Earth Environmental & Geotechnical provides an extensive range of Site Investigation Services for clients to inform construction designs and satisfy conditions for planning applications, building control departments, The Environment Agency. Subsurface site investigations are conducted to establish ground conditions and composition of the ground beneath a development site before construction starts.
At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd, we specialise in comprehensive site investigation services to assess ground conditions for construction, infrastructure, and environmental projects. Our expert geotechnical site investigations team ensure your development is built on solid ground, helping to mitigate risks, control costs, and meet regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with UK regulations.
Whether you’re planning a new build, require a geotechnical survey, or need contaminated land assessments, our tailored site investigation solutions and services are tailored to meet your specific needs.
Need expert site investigation services? Call us on 0161 975 6088 or email headoffice@earthenvironmental.co.uk
A thorough geotechnical site investigation is a critical process to understanding the ground conditions beneath your site. Poor ground conditions, condition of the soil, contamination, groundwater, or underground obstructions can lead to costly delays, structural failures, or environmental risks. Our site investigations are crucial for several reasons:
Our expert team uses state-of-the-art technology and proven methods to carry out safe geotechnical investigations, delivering accurate data to guide your project safely from planning to completion.
We provide a comprehensive range of site investigation services tailored to meet the needs of various industries, including residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Our site investigation services include:
Our geotechnical investigation services provide critical insights into soil, rock, and groundwater conditions to inform foundation design and structural planning. We use industry-leading techniques, including:
Before breaking ground, a Phase 1 Desk Study gathers historical and environmental data to identify any potential risks on-site. This non-intrusive investigation provides essential background information to identify potential risks before intrusive investigations are carried out.
If risks are identified in the Phase 1 study, we conduct a Phase 2 Site Investigation, data through fieldwork and laboratory analysis, involving:
Our specialists assess and mitigate land contamination risks to ensure safe and compliant development. We provide:
At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd, we bring together expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to quality. Here’s why we are the trusted partner for site investigations:
Our team is ready to assist with geotechnical investigations, contaminated land assessments, and ground stability analysis for your project.
Call us on Tel: 0161 975 6088 or email us at: headoffice@earthenvironmental.co.uk to discuss your site investigation needs. Alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form, and one of our experts will get back to you as soon as possible.
Q: What is involved in a site investigation?
A: A site investigation typically includes a desk study, intrusive investigations (such as boreholes or trial pits), and laboratory analysis of soil and rock samples. The goal is to gather data on ground conditions to inform the design and construction process.
Q: How long does a site investigation take?
A: The duration of a site investigation depends on the size and complexity of the site. A simple investigation might take a few days, while larger or more complex sites can take several weeks.
Q: How much does a site investigation cost?
A: Costs vary depending on the scope of the investigation, the methods used, and the complexity of the site. Contact us today for a free quote tailored to your project.
Read More About Sites We Have Investigated
Earth Environmental & Geotechnical conduct site investigations in accordance with Eurocodes that were introduced into UK design on 31 March 2010 and has invested in equipment and methodologies demanded by the standards. We however believe that high quality site investigations arise as a result of the design, supervision, monitoring and interpretation process rather than the field equipment used.
Read More About Our Site Investigations
Subsurface Site Investigations are required to get a full understanding of what you are building on. The first stage in the process is the Phase 1 Desk Study. The results of the phase 1 Desk study combined with the Preliminary Development Design Proposal will inform what Site Investigations are required next.
Site Investigation services include subsurface exploration and laboratory analysis to establish ground conditions for development sites. These Site Investigation techniques include trial pits, rotary drilling, and window & windowless sampling and cable percussive boreholes
Any site investigation should ideally follow the development of a site walkover survey and desk-based study (Phase I Desk Study) using readily available publically archived information (historical, environmental, mining etc) that allows for a cost effective strategy to be implemented. The defined scope of work within any preliminary investigation is paramount for a successful project to be completed, the old adage “you pay for a site investigation whether you have one or not”, is commonly quoted to clients!
All site investigations are conducted in accordance with strict and well-defined health and safety practices with site-specific method statements and risk assessments provided. Prior to commencement on-site service (gas sewers, electricity etc.) information is acquired from the client (or its agents) with utility tracing conducted, if required.
Many site investigations are conducted to discharge planning conditions and our staff always ensure, time permitting, that prior to delivery of a costed proposal an outline of the proposed works are initially discussed with the regulatory authorities.
Our staff have extensive experience in the design of geotechnical, mining, and environmental site investigations in accordance with current best technical practices and planning guidance.
The site investigation services required will depend on the specifics of the site being developed including the known, strata of the area, if the site is in a coal mining area, the groundwater conditions, and potential contaminants. The known ground conditions will determine what Site Investigation techniques are most appropriate for the specific site and the proposed development. 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.
In-house drilling rigs are wherever possible used for drilling work, with approved quality sub-contractors used for projects (where necessary).
Subsurface site investigations are routinely conducted as part of the assessment of the GeoEnvironmental status of a site including any landfill/ground gas issues, soil/groundwater contamination, assessment of mineworkings, hydrogeology, slope stability assessment or to examine geotechnical conditions for a new structure or landform.
Site investigations are commonly required for the following scenarios;
Trial Pits are used for sub-surface site investigations and examination of the soil, rocks and groundwater. Trial pits ideally proceed construction works to determine the geology and the water table of that specific site and are typically between 1 and 4 metres deep.
Rotary drilling is used to collect soil and rock strata samples, or to form deep observation boreholes. Rotary drilling is used for very dense soils and rock to investigate and analyse the sub-surface ground conditions up to a depth of 100m.
Cable percussion boreholes can be used to investigate the soil profile to a depth of up to 50m. Different cutting head heads are used for different soil types. Chisel for rock and hard layers, a shell for granular soils and a clay cutter for softer cohesive soils.
Window Sampling is used on soft ground and cohesive strata to extract soil, clay or sand samples for geotechnical or chemical analysis. Window sampling is a great technique to recover undisturbed samples for geotechnical and environmental analysis.