Geotechnical Drilling Del Rio How Do You Identify Sinkholes With Geotechnical Drilling?

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Del Rio clients often enquire about geotechnical drilling and how it can be used to identify potential sinkhole sites. Florida is well known for its many sinkholes, which can destroy property and even claim lives. So how does a drilling operation help you to determine the site of a potentially devastating sinkhole? Well, that’s precisely what we’ll explore today.

Del Rio residents use geotechnical drilling as a relatively fast and cost-effective technique for locating the possible sinkhole site. The portable drill is transported to the location, where it begins to penetrate the ground, extracting a column of earth as it moves downward. This column of earth is called a core sample.

When the drill reaches an underground cavity, there is no earth collected in the core sample, leaving a gap. The drill operators will also notice a sudden drop off in the amount of resistance that the drill encounters while inside the cavity.

These underground cavities form in the bedrock as a result of erosion. In Florida, the bedrock is typically comprised of limestone, which is a very soft stone that actually dissolves when exposed to acids, such as those that are present in groundwater. This water erodes the stone, creating a pocket or void that typically increases in size with time.  When the pressure atop the underground void reaches a certain point, the void will collapse. The result is a sinkhole.

When opting for geotechnical drilling, Del Rio clients can get an idea of the underground void’s depth and approximate size. Additional testing equipment, such as ground penetrating radar, may be brought in to help provide a more precise idea of the dimensions.

Once a potential sinkhole is located, the property owners may opt to build elsewhere if it’s a future development site. In cases where a property resides over the void, it can be pumped full of cement, thereby preventing a collapse. It’s also possible to sink stabilization rods into the bedrock, with the other end affixed to the foundation to provide support if the sinkhole were to collapse.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Bryceville How Can You Determine Groundwater Content With Geotechnical Drilling?

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Bryceville developers and property owners can gain a lot of useful information from geotechnical drilling, including the amount of moisture in the earth and the overall groundwater content. In fact, there are underground water flows that can be used to supply a well, although these water flows can also impact the ground’s integrity and overall stability. But how does drilling help you to determine the groundwater situation? That’s precisely what we’ll explore in today’s article.

How Do You Get Moisture Content and Groundwater Information from Geotechnical Drilling?

Bryceville residents can gain a lot of valuable information from geotechnical drilling, including key information on the presence of underground water flows and the overall moisture content.

This information is primarily gathered from the core samples, which are vertical columns of soil that are extracted in a tube. The core samples have a lot of useful data. The analysts can determine moisture content and overall ground integrity, which is vital for developers who may need to alter their development plans accordingly.

Groundwater information is collected in a similar manner. Except moisture from groundwater arises far below the surface. The presence of an underground water flow, along with groundwater volume and location is especially important if a well will be constructed on-site.

In fact, experienced geotechnical drillers can even identify underground water flows by the amount of resistance their drilling equipment encounters. The alteration in the amount of resistance that the drill encounters can be very telling about the nature and composition of the earth on a particular site.

The earth’s moisture content is very relevant, as there is a direct correlation to the site’s drainage system (or lack thereof.) But beyond this, the moisture content impacts the ground’s stability and integrity.

Moist earth is prone to shifting and it can even undergo a phenomena known as liquefaction. The latter occurs when the ground is shaken or vibrated. The soil particles settle together, while the water rises to the surface. This can pose a major problem for structures.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Baldwin How Can Developers Benefit From Geotechnical Drilling?

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Baldwin developers can face a number of different obstacles when building a structure or development. But many of these issues can be side-stepped by evaluating the construction site, which can be performed using geotechnical drilling, amongst other techniques. In fact, geotechnical drilling can provide developers with some very important information that can impact the build in some very profound ways.

Baldwin developers can see a number of advantages from a geotechnical drilling operation. One benefit involves acquiring a knowledge of the ground composition and integrity. A drilling team can extract core samples that illustrate the nature of the ground layers, their depth and even the moisture content of those layers. This can provide engineers and developers with an idea of how stable the ground is and whether any special measures will be required to ensure that the building has good integrity.

Geotechnical drilling can also reveal the depth and quality of the bedrock that underlies the site in question. For situations where the developer is building an underground structure or a structure with a basement, this information is critical. Depending upon the depth of the bedrock, the developer may need to use different excavation techniques, as you cannot excavate bedrock in the same manner in which you may excavate soil.

In areas outside of Florida, there may be other stone types present, which can pose a challenge for developers. Fortunately, in Baldwin and other regions of Florida, the ground composition is quite consistent, with sandy soil overlaying limestone bedrock.

Developers can also gain a lot of insight into the presence and nature of any underground voids. These underground voids can pose a problem in terms of the ground stability and larger voids can collapse, resulting in the formation of a potentially deadly sinkhole.

