Topic: Site Formation

Presentation prepared by

Raymond Wong

January 2015

Purpose of site formation is for:

• Forming of land by cutting & leveling of an uneven,
sloppy or congested area.
• Accommodate building/s or other facilities which
will be placed within the area.
• Accommodate related facilities which will be
placed within the area.
• Form the land to the required orientation, shape or
levels in order to accommodate such facilities.
• Provide the required back-up facilities including
access roadways, drainage and other related
services, both temporary or permanent in nature.
 What works are usually involved in site
formation projects in Hong Kong
• Clearance of the site including the removal of
buildings or unwanted structures, shrubs and
trees, surface soil and debris.
• Excavation by cutting into slope or other land
area to get the required/extra land
• Leveling of the land by necessary cutting or filling
to get a piece of flat or terraced land.
• Stabilize natural or new slope within the site.
• Construct retaining wall (as part of the slope
stabilization or trimming to terraced land).
• Forming of access road and drainage system

Clearance of the site including the removal of buildings

or unwanted structures, shrubs and trees, surface soil
and debris.
- usually done by the use of bulldozer,
scraping or other excavating machines

Scraping machine so
designed with a blade to
scrape and level large
area of land

Bulldozer machine

blade
 Compacting roller to compact the backfilled materials during site formation process

• Excavation by cutting into slope or other land

area to get the required/extra land
 Leveling of the land by necessary cutting or
filling to get a piece of flat or terraced land.

• Stabilize natural
or new slope
within the site.
Construct retaining wall (as part of the slope stabilization
or trimming to terraced land).

• Forming of access road and drainage system

Slope work and site
formation works are
often closely associated

Some site formation project cases

as an introduction to start our lecture
 A site formation project in Ap Lei Chau, Aberdeen, Hong Kong

The site as seen in 2008

A residential development project at Ap Lei Chau
Choi Wan area in 2000

Choi Wan area in 2007

 Choi Wan area in 2008

See also following

photos

Forming of large piece of terraced land to accommodate

new building developments (Choi Wan formation)
New land being formed along
New Clear Water Bay Road
Terraces (smaller strips of flatter land platform) at various
levels were formed at the later stage of formation process
New land being formed
near Jordan Valley

Forming of new access

roadway to newly formed
land is often needed in
site formation projects
especially under sloppy
or hilly environment
 Final shape of the site after
the formation with buildings
accommodated

Final shape of the site after the

formation with buildings and
landscape garden accommodated
Final shape of site after the formation with buildings/landscape garden accommodated

Choi Wan area in 2009

Another example of large scale formation project
 Area A

Anderson area in 2008

Area B

Area C
 Area A – at Junction of
Clear Water Bay Road
and Anderson Road

The actual view on site at an early stage (2009)

 The actual view on site

The same location as seen in

mid 2011 and mid 2012
The actual view of site at stage close to completion (2013)
 The actual view on site

The actual view of site from

Sau Mau Ping Estate
 The newly formed platform
for new access roadway or
building construction

Start constructing the public estate once

after the preliminary completion of the
lower part of the site formation .
Slope can be classified into a few
types:
1. Natural Slope
2. Man-made Slope, including cut-back
slope or slope formed by filled material
with adequate compaction, usually
retained by retaining structures
3. Rock Slope, Soil Slope, Mixed
4. Stable slope, Slope with potential hazard,
Dangerous slope

What to do with slope

1.Surface protection such as vegetation
(rigid cover (masonry, plaster or
shotcrete)
2.Surface drainage (including surface
channels, catch pits and sand traps)
3.Subsurface drainage (including
weepholes and subsoil drain etc.)
4.Other protective provision such as
prestressed ground anchors
Factors affecting the stability of slope
1. Topography and its surrounding physical
conditions. Detail analysis can be done by
appropriate site investigation process.
2. Geological conditions such as the nature and
depth of its subsoil, degree of decomposition, or
location of fracture etc. This data can be
obtained by soil investigation.
3. Shear strength of the slope-forming materials. Data
can be obtained using laboratory tests.
4. Surface and ground water condition
5. External loading and surcharges, such as from
traffic, nearby structures, possible vibration etc.

