What is site investigation?

 Site investigation is carried out in order to determine the engineering properties of soil and
rock and how they will interact with a planned development. The purpose of site investigation
is to establish parameters for foundation, substructure and infrastructure design and to assess
the potential geotechnical, geo-environmental, geological and hydrological risk to humans,
property and the environment.
 Site Investigation is the process of collecting information, assessment of the data and
reporting potential hazards beneath a site which are unknown.
 Site investigation or soil exploration is the process of gathering information, within practical
limits, about the stratification (layers) and engineering properties of the soils underplaying the
proposed construction site.
 The principal engineering properties of interest are strength, deformation and permeability
characteristics.

Objective:

 The nature and sequence of strata

 The ground water conditions at the site
 The physical properties of soil and rock underlying the site
 The mechanical properties such as strength of different soil or rock strata

When it will be used?

 To provide adequate subsurface information for the most economical and satisfactory base
for the proposed structure
 To determine the underground air conditions on the site.
 To determine Physical properties of soil and ground-based stones.
 To determine Mechanical properties such as soil strata or different strata of rocks.

Why Site Investigation?

 Many engineering failures could have been avoided of a proper site investigation had been
carried out.
 The success or failure of a foundation depends essentially on the reliability of the knowledge
obtained from the site investigation.

How to gather the information?

a) Geological maps: Geological maps provide information on the extent of rock and soil deposits
at a particular site. The significance of the geological information must be correctly
interpreted by the engineer to assist in the further planning of the site investigation.
b) Topographical maps: These are also called Ordinance survey maps and provide information
on, for example, the relief of the land, site accessibility and the land forms present
c) Soil survey maps: Also called Pedagogical soil survey involves the classification, mapping and
description of the surface soils in the area and is generally of main interest to agriculturalists.
It studies top soils 1-1.5m. The surface soil type can often be related to the parent soil lying
beneath; and so, soil types below 1.5m can often be interpreted from the maps.
d) Aerial photographs: With careful interpretation of aerial photographs, it is possible to deduce
information on land forms, topography, land use, historical land use; and geotechnical
 behaviour. The photographs allow a visual inspection of a site when access to the site is
restricted.
e) Existing site investigation reports: These can often be the most valuable source of
geotechnical information. If a sight investigation has been performed in the vicinity in the
past, then information may already exist on the rock and soil types, drainage, access, etc. The
report may also contain details of the properties of the soils and test results.