Developers can gain information on not only the location and size of these underground voids, but they can also get a read on the overall quality of the bedrock. This can be useful for sinkhole remediation efforts, which can include running a rod from the foundation down into the bedrock to provide added stability. But the underlying bedrock needs to be of the proper integrity.

When it comes to geotechnical drilling, Baldwin developers can also gain information on the moisture content of the ground and the presence of groundwater flows. This can be useful if the site will be serviced with a well.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Arlington Why is Florida Prone to Sinkholes?

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As a firm specializing in geotechnical drilling, Arlington area residents routinely contact us to perform drilling as part of a sinkhole investigation and remediation effort. In fact, most are aware that Florida is very prone to sinkholes and a fair number of these underground voids are discovered via drilling projects. But why is Florida considered the nation’s capital for sinkholes? Well, that’s precisely what we’ll explore in today’s article.

When performing geotechnical drilling, Arlington residents often start wondering why this region is so prone to sinkholes. After all, other regions of the nation rarely see sinkholes, but in Florida, they’re actually quite commonplace. So what gives?

Well, it all comes down to Florida’s unique geology. The entire peninsula of Florida is perched atop a limestone bedrock. This limestone bedrock is topped by a sandy soil that is interspersed with chunks of coral rock. This sandy soil is a bit problematic, because water moves down through the soil with much greater ease than it would if you were dealing with clay-rich soil. This has an impact when you consider the following fact.

Limestone is a very soft rock and it dissolves with relative ease when exposed to acid, even mild acids. So acid rain can percolate down through the sandy soil and into the groundwater flows. As the water percolates through the soil, it also rinses the mild acids that are found in the soil, bringing them into contact with the limestone bedrock.

The result is dissolving limestone, which is rinsed away by the underground water flows, leaving a cavity behind. This cavity or void grows larger and larger with time, and ultimately, it collapses, resulting in a sinkhole.

It’s Florida’s sandy soil, combined with lots of rain and limestone bedrock that leaves the peninsula prone to sinkholes. Locating potential sinkholes is one of the many functions of geotechnical drilling. Arlington property owners who identify signs of an impending sinkhole, such as ground movement and depressions in the earth can turn to a geotechnical drilling team and sinkhole remediation firm to investigate and resolve the issue.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Orient Park A Look at the Workings of Geotechnical Drilling

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Orient Park developers, homeowners and others can use geotechnical drilling for a few different purposes, ranging from site evaluation to sinkhole detection and beyond.

Geotechnical drilling offers a relatively cost-effective and efficient method for determining the composition and stability of the ground at a particular site, which is important for builders and developers when planning for the construction of a large structure. Depending upon the findings, the developers may opt to alter their plans for the site or they may pursue additional investigative measures, such as the use of ground penetrating radar or sinkhole remediation.

The cost and timeframe of the geotechnical drilling project does vary quite dramatically, depending upon factors such as:

  • the size of the site that’s being evaluated;
  • the reason for the geotechnical drilling operation;
  • the composition and density of the stone found underground; and
  • the depth of the drilling operation.

A small site may require just a couple of days’ worth of drilling, while a larger site with dense stone and/or deep drilling depths may require several weeks of work or longer.

What Happens When You Perform Geotechnical Drilling?

Orient Park property owners and developers can gain lots of insight with this specialized variety of drilling, which is performed using portable drilling rigs.

With geotechnical drilling, Orient Park service providers will typically use a hollow “tube” to extract a vertical column of earth. This core sample provides analysts with some critical information, such as the composition and thickness of each layer, the moisture content of each layer, the integrity of stone layers or bedrock and the depth of the bedrock. This information is key for determining the suitability of a site for a specific construction project.

In addition, geotechnical drilling may reveal the presence of an underground void, which could collapse into a sinkhole. Areas with limestone bedrock, such as Florida, are especially prone to underground voids because limestone is a soft stone that can dissolve when exposed to mild acids. Even the acids in groundwater can deteriorate the rock, resulting in the formation of a cavity that can collapse into a dangerous or deadly sinkhole. Once identified, the void can be filled with cement to prevent collapse and measures can be implemented to reinforce any structures using long rods that are penetrated into the bedrock, with the other end secured to the foundation.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Palm River-Clair Mel How and Why to Perform Geotechnical Drilling

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Palm River-Clair Mel area developers and property owners can benefit from the use of geotechnical drilling, which may be used to determine the suitability of a prospective building site or even reveal the presence of an underground void that could collapse into a sinkhole.

Geotechnical drilling is quite efficient in terms of time and expense. The cost of a geotechnical drilling project will depend upon the size of the site that’s being evaluated and the reasons for the drilling (which, in turn, determines how many drilling sites are required.)

Other factors that can determine cost include the depth of the drilling, along with the ground composition and density.

