2. PURPOSE
To determine the site’s suitability for
building and the nature and the extent of
preliminary work that will be needed
Why it is important?
It will shows the detailed to many
physical aspect such as subsoil
composition, demolition and the legal
aspect such as planning permission, right
of access and preservation order
2
3. OBJECTIVES
• To assess the general suitability of the site
with the proposed works
• To help produce a design which is adequate
and economic
• To help overcome possible difficulties &
delays that may arise during construction
period due to ground and other local
conditions
• To predict possible changes that may
occur/cause of all changes in site condition
• To maximize potential of the site
3
4. DESCRIPTION
A combination process which range from
looking at published information such as
maps to arrange laboratory test on the
soil
4
5. Information required from a site
investigation:
a. Information affecting the design of the
structure: shear strength and
compressibility of the soil
b. Information affecting the construction
of the works: the extent and properties
of material to be excavated, or to be
used for fill or for road bases or
concrete aggregates
5
6. Information required from a site
investigation:
c. Information on ground water
conditions: the level and seasonal
variation of the water table, the
pressures in the soil water, and the
permeability of the soil.
6
7. Planning an investigation:
• In the earlier stages of an investigation,
the information available is often
inadequate to allow a detailed plan to
be made.
• The investigation must therefore
proceed in 3 stages:
1. Desk study
2. Site reconnaissance
3. Detail Examination of Tests and
Programs
7
8. INFORMATION/ISSUES TO CHECK
1. Site Location
Nearest town and city
Schools, emergency services,
entertainment, recreation, shops,
transport and employment
Distance from head office (client &
builders) & traveling time
Distance from nearest railway station to
the site
8
9. INFORMATION/ISSUES TO
CHECK
2. Accessibility
Approach and site access roads, width,
gradient, bends, sharp corners, condition
and construction relative to transport
heavy plant and equipment
Bridges, strength, width and clearance
height
Temporary roads, rolled metal tracts or
consider preparing sub base for new
roads as temporary access
9
10. INFORMATION/ISSUES TO
CHECK
3. Availability of space
Site offices, canteen, stores and
compound
Material storage areas and handling
Construction area and assembly areas
Plant location
10
11. INFORMATION/ISSUES TO
CHECK
4. Services
Water, drainage, electricity, gas &
telephone
Location will be determined from maps
by consultation with the appropriate local
authorities
An estimate of buildings usage is also for
ascertaining the demand on sewers and
drains
11
12. INFORMATION/ISSUES TO
CHECK
5. Ground composition
Boreholes are required to determine :
Changes in strata
Strength of subsoil
Toxicity of subsoil
Stability of excavation
Water table (depth below surfaces)
12
13. INFORMATION/ISSUES TO
CHECK
6. Site clearance and demolition
A plan of the site should indicate trees,
shrubs and existing buildings and a site
survey will reveal the extent of necessary
leveling Demolition and excavation
Method and cost
Effect of trees and structural prevention
orders
13
14. INFORMATION/ISSUES TO
CHECK
Reuse of materials
Protection of adjacent building
Special insurance requirement
Compensation payment and liability for
damage
Distance to spoil tips and charge
14
15. IN GENERAL…
• Dealt with local planning authority to
ascertain whether there are
special/significant restrictions which could
adversely affect the development of site
building line position
• Survey should include details of
neighboring development, future
development and the position with regard
to facilities in the area
• Should enquire the existence of any
restrictive covenants such as right of way,
light & drainage which may restrict the
development 15
16. THE PROCESS
• Desk Study
• Site Reconnaissance/ Walk over survey
• Preliminary report or feasibility study
• Preliminary Ground Investigation -
Planning of main Preliminary report
• Main Ground Investigation
• Laboratory testing
• Financial Report (Return of Investment)
• Final report
16
17. DESK STUDIES
• It is important to collect all available
information about the site before starting
work.
• A desk study is the collation and review
of information already available about a
site, and is carried out at an early stage of
site appraisal to inform and guide the
remainder of the site investigation.
