What is a Geotechnical investigation?

Geotechnical investigation is the process of examining the ground conditions before constructing buildings or infrastructure. It aims to evaluate soil strength, stratigraphy, and groundwater levels to inform appropriate foundation design.

Common methods include borehole drilling, Swedish Weight Sounding (SWS) test, and Street Dynamic Sounding (SDS) test. The SWS test measures soil resistance by rotating a rod under load, suitable for small-scale buildings. The SDS test uses repeated hammer drops to generate dynamic energy and determine soil penetration resistance, offering faster and more efficient evaluation of bearing capacity.

Advanced systems like GeoKarte® IV enable real-time visualization of subsurface soil profiles, providing high-resolution geotechnical data and enhancing analysis accuracy. The collected data helps assess bearing capacity, depth of stable soil layers, liquefaction potential, and settlement risk. Based on this, suitable foundation types—such as piles—or ground improvement methods are selected. Geotechnical investigation is essential to ensure building safety and longevity.

Application of Geotechnical investigation

✅ Ground Analysis for Public Infrastructure (Roads and Bridges)
Long-term durability and safety are essential in infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges. A combination of surveys like SWS, SDS, and boring tests is used to analyze the soil layers and bearing depth in detail. In flood-prone areas, accurate ground data is critical for evaluating groundwater levels and preventing liquefaction.
✅ Urban Narrow Lot Redevelopment (SDS Test)
In urban redevelopment or reconstruction on narrow lots, minimal impact on surrounding environments is crucial. The SDS test offers low vibration and noise and quickly assesses ground stiffness, making it ideal for densely populated areas.
✅ Ground Risk Assessment for Warehouses and Factories (GeoKarte® IV)
When constructing factories or logistics facilities on large plots, it is crucial to assess risks such as ground subsidence and liquefaction. GeoKarte® IV visualizes subsurface soil changes in real time, enabling immediate decisions about the need for soil improvement.
✅ Pre-construction Survey for Detached Houses (SWS Test)
For small-scale buildings like two-story wooden houses, the simple and cost-effective SWS test is often used. It helps determine soil hardness and bearing capacity for appropriate foundation design.

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