Stability of slope can be effectively improved

by the provision of an appropriately
design drainage system, this cab be
achieved by:
1. A surface drain system that is capable to
discharge all the storm water within the rain water
catchment area affecting the slope in a
designated period of time (say, 200mm
rainfall/hour).
A surface drain system usually consists of:
- surface channel
- stepped or trapezoidal channel
- catchpit or sand trap
Stability of slope can be effectively
improved by :
2. A subsoil drain system that is laid below
surface for the discharging of ground water
and to maintain the water pressure be kept in
a safe level filter layer behind the slope
leading water to outlets
- weepholes
- cut-off drain
- subsoil drain pipe

Drainage detail for

retaining walls
 Forming surface channel to slope

Forming storm discharge

drain to slope
Protection and treatment to Rock Slope
Most rock slopes need some forms of treatment to
ensure continued stability. Improvement methods
include:
1. Scaling – loose blocks or boulders to be removed
from exposed rock surfaces, this is usually done
by manual method.
2. Construct buttress support – this is concrete or
masonry gravity structure use to retain the
unstable rock mass
3. Dentition – exposed soft material in a rock face be
trimmed back. The resulting slot be filled with filter
material and protected by masonry or concrete to
prevent erosion.

Provide a buttress to support an unstable rock

 Protection and treatment to Rock Slope
(continue)
4. Sprayed concrete – apply concrete protection to
zones of weak or highly fractured rock faces by
spray-on method.
5. Dowel – a hole is drilled and provide untensioned
steel bars, usually 25mm to 35mm dia. and 1m to
3m long, to stabilize a weak rock zone. The hole
would be grouted afterward.
6. Rock bolt/nail – this is tensioned bar inserted into
rock forming a short anchorage zone in rock so
that an unstable slope area being reinforced by
tension. Typical rock bolts are 25mm to 40mm in
dia. 3m to 6m long, and have a tensile working
load around 100kN.

Drilling hole before

insertion of steel
bar/tendon to form
the soil/rock nail
 Scaling a rock
slope surface

Forming a steep slope in

set-back benches and in
phases starting from the
top downward. Note that
the upper benches are
strengthened by soil nails

Various methods to
stabilize a rock slope
 Forming soil nail and rock bolts

Protection and treatment to Earth-filled slope

Where a slope is to be stabilized to eliminate
possible flow-slide, the surface layers should be
stripped to a vertical depth not less than 3m and
replaced it with dry and well compacted fill.
A drainage system is also required between old and
re-compacted fill to prevent development of
water pressure behind the filled zone.
If it is possible, try to reform the profile of the slope
to a safe angle which is determined by
mathematic analysis.
Typical man-made items on slope and retaining wall that require maintenance

Protection to slope by rigid surface

Rigid surface protection on slopes are commonly
used to reduce rainwater infiltration and to
prevent erosion of the slope-forming materials.
This can be done by:
Chunam plastering – this is an applied-on surface
protection to slope using a clay and cement
mixed plaster. Thickness of the plaster is
around 40mm to 50mm for permanent works.
Sprayed concrete (shotcrete) – protection by
applying a spraying mortar onto surface of
slope.
 Shortcreting to seal up
the preliminarily
stabilized slope surface

Protection to slope by rigid surface (continue)

Masonry or stone pitching – lay stone rubble or
block (with filter layer underneath) onto surface to
protect slope from weathering
In general, rigid surface may create a very awkward
appearance. Besides, the surface is highly
impermeable thus
weep holes are required
for draining out of the
ground water to avoid
the development of high
water pressure behind
the slope

Using stone pitching as

a rigid slope surface
 Protect a slope by the use of retaining wall
Retaining wall are structures usually provided at the
toe of a slope to stabilize it from slide, overturn
or collapse.
A slope will be relatively stable when its profile
(section angle) is kept below its angle of repose.
Angle of repose is an angle that maintains naturally
to a safe equilibrium by the composing material
of a slope. This angle deviates from differing
materials depending on their compaction,
particle size and the nature of the material itself.
(e.g. cohesiveness and shear strength)

Principle to retaining wall

design can be of three
main types
- cantilever type
- Gravity type
- Earth reinforced type

Various forms
RC cantilever
type retaining
wall structures
 Previous old buildings
being demolished

Site level after formation

Public
Road Site level after formation

New plantation

Public
Road

Site Boundary

New retaining wall

Compare existing and new ground profile

before and after the site formation

Actual cases of site formation

for building works
 First important work requires for site formation, slope
work or to support deep excavation:

using of cut-off wall to support the cut

Cut off wall can be in several type or form, usually in:

• Sheet pile wall
• Soldier pile wall
• Pipe-pile wall (mini-pile)
• Bore-pile wall
• Diaphragm wall

Site formation to obtain a terraced land for the placing of a building

- producing a retaining structure to support an adjacent structure
Sequence showing the forming of a
multi-construction retaining wall
using bore-pile and soldier-pile wall
with in-situ concrete facing wall

Covering the retaining pile walls

with reinforced concrete
 Completion of the site formation
with the retaining wall and the
terrace ground formed

