Environmental Impact Assessment of Building construction using RIAM

analysis
S. Selvakumara and R.K.C. Jeykumarb
a
Post Graduate Student,

Dept. of Civil Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering-625015, Madurai, India

b
Assistant Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering-625015, Madurai, India

Abstract:

Rapid industrialization and population explosion in India has led to the migration of peoples
from villages to cities which increase human settlement in world’s growing cities and towns.
This generates several issues with regard to the environment. Environmental impact
assessment (EIA) is becoming a very important study before commissioning of any project
plan or development in our country. In order to study either its beneficial or harmful effect;
evaluation of any project through EIA has become a must; Indian construction industry is
rapidly growing at a rate of 9.2% as against the world average of 5.5%. Undertaking EIA for
construction industry and improving site management can reduce environmental impact both
on and off site. The EIA study is necessary to prepare a detailed account of environmental
impact of the proposed activity so that appropriate interventions could be taken. Rapid impact
assessment matrix (RIAM) comes under one of the option for execution of EIA. This method
is particularly advantageous over others as it provides a transparent and permanent record of
analysis process while at the same time organizing the EIA procedure, which in turn
considerably reduces the time taken in executing EIAs. Using this method of RIAM, EIA has
been found that the negative and positive impact in this study. For that, we have adopted the
various policies in order to reduce the considerable effect in present condition and future
prediction of impacts, so as to create a eco-friendly building environment.

Keywords: EIA; RIAM; Building construction; Eco-friendly Building Environment;

Sustainable development.

1. Introduction

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process of primary instrument for development

planning and decision making, can serve as a crucial action-forcing mechanism for sustainable
development (Judith Petts & Barry Sadler, 1999). The purpose of the instrument is to ensure the
environmental impacts by decision makers and taken into account during project development.
According to the UNEP-DTIE (United nation Environment programme- Division of Technology,
Industry and Economics) defines EIA is a tool used to identify the environmental, social and
economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to assess the four sequential phases
such as identification, prediction and decision making. Mainly identification involves characterise the
existing physical, socio-economic, ecological environment highly due to increasing population, rapid
urbanization and unsustainable development which are harshly impact the current situation as well as
future environment by direct and indirect mode.
Urbanization as well as counter-urbanization have accounted for the population explosion in Indian
cities. Such a massive growth in urban population would create enormous challenges for cities mainly
in maintaining the environmental quality without compromising the human requirements. Problems in
the levels of human need basic amenities as well as natural resources endowment may arise where

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building construction projects inadequately deal with environmental impact. In order to ensure the
impact such as natural resource endowment, health safety, surrounding environment and quality of
service provided in the construction project must be analysed through an appropriate tool. Rapid
Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) (Pastakia, 1998; Pastakia & Jenson, 1998), which comes under
one of the option for the execution of EIA for our work, since RIAM is becoming an popular tool to
organize, analyse quality of developmental projects and its benefits. It provides a transparent and
permanent record of analysis process while at the same time organizing the EIA procedure, which in
turn considerably reduces the time taken in executing EIAs (Mondal, Rashmi & Dasgupta, 2009). In
Building construction using of RIAM can be firstly used as decision support system. The impact
significance is modelled as a multi criteria problem in RIAM, in which the complex nature of the
concept is broken down into smaller, more accessible attributes (criteria) for the decision makers to
work with. Evaluating the significance of impacts this way is a widely used approach in the literature
on environmental decision-making, when constructing systematic methods for impact evaluation
(Surindha suthar & Anupama Sajwan, 2014).
In the present paper illustrates the utilization of RIAM as decision support system for Existing and
Expansion/Modernisation of Institutional building in Madurai city, India. An environmental score of
both existing and expansion/modernisation of appropriate campus surrounding areas was discussed.

