Earth Environmental & Geotechnical are an environmental, geological, and geotechnical practice that offer an expert driven, cost effective and pragmatic service to clients. We are frequently asked geotechnical questions relating to our services. Here we answer some of the questions we are often asked, to help you understand what support your development needs.
What is a phase 1 desk study report?
Why do I need a Phase 1 Desk study Report?
What is included in a Phase 1 Desk Study Report?
What does a Phase 1 Desk Study Report look like?
What happens after a phase 1 desk study?
Following the desk study and walkover survey, a Site Conceptual Site Model can be developed. This will allow for environmental and geotechnical hazards to be individually assessed. Any potential pollutant linkages can then be prioritised for any future Phase 2 Site Investigation.
What’s the difference between Phase 1 Desk Study Report and a Phase 2?
A Phase 2 assessment consists of an Intrusive Site investigation with quantitative risk assessment. Depending on what is highlighted in this assessment, a subsequent remediation strategy and verification report may then be required.
A Phase 2 assessment is only needed if it is identified in the initial Land Contamination Assessment or if it is part of the conditions the Local Planning Authority have attached to the planning approval.
For more information on Phase 1 Desk Study reports please click here
What is the next step after a Phase 1 Desk Study?
The second step in understanding your development sites ground conditions are Site Investigations also referred to as Ground Investigations Site Investigations or Ground investigation can save costs by enabling contractors to foresee an issue before it becomes a costly problem and have a strategy in place to deal with the impact of development on the site.
What is a Site walkover?
The site walk overs form an integral part of our Phase 1 Desk Study reports. The purpose of the survey is to basically see a site in the flesh, to identify potential sources of contamination.During the walkover survey, we will assess areas identified within the desk study as potential development issues, environmental and cost liabilities. We also highlight potential remedial options or management considerations.
Following the desk study and walkover survey, a Site Conceptual Site Model can be developed. This will allow for environmental and geotechnical hazards to be individually assessed. Any potential pollutant linkages can then be prioritised for any future Phase 2 Site Investigation.
What is a Site Investigation?
The Site Investigation or Ground Investigation is an essential step in understanding your development site and ground conditions. It is an intrusive investigation to assess ground conditions
What are Ground Conditions?
The term ‘ground conditions’ generally refers to the geology, hydrology, soil condition and any contamination of the ground on the site of a construction project. Ground conditions may be naturally occurring, man-made or, frequently a combination of the two.
Examples of artificial or man-made conditions or obstructions include landfill, asbestos, old sewers, mine shafts. The likely effects of the proposed development on topography, ground stability, soil compaction and soil erosion, re-use of soils, waste soils, and contamination of the site should always be considered.
What is the Purpose of Site Investigation or Ground Investigation?
The Purpose of Site Investigations or Ground Investigations is to understand the Ground Conditions for your Development Site before construction work begins to determine the risks and most importantly to develop remediation designs to minimise the impact of your development.
The Site Investigations / Ground Investigations allow a comprehensive risk assessment of the ground conditions to be made from which an Interpretive Report can be developed.
What are Ground Investigations?
Ground investigations are sub surface investigation and examination of the soil, rocks and groundwater below the surface. Ground Investigations should ideally follow the desk based study (Phase I Desk Study) and site walkover survey which will have identified areas of concern requiring further intrusive subsurface investigation.
The phase 1 desk study with site walkover survey will advise the strategy to be implemented for the ground investigations and the techniques best suited to the specific site.
What is a Ground Investigation Survey?
A ground Investigation survey is a 3 step process to achieve a detailed understanding of the soil parameters, rock and groundwater which impact the ground conditions of the development site. An accurate understanding of the ground conditions is necessary for all construction projects to be successful. The Ground Investigations will identify potential risks for your specific development. Then Earth Environmental have the expertise and experience to advice on what steps you can taketo mitigate these risks.
Read More Here Ground Investigation Survey
What are Remediation Designs?
Remediation Designs are the actions and changes that should be implemented to eliminate the risks or hazards of developing on the specific site once the site investigations are completed and the Geotechnical Interpretative Report compiled from all the information and data gathered from the ground investigations, testing, monitoring for the site.
The Geotechnical Interpretative Report is a vital link between the factual laboratory and site investigation data and geotechnical engineering designs required.
Where a site is found to be affected by contaminants, a combined geotechnical and geo-environmental investigation will be required. Once all the data has been collated and the risks assessed the results can be used to inform construction designs and a remediation strategy developed.
At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical we have experience, at board level, in the use of a wide variety of remediation techniques to deal with soil and groundwater issues, together with abnormal ground conditions.
