Mitigate Risks and Ensure Project Success with Full Ground Investigation
A site investigation is the foundation of any construction or development project. At Site Testing Services, our geotechnical engineers and environmental scientists provide full ground investigation services to help you understand your site’s geology, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions. We help you avoid the costly surprises of unforeseen ground conditions, ensuring your project meets construction and environmental assessment standards.
Why a Professional Site Investigation
Whether you are developing a greenfield site or redeveloping complex brownfield sites, a professional site investigation is key. The initial stage involves a desk study, gathering all the information possible from historical records and geological maps to produce a preliminary risk assessment report. This allows us to identify potential hazards such as contaminated land or the legacy of past industrial use before any work starts on site.
This phase provides the data needed for robust foundation design to determine the physical and mechanical properties of the different soil and rock beneath the development site. We want to give you a clear understanding of the ground conditions to ensure the safety, stability, and cost-efficiency of your proposed structure.
Our Full Site Investigation Process
Our service is designed to be thorough and efficient, to give you a clear picture of your site’s opportunities and constraints. The process typically involves the following stages:
- Phase 1: Desk Study & Preliminary Risk Assessment: We conduct initial research on the site’s history and environmental setting. This allows us to build a conceptual site model and identify risks that may require further site investigation.
- Phase 2: Field Investigation: Our team will carry out intrusive investigation techniques to gather physical data from the ground. This can involve digging trial pits for visual inspection and sampling or using advanced boring and coring methods. We also monitor the groundwater and collect soil and water samples for further analysis.
- Phase 3: Laboratory Testing: Soil, rock, and water samples are sent for laboratory testing to determine their chemical and physical properties. This phase is critical for a quantitative risk assessment of any contamination found.
- Phase 4: Interpretive Report: We compile all the data from the field investigation and laboratory testing into a full site investigation report. This interpretive report provides clear conclusions and recommendations for foundation design and remediation if required and confirms whether any planning conditions have been met.
Ground Investigation Techniques
We use a range of modern and traditional techniques to gather the most accurate data, tailored to the specific ground conditions and construction project requirements. Our methods include:
- Trial Pits: A cost-effective way to inspect shallow ground conditions, and collect bulk samples.
- Window Sampling: A versatile method to obtain soil samples from shallow depths.
- Light Cable Percussion Boring: A common method to investigate deeper soil profiles, and install monitoring wells.
- Rotary Boring and Coring: Essential for drilling through rock and obtaining high-quality rock core samples for strength testing.
- Concrete Coring: Used to investigate the composition, and quality of existing concrete structures.
- Hand Auguring & Undisturbed Sampling: Techniques to retrieve high-quality, undisturbed soil samples for laboratory testing.
- Geophysical Surveys: Non-intrusive methods to map subsurface geological conditions.
Your Site Investigation Partner
While we have experience across the UK, our expertise is particularly strong in the North of England, where complex geology and a rich industrial history present unique challenges. From upland peat and variable glacial deposits to the risks associated with past mining, and industrial contamination, we know how to navigate these issues. Our work ensures legal compliance with local regulations and environmental guidelines.
Contact STS on 0330 6339 988 for more information on our Site Investigation Services or to discuss your development project.