2. Background and context

2.1 Overview

Madurai is the second largest city in Tamilnadu. The city has an area of about 243 km2. One of the
oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and popularly said Athens of The East; Madurai
developed on the fertile plain of the River Vaigai and has been a major religious Centre and
settlement for two millennia. Today it is an important educational, industrial and tourism hub and also
retains many of its historic origins. The intricate network of rivers, channel, canals, tanks and
groundwater forms the city‘s essential blue-green infrastructure, providing water, drainage and
sanitation for domestic, agricultural and industrial use. The city is growing rapidly, and is Expected to
rise from 1.4 million in 2011 (census of India, 2001) to over 2 million people by 2031 (the end dates
for the upcoming Madurai Master plan). The intensive change (about 17.95% increment) in
population has been recorded in the city during the period (2001-2011). Probably this was due to
migration of people from adjoining rural and sub-urban areas to Madurai city. The city experiences
moderate climate from August to October, tempered by heavy rain and thundershowers, and a slightly
cooler climate from November to February. The average annual rainfall for the Madurai district is
about 85.76 cm. Most of the annual rainfall in district is heavy rain and thundershowers, and a slightly
cooler climate from November to February. Temperatures during summer generally reach a maximum
of 40 °C and a minimum of 26.3 °C, although temperatures up to 42 °C are not uncommon. Winter
temperatures range between 29.6 °C and 18 °C (Indian Meteorological Department, 2000).
Madurai is promoted as a second-tier city for IT and some software companies have opened
their offices in the city. The state government proposed two IT- based Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
in the city, and these have been fully occupied by various IT companies (ELCOT Madurai, 2008).

2.2 Need of EIA for Construction practices in city

As per the Master Plan Report for Madurai Local Planning Area 2011 is concerned, the problems
such as increasing haphazard and sub-standard developments in the Madurai Master Plan Area and
consequent unbalanced growth of the city and acute shortage of housing resulting in overcrowding
and congestion in the city. Once, houses meant bungalows that stood on an acre. From the times when
owning a house was a luxury, we have come to a point where there’s a boom in real estate and
housing projects. Half-a-century ago, the map of Madurai just showed the area around the temple,
where numerous old vintage houses still stand in glory. Today, small town Madurai has expanded
beyond 10 Kilometre radius embracing new extensions of residential areas into its urban fold (The
Hindu, 2013). The past failure of development planning process leads to take amply account of the
detrimental impacts of economic development activities led to the advent of EIA process. EIA of

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building construction projects focus on the prediction of environmental impact of the different
components of the construction activity, ways and means to reduce adverse impacts by shaping the
project to suit local environmental conditions, future prediction and options to the decision-makers.
The simple, structured form of RIAM allows reanalysis and in depth analysis of selected components
in a rapid and accurate manner. The flexibility makes the method a powerful tool for both executing
and evaluating EIAs (Mondal et.al, 2009).

3. Materials and methods

3.1 Survey and baseline data collection

The campus of an institutional building is taken as the case study for this paper. It is an autonomous
institution and it covers an area of about 140 acres of land. Existing build up area of study area is 8.2
acres (33,184 sq.m) and covering land area breakup such as roadway, walkway, parking area,
playground area and green cover area including open space.
Study area- The institution and hostels are located on the suburban near on the outskirts of
8 kilometres from the south-west of the city. It is geographically located at 9.8900° N and 78.0560° E
and is 10 km from the Madurai Airport, 8 km from the Madurai Railway station and is well connected
by buses with all parts of state. The institutions consist of Engineering College, School of
Architecture, Hostel and other related facilities. Presently constructing a sewage treatment plant,
hostel office and rising of floor in mechanical department. Institution also planned to develop as a
sustainable campus in future. So, the study of EIAs required knowing about the present environmental
status and future prediction.
A visual study and behavioural observation were applied in this study to gather the required baseline
data during December-February and also discussed with Estate officer, Executive members,
Environmentalist, Staff, Supporting Staff and Students. A detailed investigation on basic features
required for RIAM analysis were collected in four categories are: covering all physical and chemical
aspects; covering biological aspects; covering human aspects also including cultural aspects and
quantitatively identify economic consequences of the environment. The care was also taken to
evaluate the impact on indoor air quality, drinking water quality, domestic water use quality, noise
quality and ambient air quality, etc. An available scientific literature review was also carried in order
to prepare the RIAM matrix for study area. The information about primary impact, secondary impact
and baseline data was also collected.

