Friday, August 11, 2017

The Process Involved In Subsurface Investigation

By Kathleen Hughes


The construction of most significant developments is done in phases. Before the project can be approved, plans have to be reviewed by experts to see whether the building will be safe. However, before even this is done the site needs to be inspected, and one of the procedures that will accompany this inspection is the conducting of subsurface investigation. As the person in charge of a project, you need to know what this process involves before you can commission it.

Knowing what is under the top soil on your property is important whether you want to erect a building or build a pipeline. During these investigations, experts will come to the site and use a variety of methods to conduct their test. The purpose of these surveys is to see whether that area is contaminated and also to see the chemical properties of the soil water and rocks in this field.

While conducting these tests, every investigator will have what the factor on which they will focus. Some will concentrate on the composition of the soil and water, while others will study the rock structure. All this will help to determine whether the ground is stable, the water is safe, and also to check for pollutants. In some areas, it will also be important to consider the seismic aspect of geology, especially, if the area has a history of getting earthquakes or tremors.

The entire process can be a bit confusing because it is done at the site and in a laboratory. When the investigators come to see the site, they will inspect it visually and also collect samples of soil, water, and stones. This will then be taken through a battery of tests to check for contaminants and to determine their composition. The results are then handed back to the investigator to them to make their remarks and recommendations.

An expert should do the subsurface testing. Ideally, this should be someone who has studied engineering or geology or both. This way they can interpret the information they get and then offer you recommendations based on that data. You should, therefore, only work with firms that have the right personnel for the job.

Specialized machines will also be required for this work, and your professional should have this. Proper tools will warrant accurate results and also quick work. If you hire someone who has the know-how but no tools, you might have to do the running around trying to get them the equipment required.

Apart from carrying out the tests the people you hire should also apply and pay for the required permits. In most cases, this will be part of the services they offer you, and therefore, the charges for this task will be lumped in with the total fee. Having this permit will prevent the process from being stopped midway or for you even fined by the relevant government department.

Getting this procedure done will cost you quite a bit of money, but it will be worth it. It will determine whether the site is safe and also what you can do to reinforce your construction. In case you overlook this process you might find that the foundation was not thick or deep enough, and because of the poor state of that soil, or a high water table, your building has developed cracks or collapsed.




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