There are some additional measures that may be pursued based upon the results of the geotechnical drilling. Palm River-Clair Mel property owners or developers may need to use ground penetrating radar to evaluate the site more comprehensively. If signs of an underground void are located, you may need to perform sinkhole remediation. Efforts may include drilling into the void, which is then filled with cement to avoid a future collapse. In other cases, a structure could be reinforced by driving strong metal rods into the bedrock. The end of the rod at the ground’s surface is affixed to the foundation. This secures the building, so even if the ground gives way, the building will remain standing.

What is the Process for Performing Geotechnical Drilling?

Palm River-Clair Mel natives can expect the geotechnical drilling firm to arrive with one or more portable drilling rigs, which are placed in strategic locations.

Once drilling begins, a hollow rod is drilled into the ground to collect a sample of the various layers of earth. These samples, called core samples, are sent out to a laboratory for evaluation and testing. Large structures must be built atop stable, strong ground, so the laboratory analysis can reveal if the earth is suitable for a particular project. The analysts will examine a number of different attributes, including:

  • the composition of the ground layers;
  • the density and overall integrity of bedrock and stone;
  • the depth of the bedrock and various earth layers; and
  • the moisture content of the earth.

Based on the results of the geotechnical drilling, Palm River-Clair Mel property owners and developers can make informed decisions that will cut costs, while increasing overall safety in an existing or future structure.

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

 

Geotechnical Drilling Pebble Creek What are the benifits of Geotechnical Drilling

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Pebble Creek is the site of many new developments, but it’s a region that’s also prone to sinkholes, which means that the area is a prime location for geotechnical drilling. Pebble Creek area developers and property owners may opt to pursue geotechnical drilling efforts as a method for evaluating the ground in a particular location.

What is the Purpose of Geotechnical Drilling?

Pebble Creek natives can use geotechnical drilling for a number of different projects. A geotechnical drilling service provider can provide lots of useful insight for property owners and developers, including:

  • the density of the underlying bedrock;
  • the ground composition and the thickness of the various layers of earth;
  • the moisture content of the ground;
  • the integrity and overall quality of the underlying stone; and
  • Identifying the location of underground cavities.

Underground cavities can form in areas with limestone bedrock. This is because the limestone is a relatively soft stone that can dissolve when exposed to acids, even mild acids from acid rain or groundwater that percolates through the earth. Over time, the stone dissolves and erodes, resulting in a large void that can eventually collapse. The result is a sinkhole, which can swallow an entire city block in a matter of mere seconds.

In a location that’s seeing ground shifts and buildings are exhibiting signs of sinking and other movement (such as cracks in the foundation, stucco and concrete blocks that comprise a building), geotechnical drilling crews may be called in to investigate.  If a site is determined to be prone to sinkholes, existing buildings can be reinforced using metal rods that are affixed to the foundation at one end and driven into the bedrock at the other end. A drilling crew can also penetrate the cavity, which may then be filled with cement to reinforce the void and reduce the risk of a future collapse.

Sinkholes aside, large structures require stable ground and good quality bedrock. So developers may call in geotechnical drilling crews to extract core samples for analysis of the site. A core sample is a vertical column of earth that is extracted inside a large “tube” and sent out for analysis at a laboratory. The lab technicians will evaluate the composition, density, moisture content, the depth of the bedrock, and the overall quality of the bedrock and overlaying layers.

Based on the findings from the geotechnical drilling, Pebble Creek developers and property owners can develop plans for a safe structure that will remain standing for many decades to come.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Progress Village Process and Uses for Geotechnical Drilling

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Progress Village is home to many builders and developers who can benefit from geotechnical drilling, which can be used to evaluate the integrity and the composition of the earth in a particular location.

Geotechnical drilling can be used to obtain lots of important information about a site’s underground geology, including evaluating the composition of the ground and the various layers, determining the thickness of the underground layers, evaluating the depth of the bedrock layer and even identifying sites that can be prone to sinkhole formation.

Why Do You Perform Geotechnical Drilling?

Progress Village geotechnical drilling services can perform a drilling project over the course of a couple days for a small site to weeks or longer for a large site with dozens of different drilling locations. The price of geotechnical drilling operations is largely dependent upon the extent and nature of the project.

Geotechnical drilling is a cost effective method for extracting core samples. Portable drilling rigs are brought to the site, where the drill penetrates into the ground, extracting a vertical tube of earth that depicts the various layers, their depth and thickness, and the exact composition. These are important factors when building a new structure or addressing a potential issue with an existing structure. The core samples are usually sent out for analysis to evaluate the integrity, strength and moisture content of the earth.

Using the data from the lab analysis, a developer can determine if a site is suitable for a building project or whether revisions may need to be made in order to accommodate the ground composition.