3.2 RIAM analysis

When applying the RIAM methodology, the assessment indicators vary from one project to another.
However, they are usually classified and grouped under four categories: physical and chemical (PC),
biological and ecological (BE), sociological and cultural (SC) and economical and operational (EO)
(Pastakia and Jensen, 1998). This method is based on a standard definition of the important
assessment criteria (Table 1), as well as the means by which semi quantitative values for each of these
criteria can be collected to provide an accurate and independent score for each condition (Tables 1
and 2).
The impact of project activities is evaluated against the environmental components, and for each
component a score is determined, which provides a measure of the impact expected from the
component. The important assessment criteria fall into two groups:
(a) Criteria that are of importance to the condition, that individually can change the score obtained,
and
(b) Criteria that are of value to the situation, but should not individually be capable of changing the
score obtained.
A series of simple formulae is used to determine the value ascribed to each of groups of criteria
(Pastakia, 1998). These formulae allow the scores for individual components to be determined on a
defined basis. A total of five assessment criterions i.e. impact importance (A1), magnitude (A2),
permanence (B1), reversibility (B2) and cumulatively (B3) are used to evaluate the score.

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Tables 1
Assessment criteria ( Pastakia & Jenson, 1998).
Criteria Scale Description
A1 Importance of 4 Important to national/international interests
condition 3 Important to regional/national interests
2 Important to areas immediately outside the
local condition
1 Important only to the local condition
0 No importance

A2 Magnitude of +3 Major positive benefit

change/effect +2 Significant improvement in status quo
+1 Improvement in status quo
0 No change/status quo
-1 Negative change in status quo
-2 Significant negative dis benefit or change
-3 Major dis benefit or change

B1 Permanence 1 No change/not applicable

2 Temporary
3 Permanent

B2 Reversibility 1 No change/not applicable

2 Reversible
3 Irreversible

B3 Cumulative 1 No change/not applicable

2 Non-cumulative/single
3 Cumulative/synergistic

The scoring system needs simple multiplication of the scores given to the each of the criteria in
group (A). As per Pastakia (1998) use of multiplier for group (A) is important, that can be
immediately ensures with the each scores, whereas summation of each scores gives results for
different condition. All criterions of group (B) are added together to get single sum (B T). This single
sum of individual score cannot ensure the influence of overall score, but at the same time collective
importance of all group value (B) are fully considered into account. Finally, group (B) scores are
multiplied with results group (A). The final assessment score or environmental score (ES) for the
project condition is calculated as:
(A1) × (A2) = AT (1)
(B1) + (B2) + (B3) = BT (2)
(AT) × (BT) = ES (3)

Where (A1) (A2) are the individual criteria scores for group (A) ;( B1);(B2);(B3) are the individual
criteria scores for group (B); AT is the results of multiplication of all (A) scores; BT is the result of
summation of all (B) scores; and ES is the environmental score for the condition. The judgement each
component is made in accordance with the criteria and scales shown in Table 1 (Pastakia and Jenson,
1998).

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Table 2
Conversion of environmental scores to range bands (Pastakia, 1998; Pastakia & Jensen,
1998).

Environmental score Range bands Description of range bands

+72 to +108 +E Major positive change/impacts
+36 to +71 +D Significant positive change/impacts
+19 to +35 +C Moderately positive change/impacts
+10 to +18 +B Positive change/impacts
+1 to +9 +A Slightly positive change/impacts
0 N No change/status quo/not applicable
-1 to -9 -A Slightly negative change/impacts
-10 to -18 -B Negative change/impacts
-19 to -35 -C Moderately negative change/impacts
-36 to -71 -D Significant negative change/impacts
-72 to -108 -E Major negative change/impacts

3.3 Environmental components

The assessment criteria on each component are made in accordance with criteria and scales shown
in Table 1 (Pastakia and Jensen, 1998). Scoping process requires covering of environmental
components in RIAM that can be falls into four categories:
 Physical/chemical (PC)
All physical and chemical aspects of environment,
 Biological/ecological (BE)
All biological aspects of the environment,
 Sociological/cultural (SC)
All human aspects including cultural aspects of that particular area of project, and
 Economical/operational (EO)
Qualitatively to identify the economic consequences of environmental change, both
temporary and permanent.
To use this component system, a matrix is produced for each and every option of the project,
compromising cells showing the criteria used, set against each defined component and within cell the
individual criteria are set down (Pastakia & Jenson, 1998). Using formulae, given in Eqs. (1)- (3), ES
number is calculated and recorded.
From the calculated ES number, the individual ES score is banded together into ranges where they
can be compared. Here ranges are defined by conditions that act as markers for change in band. The
conversion of environmental scores to range bands is illustrated in Table 2.
In the present work, project matrix options for each and every environmental component was
prepared using primary and secondary impact sources of baseline data of study area. Appropriate
literature survey was done while preparing matrix for each components. A questionnaire was prepared
on the basis of components to collect information for every question in each component of the study
area. Results as mean values based on the questionnaires are given in Table 3.
Thirteen physical/ chemical components, eleven biological/ ecological components, four
sociological/ cultural components and also five economical/ operational components, as listed below:
1. Physical/ chemical (PC) components
 Emissions from combustion of fossil fuels from stationary or mobile sources.
 Emission from construction activities including plant & equipment.
 Dust or odours from handling of materials including construction materials, sewage & waste.
 Handling storage use of hazardous materials.
 From discharge of sewage or other effluents to water or the land.
 By deposition of pollutants emitted to air into the land or into water.
 Any risk of long term build-up of pollutants in the environment from these source

