Author: Prof Goodwill Ofunne
Industrial site selection and development are strategic decisions that involve several
criteria, including technical, economic, social, environmental, and political issues. These
criteria describe and use several data and indicators expressed in quantitative and
qualitative ways with some possible uncertainty. Decision-making requires appropriate
tools to enable data collection, storage, analysis, fusion, knowledge management, and
design to address this complex, multifaceted industrial site selection and infrastructure
development scenario.
Fundamental Integrated Site Appraisal Services( FISAS) Limited has increasingly
strived to satisfy all constraints of selection and infrastructure development, optimise
various conflicting decision criteria, and present several possible site development
options, each with specific advantages and limitations.
Due to the complexity of the task, the industrial site selection and development process
is in two phases: selecting a macro-location for site selection and, within this area,
selecting a micro-location for infrastructure.
In addition, Industrial site development requires various scientific data to ensure safe,
sustainable, and environmentally responsible development. Some of the critical kinds of
scientific data necessary include:
● Geotechnical data is a general description of the geology and soils encountered
on the project and a description of the terrain, including drainage, erosion
patterns, high water elevation, flooding, and any other specific conditions which
may be of value in the design of bridges, culverts and other structures.
FISAS geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists carry out geotechnical
investigations to obtain information on the physical properties of soil and rock
around a site, to design earthworks and foundations for proposed structures, and
to repair distress to earthworks and structures caused by subsurface.
● Environmental data is any measurements or information that describe
environmental processes, locations, or conditions; ecological or health effects
and consequences; or the performance of environmental technology. It refers to
information collected about the natural ecosystems and their components, such
as air, water, soil, and ecosystems. It includes measurements, observations, and
records of various environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, pollution
levels, biodiversity, and weather patterns.
● Hydrological data are analytical and scientific information collected through
analysed observations and information to help solve water-related problems,
such as environmental and watershed preservation, natural disasters, and water
management. They include studying water quality, quantity, flow, and distribution
(hydrogeology) but most commonly refer to flood safety and prevention.
● Ecological data is a matrix of information about the ecology of the proposed site.
These data are important in several environmental management decisions, risk
control, and various mitigation strategies for development methods that help
sustain a sustainable ecosystem and manage activities that affect the lives of
several organisms in the site’s ecosystems.
● Topographic data is information about the elevation of a site’s surface. It is the
study and description of a site’s physical features, such as its hills, valleys, or
rivers, or the representation of these features on maps. The topography of a
particular area is its physical shape, including its hills, valleys, and rivers.
● Local Climatological Data is a monthly summary consisting of daily extremes and
averages of temperature, departures from typical, average dew point and wet
bulb temperatures, degree days, significant weather, precipitation, rainfall, flood
depth, station and sea level pressure, and average and extreme wind speeds for
the selected site.
● Seismic surveys use reflected sound waves to produce a “CAT scan” of the site’s
subsurface. They can help locate groundwater, investigate landfill locations, and
characterise how an area will shake during an earthquake. Seismic attributes, as
any quantitative information derived from seismic, can effectively be used to
identify subsurface faults and fractures.
● Geological data include the characteristics of rock samples, seismic data, well
logs, and satellite imagery. They are vital for various purposes, such as
understanding the site’s history, identifying natural resources, assessing
geological hazards, and guiding development activities. Geological data include
bedrock depth, groundwater levels, and potential geological hazards.
● Soil contamination data is vital in site plan applications. A contaminated land risk
assessment report, also known as a contaminated land survey or contaminated
ground risk assessment, is an integrated site analysis that evaluates the present
contamination degree. Soil pollution refers to the presence of a chemical or
substance out of place in the soil at a higher concentration than usual that has
adverse effects on any non-targeted organism.
● Air quality data describes how exposure to air pollution can affect workers’ health
in industrial sites. Artificial air pollutants can enter our bloodstream and contribute
to coughing or itchy eyes in industrial sites. They also cause or worsen many
breathing and lung diseases, leading to hospitalisations, cancer, or even
premature death.
The most common scientific data collected by FISAS Limited through various methods
include:
- Field observations and sampling
- Geotechnical, Chemical and Biological Laboratory testing and analysis
- Remote sensing, Lidar and aerial photography
- Geophysical, hydrographic and metocean surveys and monitoring
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, monitoring and sampling
The specific types and extent of scientific data required may vary depending on the
site’s location, size, and intended use. FISAS Limited engineers and scientists often
collaborate to collect and interpret this data to ensure informed decision-making
regarding industrial site selection and development.
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