Soil
What is permeable soil?
Soil, like sand or gravel, that is great at allowing water to drain away from buildings.
What happens if you build on oversaturated soil?
The soil won’t be able to hold the weight, leading to a collapse.
What is load-bearing capacity?
The ability of soil to hold up buildings
What causes landslides?
Heavy rain and earthquakes
What is frost heave?
What happens when soil freezed in the winter due to water content, It can cause cracks in roadways or pipelines
Why should you try to avoid building underground when interfacing with dry soil?
Dry soil does not hold its shape and shifts, which might break up your foundation.
What is drainage?
Practice for water to drain away from roads and buildings
How does limestone create vulnerabilities in infrastructure?
Causes sinkholes
What is planted on construction sites or mountainsides in order to prevent soil from washing away?
Vegetation like trees, shrubs, and grass
How can rain create issues when interfacing with soil?
It can deform or oversaturate the land, which makes it difficult to build on.
What type of soil drains quickly and is often used in road building?
Sandy soil
What might happen to coastlines if the sea level rises?
Increased flooding, accelerate coastal erosion
What is it called when the soil under a building causes it to settle unevenly?
Differential Settlement
Why shouldn’t you use wood to interface with naturally rainy areas?
Rain can cause the wood to mold and decay which can compromise the integrity of the entire structure.
What is the process of making soil stronger by packing it down before building?
Soil compaction
How does building on a slope create vulnerabilities?
Risk of Landslides
What causes soil liquefaction?
Soil that is affected by sudden shaking like earthquakes.
What type of materials should you use when you interface with a rainy area?
Water-resistant materials. ex.) Cement, concrete, stone.
What is soil liquefaction?
Soil that can behave like a liquid
What lessons were learned from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake?
New emergency strategies and building codes