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Table 3
RIAM Analysis Matrix for study area.
Components ES RB A1 A2 B1 B2 B3

Physical/ chemical components

PC1 Emissions from combustion of fossil fuels from stationary or mobile -1 -A 1 -1 2 2 3
sources.
PC2 Emission from construction activities including plant & equipment. -5 -A 1 -1 2 3 2
PC3 Dust or odours from handling of materials including construction -4 -A 1 -2 3 2 2
materials, sewage & waste.
PC4 Handling storage use of hazardous materials. -3 -A 1 -1 1 1 1
PC5 From discharge of sewage or other effluents to water or the land. 0 N 2 0 3 3 2
PC6 By deposition of pollutants emitted to air into the land or into water. -10 -B 1 -2 2 2 3
PC7 Any risk of long term build-up of pollutants in the environment from 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
these sources.
PC8 Noise from operation of equipment e.g. engines, ventilation plant, -3 -A 1 -1 3 2 2
crushers.
PC9 Noise from industrial or similar processes. -2 -A 1 -1 3 2 3
PC10 Noise from construction or demolition. -1 -A 0 0 2 1 2
PC11Changes in water bodies or the land surface affecting drainage or 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
run-off.
PC12 Explosions, spillages, fires etc. from storage, handling, use or 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
production of hazardous substances.
PC13 Noise From lighting or cooling system, machines operation, vehicle 3 -A 1 -1 3 2 2
movement.

Biological/ ecological components

BE1 Area protected under international conventions/national or local 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
legislation for their ecological values.
BE2 Areas which are important or sensitive for ecological reasons/water 5 A 4 2 3 1 1
bodies/mountains/forests.
BE3 Areas used by protected important or sensitive species of flora and 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
fauna.
BE4 Inland coastal marine or underground waters. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BE5 Effect of human health. 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
BE6 Densely populated area. 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
BE7 Areas occupied by sensitive man made land uses. 2 A 1 1 3 1 1
BE8 Any threat to of project to the biodiversity. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BE9 Construction involves extensive clearing or modification of 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
vegetation.
BE10 Any displacement of fauna-both terrestrial and aquatic or creation of 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
barrier for their Movement.
BE11 Any direct or indirect impacts on avifauna of the area. 0 N 0 0 1 1 1

Sociological/ cultural components

SC1 Any change to the demographic structure of local population. 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
SC2 Cause adverse effects on local communities, disturbances to sacred 0 N 0 0 1 1 1
site or other cultural values.
SC3 Education to the society. 102 E 4 3 3 3 3
SC4 Nearby area development/ community development. 71 D 4 3 3 3 3
SC5 Potential benefit to the society. 75 E 3 3 3 2 2

Economical/ operational components

EO1 Technological and scientific discovery. 105 E 4 3 3 3 3
EO2 Professional environment and urban development. 75 E 3 3 3 2 2
EO3 Growth and development of industries, IT parks, research centres and 16 B 1 2 3 3 2
consultancy etc.
EO4 Variety of career opportunities is provided. 90 E 3 3 3 3 3

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  Noise from operation of equipment e.g. engines, ventilation plant, crushers.
 Noise from industrial or similar processes.
 Noise from construction or demolition.
 Changes in water bodies or the land surface affecting drainage or run-off.
 Explosions, spillages, fires etc. from storage, handling, use or production of hazardous
substances.
 Noise From lighting or cooling system, machines operation, vehicle movement.

