A high proportion of commercial, industrial and housing developments are now built on fills, that is ground that has been deposited by human activity rather than natural geological processes, and the political and commercial impetus to build on 'brownfield' land continues to grow. An adequate understanding of the behaviour of fills and the ways in which they can economically be rendered suitable for building purposes is a critical element in ensuring the safe development of such sites. This third edition encompasses BRE's unique experience over a period of more than 40 years of research and consultancy, and brings the subject up to date. New material includes: - research findings and industry experience since publication of the second edition 14 years ago - additional chapters on ground improvement and treatment using both proprietary and non-proprietary techniques - six new case histories and updated cases from the second edition - studies on the behaviour of fills over both a longer time period and a wider range of fills.

This book provides a detailed account of BRE research findings and their significance for appropriate and successful building developments on fill.

Building development increasingly takes place on waste fills because of the scarcity and cost of good building land. This report describes work to monitor field performance, particularly long-term settlement, to characterize fills, so assisting selection of foundation solutions.

The scarcity and cost of suitable land is leading increasingly to the development of sites where there are deep deposits of fill. Occasionally cases are reported where serious failures have occurred. These reports should not obscure the fact that many buildings have been successfully built on fill; they emphasise the importance of understanding the behaviour of fills, identifying potential hazards and adopting measures that will ensure successful development of these sites. Part 2 recommends that construction on existing filled areas should be preceded by careful investigation of the site which should be both appropriate and adequate. The site investigation may indicate that ground treatment is required before construction to improve the load-carrying properties of the fill, reducing or forestalling the effects of the unexpected. The Digest gives guidance only of a general nature and it must be recognised that the services of civil, structural and geotechnical engineers will usually be needed. Part 3 presents guidance for the specification and control of fills which are to be placed so that they can safely support low-rise buildings without the occurrence of damaging movements. Such fills are described as foundation fills. When new fill is to be placed, careful selection of the material and controlled placement should ensure that the fill forms an adequate foundation material. Part 3 is particularly relevant to building developments where relatively small volumes of fill are being placed (typically less than 50 000 m3) and consequently the resources available for design, testing, etc are quite limited. The Digest gives guidance only of a general nature and it must be recognised that the services of civil, structural and geotechnical engineers will usually be needed.

Building Seismic Monitoring and Detection Technology focuses on the research of seismic resistance and monitoring technology. The book gathers cutting-edge research and achievements, and includes contributions on the following subjects: New concepts and key technologies of structural regulation and disaster prevention Test and monitoring study of thermal insulation in tunnels Protection of steel and concrete structures using arc thermal spray Research progress of mechanical metamaterials This book is aiming at scholars and engineers involved or interested in structural engineering and seismic detection technology.

Pretty Good House provides a framework and set of guidelines for building or renovating a high-performance home that focus on its inhabitants and the environment--but keeps in mind that few people have pockets deep enough to achieve a "perfect" solution. The essential idea is for homeowners to work within their financial and practical constraints both to meet their own needs and do as much for the planet as possible. A Pretty Good House is: * A house that's as small as possible * Simple and durable, but also well designed * Insulated and air-sealed * Above all, it is affordable, healthy, responsible, and resilient.