Site Investigation

Accurate site investigation forms the basis to understanding the potential liabilities associated with any site. This is true for both developers of brownfield sites and those dealing with unexpected environmental incidents. Risk assessment has a fundamental role in these areas and can form the basis of remedial strategies. Ground contamination assessment and the identification of associated risk is a complex matter requiring input from qualified experts in a range of different disciplines. Ecologia is able to provide a complete in-house service covering most aspects of site investigation, or can bring in additional specialist services when necessary.

Site investigation is a phased process:

Phase 1

A desktop and walkover (visual) study of the site is undertaken using existing information. The purpose of this is to establish whether previous uses of the site may have caused ground contamination, to review the site’s geology, hydrogeology and hydrology and to identify underground services. The scope of the investigation is variable according to the situation being assessed and the proposed eventual use of the site in terms of risk to users and the environment.

Phase 2

This is an intrusive investigation undertaken in response to concerns arising from the Phase 1 site investigation. Ecologia is fully equipped to design and carry out investigations to suit the individual situation and specific client requirements, however complex these may be.

Soil and groundwater samples are collected under the supervision of an experienced environmental professional. Depending upon the geology, the anticipated contaminants and ease of access, Ecologia’s drilling team is able to employ a variety of methodologies including:

• Trial pitting
• Manual window sampling
• Percussive sampling
• A variety of rotary drilling techniques
• Sonic drilling

Borehole locations can be positioned onto digital maps using traditional survey techniques or GIS technology.

Following analysis at an accredited laboratory, data is provided according to the requirements of the client. Ecologia can provide a full interpretive report including 2D or 3D contamination mapping, or borehole logs in electronic data format.

Ecologia has developed strong working relationships with leading UK analytical laboratories. Generally, testing will be to UKAS or MCERTS certification.

Ecologia’s surveys conform to the current guidance and British Standards for site investigation.

Geotechnical

Any structure is only as well supported as its foundation will allow and it follows that any foundation is reliant on the ground on which it stands to provide that support.

A reliable geotechnical survey provides the confidence that your foundation is the right kind for the ground at your site. Inadequate geotechnical data for a site can result in a structure being built on a ground that has insufficient bearing capacity to take the final load or that will settle excessively over time. These scenarios will inevitably lead to structural weakness, damage or, in the worst extremes, collapse.

Ecologia offers a comprehensive range of geotechnical site investigation services from an extensive range of in-situ tests to profile the soil as we drill, to a full geotechnical reporting service, including recommendations on foundation depth and type with subsequent settlement calculation.