Geotechnical risk management in soft soil construction projects

Authors

  • U. F. Mohd Giman Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia , University of Technology Malaysia image/svg+xml
  • M. D. H. Matdaim Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia , University of Technology Malaysia image/svg+xml
  • D. Z. Abang Hasbollah Centre of Tropical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia , University of Technology Malaysia image/svg+xml
  • B. A. Othman Centre of Tropical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia , University of Technology Malaysia image/svg+xml
  • A. M. Taib Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia , National University of Malaysia image/svg+xml
  • R. Bhatawdekar Deparment of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/construction.v6i1.12572

Keywords:

Risk Management, Geotechnical Risk, Soft soil, Risk Mitigation Strategy, Construction

Abstract

Geotechnical risk management in soft soil construction projects is critical due to the challenges posed by weak ground conditions. This study presents three case studies that demonstrate different approaches to addressing these challenges. In Case 1, at the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Integration Quarters in Klang, improved design measures and enhanced preconstruction practices were applied to reduce settlement risks and ensure structural stability. In Case 2, at the Core Facilities Building of Polytechnic Kota Kinabalu, both immediate and long-term countermeasures were implemented, where short-term monitoring recorded differential settlement of up to 130 mm and long-term predictions ranged between 243–384 mm over 9–14 years. In Case 3, at Batu Kawan, dynamic consolidation combined with prefabricated vertical drains accelerated ground improvement, allowing the treated soil to achieve the required bearing capacity within 126 days. A comparative assessment of the three projects highlights the importance of proactive design, monitoring, and treatment in managing geotechnical risks, providing practical guidance for foundation construction on soft soils.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] C. R. I. Clayton, Managing Geotechnical Risk: Improving Productivity in UK Building and Construction. London, U.K.: Thomas Telford Ltd., 2001, https://doi.org/10.1680/mgr.29675.

[2] F. J. Baynes, “Sources of geotechnical risk,” Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 321–331, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1144/1470-9236/08-003.

[3] IEC 31010, Risk Management - Risk Assessment Techniques, International Electrotechnical Comission, 2019.

[4] BS ISO 31000, Risk Management-Principles and Guidelines, British Standards Institution, 2009.

[5] J. M. Duncan, “Factors of safety and reliability in geotechnical engineering,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 126, no. 4, pp. 307–316, 2000, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2000)126:4(307).

[6] N. Sartain, J. Mian, and M. Free, “Presenting uncertainty clearly: Challenges in communicating geotechnical risk,” in Geotechnical Safety and Risk V, IOS Press, 2015, https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-580-7-739.

[7] F. H. Samni, D. Gunasegar, D. Z. Abang Hasbollah, and B. A. Othman, “Issues and challenges of sustainability in soft ground construction,” Current Problem in Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 122–134, 2025, https://doi.org/10.70028/cpir.v1i2.52.

[8] S. S. Gue and C. S. Gue, “Geotechnical challenges on soft ground,” Journal of Civil Engineering, Science and Technology, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 84–96, 2022, https://doi.org/10.33736/jcest.4760.2022.

[9] M. Carlsson, Management of Geotechnical Risks in Infrastructure Projects: An Introductory Study. Licentiate Thesis, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden 2005.

[10] R. Flage and T. Aven, “Emerging risk – Conceptual definition and a relation to black swan type of events,” Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 144, pp. 61–67, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2015.07.008.

[11] E. T. Brown, “Risk assessment and management in underground rock engineering—An overview,” Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 193–204, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1235.2012.00193.

[12] M. T. Van Staveren and M. T. Van der Meer, “Educating geotechnical risk management,” in Proceedings 1st International Symposium on Geotechnical Safety and Risk, 2007, pp. 811–822. [Online]. Available: https://www.geoengineer.org/geosnet/ISGSR2007/Part8Paper3.pdf

[13] BS EN ISO 1997-3, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design- Geotechnical Structures, British Standards Institution, 2015, https://doi.org/10.3403/BSEN1997.

[14] BS EN ISO 1997-1, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design-Part 1: General Rules, European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 2014. [Online]. Available: https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/cen/ff7df3d5-bba7-4b38-9643-9ee7791003e4/en-1997-1-2024

[15] BS EN ISO 1997-2, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design - Part 2: Ground Properties, European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 2024.

[16] G. S. Sew and I. T. Y. Chin, “Subsurface investigation and interpretation of test results for foundation design in soft clay,” in SOGISC-Seminar on Ground Improvement-Soft Clay, 2000.

[17] R. C. Omar, R. Jaafar, and H. Hassan, “Engineering geology and earthwork problem associated with highway construction in soft soil at Sg. Rasau, Dengkil, Selangor,” 1999.

[18] Y. C. Tan and S. S. Gue, “Design and construction control of embankment over soft cohesive soils,” in Seminar on Ground Improvement–Soft Clay, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2000.

[19] L. K. Siang et al., “Back analysis and potential remedial approach for failure slope at Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur,” Journal of Sustainable Underground Exploration, vol. 3, no. 2, 2023, https://doi.org/10.30880/jsue.2023.03.02.001.

[20] E. C. Lee and N. Narendranathan, “Performance of ground improvement works for runway extension of Kota Kinabalu Airport,” in Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Geotechnical Engineering, 2011, pp. 7–9.

[21] A. S. Balasubramaniam and R. P. Brenner, “Consolidation and settlement of soft clay,” in Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier, 1981, vol. 35, pp. 479–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-41784-8.50010-1.

