Geotechnical

Site Investigation

Any purchase, ownership or utilisation of land involves risk. This can, however, be minimised by expert interpretation of ground and groundwater conditions. Where the financial viability of a project is in question, our staged approach to investigation can save time and money as well as providing professional solutions to any geotechnical or mining problems and environmental risk.

Phase 1 – Desk Study

The desk study is an essential requisite for planning application and enables preliminary decisions to be made on project viability, and comprises:

Inspection of:

• Geological maps and memoirs.
• Mineral and mining records and plans.
• Borehole, well and water abstraction records.
• Aerial photographs.

And includes:

• Site reconnaissance.
• Assessment of historical site processes and landfill proximity..
• Geological and geomorphological mapping.
• Hydrogeological mapping and river quality assessment.
• Initial report, consultations and assessment of project viability.
• Methane and radon gas risk assessment.
• Development of a Conceptual Site Model.
• Design of a Phase 2 intrusive investigation.

Phase 2 – Ground Investigation

Having established the likely success of a project, ground investigation enables us to determine the extent and level of any identified problems and provides the information necessary to design the optimum economic solutions for development.

Procedures typically included are:

• Pitting, in-situ testing and instrumentation.
• Soft and hard rock drilling and sampling.
• Assessing slope stability.
• Monitoring of toxic gasses, vapours and groundwater levels.
• Geotechnical laboratory testing.
• Engineering report with geotechnical recommendations and foundation design.
• Site Reclamation & Engineering Design

The geological nature and engineering properties of land significantly affects the behaviour, safety, design, cost and risks of any development. Specialist investigative techniques and experience are, therefore, essential in the acquisition and interpretation of data and its subsequent application to safe, economic design and construction.

Our combined geological and engineering service, based on over 40 years experience in professional assessment and interpretation of all ground and groundwater conditions will
help to minimise risk.

Initial site investigation is followed by advice and recommendation relating to site acquisition, reclamation and stabilisation, foundation design and waste control for safe and
economic construction.

Phase 3 – Remedial Work & Geotechnical Design

In order to assist in eliminating the hazards of existing or potential subsidence, our specialist investigation and advisory services reduce risk, improve safety and optimise costs for:

• Ground stabilisation.
• Soil and rock slope stability.
• Earthworks.
• Ground and rock anchors.
• Foundation settlement.
• Underpinning unstable buildings.

Design of safe economic foundations for engineering structures is determined through expert interpretation and application of investigative data including the design of:

• Foundation options for development
• Safe bearing capacity to prevent settlement
• Piling through soft ground
• Vibrocompaction to strengthen ground
• Chemical attack prevention