Geotechnical drilling is a specialized drilling method that is used to extract core samples from the earth. These core samples are then analyzed to determine the overall integrity of the ground. This data is crucial when evaluating a piece of land for the construction of a new structure, whether it’s a large office building, a bridge, a bunker or a parking garage.

When hiring a firm to perform geotechnical drilling, Boyette developers can expect the project to last anywhere from a day or two to several weeks or longer. The timeframe for the drilling operation will vary depending upon the size of the area that’s being investigated.

Multiple cores are extracted from the site to get a more complete view of the area. Other investigative techniques could also be used, including ground penetrating radar, which generates an image depiction of the ground density.

Boyette developers gain very useful insight from geotechnical drilling. Large drilling rigs will be brought to the site to drill deep down into the earth, extracting vertical columns of earth which are then sent out for analysis. The laboratory will evaluate attributes such as the composition of the earth, along with the strength and quality of the rock.

This analysis is especially important in areas of the nation where ground quality has a tendency to be poor. Some regions, such as Florida, are situated atop limestone deposits which can dissolve following exposure to acidic rainwater. This may cause the already-porous stone to disintegrate, harming its overall integrity.
In some cases, underground water flows can flush away the dissolved stone, resulting in the formation of a void that can collapse into a sinkhole. Florida and regions of the Midwest are two areas that are especially prone to sinkholes. If discovered, these voids may be filled in with cement to prevent collapse.

Even if a sinkhole doesn’t occur, a building that’s constructed atop poor quality ground may gradually sink and shift. This can cause cracking and structural damage that can impact the building’s integrity. In extreme cases, the structure could be at risk of catastrophic collapse.

The data that’s gleaned from the core samples can have a major impact on the building project. It may be determined that the site just isn’t suitable for a large structure. In other cases, the engineers and developers may need to custom-tailor the site’s building plans to ensure long term integrity. Alterations in size, building materials and site usage may be necessary. Extra stabilization techniques, like the insertion of large metal anchors that penetrate into the bedrock, may also need to be implemented in areas with poor earth quality.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*