance

Environmental liaising work includes knowing environmental laws and regulations at the local, national, and international levels. Liaison officers make sure the project obeys all relevant environmental standards, permits, and licenses.

c. Environmental impact assessment (EIA)

The primary responsibility of environmental project management is to control an environmental impact evaluation. This includes monitoring the possible environmental consequences of a project, like air and water pollution, resource depletion, and habitat disruption. The EIA helps project managers to make informed decisions and execute reduction measures to avoid adverse impacts.

d. Stakeholder engagement

Environmental liaison officers communicate with stakeholders, like local communities, non-government organizations (NGOs), and environmental experts in project management. They find out inputs, and transport concerns, and agree to create a collaborative environment for project success.

e. Monitoring and reporting

During the project lifecycle, environmental liaison officers monitor environmental parameters and collect data to track progress and compliance. Regular reporting to project managers and regulatory authorities secures transparency and accountability.

Benefits of environmental liaising in project management

Some significant benefits include:

1. Legal compliance

Project management can avoid costly fines, delays, and legal complications by securing the environmental laws and regulations. Environmental liaison officers regulate the complex regulatory landscape and keep projects on the right side of the law.

2. Risk Reduction

Identification and reduction of environmental risks help to prevent accidents, incidents, and environmental damage. This protects the project’s reputation, reduces costs, and increases safety.

3. Improved stakeholder relations

Communicating with stakeholders and listening to their concerns promotes goodwill and positive relationships. It leads to smoother project implementation and reduces opposition from local communities and environmental groups.

4. Environmental sustainability

Environmental liaising work contributes to the long-term renewable of projects. By minimizing environmental impacts and promoting responsible resource management, projects can coexist nicely with the environment.

Environmental monitoring

Environmental monitoring refers to the tools and techniques designed to observe an environment, characterize its quality, and establish environmental parameters to accurately quantify the impact an activity has on an environment.

There are 5 types of environmental monitoring processes which are discussed below briefly.

1. Air/ atmospheric monitoring

    Air pollutants harm the environment and human health. Some air pollutants are also known to demean infrastructure, like cultural buildings, therefore it is important to observe the air quality, following the national and international air quality regulations.

    Many sensors are used to monitor air/atmospheric levels like temperature sensors, humidity sensors, carbon dioxide sensors, and oxygen sensors. Observing atmospheric air leads us to look at how transport, industrial processes, energy consumption, agricultural waste, and general waste management affect human health and the environment.

    By gathering continuous data, governments and other authorities can make amendments to environmental policies. There has been an increase in air pollutants in an area, and emission standards and limit values can be revised to protect the environment.

    2. Soil monitoring

      Soil monitoring has become increasingly important in the 21st century. Climate change, water availability shortage, and vulnerable ecosystems have forced the need to monitor soil environments and protect it.

      Monitoring soil not only helps to manage soil moisture and plant health, but the soil is also related to many natural processes and helps to understand water resources, both locally and regionally. Most soil sampling requires composite soil samples, involving physically mixing soil cores.

      The environmental monitoring of soil uses various methods, including

      • Remote sensing to monitor salinity in soils. If salinity is unbalanced in soil, it can have harmful effects on water quality, plant yield, and infrastructure.
      • Chemical methods like spectrometry are used to measure contamination in soils. Toxic properties like microplastics, nuclear waste, and acid rain cause toxic zones in the environment that develop pollution-related diseases that are harmful for humans and other animals.
      • As many factors like pollution, climate, and the environment can affect the pH in soil, measuring the pH also helps to understand the soil environment.

      3. Water Monitoring

        Water is important for all life on earth so all bodies of water must be monitored to ensure it is clean, drinkable, safe, and sanitary. The water monitoring is important as water pollution is a major issue. We can look at current, ongoing, and future issues in water systems by monitoring the quality.

        Water quality is observed by sensors like dissolved oxygen sensors, pH sensors, temperature sensors, and turbidity sensors. Water quality is tested for nitrates, bio indicators, and chemical poison in laboratories.

        4. Noise monitoring

          Noise pollution affects both animals on land and in the sea. Marine cetaceans, like whales and dolphins, use noise as a sense of direction and communication so if there is too much noise, they cannot communicate with others which puts them in danger. Noise monitoring not only protects the sea but it also plays a crucial role in protecting communities residing near industrial sites like airports.

          Noise pollution is monitored on land and out to sea using a sound level meter (SLM). Integrated sound level meters (ISLM) and noise dosimeters are also used often. Noise level thresholds are reserved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to check the maximum noise that can be made in a certain area and then the noise is monitored. Monitoring allows these organizations to improve noise level thresholds if needed.

          5. Waste monitoring

            Poor waste management leads to climate change and air pollution, directly affecting the environment and exposing humans to harmful substances, pressurizing human health systems. Waste monitoring looks at production and consumption. Five stages are ranked from the least to the most harmful to the environment – prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal.

            Conclusion

            Environmental considerations have become important in the constantly changing landscape of project management. Integrating environmental project management and noise monitoring into project planning and execution is essential to ensure that development activities are renewable and abide by environmental regulations. Project managers can contribute to a healthier and more livable future for all by prioritizing environmental considerations and using advanced technologies for noise monitoring.

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