Are you in the process of securing land for an upcoming housing development? Whether you’re building a stand-alone home for your family or a multi-unit property, geotechnical investigations play a key role in informing the construction process and ensuring a safe build that’s made to last. Designed to evaluate the site’s foundation and study the physical properties of the surrounding soil and rock, geotechnical investigations are an invaluable resource that helps highlight risks that your build team should be aware of and make sure that buildings are up to code upon completion. As one of Alberta’s leading providers of geotechnical engineering services, ProtechGeo is proud to offer hands-on expertise when it comes to ensuring your development is ready to go. Learn more about the importance of geotechnical investigations below.
Why Are Geotechnical Investigations Necessary?
Regardless of if you’re building on brand new land or redeveloping on top of a previously used location, foundational unknowns pose a huge risk to your project. Having a clearly outlined resource that depicts the characteristics of the soil and rocks found at your construction site gives architects and build crews the ability to customize their efforts to the specific needs of the area, as well as build to protect against major hazards like earthquakes, flooding, known issues with the foundation, and more. Simply put, the more information you have regarding the topography, soil composition and subsurface components you’ll be dealing with, the safer and more efficient your build will be.
What Does An Investigation Involve?
While each investigation will vary depending on the specific needs of your site, they typically consist of two phases. The first phase involves a team of geotechnical experts conducting a surface evaluation, which often includes a site walkthrough, review of area photographs or schematics, or geophysical surveys. Upon completion of this evaluation, the team then moves on to conducting soil sampling via boring to collect data pertaining to stratigraphy and soil properties. Laboratory examinations are often conducted for a more finite analysis, after which point the engineering team will assess all relevant information to provide a comprehensive list of design recommendations. Tools used for conducting geotechnical analysis include Ground-penetrating radar (LiDAR), antennas that send and receive signals (NDT), boring drills and more.
Here to Help
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, ProtechGeo is one of the province’s foremost geotechnical engineering services providers offering assistance with materials testing, project management, construction field testing, lab testing, and more. With decades of combined experience under our belt, you can count on us to meet your geotechnical engineering needs, all while providing exceptional customer service and being highly responsive throughout the duration of your project. Contact our team today to learn more about our geotechnical services throughout Alberta.