Geoenvironmental Investigations

Assessments and investigations are undertaken in any situation where ground conditions require definition. Examples include:

• Contaminated land investigations for development.
• Investigation of ground conditions for new development (often in tandem with a contaminated land investigation as above).
• Investigation of subsidence which threatens existing structures.
• Flood investigation

Silkstone provide a rapid and comprehensive investigation service with clear reports summarised in plain English for the non-technical reader. The service provided is tailored to client and project requirements, ranging from simple site visits and desk studies through to full investigation, surveying, design and the monitoring and validation of remediation. Naturally these services can be combined seamlessly with any of the other services provided by Silkstone, including any further works such as remediation which may be required as a result of the initial investigation.

Our investigations are undertaken to the relevant standards and methodologies, i.e. Eurocode 7, BS 5930, CLEA, NHBC, etc.

Techniques

Silkstone do not own or operate any investigation equipment and therefore are free to select the best method for the job. Initial investigations usually involve a light tracked window sampling rig or a light wheeled backhoe excavator to sample shallow conditions. Deeper soils are sampled using the traditional cable percussion method and hard rock is drilled and cored where required utilizing rotary percussive rigs. Some sites are suitable for non intrusive methods such as ground penetrating radar, and Silkstone have successfully used such methods to identify underground services and structures.

Of course, a great deal or information can be gained from office, library and internet sources - a desk study - and by a simple site visit by an experienced engineer (a site walkover).

Example of a site investigation

Clients

Silkstone clients range from blue chip companies to private individuals. Civil engineers employ Silkstone to carry out investigations for developments they are designing. House builders and construction companies employ Silkstone to investigate land they are considering purchasing (or have purchased) for development. Industrial concerns employ Silkstone to investigate the condition of land they own, in order to ascertain the level of contamination, for environmental compliance and valuation purposes and in some cases potential demolition and development. Private clients (householders) employ Silkstone to investigate occurrences on their property such as flooding, contamination and subsidence, in order to prevent damage and devaluation to property.

Learn about our Geotechnical Projects.

Geotechnical Assessments

Silkstone Environmental also conduct more complex geotechnical work where ground conditions are crucial to the progress of a project. These assessments use the information from the site investigations referred to above to undertake analysis and design work. Examples include the calculation of water influx into a proposed basement; the calculation of the stability of rock and soils slopes; and the calculation of the stability of earth embankments and retaining structures.

A great deal of this type of work is related to other projects driven by our mineral and waste planning departments.

Silkstone Environmental are equipped with up to date and industry standard software, as accepted or approved by the relevant bodies such as local authorities and the Environment Agency.

Geotechnical supervision of works

Silkstone Environmental conduct independent supervision of earthworks for various types of projects where Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) is necessary. This may involve the scheduling of various types of field and laboratory tests and/or survey control and ranges from full time on site supervision and management through to occasional visits on a 'stage completion' basis where the works are being managed by others. The amount of CQA input is tailored to the client's requirements. CQA projects undertaken in the past have included embankments and landfill components including liners, drainage, side slopes and capping, as well as contaminated land related work such as validation testing and WAC testing.