17
18. DESK STUDIES
• Collect as much material as possible
about the site such as-
Maps (geological, ordinance survey, etc)
Air photograph
Geological books & journal
Mining records & reports of previous site
investigation
Library, news paper, adjacent buildings,
etc.
18
20. SITE RECOINAISSANCE / WALK OVER
SURVEY
The initial document search should be
followed by a walk-over survey of the site and
its surroundings.
This should be a methodical examination of
the site, based on defined classes of
information, which complements the desk
study and typically provides valuable
information on matters such as:
Topography: indications of slope
instability, spoil heaps or signs of ground
subsidence resulting from mining.
20
21. SITE RECOINAISSANCE / WALK OVER
SURVEY
Geology: exposures of soils and rocks
which can be examined and sampled.
Surface water and ground water:
signs of flooding; springs; water logging
Vegetation: signs of vegetation die-back
or restricted vegetation as a result of
contamination of the ground; presence of
invasive species such as Japanese
Knotweed; trees which may cause
shrinkage and swelling of clay soils.
21
22. SITE RECOINAISSANCE / WALK OVER
SURVEY
The invasive root system and
strong growth can damage
foundations, buildings, flood
defences, roads, paving,
retaining walls and architectural
sites. It can also reduce the
capacity of channels in flood
defenses to carry water
22
23. SITE RECOINAISSANCE / WALK OVER
SURVEY
Ecology: indicators of protected species,
newts, badgers, bats, nesting birds.
Contamination: indications of spills,
disturbed ground, areas of fill or spoil
heaps, old fuel or oil tanks.
Structures: settlement of existing
structures or the use of asbestos;
indicators of archaeological value.
23
24. SITE RECOINAISSANCE / WALK OVER
SURVEY
Local Knowledge: anecdotal information
on past uses of the site or past problems
in the area.
Access & services: information such as
access for site equipment and location of
buried or overhead services
24
25. DETAIL EXAMINATION OF
TESTS AND PROGRAMS/
DETAILED EXPLORATION
The principal objectives of the detailed soil
test/investigation are as follows:
a. To determine in detail the geological
structure of the site, including the
thickness, sequence and extent of the
strata.
b. To determine the ground water
conditions
25
26. DETAIL EXAMINATION OF TESTS AND
PROGRAMS/ DETAILED EXPLORATION
c. To obtain disturbed and undisturbed
samples for identification and
laboratory testing
d. To carry out tests to determine the
mechanical properties of the soil insitu
26
27. DETAIL EXAMINATION OF TESTS AND
PROGRAMS/ DETAILED EXPLORATION
There are two principal methods of
investigating the ground conditions, trial
pits and boreholes
27
28. GROUND INVESTIGATION
Trial Pits
Trial pits are shallow excavations going
down to a depth not greater 6m.
The trial pit as such is used extensively at
the surface for block sampling and detection
of services prior to borehole excavation.
Can be dug by hand or mechanical excavator
28
29. GROUND INVESTIGATION
Trial Pits
Only suitable in dry area as they allow hand
cut samples to be taken which minimize the
disturbance of sample
Most suitable use in exploring back filled
area and sites overlain by variable natural
deposits
29
31. GROUND INVESTIGATION
Boreholes
• A borehole is used to determine the nature
of the ground (usually below 6m depth) in a
qualitative manner
• Recover undisturbed samples for
quantitative examination. Where this is not
possible, for in gravelly soils below the
water table, in-situ testing methods are
used.
31
32. GROUND INVESTIGATION
• Obviously the information gained from a
borehole is an extremely limited picture of
the subsurface structure. It is therefore
essential to compare the results obtained
with those that could have been expected
from the desk study. The greater the
number of boreholes the more certain it is
possible to be of the correlation and thus to
trust in the results.
• The two principal types of boring machine
used for Site Investigation which is light
percussive and drilling machines.
32
34. TASK 1
Your team are appointed as a project
leader to a proposed mix development
project in Sri Iskandar, Perak. The site is
located on existing 300 acre of ex-mining
area. You are required to conduct the
site exploration according to phase by
phase. Assumption can be made to suit
to your project and site.
(1 hour task, 30 minutes for
presentation)
