Cofferdams are often used in temporary works, to enclose the construction area within a continuous sheet pile wall around and protect it from water entering from outside.
Finally, proof of the pudding is in the eating. Very often we monitor the performances of foundations, tie backs, embankments etc. for a long time after construction, to verify that it is performing to our expectations. Geotechnical engineering involves lots of uncertainty in the soil properties used in the designs and the theories. Instrumentation is a popular method to verify the theories, assumptions, construction methods etc.
All structures need proper foundations. To design good foundations, it is essential to know the geotechnical characteristics of the underlying ground. The only way to know them is to test the soil.