Site formation for Festival Walk

Tat Chee Avenue

KCRC Kowloon
Tong Station

Diaphragm wall being

constructed as cut-off walling
for site formation and
basement construction

Completion of the site

formation leveled to
KCRC Station KCRC Kowloon
Tong Station

Stage 2 work –
construction of the
basement
Complicated site
environment of Festival
Walk –
• MTR tunnels running across
the site
• diaphragm wall, bore-pile
foundation, site formation and
basement excavation almost
worked at the same time

Approximate profile
of slope before site
formation

Construction of the main

structure of Festival Walk
upon the completion of
the site formation
 Forming of a temporary vertical cut as part
of the site formation work to acquire land for
the placing in of the main/basement structure

Diaphragm wall
panel tie back using
ground anchor

Site formation producing a

temporary slope before the
construction of the main
structure – CityU Academic
Exchange Centre
Site formation producing a
temporary slope before the
construction of the main
structure – CityU Academic
Exchange Centre
 Site formation –
Extension to South
China Sport Association

Cut-off wall formed by

contiguous bored piles
and soldier piles

Site formation –
Extension to South
China Sport Association

Cut-off wall formed by

contiguous bored piles
and soldier piles
Site formation –
Extension to South
China Sport Association

Site formation –
Extension to South
Preserved tree
(die afterward) China Sport Association
Site formation –
preservation of a protected tree species

Tree under preservation

by encasing with a
concrete trough and
supported using
horizontal steel pipes

Other examples with tree to be

preserved in a development –
KCR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station
View of the preserved
tree and the re-touched
landscape environment
after the completion of
the station complex

The preserved
tree grow in
healthy condition
along the re-
aligned road side

Site formation – for the City University Academic Building 2

Works in the project include:
1. Cut-back and level the site along the existing access roadway
by about 30m
2. Cut and stabilize the newly formed slope including necessary
temporary surface treatment and other retaining structures.
3. Provide surface and sub-soil drainage on the newly formed
slope.
4. Construct the new foundation in average 2m bore-pile for the
future building.
5. Substructure of the future building including cutting into slope
for locating the foundation rafts or caps.
6. Other safety and environmental protection provisions as
required.
Site before the formation
 Early stage of site as seen in June 2008
(contract commenced in November 2007)

First stage of
slopework being
completed with
temporary surface
treatment using
planting of grass

2nd stage of
cutting as well as
forming a
temporary
accessway for
working machines

Machine (reverse
circulation drill)
for the forming of
the bore-pile as
foundation for the
future building

Site layout as seen in September 2008

Site condition as seen
in November 2008

Large amount of rock

stratum located on the
bottom area of slope
need to be cut in the
final stage of formation

Close-up view of
the bed-rock
before the cutting
Site condition as seen
in January 2009

Lower
portion of
slope being
removed

Previous
retaining
wall to be
demolition

Approx.
slope
profile
before site
formation

Tree to be
preserved

Toe of
slope
stabilized
using soil
nail

Bed-rock cut to the

required profile as
in February 2009
Site condition as seen in August 2009
Site condition as seen in November 2009

Site condition as seen in November 2009

 Sub-structure including raft foundation, pile cap and ground beams start
construction on the new formation level

Site formation – Belcher’s Garden in Kennedy Town, HK

Buildings
Approx. profile of demolished
previous slope
with buildings
 Site formation – cutting to set-back the slope

Site formation– cutting and

setting back the rock slope
A piece of flat land formed
upon the completion of site
formation. Part of the slope
remain untouched due to the
impossibility to remove the
large amount of rock. The
layout of building was so
designed to fit the situation.

Final building layout fitting the formed site

The main structure
(podium) gradually
covering up the entire site
area with remaining slope
permanent concealed

Ground beams constructed on the slope

are used to support the podium structure

Approx. profile of Buildings

previous slope demolished
with buildings
 Final front view of the project as
seen from the Belcher’s Street

Site formation (overview) –

Private Residential Development project in Ma Tau Wai

 Slope cutting and
to form a flatten
terrace on the
higher side of the
site to locate the
upper part of the
podium

Cutting into a part of

slope to form a 40m
x 50m x 30m high
recess for the placing
of a core wall by the
use of cut-off pile
wall as support
Part of the slope being cut and
with the core wall for the future
tower block being located

Site formation preliminarily completed and start

the construction of the building
The future building constructed
over the slope and new land
formed by site formation and
slope cutting

Core wall inside podium

structure seated onto the
vertical cut-back of slope
formed previously
Site formation (overview) –

Redevelopment of the Marine

Police Headquarters

Early 2005
 End 2005

Mid
2006
End 2007

Early 2009
 Preservation of precious trees on site

Preservation of precious trees

and other heritage structures
End of presentation for Site Formation