[22] S. R. Kaniraj and R. R. Joseph, “Geotechnical behavior of organic soils of North Sarawak,” in Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Soft Soil Engineering, Vancouver, Canada, 2006, pp. 267–274.

[23] C. A. Neoh, “Planning of site investigation and in situ testing,” Short Course on Soil Investigation and Design for Slope, vol. 11, 1999.

[24] B. Indraratna, J. Chu, and C. Rujikiatkamjorn, Ground improvement case histories: compaction, grouting and geosynthetics. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier, 2015.

[25] S. Lacasse, “Hazard, reliability and risk assessment - Research and practice for increased safety,” in Proceedings of the 17th Nordic Geotechnical Meeting (NGM), 2016, pp. 17–42. [Online]. Available: https://www.ngm2016.com/uploads/2/1/7/9/21790806/005-001_-_ngm_2016_suzanne_lacasse_keynote.pdf

[26] W. Gibson, “Probabilistic methods for slope analysis and design,” Australian Geomechanics Journal, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 29–39, 2011.

[27] B. B. K. Huat, K. Othman, and A. A. Jaafar, “Geotechnical properties of Malaysian marine clays,” Journal of Institute of Engineers Malaysia, vol. 56, pp. 21–41, 1995.

[28] Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains Malaysia, Garis Panduan Pemetaan Geologi Kejuruteraan Kawasan Tanah Gambut dan Tanah Lembut. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2010.

[29] J. Chu, S. W. Yan, and Y. R. Zheng, “Three soil improvement methods and their applications to road construction,” Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Ground Improvement, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 103–112, 2006, https://doi.org/10.1680/grim.2006.10.3.103.

[30] B. B. K. Huat, S. Maail, and T. A. Mohamed, “Effect of chemical admixtures on the engineering properties of tropical peat soils,” American Journal of Applied Sciences, vol. 2, no. 7, pp. 1113–1120, 2005, https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2005.1113.1120.

[31] L. Ménard and Y. Broise, “Theoretical and practical aspect of dynamic consolidation,” Géotechnique, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 3–18, 1975, https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1975.25.1.3.

[32] S. Hansbo, “Consolidation of clay by band-shaped prefabricated drains,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics, vol. 17, no. 1, p. A10, 1980, https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(80)90141-2.

[33] R. N. Jee, D. Y. C. Liew, D. Z. Abang Hasbollah, B. A. Othman, F. Slamat, and M. A. A. Mat Nor, “Mechanisms and mitigation of soil settlement in soft ground construction,” Current Problems in Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 108–121, 2025, https://doi.org/10.70028/cpir.v1i2.51.

[34] A. Berry and N. Narendranathan, “The use of rapid impact compaction for ground improvement prior to sheet pile installation in sand fill at the Australian Marine complex, Henderson, WA.,” Australian Geomechanics, vol. 45, no. 4, p. 11, 2010.

[35] C. J. Serridge and O. Synac, “Application of the rapid impact compaction (RIC) technique for risk mitigation in problematic soils,” in Proceedings of the Geological Society of London, 2006, pp. 1–13.

[36] N. Swannell, M. Palmer, G. Barla, and M. Barla, “Geotechnical risk management approach for TBM tunnelling in squeezing ground conditions,” Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, vol. 57, pp. 201–210, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.01.013.

[37] R. K. Mishra, M. Janiszewski, L. K. T. Uotinen, M. Szydlowska, T. Siren, and M. Rinne, “Geotechnical Risk Management Concept for Intelligent Deep Mines,” Procedia Engineering, vol. 191, pp. 361–368, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.05.192.

[38] Y. Xia, Z. Xiong, X. Dong, and H. Lu, “Risk assessment and decision-making under uncertainty in tunnel and underground engineering,” Entropy, vol. 19, no. 10, Art. No. 549, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3390/e19100549.

[39] Z. Li, Y. Xue, D. Qiu, Z. Xu, X. Zhang, B. Zhou, and X. Wang, “AHP-ideal point model for large underground petroleum storage site selection: An engineering application,” Sustainability, vol. 9, no. 12, p. 2343, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3390/su9122343.

[40] Y. Xue, Z. Cao, F. Du, and L. Zhu, “The influence of the backfilling roadway driving sequence on the rockburst risk of a coal pillar based on an energy density criterion,” Sustainability, vol. 10, no. 8, p. 2609, 2018, https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082609.

[41] A. Haddad, D. Rezazadeh Eidgahee, and H. Naderpour, “A probabilistic study on the geometrical design of gravity retaining walls,” World Journal of Engineering, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 414–422, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-07-2016-0034.

[42] M. Ahmadi, K. Behzadian, A. Ardeshir, and Z. Kapelan, “Comprehensive risk management using fuzzy FMEA and MCDA techniques in highway construction projects,” Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 300–310, 2016, https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2015.1068847.

[43] A. Valipour, N. Yahaya, N. Md Noor, J. Antucheviciene, and J. Tamosaitiene, “Hybrid SWARA-COPRAS method for risk assessment in deep foundation excavation project: An Iranian case study,” Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 524–532, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2017.1281842.

[44] H. Huang and D. Zhang, “Quantitative geotechnical risk management for tunneling projects in China,” in Geotechnical Safety and Risk V, IOS Press, 2015, pp. 61–75. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-580-7-61.

Downloads

Published

2026-08-31

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

[1]
U. F. Mohd Giman, M. D. H. Matdaim, D. Z. Abang Hasbollah, B. A. Othman, A. M. Taib, and R. Bhatawdekar, “Geotechnical risk management in soft soil construction projects”, Constr., vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 144–152, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.15282/construction.v6i1.12572.