Environmental risk assessment on hill site development in Penang, Malaysia: Recommendations on management system

Abstract

Penang is one of the State in Malaysia which has corrugated and hilly topography. Construction activities in these areas are increasing day by day, primarily for residential and commercial purposes. Such rapid development put the environment at risk by natural disasters like flood, changes of climate, landslides etc., and becomes a safety threat to the life and property of local inhabitants. Development of a management system at an early stage can reduce the after effect of any environmental hazard due to the heavy construction. This paper identifies two areas: Paya Terubung and Tanjung Bungah-Batu Ferringhi which are exposed to such risk, and presents a management system by project evaluation at an early stage starting from geotechnical investigation. Assessment is made by rating system, and is summarized in the form of matrices. The rating systems are produced after modification from other existing guidelines and requirements. Some evaluation process and proposals for improving weaknesses in the reports are discussed. Results from the evaluations are also shown in environmental risk map with the application of Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify high, moderate or low risk areas. The paper also presents comparison of parameters between the two areas by using T-test. Results of the comparison show that soil profile at Tg. Bungah-Bt. Ferringhi are at higher risk than at Paya Terubung area, while shear strength at Paya Terubung is at higher risk than at Tg. Bungah-Bt. Ferringh area. The results also show that 12% of project sites are at high environmental risk in Paya Terubung, 44% at medium environmental risk and others 44% at low environmental risk. However, 6% of project sites are at high environmental risk in Tg. Bungah-Bt. Ferringhi, 56% at medium environmental risk and others 38% at low environmental risk. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2010.

Publication Title

European Journal of Scientific Research

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