A geotechnical project is a survey, analysis, or construction project that focuses on the effects of excavation or construction on bedrock and soil. A contractor can determine how deep to dig a foundation, what materials are needed to make a bridge earthquake-safe, and what tools are required to drill for oil or natural gas with proper geotechnical skills. Site investigation, building and structure construction, pipeline installation, and ocean engineering are all examples of geotechnical projects.
Any geotechnical project must begin with a site investigation. This step entails a thorough investigation of a potential development site’s geotechnical implications. The composition of the soil and bedrock, which can have a significant impact on design specifications, is part of the site investigation. The information gathered during a site investigation can reveal what type of foundation and support structure a building requires, as well as potential risks that must be mitigated using building principles.
On some level, almost every type of construction is a geotechnical project, because building on or underground necessitates knowledge of the ground materials. The soil and rock beneath bridges, roads, commercial buildings, and residences all have different effects. Geotechnical engineers assist in the selection of appropriate materials for construction on various types of soil and rock. Geotechnical engineers in flood-prone or earthquake-prone areas may be tasked with devising methods to maintain structural integrity in the event of a natural disaster. If a building sinks into sandy soil or a road buckles over a fault line, it’s possible that the fault is partially due to poor geotechnical management.
Another major type of geotechnical project is water and sewer pipelines. Because these pipes usually run underground, geotechnical engineers must conduct surveys of the proposed route to determine what, if any, hazards may exist due to the earth’s material and makeup. If a proposed sewer pipeline runs directly through an enormous bed of granite, for example, the geotechnical team may need to find alternate routes through the area or devise a plan to remove the granite. Geotechnical engineers may also need to assess the risk of soil instability as a result of a system leak.
A geotechnical project that takes place at sea may have additional challenges that aren’t present on land. Plans and strategies must frequently consider not only the material on the seafloor, but also the depth and behavior of the water above it. Drilling platforms for oil and gas exploration, as well as the construction of ports and harbors, are examples of marine geotechnical projects.