urban development– tag –

Arsenic can exist naturally in geological formations without causing visible harm. But excavation, oxidation, rainwater, and transportation can make it mobile. This article explores how tunnel construction transforms dormant geology into a human responsibility.

Construction-generated soil disappears from urban construction sites, but it does not disappear from the planet. This article examines how cities transfer excavated soil—and the environmental risks and long-term responsibilities attached to it—to mountains, valleys, and rural communities.

Construction-generated soil can become a valuable regional resource, yet mismatches in quality, quantity, timing, and distance often prevent its reuse. This article examines the fragmented system behind soil circulation in Japan—and why development must account for the future of the ground it excavates.

Gravel extracted from the Abe River helped build postwar Japan, but the resulting loss of sediment accelerated erosion along the Shizuoka and Shimizu coasts. This article examines how urban growth transferred environmental costs to rivers and beaches—and what the experience teaches us about natural capital and sustainable development.

Cities depend on enormous quantities of sand and gravel for concrete, roads, and infrastructure. This article explores how construction demand is reshaping rivers and seabeds, accelerating coastal erosion, damaging ecosystems, and creating a global need for sustainable sand management.