ABSTRACT
Building development near underground rail corridors can have the potential to cause adverse impacts to the structural integrity and durability of existing underground rail infrastructure or impact the feasibility of future planned rail lines. Therefore, it is important that developers can demonstrate that their planned construction will not compromise existing rail infrastructure and their operation or the feasibility of building new rail infrastructure. Deep excavations and building foundation, if poorly designed and implemented, can potentially cause significant ground deformation, alter loading profiles on underground structures and other engineered features. It can become imperative that detailed engineering and risk assessment is undertaken by developers to give confidence to the relevant rail authority that their construction will not be cause for concern. Through this process the impacted authorities are better placed to give their concurrence, as part of the local development application process.
This paper presents general discussion on the methodologies and approaches that have been applied in Sydney, Australia, to assess the impacts of new development on existing or planned rail corridors, in accordance with the relevant guidelines and standards. Some typical case studies are discussed to illustrate the processes that have been implemented and the type of assessments that have been undertaken to ensure that building development and rail assets can co-exist without adversely impacting each other.
