Understanding the Ground
Our ground investigation services employ intrusive and non-intrusive methods to gather data on soil and rock properties, groundwater conditions and ground movement potential. Through analysis and interpretation of these data, we provide geotechnical reports that are fed into the design and construction of foundations, tunnels, trenches, roads, railways, embankments, and multiple other construction projects.
Site Investigation
We have been widely recognized as a leader and innovator in drilling, sampling, and subsurface investigation, providing clients in industry and government with the highest-quality services, including:
- Rotary, sonic & auger drilling and sampling
- CPT, Seismic CPT and high-resolution site characterization
- Remote access and limited access solution
- Instrumentation installation (piezometers, inclinometers)
Specialty testing, including vane shear, P&S wave logging and pressuremeter testing
Geotechnical Engineering
Alongside our site-investigation services, our geotechnical engineers and scientists provide reporting both on-site and after further interpretation and testing. Based on information collected from our ground investigations, we have provided a range of consulting including:
- Shallow foundation design
- Assessments of piles
- Requirement and feasibility of ground improvement solutions
- Infiltration drainage systems
- Pavements and earthworks
- Formation inspections
- Interpretation of in-situ test results
Injection Technology
This groundwater cleanup option is safer, better for the environment and ultimately less expensive than more traditional approaches. Typical remediation techniques, such as excavating contaminated soil with heavy equipment, wreak havoc on the fragile ecosystems many species call home. With injection technology, contaminants are treated in place. Nothing comes out of the ground, and – unlike excavation – treatment doesn’t result in tons of contaminated waste that needs to be hauled many miles to landfills. As its name implies, the injection treatment is a lot like poking needles into the ground to pump in fluid. Those “needles” are rods that are 1.5 inches in diameter, with perforated ends. The fluid they inject can be a chemical solution meant to create a reaction that breaks toxic compounds down into non-toxic ones. Or it can be carrying microbes that literally eat the contaminants.
Geophysical surveys
We specialize in providing comprehensive geological and geophysical solutions for both onshore and offshore projects. With a rich history and expertise in the field, our company offers a wide range of testing services to clients across various industries. Our onshore geophysical testing services use a variety of methods to assess subsurface conditions. We employ cutting-edge technologies and advanced equipment to conduct seismic surveys, electromagnetic surveys, ground penetrating radar (GPR), resistivity surveys, and more. These services help our clients gain valuable insights into geological structures, identify potential hazards and optimize resource exploration.
Belfast WwTw Ground Investigation
Our team was appointed by Kier BAM JV to carry out ground investigation works for provision of geotechnical and environmental information to characterise ground conditions for a proposed upgrade to Belfast WwTW.
The scope of works included:
- 3 light cable percussion boreholes
- 8 boreholes by sonic drilling extended by rotary follow on drilling to a maximum depth of 60m.
- Excavation of borehole starter pits by vacuum excavation methods
- UXO clearance of borehole locations using CPT mag-cone probing techniques
- Variable head permeability tests in selected boreholes
- A dual standpipe installation in all boreholes, with long term monitoring using water level loggers
- Twenty one machine dug trial pits
- Groundwater sampling using low-flow techniques
- Factual ground investigation report
Smart Motorway Alliance Ground Investigation
Our team was appointed by Balfour Beatty to carry out ground investigation works for the provision of geotechnical and environmental information to characterize ground conditions along the route of the proposed Smart Motorway Alliance upgrades on the M25 Motorway between Junction 10 and Junction 16.
The scope of works included:
- 26 boreholes by cable percussion boring in soils
- 13 boreholes by sonic drilling methods only
- 38 dynamic sampled boreholes, with 23 extended by dynamic probing to scheduled termination depths
- 5 standpipes for groundwater sampling
- 2 rounds of groundwater monitoring
- Factual ground investigation report
Dublin Metrolink
Our team was appointed by TII on behalf of the National Transport Authority of Ireland to carry out ground investigation works for provision of geotechnical and environmental information to characterize ground conditions along the proposed route of this major infrastructure project.
The scope of works included:
- 7 boreholes by light cable percussion boring
- 80 boreholes by Various rotary drilling techniques, including Symmetrix-cased full hole rotary percussive drilling, Sonic drilling, Geobore S wireline coring and large diameter water wells.
- Standpipe installations in 70 boreholes
- 17 machine-excavated trial pits
- Extended duration Continuous rate Pumping tests within proposed station boxes in 5 locations in a busy urban setting
- Purging and Variable head tests in all installed boreholes
- High pressure dilatometer (HPD) in 40 boreholes
- Down hole optical and acoustic tele-viewers in 22 Borehole
Oroville Dam Spillway
Many had never heard of California's Oroville Dam - the highest in the U.S. at 770 feet - until February 2017, when it made headlines worldwide after its primary and emergency spillways suffered significant damage just days apart. This prompted California officials to evacuate thousands of downstream residents for fear the emergency spillway would let go.
Starting in May 2017, DWR and its construction contractors began repairing and rebuilding Oroville’s main and emergency spillways. Our teams worked with DWR and Syblon Reid to supply and operate multiple mud rotary geotechnical drill rigs for the project.
- Emergency mobilization w/concurrent construction
- 50 boreholes ranging in depth from 60-120ft
- SPT testing in shallow alluvium
- Wireline continuous HQ3 coring in rock
- Inclinometers and piezometers installed in most geotechnical boreholes
Farranrory Windfarm and Grid Connection
Our team was appointed by to carry out ground investigation works for a proposed windfarm and associated grid connection route through agricultural land and existing road networks in rural Co. Tipperary.
The scope of works included:
- Twenty-two boreholes by rotary drilling techniques to obtain bedrock core from each location.
- Nine groundwater monitoring installations.
- Forty-three dynamic probes.
- Seventeen machine dug trial pits.
- Fourteen foundation inspection pits.
- Indirect CBR tests at forty locations.
- A geophysical survey at twenty-six locations.
- Follow-up monitoring of installed wells.
- Geotechnical laboratory testing on soil and rock samples.
- Factual ground investigation report.
Water Monitoring & Remediation
Our team partners with Tetra Tech to monitor ground, surface and storm water at the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. We also work to characterize and model the fate and transport of legacy contaminants dating back to the cold-war era industrial complex. At Los Alamos, we design, test and implement remediation strategies to protect:
- the underground aquifer
- neighboring tribal lands
- critical regional waterways
- sources of drinking water for the surrounding communities