2. Biological/ ecological (BC) components

 Area protected under international conventions/national or local legislation for their
ecological values.
 Areas which are important or sensitive for ecological reasons/wetlands/water bodies/coastal
zone biosphere/mountains/forests.
 Areas used by protected important or sensitive species of flora and fauna.
 Inland coastal marine or underground waters.
 Effect of human health.
 Densely populated area.
 Areas occupied by sensitive man made land uses.
 Any threat to of project to the biodiversity.
 Construction involves extensive clearing or modification of vegetation.
 Any displacement of fauna-both terrestrial and aquatic or creation of barrier for their
Movement.
 Any direct or indirect impacts on avifauna of the area.

3. Social/ cultural (SC) components

 Any change to the demographic structure of local population.
 Cause adverse effects on local communities, disturbances to sacred site or other cultural
values.
 Education to the society.
 Nearby area development/ community development.
 Potential benefit to the society.

4. Economical/ operational (EO) components

 Technological and scientific discovery.
 Professional environment and urban development.
 Growth and development of industries, IT parks, research centres and consultancy etc.
 Variety of career opportunities is provided.

5. Results and discussion

5.1 Evaluated environmental score of study area

RIAM analysis of study area clearly indicates the major positive impacts and less negative impacts.
The results obtained from Table 4 (Environmental summary scores) has less negative impacts due to
proper maintenance of campus with providing additional infrastructure facilities such as sewage
treatment plant, reverse osmosis plant, separate parking area and biogas plant. In addition
implemented the 5S concept in housekeeping, innovated our college patent idea of using waste plastic
in tar road it can be laid into the campus around 10kms. These are the strong fact shows the major
positive impacts in RIAM analysis summary and also our campus is responsible for urban
development, employment rising, technology innovation and society beneficial. Some of the less
number of negative impacts are finding in PC (physical/ chemical) and BE (biological/ ecological)
components are mainly due to the new construction activities and neighbourhood impact also. These

7
negative impacts can be trying to mitigate by adopting strategic policies. Additionally, energy
resource consumption measures such as implemented power saving policy, recycled waste water to
Table 4
Summary scores of RIAM analysis matrix for study area.

Class -E -D -C -B -A N A B C D E
PC 0 0 0 1 8 4 0 0 0 0 0
BE 0 0 0 0 0 9 2 0 0 0 0
SC 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2
EO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
Total 0 0 0 1 8 15 2 1 0 1 5

the garden, biogas plant for food waste, solar vehicle as well as environmental related policies such as
tree plantation program, environmental monitoring program can be done periodically once in three
month of calculate frequency of sampling and analysis of ambient air quality, stack emission from DG
set, ambient noise level and treated sewage to maintain the eco-friendly environment and to reach as
sustainable campus in future.

10
9
8
7
6 PC

5 BE
4 SC
3 EO
2
1
0
-E -D -C -B -A N A B C D E

Fig.1. ES score of individual component of study area

5. Conclusion

From this study, it was clear that RIAM analysis is best suitable and recommended option for rapid
environmental impact assessment of building construction projects. The primary and secondary
impacts of the proposed project are carried out in the rapid environmental impact assessment in three
months. A good EIA documentation of building construction project evaluation could be a useful
additional tool for decision makers. Documentation is depends upon the working order it can be done
in advance. The working order covers Form 1 (project prefeasibility report and information checklist),
Form 1A (checklist of environmental impacts only for construction projects) and also other
documents (Term of Reference, questionnaires etc.). Both qualitative information and quantitative
data are analysed in this method.
Planned approach is a basic knowledge for integrating the urban development, environmental
conservation as well as overall wellbeing of people in a good quality manner. Thus, creation and
maintenance of the study area that are tune up with natural environment and effective resource

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utilisation is a significant factor for sustainable system. The proper EIA study of any building
construction projects emphasizes the sustainable components such as indoor and ambient air quality,
pollution control, resource consumption, disaster mitigation, energy conservation, effective site &
facility management, reduce co2 emission, landscape quality, health comfort etc. overall, RIAM
analysis clearly suggested an alternative tool to approach the any building construction projects giving
efficiency and effectiveness to the rapid EIA process in India.

Acknowledgements

Thank our guide and college to give a chance to work on a real time case study. In advance thank
organizers and reviewers to bring us on to the next step.

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