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Introduction In recent years it has been observed that the groundwater level in the deep aquifer beneath central London is rising. It is becoming clear that this could have serious engineering implications for a significant number of structures. Sponsored by the Department of the Environment (DoE) and other interested parties, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) has commissioned a study into the nature and extent of these potential consequences and the steps which may be necessary to avoid them. This paper is based on work carried out under contract for CIRIA as a part of this study.

Follows a previous article (Structural Survey 6.3) in tracing rises in groundwater levels beneath London between 1985 and 1990, drawing particularly on a 1989 report published by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association. Points out that although no damage has been (at the time of writing) recorded in London due to rising groundwater levels, heavy expenditure has been incurred in designing contingency measures into new buildings (cites St Pancras Station, the Aldersgate Underground car park and the new British Library). Concludes that the National Rivers Authority and the Thames Water Company must address groundwater rises under London in a “careful and controlled way”.

Groundwater levels (GWL) are rising in many cities in the world. The purpose of this study is to present the multi‐faceted approach adopted for examining the impact of a 3 m rise in GWL on the durability, stability and strength of the structural components of a building complex with 40,000 m² basement. It also reports on the retrofit measures adopted to remedy the situation.

The overall stability of the building complex was examined for the revised loading conditions as well as the need to strengthen the structurally deficient components to satisfy owner's requirement of a dry and operational basement without the dewatering operation. Structural conditions of the basement walls and a slab of the building complex were assessed based on code guidelines, visual observations, site investigations, analytical finite element model (FEM) studies and sound engineering judgement.

About 25 percent of the existing basement slab was found to be structrally deficient to resist the applied hydrostatic load. A number of articulation and construction details were also found to be inadequate. Various options for retrofit for the deficient structural components and articulation details were examined and design details were presented for a cost‐effective solution.

The presented methodology is general and can be adopted for similar situations. However, the presented solutions and conclusions are specific to the problem presented herein and modifications will be required for adoption to other situations.

Practising engineers are made aware of the problem of rising GWL for underground structures. Practical information is presented for practising engineers to solve the problem of water leakage in a large basement.

This paper presents an integrated approach for addressing the structural implications of rising groundwater level in an operational basement of a large building complex.

Although the environmental impacts of groundwater abstraction and water table recovery are now known, historically they were given scant recognition due to the ad hoc nature of the development of aquifers. This paper summarises the potential impacts of groundwater exploitation, and reviews the effects of rising water tables on urban areas following the cessation or reduction of pumping. The use of GIS in assessing the implications for the environment is considered, in particular the coupling of hydrological models to a GIS for evaluating the impact of the drawdown of shallow water tables on agriculture.

Will Florida’s agriculture adapt to climate change? Climate disruptions to agriculture and natural resources in Florida are projected to increase in the future. These impacts will be increasingly negative because critical thresholds are being exceeded. This chapter discusses how Florida’s agriculture and natural resources may be affected by climate change in the coming decades.

Agriculture will be affected by invasive alien species, sea-level-rise flooding, and storm surges. A warmer, drier climate will place agriculture in competition with other users for limited water resources. A serious concern for agriculture is that rising sea level will cause coastal groundwater to become more saline and groundwater levels to rise. The loss of coastal wetlands increases the risk of catastrophic damage due to extreme weather events. Degradation of soil and water assets due to increasing extremes in precipitation will challenge both rainfed and irrigated agriculture without the implementation of innovative conservation methods. High night-time temperatures can reduce grain yields and animal-sourced production. Climate change also increases the vulnerability of forests to ecosystem changes due to decreased soil moisture and increased evapotranspiration. The practical implications are that increased innovation will be needed to ensure the adaptation of agriculture and the associated socioeconomic system can keep pace with climate change. Given the difficulties in predicting our future climate, we must develop new risk-transfer innovations that will facilitate damage recovery. Changes in agricultural yields and food prices could have important implications for food security.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the climate change implications for both rainfall and saline intrusion in ground water, which could directly threaten both the tourism industry and other local livelihoods in the Caribbean. Water shortages will be particularly critical in the locations that are already water‐stressed; at or near the limits of their available supplies.

The paper focuses on Barbados as the island exhibits four critical factors that make it particularly sensitive and potentially vulnerable to water shortages. Barbados is relatively small and flat, and has limited water flow. Second, it is the most densely populated country in the Caribbean. Third, the economy is primarily driven by tourism, and has prospered as a result; Fourth, Barbados is characterized as “absolute water scarce” on the Falkenmark scale because of a per capita availability of freshwater per year of less than 500 cubic meters.

The paper observes that Barbados has a water availability of just 306 cubic metres per capita per year, which makes Barbados the 15th most water‐scarce nation in the world. Thus, Barbados is critically dependent on a water‐intensive industry, has limited options to expand the supply of the key resource, and now finds that the availability of this key resource might decline in future as a result of climate change.

The paper provides data, case studies and analysis to demonstrate the significant threat to tourism from water shortages relating to climate change.

The purpose of the paper is to present a new method of controlling through susceptible slopes in order to reduce the risk of landslides.

Geotechnical and geological characteristics were collected and different FEM analyses were carried out in a case study of the Alasht valley in Northern Iran in order to determine susceptibility to landslides and consider appropriate countermeasures. Gravel drain piles have a real feel of reducing the pore water pressure in times of seismic loading, so they are used as a remediation method. The results clearly show their effects and an increase in safety as a result.

Since the water table situation has a significant effect on stability, the present study focused on an example of using a seepage controlling system and its effect on the safety factor for different slopes in the area of Alasht, Northern Iran. Several FEM analyses were carried out on a landslide susceptible case. The results from FEM analysis of different slopes in the study area show a high susceptibility to landslides for six sites. Installing a gravel drain pile surrounded by a non‐woven geotextile layer leads to an increase in the safety factor against landslides. As a result, after installing gravel drain piles in the upper parts of slopes in order to control run out and ground water rising up in times of heavy rainfall, the safety factor against landslides in both static and seismic loading improved significantly.

The literature regarding controlling seepage in order to reduce the risk of landslides is limited. This paper collects and analyses geotechnical and geological data from the Alasht valley as an example to show the high risk of susceptibility to landslides.

Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.

Index by subjects, compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.

Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.