Geotechnical drilling is also used for sinkhole detection. Sometimes, the underground voids that collapse into a sinkhole are found accidentally during a drilling operation, while in other cases, a known void is evaluated for size and depth. Once discovered, a void can be pumped full of cement which reinforces the ground and prevents a collapse into a sinkhole.

Areas with limestone bedrock are especially prone to sinkholes because limestone is a soft rock that dissolves when exposed to acidic groundwater.

Sinkhole remediation efforts that follow geotechnical drilling efforts can also include the placement of metal rods, which are affixed to a structure’s foundation and sunk into the bedrock. The geotechnical drilling operation can identify the depth of the bedrock. Once complete, these reinforcements prevent the building from collapsing if the ground gives way.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Riverview Applications for Geotechnical Drilling 

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Riverview builders, property owners and developers often utilize geotechnical drilling services to evaluate the integrity or composition of a building site or the location of an existing structure. Geotechnical drilling has a number of potential applications, including:

  • Evaluating earth composition;
  • Evaluating the integrity and stability of the earth;
  • Identifying areas that are prone to sinkholes; and
  • Determining the depth of the underlying bedrock.

How Do You Perform Geotechnical Drilling?

Riverview geotechnical drilling service providers typically begin the project by transporting portable drilling rigs to the location that will be evaluated. A geotechnical drilling project can take anywhere from just a couple days to several weeks or even longer in the case of a large site that requires dozens of drilling sites/core samples, a site with dense varieties of stone or a project that requires extremely deep drilling depths. Expense also largely depends upon the timeframe, so it’s best to consult your service provider to get a better idea of the timeframe and cost for your geotechnical drilling project.

Geotechnical drilling usually involves the extraction of core samples. Core samples are vertical columns of earth that are removed in a large “tube” that is sent to the laboratory for comprehensive analysis. The analysts will look at many traits such as the composition of the various layers, the degree of moisture saturation, the depth and thickness of the different underground layers and the integrity and strength of the bedrock or other stone samples.

Based on the core sample analysis, the developers, builders or property owners can make informed decisions on whether to build on a particular site and what types of structures may be suitable for the location. In some cases, the developer may need to find an entirely new building site.

Geotechnical drilling can also be helpful for sinkhole detection efforts. In fact, potential sinkholes in the form of underground voids and cavities can be found accidentally during geotechnical drilling. Riverview and the surrounding area sits atop limestone bedrock, which can dissolve when exposed to acidic groundwater. The dissolving stone may rinse away, leaving a void that can collapse into a sinkhole.

Factors such as the weight of overlying structures and the moisture content of the earth can trigger a collapse. If a void is found, a line can be drilled into the space, which is then filled with cement to reinforce the void. Geotechnical drilling rigs can also determine the quality and depth of bedrock, which is important for cases where reinforcement poles are sunk into the bedrock and then attached to a building’s foundation to offer support, even if the ground shifts of collapses.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Northdale Why Do Experts Perform Geotechnical Drilling

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Northdale developers and property owners use geotechnical drilling to obtain essential information about the underground geology of a site. From evaluating a piece of property for its suitability as a building site to determining why an area is undergoing ground shifting, geotechnical drilling has many potential applications.

Whether you’re attempting to learn more about what lies beneath a future development site to evaluating an area for possible sinkhole locations, geotechnical drilling offers an affordable and relatively time-efficient option for researching a site. In some cases, drilling may reveal that pricier, comprehensive investigative efforts such as ground penetrating radar, are necessary at a particular location.

In many cases of geotechnical drilling, Northdale drill operators will use a hollow drill bit to extract a tall cylinder of earth. This captures each ground layer without altering the density or thickness, making it great for lab analysis. Lab analysis is used to determine:

  • The composition of each layer;
  • The thickness and depth of each ground layer;
  • The layer or stone density;
  • The ground moisture content;
  • The integrity and strength of the various layers or the stone.

Based on this information, experts and engineers can determine if a site is safe and suitable for constructing a large structure. You can also determine if building plans should be altered to ensure safety and long term integrity. In other cases, sinkhole remediation efforts may be required. Sinkhole remediation may be needed if an underground void is located. Areas with limestone bedrock are very prone to sinkholes because this type of stone dissolves when exposed to even mild acids (like the acid that is collected by groundwater as it moves through the earth’s various layers.)

How Long Does it Take to Perform Geotechnical Drilling?

Northdale geotechnical drilling companies will transport portable drilling rigs to the site that’s under investigation. Factors like the size of the site, the density of the ground and any stone layers, along with the depth of the drilling efforts will impact the timeframe, which in turn, affects cost. In cases where core analysis is required, there may be additional laboratory analysis-related expenses.

The timeframe may range anywhere from a couple days for a small site with soft ground or weeks in the case of a large multi-acre site with dense ground layers and deep depths.

It’s best to consult a geotechnical drilling firm to discuss your exact project to get an accurate idea of expense and timeframe.

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