Ground Investigations

When ground investigations are scoped effectively they are a valuable tool in managing ground related risks. We believe their importance cannot be understated, as they play a critical role in almost all development projects.

A good ground investigation will enable the design team to develop appropriate, efficient and buildable solutions to manage ground risks; avoiding costly and unnecessary delays. This is why we design the scope of work after the desk study and initial identification of geotechnical and geo-environmental hazards. Our experienced teams can adjust the scope on-site based on real-time findings to maximize value from the investigation.

There’s an old saying: “You pay for a ground investigation whether you have one or not” (Prof Littlejohn, 1991). So, why take the risk? Talk to one of our experts today.

The term ‘Ground Investigation’ covers all actions taken to understand the characteristics of a ‘site’. The range of activities, investigation methods and desired outcomes is incredibly varied. At the most general level, a ground investigation is an assessment of a site to:

• ensure it is suitable for either its current or intended purpose,
• identify the measures required to render a site suitable,
• provide soil parameters.

In addition, ground investigations are required to demonstrate that the site can be developed safely. For example, this could be due to risk from the ground to structures, or contaminants posing a risk to people. All ground investigations are site-specific and should be designed after the desk study.

We commonly undertake investigations using a variety of techniques including; trial pits, rotary coring, cable percussion, dynamic windowless sampling, cone penetration testing (CPT) and geophysical surveys amongst others.