Geotechnical Investigations

A geotechnical investigation is a detailed study of the soil, rock, and groundwater conditions beneath a proposed construction site. It is performed by geologists, geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists to obtain critical information needed to design and construct safe, stable, and cost-effective foundations and earthworks.

Contractors and Developers
Municipality Reports (City of Tshwane, City of Johannesburg City of Ekurhuleni etc.)
Banks
Financial and Insurance
Property Developers
National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC)

Shallow Foundations

Shallow foundation investigations for single and double storey infrastructural units, such as Houses, Office accommodation, Hospitals, Educational facilities, low-cost housing, Ablution facilities, Residential Structures, Warehouses, Clinics and Shopping Centers.

Large Structures

Deep foundation investigation investigations for late structures such as Multi-Storey Buildings, Industrial Structures, Petrochemical structures, Pump stations, Water/sewage treatment facilities, Power stations, Dams, Bridges, Power lines, Mine Infrastructure, Shopping Centre’s and buildings with multiple levels.

Roads and Transportation

Detailed centerline and materials investigations for the construction of Rural gravel roads, Block paved roads & Concrete roads, Township streets, Parking areas, Filling stations, & Taxi ranks, and infrastructural units which require extensive layer works such as fields and embankments. These investigations focus on the testing of material for the suitability for the re-use in construction.

Town Development & Residential (Rural and Urban)

Pre-feasibility, Feasibility and Design Phase Township development investigations for the extensions to existing townships, establishment of new townships and the installation of services within existing townships. Investigations undertaken in accordance with “Geotechnical investigations for Housing Developments” as presented in the General Specifications GFSH-2 (2002) and the guidelines presented in SANS 634 document. Where applicable, sites are zoned according to their unique development potential using the system proposed by Partridge et al (1993).

Water and Sanitation

Deep foundation investigations for the various infrastructural units forming part of bulk water supply systems such as bulk & rural water supply and sanitation schemes, Bulk water supply lines & pump stations, Water & sewage treatment plants, Water services & sanitation, and pollution control ; with the associated calculations required for detailed designs such as lateral earth pressures and bearing capacity.

Dolomite Stability Investigations:

Stability investigations for sites underlain by Soluble Rock. Investigations adhere to the guidelines presented in SANS 1936 Part 1 to Part 4. Final Report makes recommendations on the suitability of the site for a proposed structure based on the results from the Test pitting, Geophysical and Percussion Drilling (rock chip logging) phases of the investigation.

Geo-Environmental

Geo-environmental and hydrological investigations for environmentally sensitive developments such as Filling Stations, Landfill Sites, Cemeteries, Effluent Dams and Golf Courses.

NHBRC Enrolments

Investigations for the NHBRC Enrolment of a single stand or site within a development in order to assist with foundation design of single storey residential structures (or structures with similar foundation loads) investigations can be conducted to guide the required initial building standard of an existing structure.

Borrow Pit Investigations

Detailed borrow pit exploration exercises conducted in order to locate possible sources of material which are suitable for the use in construction, such as material used as bedding for pipelines, layer works in roads and rock and clay for the use in earth fill dam walls.