In recent years the following remedial techniques have been designed and implemented by our staff:
What is a Plate Bearing Test?
The Plate Bearing Test (or Plate Loading Test) is an in-situ field test used to find the ultimate bearing capacity of rocks and soils and predict the settlement beneath an imposed load.
An example of a Plate Bearing Test click here
Earth Environmental & Geotechnical offer Plate Bearing Test (or Plate Loading Test) for more information please click here
Why would I need a Plate Bearing Test?
Design engineers need to know the bearing capacity of soil underneath the proposed construction when designing the traffic surface or shallow foundations.The Plate Bearing Test (or Plate Loading Test) is also useful for construction sites to establish ultimate bearing capacity and settlement of the ground for working platforms, crane outrigger pads and piling mats. At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical our engineers will advise on the plate size required to match the design load and reaction load required (i.e. size of excavator).
For further information on Plate Bearing Test Reports please click here
What does a Plate Bearing Test report Look like?
Here is an example of a Plate Bearing Test (or Plate Loading Test). The objective of the test is to obtain a load-settlement curve of a soil at a particular depth, to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation.
The load intensity and settlement observation of the plate load test are plotted. The graph shows the load settlement curve. The ultimate bearing capacity is taken as the load at which the plate starts sinking at a rapid rate, i.e. when the curve drops down to a vertical line.
For further information on Plate Bearing Test Reports please click here
What is a Basement Impact Assessment?
A Basement Impact Assessment (BIA) combines risk-based assessments and ground investigation information to determine if a basement development can be completed successfully at any given site. During every BIA potential development risks are identified and advice on how to mitigate those risks is provided.
What is the purpose of a Basement Impact Assessment?
A Basement Impact Assessment (BIA) is undertaken to ensure the proposed development will not adversely impact on current development or adjoining / neighbouring developments. The BIA will evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of the proposed basement and the specific risks involved.
What is included in a Basement Impact Assessment?
At Earth Environmental and Geotechnical our Basement Impact Assessment (BIA) involve three key stages:
Stage One: Desk Study and Screening & Scoping Report
Initially a desk based screening and scoping report will be completed alongside a Phase I Desk Study. At this initial stage, the proposed development is reviewed in the context of the site’s history, its geological and hydrogeological conditions, potential for contamination and any risks posed by surface and groundwater flooding.
A Flood Risk Assessment may also be required if the proposed development resides within a defined flood zone area. If the development site is in a Flood Zone 1, this may be of limited scope, however if the property is in a more vulnerable flood zone, detailed further investigation is likely to be required.
The desk study and screening and scoping report will conclude by outlining any areas of concern which require further investigation.
Stage 2 : Site Investigation
The second stage of a BIA is to undertake a Site Investigation / Ground Investigation tailored to investigate the potential issues highlighted within stage one and to provide design information to allow the safe construction of the basement.
The site investigation will help to highlight any potential hazards beneath a site which are unknown and determine the engineering properties of the underlying soils. Ground investigation works also allow the installation of ground gas and groundwater monitoring standpipes and subsequent recording of ground gas and groundwater data. This data will in turn be used to determine if waterproofing / dewatering will be required as part of the development and if ground gas protection measures will need to be installed.
The type of ground investigation techniques used will be dependent on the proposed basement design and the access constraints present at the assessment site.
Given that basement developments are often required on sites with restricted access, specialist limited access investigation techniques may be required.
The following is a list of intrusive investigation techniques often used as part of a BIA.
Once the ground investigation works are complete, a factual and interpretive report will be produced. This report will provide detailed of the works undertaken, alongside geotechnical design information for the basement’s construction. Other influencing factors such as contamination will also be discussed within the ground investigation report and any mitigating measures required will be produced.
Stage 3 : Basement Impact Assessment Report
Finally, after the Site Investigation stage, a detailed Basement Impact Assessment report will be produced.
This report combines the information from both stages 1 & 2 and provides a complete assessment of the risks and mitigation measures required to successfully complete the basement development.
An example of the topics covered within Stage 3 include:
We are Frequently Asked Geotechnical Questions and for examples of reports that are provided as part of Site Investigations. Here we have some of the examples of reports to help you understand what the different documents cover.
Coal Mining Risk Assessments identify site specific coal mining risks and set out the proposed mitigation strategy to show that the site can be made safe and stable for the proposed development.
A Phase 1 Desk Study is generally required to support your planning application if you want to develop a site.
The Plate Bearing Test (or Plate Loading Test) is an in-situ field test used to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of rocks and soils and anticipated settlement beneath an imposed load.