Figure P12.18 shows a proposed canal near a five-story apartment building 30 m wide × 50 m long. The building is founded on a mat foundation. The existing groundwater level is approximately 1 m below the surface. The proposed normal water level in the canal is 2 m below the surface with 1 m of freeboard. Describe and justify some of the concerns you may have regarding the stability of the building from the construction of a canal. If the owner insists on constructing the canal, research methods that you would consider so that the canal can be designed and constructed safely.
