Geotechnical Drilling Northdale Why Do Experts Perform Geotechnical Drilling

/in , /by

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*