[Greenbuilding] Sediment Control Devices for Construction

Erin Rasmussen erin at trmiles.com
Thu Sep 4 14:08:41 CDT 2014


This is a well executed study of sediment control devices that includes
lifecycle analysis for the options that were tested:

https://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/49105

 

summary from the Georgia Tech web site:


Title: 

Life cycle analysis of sediment control devices


Author: 

Troxel, Cameron Francis
<https://smartech.gatech.edu/browse?value=Troxel,%20Cameron%20Francis&type=a
uthor>  


Abstract: 

Sediment control devices (SCDs) are critical to reducing the contamination
of waterways from adjacent construction sites. Perimeter sediment controls
retard the flow of surface runoff water originating on site and subsequently
reduce solid, nutrient, and metal concentrations suspended in the flowing
water. Silt fence is a commonly used SCD comprised of geotextile filter
fabric, steel or wood support posts, and wire mesh reinforcement. The
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) uses an extensive amount of silt
fence every year, and because of high degradation of geotextile in the
field, the silt fence installations are rarely recycled. This research
measures the performance of five SCDs (two types of silt fence, mulch berm,
compost sock, and straw bales) at suspended solid, turbidity, nutrient, and
metal reduction. A life cycle analysis (LCA) is performed to identify
environmental impacts associated with material production, assembly,
installation, use on site, and disposal. An impact analysis is performed
according to for each SCD. Results of the impact analysis are compared to
determine the SCD with lowest overall environmental impact. Results of the
SCD performance study show that silt fence installations performed the best
at reducing suspended solids and turbidity, mulch was best at reducing
nutrients, and compost was the best at reducing metal concentrations. The
life cycle impact analysis indicates that a mulch berm is the SCD with the
lowest overall environmental impact. The impact analysis included global
warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and aquatic toxicity.


Type: 

Thesis

 

 

 

Erin Rasmussen

 

TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.   http://www.trmiles.com/

and BioEnergy Discussion Lists   http://www.bioenergylists.org/

erin at trmiles.com

 

 

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