Anthropogenic factors

The majority of geotechnical failures are due to errors in design including inadequate ground investigation, and errors in construction, that is anthropogenic reasons for the failures. Anthropogenic and environmental factors continue to be a risk during the life of a structure because of adjacent excavations and construction, leaks in water-sewage systems, contamination, changes in groundwater level and land use, mining and quarrying and vibrations (anthropogenic factors) and erosion by river or sea water, seismic activity, landslides, and other geological hazards (environmental hazards). Deforestation, urbanisation, groundwater extraction, transport corridors, flood management and water supply, mineral extraction are examples of human activity that potentially could damage existing structures through subsidence, change of ground properties, and loss of support. The amount of damage is related to the distance from the existing structure to the source of the change. This could be considered the zone of influence which varies with the type of change taking place. These changes affect all soils but can have a catastrophic effect on problematic soils because of their characteristics. The changes include an increase or reduction in in situ vertical and horizontal stresses, changes to the degree of saturation and pore pressure, and changes to the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the ground.