{Re}habitat

This topic includes information related to underground storage tank removal. Underground storage tanks are used to store petroleum or hazardous substances. Older underground storage tanks made from steel can corrode and leak these substances into the soils, presenting an environmental concern. Owners are responsible for maintenance, closure and removal.

This topic includes information related to remediation soil stabilization. Remediation soil stabilization or solidification is a process that reduces environmental concerns of contaminated soils. Groundwater carries away (leaching) contaminates from soils presenting potential environmental concerns. These concerns can be resolved by chemically stabilizing the soil with a material like portland cement. Portland cement is mixed in to contaminated soils and reacts to ground water. The reaction creates physical bonds and low impermeability. The physical bonds encapsulate contaminates, immobilizing them in place.

This topic includes information related to surface removal decontamination. Surface removal decontamination is a process of cleaning contaminated soil. Various types of processes exist, there use depends upon the given circumstances and characteristics of soil contamination being cleaned. Processes can be either uncontrolled or controlled. Uncontrolled processes are natural methods for cleaning soil. Controlled processes utilize technologies to clean soil in place (in-situ) or excavated, cleaned and replaced (ex-situ).

This topic includes information related to structure moving. Relocating a structure is the act of physically moving a structure from one location to another. Structures can be disassembled and then reassembled or lifted and transported. Buildings have been moved for any number of reasons, historic buildings are commonly moved to preserve the interest of an existing building that has outlived it's current location due to redevelopment.

This topic includes information related to removal and salvage of construction materials. Prior to demolition or renovation of an existing structure materials in a building can be salvaged. Salvaging materials/equipment involves there removal from an existing structure, repair and storage. Salvaged materials may be reinstalled by an owner or sold and reused in a different building. The act of salvaging reduces waste.

This topic includes information related to demolition. Demolition can be either selective, partial or complete removal of a structure and/or site elements. Depending on the size and scope of a demolition, tearing down may involve careful deconstruction by hand, destruction by fire, mechanical equipment or explosive implosion.

This topic includes information related to seismic investigations performed prior to construction. Seismic investigations survey soil stability to understand soil composition, solidity and quality in addition to determining the depth of soil layers, bedrock and water table. The results define the suitability of land for development, volume of excavation, and structural requirements.

This topic includes information related to asbestos assessment performed prior to construction. Asbestos is natural mineral used in a variety of building materials from the late 19th century and in to the 20th century. Asbestos assessment is a process that evaluates existing conditions of a structure to quantify the existence of this hazardous material.