As if it wasn’t enough to have lumber, windows, doors, and metal pipe in short supply, you can add sand, which is theoretically plentiful on Earth, to the list of construction materials that can be hard to come by.
While sand is an item that can be found all over the planet, the high-quality aggregate form isn’t easy to source, according to a Stanford University scientist. “The sand found in deserts is unsuitable as construction material because it has been eroded by wind, making its sand grains smooth and they do not bond well together,” says Eric Lambin. “That is why the tall buildings of Dubai, a desert city, were built with sand imported all the way from Australia—as skyscrapers require extremely high-quality aggregates.
“Once high-quality deposits become exhausted or inaccessible due to urban growth, nature protection, or farming, sand extraction shifts to low-quality materials with organic matter or salt that, when used for the wrong applications, increase the probability of construction failure and building collapse. Construction failures have been linked to poor sand quality in Haiti following the earthquake, Nigeria, Morocco, Thailand, South Africa, and Italy.”
It's unlikely that we will run out of sand, Lambin says, but regionally, scarcities of sand needed for construction do occur, driving up costs and potentially delaying projects due to limited availability. “Instead of mining unconsolidated sediment deposits, fine-grained sand and coarser products can be produced artificially by crushing rocks or by recycling construction and demolition waste such as concrete or masonry,” Landin says. Engineered timber is also an alternative to concrete construction.
Related Stories
Contractors | May 8, 2015
Trends in U.S. commercial building size in three charts
A new study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that there were 5.6 million commercial buildings in the U.S. in 2012, totaling 87 billion sf of floor space. This is a 14% increase in floor space since 2003.
Building Team | May 8, 2015
Construction industry adds 45,000 jobs in April
The construction industry saw an increase in jobs during the month of April after losing approximately 9,000 positions in March.
Building Team | May 8, 2015
Surety bond forms specifically for design-build projects now available
The documents are the first of their kind to be coauthored by designers and builders.
Engineers | May 6, 2015
Megadeals drive mergers and acquisitions in engineering and construction industry: FMI report
Large deals and the convergence of design and construction are spurring M&A activity in the engineering and construction industry, according to the FMI Mergers & Acquisitions Trends report.
High-rise Construction | May 6, 2015
Parks in the sky? Subterranean bike paths? Meet the livable city, designed in 3D
Today’s great cities must be resilient—and open—to many things, including the influx of humanity, writes Gensler co-CEO Andy Cohen.
Contractors | May 1, 2015
Construction workers among top U.S. drug users: study
Construction workers are topped only by miners when it comes to heavy drinking, according to a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Multifamily Housing | May 1, 2015
Trade groups extend campaign to promote apartment living
The groups claim that there are more than 37 million Americans—12% of the population—living in just under 20 million apartment units nationwide. Apartments and their residents contribute $1.3 trillion annually to the economy.
Contractors | May 1, 2015
Nonresidential fixed investments fall in latest Construction Economic Update
This is the first time that nonresidential fixed investment declined since the first quarter of 2011, ABC reported. Nonresidential fixed investment had been rising by more than 4% on an annualized basis during five of the previous six quarters.
Contractors | Apr 29, 2015
Construction costs are expected to remain soft through fall of 2015
Labor and materials haven’t appreciated this year through April, according to market analyst IHS.
Contractors | Apr 23, 2015
Leopardo releases 2015 Construction Economics Outlook
Low oil prices have reduced the cost of construction, but not enough to offset the rise in labor costs, according to Leopardo's new outlook report.