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